In the recent post on Types of Meditation, I discussed three types of practices and said I would adopt the model. I’ve updated that part of the Recommendations page.
I thought it would be useful to explore this further, categorizing examples of practices I’ve mentioned.
Being: an effortless transcending practice to establish presence and prepare the ground for awakening. That presence is also very valuable for supporting healing and refining.
Healing: energy healing and somatic work to clear out historical burdens and bring clarity.
I recommend learning the basics of energy healing to help shift our habits with emotions and to resolve our long habits of resistance. Then our activity supports the results of our practice. This is especially good for reactivity, the vasanas.
For deeper work, I recommend learning the basics of trauma and how to process it safely. Somatic work can get at the more hidden samskaras.
Healing work needs regulation so we can process our burdens safely and smoothly. An effortless meditation softens our bindings and can create a deep resource of calm. That’s a powerful platform for healing work.
Culturing: to develop qualities, gifts, and refinement.
Culturing uplifting qualities can be beneficial. Not in making a false mood, but in favouring qualities we’re developing. For example, culturing gratitude. I practiced this before waking up and it shifted my tone up, creating a greater capacity for allowing.
This doesn’t mean a constant, false attempt to feel grateful, just an occasional reference back to it here and there during the day.
A devotional practice can be excellent for culturing the heart. Sometimes, a devotional phase will arise spontaneously for a time. Or we’ll have a more devotional nature. Yet culturing the heart improves our quality of life and helps facilitate the refined stages.
In combination, such practices help culture a balanced life and a solid platform for healing, refinement, awakening, and embodiment.
Davidya
Last Updated on May 3, 2025 by Davidya
From Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, there’s an additonal, wonderful practice that helps with regulation and
also culturing, maybe even embodying. When we notice a negative impulse within, either on the level of thought or emotion or even energy, we simply replace it with a positive Sanskrit word or phrase. For example, when I notice a negative energy coming up about someone, I silently say Namaste which means the divine in me bows down to the divine in you. It’s a way for me to quickly and simply remind myself of the ultimate truth wrt to us both. Also, I think the Sanskrit doesn’t so much engage the prefrontal cortex. Plus I’m very sure it’s quite healing, deeply yet gently.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon.
Yes, Patanjali talked about culturing friendliness, compassion, delight, and equanimity – depending on the circumstances. Sanskrit words can behave like mantras/ remedies with known meaning and qualities.
The key with the replacing approach you mention is in replacing a tendency to dwell on a negative. When we notice that, we favour the positive. Like in the example of gratitude I mentioned or what you describe. Not as a way to control but to shift the tone. However, if it’s a single impulse coming up, this can show purification. In that instance, the impulse should be allowed as it’s arising to be processed. Then it can be resolved. If we push against it or try to replace it, we’re repressing the energy again.
It’s a fine distinction, but key for healing. Otherwise, we’re just giving the mind more ways to control.
Actually it’s not a method of replacing. It’s a method of noticing and adding something else to the field. The process goes by itself. The process is one of adding something, similar to the gratitude process. Swami Sarvapriyananda notes that if the negative simply continues, it will return to the ocean of vasanas to arise again. But if something positive is added, then that is what will return to the ocean of vasanas. Over time, more and more the positive is what spontaneously arises. Also, because Sanskrit has such a powerful and positive vibratory quality, it operates both on and beyond the level of mind. I think the healing powers of Sanskrit have yet to be fully discovered.
Hi Sharon
OK. That’s for clarifying.
Interesting comment by the Swami. I agree with the first part. If the vasana (reactivity) is not resolved, the wave just settles back into the ocean of unresolved experiences and will rise again and again. The positive wouldn’t return to the ocean unless it itself is unresolved. But it can change the tone or trend over time. This moderates the vasanas that come up so they just come as a wave and don’t hang around as there isn’t fertile soil.
I agree on Sanskrit.
How to rise above negative feelings is the youtube title in which Swami discusses this. He even speaks a little about the neuroscience perspective.
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