Mind, Mentors, Visualizations, and Vibhuti

Maharshi Patanjali, in Vibhuti Pada, the third chapter of Yog Sutras, says:

बलेषु हस्तिबलादीनि || 3.24||

By making samyama on the strength of the elephant etc, one obtains that strength.

Samyama is the combination of the last 3 stages of Ashtang Yog:

Dharana : Focus

Dhyana: Meditation

Samadhi: Union with the object of meditation

He also says :

मैत्र्यादिषु बलानि ||3.22||

Through samyama on friendliness and other similar virtues, one develops the powers of these qualities.

In simple words, it means, when we put complete focus, and concentrate on “Strength”, we acquire the strength of an elephant. So is true for other qualities, Maharshi teaches.

Science has proven this phenomenon [1][2]. Mental training employed by this study enhances the cortical output signal, which drives the muscles to a higher activation level and increases strength. Whatever qualities we focus on, increases the neural activity associated with those qualities and enhances our skills.

Science has proven and Professor Andrew Huberman teaches, just by thinking about movement, we activate our Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic pathway and increase our dopamine levels in this particular circuit that is responsible for movement and divergent creative thinking.

In Pran-Chakra-Pujanam, we use affirmation to think about the qualities of each chakra. We induce more power to the affirmation by keeping it as a blessing. By visualizing ourselves or our mentors, we build neural networks associated with the qualities we think about. We develop those qualities and imbibe them. Imagery remains a key psychological skill integral to a performer’s success [3].

I hope we all can, on regular basis, contemplate and have Samyama on the qualities that we desire to imbibe.

With love,

Suchi

Nov 16th 2023

#Pran-Chakra-Pujanam #MentalPower #Huberman_Lab

[1] From mental power to muscle power--gaining strength by using the mind; Vinoth K Ranganathan, Vlodek Siemionow, Jing Z Liu, Vinod Sahgal, Guang H Yue; PMID: 14998709

[2] The power of the mind: the cortex as a critical determinant of muscle strength/weakness

Brian C. Clark,Niladri K. Mahato, Masato Nakazawa, Timothy D. Law, and James S. Thomas; PMID: 25274345

[3] Psychological Imagery in Sport and Performance; Krista J. Munroe-Chandler and Michelle D. Guerrero