TV Channel

For good things, there is always a good time. For bad things, no time is a good time. This is the first principle. Secondly, it is best to meditate when the stomach is a little empty, meaning about two or three hours after eating. If you must meditate immediately after a meal, then sit in Vajrāsana (I will show this posture later). When you sit for meditation feeling drowsy, that meditation has a mixed quality. It is a state of Tandrā Avasthā or Nidrā Avasthā; you are half-asleep, drowsing and half-meditating. In such a state, you should either sleep properly or go for a short walk first. A very good time for meditation is whenever you find a peaceful moment of free time. However, do not meditate in your office during work hours. If you go to your office and, during working time, sit in front of the computer and begin meditating, your boss, director, or the company owner will naturally not appreciate it. He pays you to work, not to meditate at that unusual time. The best time for meditation, when you receive more spiritual energy and experience quicker development on the spiritual path, is the morning before sunrise. This is called Brahma Muhūrta. Brahma Muhūrta means the time of the Supreme. Anything you begin at that time, you need not check the constellation for auspiciousness; Brahma Muhūrta itself is always the best constellation. Brahma Muhūrta begins exactly at dawn, which signifies the awakening of consciousness. The flowers awaken, nature awakes, the birds and animals awake, and the yogīs also wake up to sit in meditation. The only ones who do not awake are the lazy ones and alcoholics, who are still up at night until 2 or 3 AM with alcohol or gambling, and then sleep; they cannot take the benefit of Brahma Muhūrta. Holy Gurujī used to say that a sinner who had many sins in a past life enjoys a sweet sleep during Brahma Muhūrta. That time is so sweet. It is said: "O human, you miss the golden time. You missed it for what? God gave you the time and human life; this is the Brahma Muhūrta to collect the best qualities and energies." Therefore, as the English saying goes, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wise"—and wealthy too, because he goes to work early. The early bird finds the first worm, or rather, let's say the first corn. So, Brahma Muhūrta, Uṣā—the first sun ray that breaks through the dark night—that first ray is called Uṣṇī. That Uṣṇī ray possesses so many qualities; it is miraculous. When you consciously meditate at that time, then Kuṇḍalinī awakens within you, and peace and harmony awaken. At that time, there is no conflict. The only conflict you might have is if you had a bad dream, such as fighting with a partner or business partner in the dream. Therefore, go to sleep early so you can wake up early. We practice Uṣā Pāna. Uṣā Pāna means to drink morning water. If possible, keep water in your room in a copper pot, covered, at room temperature. In the morning, get up and drink one big glass of this Uṣā water. This will greatly benefit your health. There has been research in India suggesting that when you wake up in the morning, you should drink one liter of water, take a five or ten-minute walk (even just around the room), and then meditate. You will see a very positive change in your body. You can try it; what is the harm if it does no bad? You will see the benefit. This is why in yoga we have Uṣā Pāna. That early morning water becomes like amṛta (nectar). If you can place a few glass bottles together—one glass here, one there, and one in the middle—and then drink the water from the middle glass, it will have even greater quality. Thus, the best time for meditation is in the morning from when dawn begins until sunrise. Sunrise signifies rising up, like levitation. As the sun goes up, you also go up. It means get up, do āsanas and prāṇāyāma, and then proceed with your day—prāṇāyāma will energize you for work. Alternatively, you can meditate before you go to sleep, as that is also a time when you have peace and time. But otherwise, meditating at any time of the day is perfectly fine. --- Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Weekend seminar