My yogic journey began with the study of hatha yoga. I studied it and eventually became a teacher of hatha yoga, for over 3 years. During this time I became a picture of health and my flexibility and concentration improved immensely.
After studying Hatha Yoga for years with the group I was with, I realized I couldn't make maximum progress on this path without becoming like a monk.
People on this path who continued eventually gave up all signs of outward 'pleasurable' attachments, such as physical intimacy, pursuit of money and families. This outward renunciation did not suit me so after a few years I continued my search and happened upon "Surat Shabd Yoga", where the renouncing was more inward. This is where I truly learned to ~~!!Love!!~~
In the olden days Surat Shabd Yoga was called the "Royal Path". To follow it one did not have to give up anything outwardly, so the kings and the queens in the old country would study this form of meditation. They wanted to study spirituality and by studying Surat Shabd Yoga they could continue to have their kingdoms, subjects, wives, and their children.
The Inner Sound and Light we focus on when we practice Surat Shabd Yoga is natural and is within everything. It is at a very high vibration in human beings. It is part of who we are. It is a part of us and we are a part of it. Many people call it Consciousness.
Even though Surat Shabd Yoga, or meditation on the Inner Sound And Light, is very natural and feels very comfortable, we still have our minds to conquer. We sit in meditation and the mind literally says: you need to do your shopping; you need to pick up the kids at ~3:00~you have to take Johnny here; you need to take Mary there.
Slowing down the mind is like slowing Dow a speeding train. Difficult but not impossible. As we practice, Surat Shabd Yoga gradually we get more and more control over it until one day, it becomes the servant to our Soul it was always meant to be.
There are two main practices to Surat Shabd Yoga. Number one is repetition of a word or words that have a warm, loving meaning to you. The second practice is total concentration on the Sound and Light within you.
Repetition of the word or words gives the mind something to do. It focuses the mind. We do not say the word or words out loud. We repeat the silently, to ourselves, with our mind only. The words should not make us think of some worldly event. They should not make us think at all. The goal is to train the mind to stop thinking except when we command it to do so.
Most people think meditation is hard to do. It is definitely not easy to control the mind. If we want to become a master meditator we should practice and train the mind just like muscles in the body. It is worth it. The mind is a great servant but a terrible leader. As you grow in your meditation it will become more and more enjoyable to you. You will come to love it.
We feel Love when we meditate because we come in contact with the source of Love, within us. There is a fountain of Love inside of everyone. We tap into it when we meditate. As we get deeper into our meditation, we start recognizing this same fountain of Love within everyone else. Once this happens, we start understanding that the real meaning of "Love" is total identification with that fountain of Love within all living things.