Meditation and the 18 Virtues with Vikram Abhishek Mall

About this class

This six-month, 12-session program demystifies meditative practices and will take you on a progressive path of the various stages of concentration (Dharana) to meditation (Dhayna).

Guided by Vikram, each session will focus on using a specific type of meditation to meet a need – from maintaining external equilibrium to being able to observe how our emotions are triggered to experiencing oneness.

All sessions offer a mix of the following practices:

• Antar Mouna: the five stages of inner silence
• Antar Darshan: nine stages of the vision of the inner self/emotions
• Ajapa Japa: three stages of chanting
• Trataka: the inner and the outer five stages
• Yoga Nidra: preparation, intention setting, rotation of consciousness, breathing, images and resolution

Why should I attend?

The physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of regular meditative practice have been scientifically proven: meditation changes our brain waves and, in various states, brings about focus, awareness, truth, peace, compassion, and breakthrough realisations.

If you already practice meditation, this program will support you to hone your ability. If you are new to meditation and exploring the practice for yourself, you’ll greatly benefit from this comprehensive meditative learning journey with an expert in the field.

I’M READY. LET’S DO THIS!

What will I learn?

Over the course of six months, you’ll learn:

• The aim and process of meditation
• About yourself as a practitioner and what is required of you
• How to master noise and silence
• How to develop an awareness of what is happening externally: which of your senses is receiving the information and what is your internal reaction
• How to maintain equilibrium
• How to connect to the deep-rooted underlying mental processes that trigger memories
• To develop radical compassion or equanimity to internal and external reactions
• How to hone your ability to step in and out of different stages of practice
• The 18 virtues essential for understanding “essence”

You will need to adhere to certain practices during each of the 12 consecutive sessions. We encourage you to check in with your facilitator Vikram as often as necessary.

Month 1
Objective: Observe senses and internal reactions
Focus: Virtues of serenity, regularity, and absence of vanity
Practice: Antar Mouna stages 1-2, Antar Darshan stages 1-3, Ajapa Japa and Pratipaksha Bhavna (counter view or radical compassion)

Month 2
Objective: Maintain external equilibrium
Focus: Virtues of sincerity, simplicity, veracity, and equanimity
Practice: Antar Mouna up to stage 4, Antar Darshan up to stage 7 plus abstract meditation on “Who Am I?” Yoga Nidra

Month 3
Objective: Observe the triggering of emotions
Focus: Virtues of fixity, non-irritability, adaptability, humility, tenacity
Practice: Trataka, Yoga Nidra, Antar darshan (all stages) and AnMounaouna stages 2-3

Month 4
Objective: Absolution and development of boundaries
Focus: Virtues of integrity, nobility, magnanimity
Practice: Abstract meditation “Who am I?”, Antar Mouna stages 1-4 and Aum Meditation

Month 5
Objective: Experiencing oneness
Focus: Virtues of charity, generosity, and purity
Practice: Yoga Nidra to serve, love, give and receive

Month 6
Wrap-up, sharing and way forward, closing meditation.