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Untainted as a lotus

GET INTO MEDITATIVE MODE Through Padmasana

The lotus posture or padma asana is one of the postures recommended for meditation. The lotus is a wonderful symbol of beauty. It rises above its circumstances (muddy water), towards the light.

It is believed that the essence of the Buddha’s teachings lies in the Lotus Sutras. In fact, there are many Buddhas or enlightened beings who have been described and the hence, Buddha may not refer to a singular person. The love for mankind the Buddhas felt made them go to the root cause of pain. Their journey and discovery are seen in the Satdharma Pundarika Sutras or Lotus Sutras. ‘Pundarika’ means ‘white lotus’. Devotion to goodness, striving for enlightenment, and drawing others towards more evolved states of being are emphasised in these sutras.

Though the lotus grows in muddy water it rises towards the sunlight, remaining untainted by its surroundings. One can see the pearls of water on a lotus leaf but they do not penetrate it. This symbolises detachment.

This principle is reflected in the Bhagvad Gita as well, where a man who offers what he does to the Supreme without getting attached to the results is compared to a lotus leaf that does not get wet by water.

Goddess Lakshmi is depicted sitting on a pink lotus or padma. She is a symbol of abundance — an abundance of not just material wealth but also spiritual wealth and love. Thus the pink lotus is a blossoming of love for oneself despite what life offers.

One can learn to practise self-love (love for one’s higher self) by setting aside time for contemplation and striving towards our goals (lakshya). Goddess Saraswathi is seated on a pundarika (white lotus) symbolising purity.

Our system is governed by pranic flows that converge at certain points. These convergence points of the nadis or pranic flows are represented by the petals of a lotus.

The sahasraara which is the energy centre above the head is represented by a 1,000-petalled lotus.

The opening of the sahasraara symbolises complete awareness and opening to the divine light. Thus the lotus is associated with purity, detachment and light.

When we sit in padmasana we are locking up the need to run around and get enmeshed in restless activity.

Our feet are literally locked so that we can sit still to allow the system to open up to higher consciousness

Those who have leg and knee problems should avoid this posture. The knees and calf muscles have to be loosened with the jathis (conscious rhythmic movements) that have been featured earlier. It is not a posture that one forces the body into. Bring your left foot on your right thigh. Then cross over the right foot on the left thigh. This is the padmasana. You can also do half lotus or ardha padmasana in the beginning by just bringing one leg on the opposite thigh.

This is good if you are not able to bring the other leg also across. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed and practise any form of relaxed dharana or concentration such as japa or repetition of a sound vibration or focussing on breath to anchor the mind on subtler aspects.

This will aid one to move to a meditative state. It is advisable to learn under a qualified teacher. Also if one is agitated it is better to do something active rather than force the system into a meditative posture.

MAITREYI

(Visit www.arkaya.net or e-mail maitreyi9@hotmail.com)

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