Happy Maha Shivarati Yogis

Maha Shivarati 'the great night of Shiva' is a celebration observed by Hindus, particularly Shaivites who are dedicated devotees to Lord Shiva. Each new moon is dedicated to Shiva but this specific festival falls on the 13th night/14th day during the dark waning moon of the month of Maagha or Phalguna in the Hindu calendar and this year on Monday 20th February. The celebration marks the night Shiva, the revered Lord of the Yogis and there is great tales of Hindu mythology attached to the festival.

A popular legend is that is the wedding day Shiva and Goddess Parvati, in the eternal union of Shiva and Shakti and when Shiva revealed himself as Lord of the Dance Nataraja performing the Tandava; the cosmic dance of the cycle of creation, preservation and primordial conception.

The celebrations include offerings to Lord Shiva, worship and ritual bathing of the phallic symbol Shiva Lingam, fasting for duration of day and night and staying up all night keeping vigil while chanting devotional mantras. Shivrati is considered especially auspicious for women, with married women praying for the good health and fortune for their husbands and sons and single women praying for a partner who embodies the characteristics of Shiva (yes please!). It is believed that when you utter the name of Shiva during this special time with pure devotion then you will be freed from all sins and will be rewarded with divine bliss, samadhi.

I would have loved to have been back in India to experience the festival but I am in Borneo for the last leg of trip before I return to India to settle into deeper studies. For the night of Maha Shivarati I will be attempting to climb and summit South East Asia's highest mountain Mount Kinabalu. Although I won't be able to honour a fast as I need all the energy I can get I will use the trek as an act of pilgrimage as I will be trekking through the night chanting the sacred mantra Om Namah Shivaya.

I have always fond something magical about staying up all night and watching the sunrise, like a dawning of a new perspective and higher consciousness which comes from preventing yourself from sleeping/losing consciousness. At the top I will meditate as the sunrises offering my practise in honour of the great Lord Shiva.

Shivohum

I that am Shiva

Shivohum

Shiva I am

Shivohum

I am that which prevails everywhere, complete in itself. I am Shiva; the deity of eternal bliss

An Introduction to Buddhist Meditation with Jina

Whilst in Unawutuna in Sri Lanka (which is probably one of the most naturally beautiful countries I have had the joy to visit; encompassing extraordinary mountain panoramas, lush green vistas of tea plantations, stunningly pristine beaches, ancient Buddhist temples and wonderful friendly people to add the cherry on the cake!) I had the very good fortune to meet Jina. Adam's auntie who had worked in Sri Lanka became close friends with Jina and recommended us to visit him. He also happens to be from our neck of the woods having worked in a restuarant in Croydon (the world is never as big as it seems) before moving to Sri Lanka.

I was also excited because Jina runs a renowned vegetarian restaurant - Jinas Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant - and I had found disappointingly slim pickings for veggies in Sri Lanka and so was looking forward to being catered for. And I wasn't dissapointed, Jina's restaurant is set in a beautiful, peaceful spot and offers my idea of food heaven; homemade bread and tzaziki, avocado salad, veg moussaka, vegan sugar free carrot cake and yummy yogi tea...the list goes on! Jina really creates food from the heart and soul and cooks with a Buddhist Zen approach.

But even better than the food is Jina's presence and his generousity to kindly offer an introduction to his Buddhist meditation practises with me.

Meditation on the Breath for the Rationale Mind

In our first session Jinas guides me through a meditation preparation exercise which focuses on developing the rationale, logic mind. The practise revolves around observing the breath, using the natural breath and not changing it in anyway, just watching the inhale and exhale. In the first part of the exercise count the breath at the end of each breath in a cycle up to ten breaths and then repeat over and over again. Then move on to counting the breath at the beginning of each breath cycle up to ten and repeating over and over again.

The next stage is counting the breath to ten in reptitive cycles while keeping the attention on the nose, feeling the sensation of the breath. Observing the cool air coming in and the warm air exhaling out. In the final stage let go of counting and purely observe the full breath, noting the begining, the belly rising, the progress of the breath, the pause and space at the end of the inhalation and then the belly sinking as exhaling and the end of the breath. There is no thought involved instead paying full attention to every physical sensation and detail of breathing. This then, eventually, leads into coming into pure stillness and just observing and letting go of any thoughts that arise.

The second session Jina leads me through meditation for compassion which works from the heart. He explains that it is important to balance both the heart and mind.

Compassion Meditation for the Heart

The practise begins by devoting love and compassion to yourself by directing energy inwards and using offerings such as;
May I be free from suffering
May I be healthy
May I be happy
May I be free from limiting beliefs
May I be kind
May I be peaceful
May I be inspired
May I be generous
May I be eternally grateful
May I be compassionate
May I be a source of light to those around me

The next step is to call to mind a close family member or best friend and send them offerings in the same way. Then extend this offering to a neutral person; someone you do not know soo well, an acquitance, someone you have lost touch with or see often but never really connected with. Next share with an 'enemy', someone you are not on best of terms with. Bring your energy and focus to a wider collective community, then to a country then to the world and extending out to the universe.

I typically devote my yoga practise to my loved ones, and I have found this particularly important whilst being away from home to connect to family and friends who I miss and to share the positive energy of experiences I am lucky enough to enjoy. But it has much more of a structure and I feel much more connected to this practise now that I have experienced Jina's teaching.

I have found it lovely and easy to incorporate these exercises into my practise, typically opening with the compassion meditation, moving into asana then closing with the rationale meditation. Or working on them as a distinct practise by preparing with pranayama such as nadi shodhana/alternate nostril breathing moving into mind meditation and then down into the heart.

As with most yogic exercises they do not need to be complex to have great benefits, what they need is consistant practise, commitment and focus. Jinas beautiful, healing presence is a testament to that.