Sparshan kritvva bahir bahyams cakshush caivantare bhruvoh, pranapanau samau kritvva nasabhyantara-carinau
Shutting out external sense objects, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, equalizing the outgoing and incoming breaths moving within the nostrils — this describes the preliminary posture and pranayama for deep meditation.
- •Withdrawing from external sense contact is the first step in meditation
- •Focusing the gaze between the eyebrows steadies the mind
- •Balancing prana and apana through breath creates inner equilibrium
Samam kaya-shiro-grivam dharayann achalam sthirah, samprekshya nasikagram svam dishas chanavalokayan
Hold the body, head, and neck erect, still, and motionless. Gaze steadily at the tip of the nose, without looking in any direction.
- •Physical stillness supports meditation
- •Steady posture aids concentration
- •External stability reflects inner focus
Yatha dipo nivata-stho nengate sopama smrita, yogino yata-chittasya yunjato yogam atmanah
As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, so the disciplined mind of a yogi remains steady in meditation on the self.
- •Steadiness of a controlled mind
- •Perfect stillness in meditation
- •The ideal state of focus
Aphala-kāṅkṣhibhir yajño vidhi-diṣhṭo ya ijyate, yaṣhṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ
Sacrifice that is performed as a duty, without desire for reward, according to scriptural injunctions, with a concentrated mind—that is of the nature of goodness.
- •Sattvic sacrifice is dutiful
- •No expectation of reward
- •Follow scriptures with concentration