_________________________________________________________Welcome to Session 3 of the Meditation and Yoga Philosophy ecourse.Before we do meditation, asanas, eat or sleep, we do what's called a"half-bath."That doesn't mean you wash only one side of your body!The half-bath is the yogic way of balancing the body temperature andcalming and refreshing the mind. It works by cooling the body,especially the organs, which usually get heated in daily activity. The half-bath also stimulates what's known as the "dive reflex" (thesame one that enables dolphins and other marine mammals to conserveoxygen when they dive), lowering the heart rate, respiration andblood pressure.It also cools the brain directly through the optic nerves when yousplash water in your eyes, and it strengthens the eyes too.Here's how to do it:* Use cold water, or lukewarm water in cold weather.* First go to the toilet, then pour some cold water over the urinaryorgan.* Then pour water on your arms up to the elbows, and your legs up tothe knees.* Take a mouthful of water, and while holding the water in yourmouth, splash water in your eyes and on your face at least 12 times.It's best to keep your eyes open, so the water hitting the surfacecan directly cool the retina and optic nerve.* Wet the ears and the back of the neck.* Flush the nose with water (but only if your stomach is empty): suckwater into each nostril and spit it out through the mouth. You canswallow the water, but it's better to spit it out. If you can't suckit through to the mouth, blow it out the opposite nostril. If youcan't do that, then blow it out the same nostril.
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Now do meditation, asanas, massage and deep relaxation.Remember: it's a matter of practice to be able to concentrate on thefeeling of the mantra. Keep practicing. Every time you realize yourmind has wandered away from the mantra, concentrate on it again - itwill get easier the more you do it.
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Biopsychology is the science of the relationship between the glands,hormones and the mind. The glands are the link between the body andmind. They secrete the hormones that affect the way we feel. So theydetermine the emotions, based on signals from the mind. For example,we all know that we feel a fright in the gut. That's because the mindgives the "fright" signal to the adrenal glands at the level of thestomach. It can also work the other way as well: the glands alsoaffect the mind.Here are some examples:* Did you know that when the sex glands develop, we get the sense ofduty and responsibility? That's why children don't have such a goodsense of responsibility. The sex glands also give rationality andintelligence.* The prostate and other glands in the navel area develop around theage of five. That gives the feeling of shyness. Of course you'venoticed that children under five are not ashamed to run around naked.If there's an over-secretion of hormones from this area, it causesmental depression. An undersecretion causes increased fear.* We feel love in the heart through subtle glands in the chest.Normally that love is for our close family and friends, especiallychildren, but it can be expanded to universal love.* The thyroid gland (at the throat) controls the metabolism of thewhole body. It also gives the feeling of self-reliance. Theparathyroids (around the thyroid) cause intellectuality andrationality.* The pituitary gland (in the center of the brain) controls all thelower glands. It's also the seat of the mind. Through it, it'spossible to know everything - past, present and future!* The pineal gland - at the top of the brain - is the master gland.It controls the mind as well as the body. It's this gland that'sactivated when we meditate. The hormone melatonin, which it secretes,gives the feeling of bliss - infinite happiness.Continue your meditation to feel that bliss.
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