Chapter 17: The AUM Technique
Even though I do not have a lot to say about it, I thought it would be only fair to make a little tribute to this wonderful meditation technique. Dave taught me this technique right after the discipleship ceremony, and I’ve been practicing it in my sadhana ever since.
After more than a year doing the Energization Exercises and Hong-Sau almost regularly (and many more years not so regularly), learning a new technique was thrilling, though most of it was because it was the last step before Kriya. I was certain I would experience deep things once I learned Kriya, but I never gave much thought to the AUM technique. Rather, I automatically thought: “I probably won’t be able to hear a thing until after I get Kriya.” I am glad to say I got it wrong!
I introduced the technique into my sadhana after I got back to Canada. My practice of it is somewhat of a disaster: the technique requires the arms to be held up, doing a mudra (specific position of arms, fingers, legs, tongue or whatever that helps the purposes of the meditation, normally by directing energy), and I can’t hold them for more than two or three minutes without them getting too tired to allow me to pay any attention to the meditation. As a result of this, my mind is half on the meditation, half checking on my arms (mostly toward the end of the two-three minutes) and, to add to the “disaster”, since I’m not yet accustomed to the technique, I can’t focus deeply into it yet. All of this would make one think the effects on my consciousness would be more disruptive than beneficial… well, they aren’t.
Even if I do it only for two or three minutes, even if my mind tries to divert to the pain in my arms, even if I’m not yet used to it, the technique gives me a peace so deep and so drastic that I couldn’t believe it the first time! It took me about a week of experiencing the same result every time to convince myself that it was the AUM meditation which caused this! It is beyond anything I had experienced before in meditation (regularly), but it helps to deepen the rest of it. Talking about synergy!
Hopefully the problem with my arms will go away soon: I ordered an AUM board by Internet, and I expect it should be here within two weeks at most (I certainly hope so!). These boards serve the purpose of giving support to the elbows so this problem is avoided!
In conclusion, let me say it loud and clear: I was wrong for discarding the AUM technique so hastily as only one more step toward Kriya. I see now that it’s a very powerful meditation, and I’m grateful I received it!
Previous: Chapter 16: Discipleship
Next: Chapter 18: Swami Kriyananda
