After Shaktipat
By Gurudevi Nirmalananda 
You are different after receiving Shaktipat. The difference is inside — a new spiritual depth. It changes everything, if you allow.
Meditation is how you allow the changes to deepen as well as to filter through your mind and heart. Chanting speeds it along. Mantra repetition in the midst of your day supports your inner depth while you are doing life.
Meditation
Your daily meditation helps you “lean into” the inner support that has opened up. It is Divine support, coming from your own Self.
Your meditation goes through five stages every time:
-
Preparation — steering your mind inward. Set up your seat, do a few minutes of mantra aloud or wave a candle flame to the Gurus. This makes your entry into meditation easier and quicker. If you skip this, your entry inward may be like choppy seas, making it hard to keep the mantra going inside. In Sanskrit, this is dharana (focusing, contemplation, filling your mind with God).
-
Settling Inward — as your mind flows with the mantra, Grace carries you deeper within. It is a relaxing or settling into Self. Your torso may tip forward, which unfortunately diminishes the energy current flowing through your spine, so it’s best if you stay upright. Props can help with this. In Sanskrit, this is dhyana (meditation, flow state).
-
Immersion — beyond time, beyond mind, you are deeply immersed in your own Divine Essence. You may not be aware while you are there, but when you bob out, you realize you had been deep. Dive back in again by returning to mantra. This is why you use a timer, to call your attention outward at the end of the full time you’ve allowed. This is samadhi (inner absorption, immersion).
-
Lingering — take a minute or three to linger on the threshold between inside and outside. Remind your mind that you are Shiva by repeating mantra while here. You can get enlightened by doing this! This is the vyutthana (liminal zone, threshold state).
-
Journaling — now is when you reprogram your mental software! Put a few words to how you feel now or what
you experienced in your meditation. Your mind learns from your words, changing the way it sees you and how it deals with the world.
Instead of meditating twice daily, it is better to have one meditation for a longer time. You get more time in the meditative states, dhyana and samadhi (#2 & 3 above).
Each stage takes 2-10 minutes, depending on the condition of your mind and body when you start. This is why yoga has poses and breathing practices, to support your meditation practice.
Minimum meditation time is 1 minute! The benefit is tangible, though it is probably equivalent to a japa session (below). You will get much more if you allot at least 20-30 minutes to the process. After all, you are working on getting enlightened. Three hours of meditation is your daily maximum. This preserves your ability to use your phone or computer, as well as drive and manage worldly activities
Chanting
Put on a recording and chant along. Yes, before meditation is great or at any time 
of the day. You can even dance to it! All of my recordings feature Sanskrit mantras, hymns or prayers, which vibrate all the way into Self.
Chanting engages your mind and heart, along with your breath and voice. This aligns multiple levels of your multidimensionality, which soothes your nervous system and reshapes your brain.
You cannot meditate all day long, but you can chant all day long. It’s a guaranteed pathway to the bliss of Consciousness. Test it yourself by listening to other music for 30 minutes, then sitting to meditate. Then play chants for 30 minutes and sit to meditate. Once you know the value of chanting, enjoy!
Japa
When life events are challenging, give yourself a japa session. Sit comfortably and repeat mantra aloud for 5 minutes. If you don’t feel better, do 5 minutes more. This will clear your head and heart as well as open up your breath, so you are better able to handle what’s going on.
You can do internal mantra repetition in the midst of activities as well. My Guru had us repeat mantra while falling asleep, and see if it was still going on when we roused to turn over as well as when we awoke.
If your mind isn’t repeating mantra, consider what it is repeating. Your thoughts are repetitive, but none of them are as uplifting as mantra. The meaning of the words is uplifting on their own. But it is the enlightenment energy infused into the mantra that really makes it work. Anytime you get the mantra going inside, you step into the river of Grace, the power of revelation that reveals your own Divinity to you.
Staying Connected
When something makes you feel better, you want to repeat it. This is true of favorite foods, people and worldly activities. It also applies to your spiritual development. Growing into your own Self is the most delicious of all.
Check out our Freebies. I have created an abundance of yogic opportunities for you. I add to it every day. The best way to stay connected is with our Daily E-Quotes, delivering teachings and Ashram news to your inbox. Plus you have our blogs, videos and social media posts to tickle your fancy.
I lead satsangs (meditation programs) twice weekly as well as our daily Meditation Club. Online makes it easy for you. And if you live nearby, I would love to see you in-person for satsangs.
Nourish the Shakti
Bottom line, nourish the Shakti. The Divine energy of Consciousness has been awakened in you, like a beam of light shining up your spine. Unfortunately, you probably already know how to hide your own light, even covering it over with old habits and trigger-finger reactivity to life.
Cultivate equanimity, a profound depth and peace that supports you in the midst of life. Use mantra to base yourself in the deeper dimension of your own being. And meditate every day!
Svaroopa® Yoga
Being carried, being propelled, deeper than you can go on your own - this is the gift of Grace.