Developed by international lecturer and author Dr. Michael Mamas, Surya meditation, like other meditations styles and techniques, is a skill that develops with patience and practice. Unlike other meditations, Surya meditation is not a manipulation of awareness or the contents of the mind. It is not a guided visualization, and is without mantras, does not impose any methods of concentration, nor does it encourage a resistance to the swelling of thoughts or external sounds. Often called 'effortless meditation', Surya simply requires an open mind and about 20 minutes time.
Why Surya Meditation?
There are thousands of meditation techniques, and for each one, there is a purpose; meditations to become rich, mediations to fall in love, meditations to make it rain. Surya meditation is the art by which human physiology is allowed to gravitate to where it naturally wants to go, towards greater health, happiness, and greater levels of creativity.
Meaning 'center' or 'core', Surya is founded on the principle of human physiology, that beneath the physical body and the mind/thought body is a deeper level of human consciousness, a place of stillness, a natural center that unifies us with all, the true self. Because this is inherent in all beings, we simply do not have to try to achieve this state of existence because it is already there. At the deepest level is the source and essence of the true self; because it is inherent in all beings the mind need not be forced into this place; in Surya, the mind is allowed to travel to this state of bliss, as it naturally wants to go there.
How Should I Meditate?
Teaching a meditation technique can be tricky; if a meditation model is established as a guide to for a practitioner, the meditation becomes not about the experience but about what should be happening or what the outcome is. The practitioner is focused on manipulating the meditation so that the experience matches what he/she has been directed to achieve.
Attempts to still the mind or suppress thoughts are forced methods of manipulation, and in this way, prevent the mind from resting in the deepest most natural state of consciousness. Though this may be the approach of some meditations, Surya meditation is both natural and simple in its method, and therefore it is best approached without any presuppositions or beliefs regarding how to properly meditate.
How To Practice Surya Meditation
To begin Surya find a comfortable place to rest; a quiet space free from distractions and stimulations. Free the mind of any restrictions or expectations; one need not try to meditate, but simply come to a place where both the physical body and the mind are in a state of rest. Posture is not important; whether seated upright or slouched against a wall, comfort is key. Engage whatever position that can be held without stress or strain to the body.
Once comfortable, simply close the eyes as a symbolic departure from the outside world, allowing the mind to transcend to a place of self-noticing. Allow the awareness to go in whatever direction it is pulled; it may be that thoughts arise, or sounds erupt, or sensations develop in the body. Do not be in opposition to such experiences, as these experiences are important to the process of transcending, they mark the unraveling of resistance as one slips deeper into the grandeur of consciousness.
It is recommended that Surya meditation be practiced twice a day, for twenty minutes at a time. After the twenty minutes, it is important to rest for 5 minutes more, to allow the awakened inner self a moment to integrate with the outer world. Because meditation is a subtle art, it requires practice to acquire the skills to develop the benefits of Surya meditation. It need not be learned from a teacher, nor does one need approval or guidance to meditate in this way. Simply close the eyes for twenty minutes and allow the mind to travel towards its most natural state. With practice, the time it takes to slip into the timeless state becomes less and less, and the practice of meditation becomes more powerful still.
How Do I Know Its Working?
In Surya meditation, there is no model of how it should be done, and no goal to obtain as the outcome of each practice. The mind need not be forced into a state of blankness or thoughtlessness, and there is no pressure to achieve anything in particular. Surya brings the meditator into a natural state of awareness, without judgment and without the effort of changing the experience to be anything other than it is. As the eyes remain closed the mind will naturally travel in the direction it wants to go, so long as it is given the freedom, time, and space to transcend.
And remember, every experience is unique to the individual. Some may experience increased restlessness, others may fall asleep: because Surya is directed at bridging the connection with the inner-most self, patience is truly all that is required for the flourishing of this practice. The nature of the mind naturally wants to gravitate towards a state of inner bliss; all we must do is allow it that.
Resources
Micheal Mamas, Mount Soma: Learn Meditation
Rasham Nassar - Rasham Nassar is an emerging writer from the California Bay Area. A graduate from the University of California at Berkeley, Rasham's ...
Join the Conversation