Attitude of Gratitude Meditation

This lecture was taught by Yogi Bhajan on June 26, 1998 at the Summer Solstice Sadhana at Ram Das Puri.

You can watch the original video here, or scroll down for his words, or scroll further down for the meditation instructions and music for practicing the meditation.

Full Video Lecture

Written Text for the Meditation Portion of the Lecture

So we have a very good mantra which creates prosperity.  You do not understand mantra.  Mantra is Mann-Tra. It is a mental projected vibration which entangles with Infinity and creates the effect. It is a sound system which you, I, me, we, they, thou can all create. It has nothing to do with what you feel or what you are, but it is when all the vibrations of yours and the environment has gone negative, that is the moment.

We who practice Kundalini Yoga have no right to initiate anybody. Because if somebody cannot initiate himself and herself, we should not be foolish to initiate. So basically, the law is that you have to be you to start with, and then you grow.  Because you have three parts in you.  One is a demon part, one is a human part, the other is angelic part. So at least you should accept yourself, you are human and not talk negative, think negative, let down somebody, participate in letdown.  You should be always aware that any word negative you say, that negates you hundred time more than it means anything to anybody.

What happens when you speak positive? When you speak positive, there is no negative left to express and then there is a gap. In that gap comes then the super positive, and that’s what in English we call it God. Therefore, it is an attitude of gratitude.

Attitude of gratitude is when you are grateful for every breath of life. Now people say, ‘what should we do when we feel something is wrong?’  When there is something wrong, feel that thank God that it is not you. When you feel there is something good, thank God that you have learnt something to be.

And this way you can process your life and progress your life. What will happen? You will get high spirited. You would rise and to fill the vacuum from the nature, will come the wealth and prosperity. Otherwise, your poverty is proportionate to your emotionalism. And your bad relationship and bad sex and bad marriage is equal to your commotionism (commotionalism). These are forces. I am not saying get rid of them. I am saying they will get rid of you. There is nothing you can do. You may try your best.

Some people are most inhuman idiots. They are so insecure for everything. They have not learned that God who can rotate this Earth for you, and make day and night, that God can take care of your routine if you allow it to be. But you don’t allow it. If you say, I want to be your friend. I say okay let us be friend, let us shake hand. You say no. I want your measurements. Size of your eyes, length of your nose, thickness of your lips.  How many friends will be to each other?  And if you do not know, we all do this to each other. We do not want to know how good we are.  We want to know how bad everybody is. And this is the way we can never ever find our goodness. If somebody is bad let it be. But you try not to be bad.

So this day, we are going to celebrate prosperity.  We have done well in this whole system and you are part of my system and I am part of your system. But this is what we are going to do.

You are going to sit straight holding your elbows and your belly in. Chin in, chest out. Chin in, chest out, all right? Close your eyes. Try to mentally straighten out your spine, so channel can be clear. Lock your hands so comfortable that you have your elbows in your hand very comfortably.

Har, har, har, har….

Steady.  Keep your spine straight.  Chin in, chest out.  Breathe long and deep.  And moment the tape comes to you, you can chant with it.

(The tape ‘Har Har Gobinday….’ is played in the class)

(The class chants along with the tape)

YB (Over the tape): Whisper.  Whisper powerfully.  Use the pranic power. Try.  See what it does for you. Whisper strongly.

Go silent and only chant with your breath. Just move the breath. From the navel.

Body will start going through changes now.  Sit straight as much you can. Lock your elbows and contain the flow of your energy. Move the navel in the breath.

Inhale.

(Tape stops)

Inhale deep and stretch your spine as much you can. And squeeze your area where your elbow is locked. And with a cannon fire, exhale. Inhale deep again.  Hold tight.  Hold the elbows tight and squeeze every part of your being. Fire out. If you have failed twice, don’t fail now.  Inhale deep. Squeeze your cells and your ribcage. Fire out. Relax.

When you chant this mantra with the breath of life, you tap into all angels of the universe, including your own great ancestors who have a qualifying life of an angel. So the last few minutes which you have chanted is quick, it’s fast, it is purposeful, it brings in what you need to get in.

Instructions and Music for the Meditation

POSTURE

Sit in Easy Pose with a straight spine, chin in, chest out, belly in. Physically and mentally straighten your spine, so the channels can be clear.

MUDRA

Bend the elbows down by the sides and cross the forearms over the diaphragm area, parallel to the floor, right on top, left underneath. Grab the right elbow with the left hand and the left elbow with the right hand. Comfortably lock your hands so that you have the elbows in your hands.

EYES

The eyes are closed.

BREATH

Breathe long and deep for 1 to 2 minutes before beginning to chant.

MANTRA

Har Har Har Har Gobinday
Har Har Har Har Mukanday
Har Har Har Har Udaoray
Har Har Har Har Apaaray
Har Har Har Har Hareeang
Har Har Har Har Kareeang
Har Har Har Har Nirnaamay
Har Har Har Har Akaamay

Nirinjan Kaur’s version of this mantra was used in class.

TIME

Chant the mantra out loud from the navel. Continue for 1 minute.

Then whisper powerfully. Use the pranic power. Keep the navel engaged. Continue for 3 ½ minutes.

Then chant silently. Move the breath with the navel. Keep the navel moving as if you were chanting, but you are silently chanting with the mantra. Continue for 8 minutes.

TO END

Inhale deeply, stretch your spine as much as you can while squeezing the ribcage, the area where your elbows are locked, as well as every part of your body. Hold for 15-20 seconds. Cannon Fire exhale through the mouth. Repeat for a total of 3 times. Relax.