|
The third kosha is the Manomaya Kosha. Manas means “composed
of mind”. The manomaya kosha, or “mind-sheath” is our “person or personality.”
This kosha is made up of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions as well as
our memory and imagination. It comprises both faculties of manas (mind) and
chitta (subconscious mind and memory). It is not our brain as a physical
organ but is the place where the thoughts and feelings originate and reside.
It represents our lower mind and reflects our “personhood” more than the
annamaya or pranaymaya koshas.
In a meditative vision or state, this mind is seen as a luminous
light situated above the medulla in the brain with rays of light illuminating
outward. In the Vedas it says, “Among all lights, the light of the mind
reaches the farthest.” This mind however, isn’t capable of reasoning or
discriminating but gives power to the senses. It collects sensory material
and then sends that information to the intellect. It also receives direction
from the intellect and sends that information to the senses. As it sends
information outward, the mind expands and projects its rays outward. However,
the intellect can also command the same mind to withdraw and become introverted
and peaceful (Swami Darmananda, Health and Yoga.com).
According to Ayurvedic physician Dr. Vasant Lad, sensory impressions
serve to feed the manomaya kosha. Our ability to process the world around
us, as well as our thoughts and dreams, are affected not only by the state
of the physical body, but also by how we treat the mind itself. Disturbing
images, experiences or trauma negatively affects the manomaya kosha. However,
meditation helps to rejuvenate this kosha. To see how strong the mind really
is, try resting your eyes on a point and concentrating on the sensation
of your breath rising and falling in your chest. See how long it takes before
a thought-wave, or vritti, passes by. This sheath definitely influences
prana and directs our thinking as well as feelings of pleasure and pain.
The manomaya kosha is also the cause of diversity, of I and
mine. Shankara, the first philosopher of Advaita Vedanta thought (defined
as non-dualistic or simply that God and man are one) described the manomaya
kosha as similar to the clouds that are brought in by the wind and driven
away by the same wind. Similarly, man’s bondage is caused by the mind, as
well as his liberation. This mind kosha however isn’t limited by the movement
and passage of time and space as are the physical and pranic koshas. The
mind sheath can move from the present into the past and on into the future.
In this sense, it possesses greater freedom than the other two koshas. The
mental sheath is the first to be able to move beyond its human form and to
experience some sense of the cosmic and universal reality. It can do this
through its relationship with the next sheath, the vijnanamaya kosha. It
is in the vijnanamaya kosha where the oscillations of the mind cease to exist.
Deepak Chopra, Ayurvedic physician and endocrinologist says
that to develop positive uses of the manomaya kosha you can:
1. Read and appreciate what is finest in human expression.
2. Allow ideas to come in that support wholeness over separation.
3. Resist Us-versus-Them thinking.
4. Examine your automatic reactions and second-hand beliefs.
5. Find every opportunity to welcome in signals from your higher self.
One way to support the manomaya kosha in your practice is to concentrate
on proper alignment. When your physical body is aligned, the breath is supported
and the mind has the opportunity to become more still. In pranayama, sit
in sukasana easy seated pose with a long spine using a smooth inhale and
exhale. Let your pelvis be slightly tipped forward. You can sit on the end
of a blanket if you find this position uncomfortable without support. The
blanket will help your pelvis tip in the proper direction so that your spine
can become long. Check to make sure that your ears are in line with your
shoulders. Relax your hands in your lap or rest them gently on your thighs.
Bring your focus to the bridge of your nose. Keep the inner body strong and
bright and let your outer body relax. If you don’t really know what this
looks like, watch a cat. They can relax completely and be so soft yet at
a moment’s notice spring into action. Their inner body brings them to quick
movement because they know how to relax over their core. This is “Inner body
kitty bright!”
Begin your asana practice by looking at your feet. How is
the alignment? Does one foot move outward or both feet? Can you find all
four corners of your feet and press down with equal pressure? Feel how when
you press down with the ball of your big toe the muscles in your ankles begin
to activate. Then press down with your inner heel and feel how your inner
thighs begin to engage. Next, press down with the ball of your little toe
and feel your knees begin to wake up. Finally, press down with your outer
heel and feel how your outer hips begin to engage.
You can move through your entire asana practice focusing on
the alignment of your feet. Notice how that changes your asanas. Find four
cornered feet in mountain pose, downward facing dog, warrior poses, triangle,
½ handstand, and even in handstand. Then do the same in seated asanas like
seated staff pose. Working the feet in this way will help strengthen your
arches, draw energy up from the earth, enliven the muscles in your lower
body and create proper alignment to help support your upper body.
To see a full class, please check out my website:
www.shreeyoga4u.com
Thank you and shanti.
As a lifelong advocate of both physical fitness
and spiritual growth, Francesca finds the practice of yoga a natural.
She began studying yoga seriously 6 years ago when first introduced to
the philosophy and alignment principals of Anusara Yoga. She is now a
registered SOYA yoga instructor with a RYT 500 designation with the Yoga
Alliance and is a faculty member of the South Okanagan Yoga Academy in B.C.
Canada. She says, “Taking the seat of the yoga teacher is a gift and a responsibility
given to me by my teachers. I take this position seriously since I now function
as both student and teacher. My desire is to share my love of yoga and
the philosophy that enlivens it with all my students.” She encourages people
of all ages, shapes, and sizes to come to class and enjoy the many benefits
of a yoga practice. You can email Francesca at francesca.shree@me.com or visit
her website for more information at www.shreeyoga4u.com
|
Yoga Teacher Training Programs
