18 Virtues and Meditation by Vikram Abhishek Mall

About this Class

This 6-month, 12 session program demystifies meditative practices and will take you on a progressive path of the various stages of Concentration or Dharana to Dhayna or Meditation. Sessions include exchange of knowledge with clearly defined practices for each stage.

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 break through realizations. If you already practice, this program will support you to hone your ability; if you are new and exploring, you will benefit from this comprehensive meditative learning journey.

What will I learn?

• The aim and process of meditation
• You 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
• Maintaining equilibrium
• Connecting to deep-rooted underlying mind processes that trigger memories
• Developing radical compassion or equanimity to internal and external reactions
• Honing the ability to step in and out of different stages of practice
• 18 virtues essential for understanding essence

Format and Schedule

12 sessions x 2 hours over 6 months

 All sessions are a mix of the following practices:

• Antar Mouna: inner silence 5 stages
• Antar Darshan: vision of the inner self/emotions 9 stages
• Ajapa Japa: chanting 3 stages
• Trataka: the inner and the outer 5 stages
• Yog Nidra: preparation, intention setting, rotation of consciousness, breathing, images, resolve

You will adhere to certain practices during consecutive sessions. You are encouraged to check in with your facilitator as often as necessary. A description of each session is shared below:

Month 1
Objective: Observe sense and internal reaction
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 triggering of emotions
Focus: Virtues of fixity, non-irritability, adaptability, humility, tenacity
Practice: Trataka, Yoga Nidra, Antar darshan all stages and Antar mouna 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 serve, love, give and learning to receive

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

Your teacher

Vikram Abhishek Mall

Vikram Abhishek Mall has trained with the famous Bihar School of Yoga at Munger, India and with Arsha Yoga Peetham, Combatore, India. He also has experimented with various schools of meditation and pranayama. Early in his career he was a farmer and ran a poultry breeding farm for 4 years. After a fulfilling and adventurous farming stint, he worked with Dr Subhashini Passi, Institute of Creative Thinking, Indore, India, working for three years teaching Creativity, Whole Brain Thinking and Leadership.

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