Sarala Yoga
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SARALA YOGA Background This simple form of yoga was originally imparted by Shri Krishna to his childhood friend, Sudama. As you recall, Sudama went through very tough times after leaving the gurukula, where he had been studying with Krishna, Balarama, and others. When he was quite old, he visited Krishna, who granted him a kingdom and relieved him and his family of all their miseries. After several years of enjoyment, Sudama felt a void in his life. He wanted to taste the joy of turiya, about which his guru used to talk during the gurukula days. As he kept thinking about a way to attain turiya, his good friend Krishna reached his palace. After giving a good treat to Krishna, he asked Krishna to teach him the simplest form of yoga to attain the turiya state. He explained to Krishna that he was too old to get involved into lengthy and complicated practices. When Krishna asked him about his current spiritual practice, he answered that he was doing the simple AUMkara concentration in order to get connected to the Divine as he was taught by the guru. Method Out of compassion, Krishna happily imparted to his dear childhood friend the following simple yoga.
description
This is a simple yoga taught by Shri Krishna to his best childhood friend, Sudama, with a view to helping the latter attain the Turiya state of meditation.
Transcript of Sarala Yoga
SARALA YOGA
Background
This simple form of yoga was originally imparted by Shri Krishna to his
childhood friend, Sudama.
As you recall, Sudama went through very tough times after leaving the
gurukula, where he had been studying with Krishna, Balarama, and
others. When he was quite old, he visited Krishna, who granted him a
kingdom and relieved him and his family of all their miseries.
After several years of enjoyment, Sudama felt a void in his life. He
wanted to taste the joy of turiya, about which his guru used to talk during
the gurukula days. As he kept thinking about a way to attain turiya, his
good friend Krishna reached his palace. After giving a good treat to
Krishna, he asked Krishna to teach him the simplest form of yoga to
attain the turiya state.
He explained to Krishna that he was too old to get involved into lengthy
and complicated practices. When Krishna asked him about his current
spiritual practice, he answered that he was doing the simple AUMkara
concentration in order to get connected to the Divine as he was taught by
the guru.
Method
Out of compassion, Krishna happily imparted to his dear childhood friend
the following simple yoga.
1. Breathe deeply to fill the belly and lungs and, while exhaling
through the mouth, chant verbally “Aaaaaaa”, which is the first
letter of AUM. Repeat this step three times.
2. Breathe deeply to fill the belly and lungs and, while exhaling
through the mouth, chant verbally “Uuuuuu”, which is the second
letter of AUM. Repeat this step three times.
3. Breathe deeply to fill the belly and lungs and while exhaling
through the nostrils, feel the sound of “Mmmmmm”, which is the
third letter of AUM. Repeat this step three times.
4. After having completed these three simple steps, just merge into
the fourth level, turiya, by letting go of everything and by being
silent, still and breathless for as long as the body can comfortable
maintain. Stay in the turiya state and taste the joy of spiritual death
and revival.
5. When the breath comes back, just flow silently, gently and
smoothly with the new breath, as Life, Awareness, Delight.
6. Keep doing this simple yoga on a daily basis and enjoy divine
communion. When you move out of meditation, you will see the
world in a new light and you will feel oneness with life and
existence.
Outcome
Sudama practiced this simple yoga regularly and sincerely. He kept
enjoying the turiya state and felt fulfilled with life. At the last moment of
his life, he attained mahasamadhi into Narayana, the Absolute Ground of
Existence.
