Mastering the Mind:
The Yogic Path to Meditation
From a Monkey Mind
to Monk Mind
Welcome to the Meditation Course: A Journey From Monkey Mind to Monk Mind
Embark on a transformative journey into the nature of the mind, guided by the profound teachings of Swami Shambhudevananda, rooted in the timeless wisdom of Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda.
Before we can truly experience deep meditation, we must first come to know the very instrument through which all experience arises — the mind itself. This course invites you not just to learn about the mind intellectually, but to engage in heartfelt inquiry and gentle observation.
The mind is both our greatest ally and our deepest challenge. It shapes how we perceive reality and defines our sense of self, yet it often entangles us in cycles of restlessness, desire, and illusion.
Through this course, you will explore the patterns, tendencies, and obstacles that prevent stillness. You’ll learn how the mind functions as a subtle receptacle of past impressions and latent desires, how it creates meaning and illusions, and why understanding it is the key to true inner calm.
Prepare to cultivate patience, curiosity, and compassion for yourself as you begin the essential work of disidentifying from the restless mind, opening the door to genuine meditation, clarity, and freedom.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Understand the nature of the mind, its patterns, and obstacles to stillness
Discover how the nervous system and breath influence meditation
Reflect on the purpose of meditation and the call to go within
Identify common obstacles like distraction and doubt, and learn how to overcome them
Practice meditation techniques including posture, breath, and mantra
Experience the power of mantra to focus and dissolve ego
Develop inner strength and discipline to move from struggle to stillness
Session Themes
Understanding the Mind
The nature of the mind, its habits, and obstacles to stillness
Quote: “The mind is a bundle of habits. Change the habits, and you change the mind.” — Swami Sivananda
The Nervous System and the Role of Breath
How the autonomic nervous system affects meditation
Introduction to pranayama to prepare the field
Quote: “Slowing the breath slows the thoughts.” — Swamiji
Why Meditate & What Is Meditation?
Existential questions and the call to go within
Quote: “You live only once, they say. But the yogi answers: You live many times until you know who you are.”
Obstacles to Meditation & How to Overcome Them
Addressing distractions, restlessness, and doubt with compassion and clarity
Quote: “Even a wise man is pulled violently by the senses.” — Bhagavad Gita
How to Meditate & What to Do When It Doesn’t Work
Step-by-step guidance on posture, breath, mantra, and dealing with resistance
Quote: “The mind will try again and again to defeat you. You must be more persistent than your own thoughts.” — Swamiji
The Power of Mantra in Meditation
Understanding the vibrational force of mantra and its role in dissolving ego and focusing the mind
Quote: “Repeat the mantra with love, with full attention. Mantra is your anchor.” — Swamiji
From Struggle to Stillness
Cultivating inner strength, discipline, and grace through daily effort
Quote: “Freedom is won through struggle. The war within is greater than the war outside.” — Swami Sivananda