Atma Vichara is a study of who a person really is, and not at the moment. Cognition of one’s Self. This is the ability to separate from five unnecessary shells: physical, astral, energetic, mental, causal. And also - the ability to accept and recognize the highest Atman, the absolute self. One must be able to distinguish between I as all the purest that is in a person and I-Thought.
Theme concepts
The second is simply thought or vritti, which only satisfies physical needs. The first is pure eternal life. She does not focus on illusion and ignorance. And if you remain just a thought, then eternal life will be impossible to achieve, since it will disappear.
Atma Vichara helps to gain knowledge about who a person is and who is not. Meditation helps to determine which particular dimension to give power over the human soul and where to follow wise advice.
But unfortunately, not everyone can follow the method of self-investigation, since even a complete and detailed description does not always reflect the whole picture, and even more so cannot explain what to do next.
The essence of the method
In order to feel the vibration of the Self or aham vritti, you need to know that this is the very first thought that occurs in a person’s head. It is from her that branches of others come. Such as "I want," "Do," "Yes."
Each person has thousands of such vritti that he receives throughout his existence. They do not pass energy from the upper energy centers. Because of this, it accumulates inside the human consciousness, forming fears, irritations, anxieties and negative emotions. And when this energy leaves the body, a blissful experience is formed, which accumulates in the body, like in a vessel, and is a conductor of energy.
The advantage of Atma Vichara meditation is that its proper implementation gives an almost instant release from any negative. For example, if a thought arises in a person’s head about a bad deed of someone else, he begins to develop it and concentrate on it. But after completing the Atma Vichara exercises, he manages to delve into the very essence of the problem, which helps him to observe himself.
Self-study
With continuous observation, a person understands in just a few seconds that his Self is woven out of fear. Gradually, he dissolves it, and a person can no longer even understand what caused the problem. False I disappear, thereby showing important events to the surface, for which the mind clings.
And even with incomplete dissolution of all unnecessary "I" you need to go to the source located on the right side of the chest. We are talking about true feelings unsullied by fear. Approaching them, a person moves to an expanded point of perception. It is slightly blurred, and at first a loss of perception is possible.
The most difficult and main problem is the ability (or lack thereof) to catch the very first thought, without being distracted by others. But after this, a second obstacle arises. As the vibration "becomes thinner", it becomes difficult to distinguish it and pull it out of a huge mass of energy. But gaining experience is already easier. I can be felt in the crown, eyes, neck or heart. It is believed that the deepest immersion comes from the heart.
Features
During practice, it is necessary to learn to fully control self-awareness. One of the secrets of Atma Vichara is: if a person thinks that there is no meditation process itself, but only successful attempts, then this is the realm of meditation contemplation. After mastering this technique, you can easily get rid of the negative.
In addition to the sedentary Atma Vichara technique, it can be incorporated into everyday life. This can be useful, as the technique trains mindfulness and separate attention. In life, you can use peripheral self-awareness, which does not distract from activity. Sitting meditation forces you to completely immerse yourself in the process.
Technicians
The practice of Atma Vichara can be described in more detail. And for a start - about sitting meditation.
To perform it, you need to take a relaxed natural pose. The main thing is that it be motionless. A person must cross his legs, straighten his back and put his hands on his knees, the tongue must be pressed against the palate. Particular attention should not be paid to breathing. The eyes are ajar.
The state of consciousness should be relaxed, but it must be controlled so that consciousness does not follow thoughts. It is necessary to direct all attention inward and fully concentrate on the Self.
If attempts to concentrate are unsuccessful, then the question must be asked: "Who am I?" After this, you should try to feel a slight vibration inside the mind. She must be seized and not let go, fully concentrating and not distracted. After a long practice of retention, it will be possible to feel the inner self and get a connection with superconsciousness.
If extraneous thoughts arise during meditation, try not to get carried away with them, but rather push them away. When images arise, ask the question: “Who is watching them?”, And when receiving the answer “I”, it is necessary to say: “Who am I?”. After which there will be a return to the original vibration.
You should not think “Who am I?”, This must be understood at the subconscious level, since this is the most important task.
In move
To perform meditation in motion, you need to focus on the self while walking or any other activity. We must remember ourselves, thereby opening our minds.
At this time, you need to ask questions: “Where do thoughts come from?”, “What shape and color do I have?”. The meditator should try to trace the center or source of thoughts, after which you can find the basis of the Self. It is important to focus and hold on to it, no longer looking for anything.
For people practicing the more advanced stages of self-inquiry and Atma Vichara, there is the opportunity to distinguish between sankalpas or attitudes. For example, "Sleep", "Vision", etc., but for this you need to develop mindfulness at the initial levels of observation of the work of the body and mind.
Reviews
Even a brief description of the Atma Vichara technique allows us to verify its uniqueness and certain complexity.
According to practitioners' reviews, it can be argued that this is a wonderful meditative method that helps to awaken one's true self. After the questions “For whom did the thought arise, and who perceives it?” the thought itself instantly disappears and muffles the inflamed Ego. In this appeal, the ancient appeal to demons is clearly traced and there is an understanding of its falsity. But over time, the boundary between the Ego and the background dialogue, as well as the true Self, becomes clearer.
After understanding, consciousness is gradually formed without thoughts, and with noise behind the back, the question “Who is this?” Does not arise.
Gradually, meditation can be transferred to sleep, where dialogue proceeds according to other laws, and complete lucidity is achieved. In a dream without visions, there is not darkness, but the true Self - the embodiment of pure awareness and its highest form.
And after a person has gained primary sitting meditation skills, you can try to transfer it to ordinary life. This helps not only to open your Self, but also to discard all negativity and not exchange for nothing.
Conclusion
The peculiarity of Atma Vichara is that it does not require special knowledge and abstract skills. This is a concentration of pure energy, all things are deprived of their identity, and only the I remains real, its attitude to something.
You can learn to meditate on your own without resorting to teachers or Hindu texts. If you can’t concentrate, do not strain, as the person is not ready yet. You need to do a little meditation, requiring less attention.