Healing Power of Meditation

From the Back of the Book:

Healing through meditation

The numerous forms of meditation

The awesome power of mantras

The immense benefits of Pranayama

Physical, mental and Psychosomatic benefits

Auras and chakra meditation

The benefits of Kundalini awakening

Meditation is widely accepted as a method to reduce mental tensions and achieve inner peace and tranquility, leading to spiritual growth. In this book, various techniques are presented in easy step-by-step procedures, starting with simple techniques that can be practiced for just a few minutes.

The benefits are clearly described so that the practitioner can track his or her progress. The best traditions of meditation in India are presented so that modern folk with limited background of yoga and Indian philosophy can follow the steps. One can learn these techniques without a personal instructor. A detailed chapter on chakras and Kundalini yoga is valuable for serious meditators. The Buddhist meditations, widely used in the west and meant for awakening inner joy, are described in a separate chapter. Creative visualization - a meditational technique to achieve practical goals in business life - is described. The book dispels common doubts about the efficacy of meditation and guides and motivates the reader towards the best meditation practices.

About the Author:

Dr. N K Srinivasan was born in Chennai in 1943. He studied science at Vivekananda College, and later engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He obtained a doctorate in engineering from Columbia University, New York. Thereafter, he served BARC, ISRO, PSG College of Technology and DRDO in various capacities. He has authored four technical books.

Brought up in a deeply religious home, he learnt the scriptures under a vedic pundit, and later intensely studied the literature of Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi and Sri Ramakrishna. He practiced Transcendental Meditation for four years. After a traumatic experience in 1976, he was drawn to Paramahansa Yogananda and received initiation in Kriya Yoga from a monk of YSS/SRF, Ranchi and practiced it for nearly 15 years.

Since 1983, he has been imperceptibly influenced by Shirdi Sai Baba. He is the founder-trustee of two charitable trusts - one for blind children and the other for Shirdi Sai Vedanta. Married and with three children, he devotes his time of Yoga, Reiki, Vedanta and Sai Prachar.

This small book is aimed at providing practical techniques of meditation for the general reader. Whether religious or not, one can practise meditation for mind control to achieve mental poise (balance) and mental peace. In the modern, high-tension lifestyle, meditation for even 10 or 15 minutes can bring about great mental and physical relief and solace to a troubled mind. There are, of course, those who wish to pursue meditation as a spiritual effort or 'sadhana'.

We present several techniques commonly practised from Indian traditions over the ages. Starting with simple breath- watch, many methods used by yogis and monks are given in simple, easy steps, with numbered practice sessions. One should follow the steps carefully to derive maximum benefit. Certain meditations for healing are also included.

The present book carefully examines some of the controversial issues and presents the best approach or thinking known to the author. Several warnings are given so that the reader is not misled by teachers/ gurus who profess wrong or misguided teachings or practice.

Since meditations advanced by Buddhist monks are very important, a chapter is devoted for such practices. In fact, these methods originated in India and later spread to China, Japan and Tibet under the care of Buddhist clergy. A detailed account of chakras and related meditations are given; this is one of the major topics, often misinterpreted in yoga literature. For a beginner, the chapters on the benefits of meditation and frequently asked questions (FAQs) would clarify many common doubts and help to strengthen one's interest in meditation.

It is hoped that this small book will enable a beginner to learn the basics and to practise meditation in easy ways. The practise of meditation, even in a small way, will gradually enable the reader to realise his or her full potential as a human on this earth. Perseverance is required.