What are the Symptoms of Distractions?
Sorrow & Frustration Arising from Lack of Achievement Obstruct Meditation
Join our worldwide livestream for a free fellowship with our Himalayan siddha monk and living saint, His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda. In light of ongoing challenging times His Holiness has consented to deliver this continuing series of extraordinary discourses related to self-empowerment.
Experience an insightful discourse about the symptoms of distractions:
What are the symptoms of distractions and how many are there?
What do these symptoms indicate about the nine impediments to meditation?
Are sorrow and frustration the fundamental disturbances?
Do these disturbances take place in a distracted state of mind?
Do these disturbances take place in a reposeful mind?
About the Discourse
His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda will expand on the Yogasutra framework of symptoms that clearly identify the nature of mental and physical disturbances. He will expand on the nature of sorrow, frustration and accompanying palpable symptoms of mental and physical disturbances.
As long as these symptoms linger, the aspirant cannot breakthrough to attain a reposeful calm mind that allow one-pointed concentration.
Destruction of the distractions (or impediments) and overcoming the symptoms of mental and physical disturbances allow for the mind to naturally attain steady concentration. When concentration is established, the mind field (chitta) remains firm in the attained state and meditation is then said to be spontaneous and effortless.
His Holiness will explain the full meaning and Sage Vyasa’s commentary of Aphorism-31 in Chapter-1 from Patanjali Yogasutra to elaborate on each of the symptoms in a manner that allows the aspirant to grasp what thought waves and emotions are conducive for spiritual practice (sādhanā) and the fluctuations that obstruct the reflective clarity of meditative calmness. Examples of conducive thought waves include devotional thoughts, right understanding of tenets of truth and affirmation of self-study.
Any persistent practice of higher yoga or meditation will require an understanding of the distractions or impediments, their symptoms that cloud the practitioner with sadness and dejection, and the method of their stoppage by embracing the rectification.
Each person is potentially divine. Divinity can be unraveled through mindful voluntary action related to higher yoga and meditation. Although godliness exists in potential form, it needs a reason to express itself. Voluntary action needs to be effected mindfully to obtain desired results. If higher yoga is practiced voluntarily and diligently, the practitioner may attain liberation even in a single lifetime.
His Holiness will deliver this discourse as a spiritual message and address the need of taking bonafide approaches for solving the dilemma or crisis, rather than trying shortcut power-yoga or intellectually attractive methods of resolution that do not work.
Additionally, feel the impact of sublime Sanskrit chanting and darshan blessings during the broadcast. The livestream fellowship will conclude with vespers (ārati). We will be streaming live from Santa Barbara in California. We are happy to share that we have invested in a backup internet service provider to ensure a more seamless transmission of our livestreams going forward.
How to Access the Livestream
After registering you will receive a confirmation email with the link and password necessary to view. Registration is free with options to donate. Please be mindful to type your primary email address free from any typos when registering – this will ensure that you receive the confirmation email with the login details.
We welcome you to forward this registration link to your friends and family who would be interested in registering for the livestream. New participants are welcome to register via the link above to receive the log-in details. If you have difficulties on the day of the live stream please refer to the troubleshooting notes that will be sent by email as part of your registration confirmation.
Connect your Computer to a TV
We encourage you to connect your laptop or computer to a TV and/or home stereo system for a better fellowship experience. If you have questions about how to connect your laptop to a TV please see here for a how-to article.
