Hari Om
~~~~~~
Namaste,
Here's a few ideas for the forum to consider and discuss on meditation times (or Sandhya upasana).
It is very traditional to meditate AM and PM - where does this come from?
This is based upon 'gaps' in the day called Sandhya. This 'Sandhya' is considered a junction point in time, and upasana, in one form is meditation.
So, today many meditate AM and PM... there are junction points at these times . What's the junction? Twilight or the changing of the sun's (surya) position in the sky that can translate to ones meditation experiences. The sun plays a key role in timing everything on earth AND is the atman or soul indicator (Atmakaraka) for all on this planet. Since meditation deals with realizing the SELF ( Atman) , the sun has its influence here.
There are additonal junction points [sandhya]: Sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight are considered the key sandhya times during the day.
Also note there are these junction points during the 12 months as the sun, surya transits one sign to another [sankrati]; Like that, there are multiple other times, but for now lets look at the following:
As we meditate close to these junctions, it is thought that Turiya consciousness (4th state) is closer or easier to reach, hence the value of these times. For those on a special program e.g. gayatri, usually all 4 times are used...
- Morning is Brahma Muhurta Sandhya
- Noon for Vishnu Sandhya
- Sunset called Mahesha Sandhya
- Midnight called Kali or Turiya Sandhya
So, A.M. is Brahma Sandhya - a excellent time - around the time before sunrise. I have without fail enjoyed the best experiences at this time, as it is said, all nature wakes up at this time. You can (I can) feel the whoosh of life's energy begin at this time.
And PM, is Mahesha Sandhya ~ around sunset/twilight, just as the sun goes down below the horizon i.e. twilight.
Length of Meditation ( this is not instruction, just the notion of times considered)
Lets start with Muhurta. This is a specific period of time e.g. 1/30th of the day is (1) muhurta or 48 minutes. The math here is interesting as it goes all the way back to the smallest period of time ( truti) and all the way up to 100 years of Brahma ( a few zillion years or so) - but I digress.
Meditation times can be based upon muhurta. For some in the TM program they initially meditate ~ 20 min + a few min entering and exiting meditation, its 1/2 of a muhurta ... ~ 24 min, Done 2X per day , you get your 1 Muhurta. There's the audit trail.
For others meditating longer meditation times can be used [as with my own practice] and consider whole or parts of muhurta for timing meditation.
Other bigger gaps we can consider called sankranti as mentioned, happens often; A major transit this month is Guru ( Jupiter, some call Brihaspati) transits into Scorpio , a very spiritual 8th house, around Oct 21-24th.
Other times come with Chandra ( moon) and the movement from rasi to rasi, plus tithi period , + waxing and wanning.
More on this if there is interest.
pranams
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