Discovering Active Meditation: The Tejas Practice

Understanding Active Meditation and the Tejas Practice

Active Meditation aims to engage your entire being. The Tejas Practice is a perfect example of this, as it is an active meditative practice focused on harnessing one's full energy, awareness, and presence. It unfolds through seven distinct stages, each crafted to systematically awaken the body, clear the mind, and deepen the breath. This leads to a state of profound inner silence and observation.

Preparatory Requirements for the Tejas Practice

Before you begin, it is essential to prepare your space and yourself to ensure a safe and effective session.

• Surface: Always practice on a soft surface like a sponge or yoga mat.

• Stomach: Practice on an empty stomach to avoid discomfort.

• Eyes: The entire practice is performed with your eyes closed to encourage inward focus.

  
  

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The Seven Stages of Tejas Practice

The Tejas Practice is a journey through seven stages, each with a unique focus and technique. Let's explore each stage in detail.

Stage One: Awakening the Body

(Duration: 5 minutes)

The first stage of this Active Meditation is designed to awaken the physical body.

1. Posture: Sit in a lotus pose or any comfortable cross-legged position.

2. Movement: Place your hands beside your hips and use your fingers to press down, lifting your pelvis steadily and then dropping it back down.

3. Focus: Ensure only the hips rise and fall while your legs remain grounded.

4. Chant: Synchronize this rhythmic movement with the chanting of "FUM".

   
   

We awaken our energy in the root chakra; the mantra FUM helps activate the Muladhara chakra. Therefore, during practice, it is advisable to keep your attention in this center for the first 5 minutes of meditation. You will become more sensitive and aware of what is happening with your energy and body, and your practice will become more effective. It is important to synchronize your movements with the chanting of the mantra.

Stages Two, Three, and Four: The Power of Sound and Mudra

These stages shift the focus to sound vibration, which is a core component of this Active Meditation. A specific hand gesture, or mudra, is introduced here. The mudra involves bending the index finger to rest across the thumb, and also bending the middle and ring fingers so their tips touch the thumb.

Stage Two (10 minutes)

While holding the mudra with a straight back and hands on your knees, chant "hum" with full energy.

We raise our energy to the Manipura chakra (the fire center) and purify it by chanting the mantra HUM loudly and quickly (one exhalation – one sound). The mantra HUM activates this chakra.

The energy accumulated in the root chakra is quite dense, so 10 minutes of practice with the mantra HUM while focusing on the solar plexus and navel area (Manipura) makes the energy refined and pure, while our sensations become clearer and more elevated.

Stage Three (10 minutes)

The chant evolves to "HAM", maintaining the same rhythm and focus. The Tejas Practice emphasizes putting your full energy into the sound.

We chant the mantra just as loudly and quickly, while doing our best to keep 100% of our attention in the heart center – the Anahata chakra.

The mantra HAM activates the heart chakra. The purified energy from Manipura is neutral – it has no vector, and therefore can be either destructive or creative.

That is why it is very important to direct it toward creativity and spirituality.

To do this, we raise it to the heart center and infuse it with the highest feelings of love, kindness, compassion, and joy. We define it through these experiences.

Stage Four

This stage continues with the "combination," building upon the previous sounds to deepen the meditative state.

We chant both mantras HUM–HAM: one exhalation – HUM, the next – HAM, in strict sequence. This combination of neutral (negative) and positive energy creates a powerful energetic vortex.

At this stage, our consciousness is usually completely freed from thoughts and emotions, and we literally leap from the conscious to the superconscious level. Here you may experience deep meditation and complete silence, even while your body is at the limit of its physical capacity.

In this state, you realize how much you are not your body, how unlimited and separate from it you truly are. If possible, keep your attention on the throat area – the Vishuddhi chakra.

Stages Five and Six: Evolving the Breath

Here, the practice intensifies through powerful breathing techniques.

Stage Five (5 minutes)

Interlace your fingers tightly and hold them a short distance from your stomach. Begin a cycle of rapid breathing: a gentle 1-second inhale followed by a forceful 4-second exhale, fully pressing the abdominal muscles inward toward the spine on the exhale.

In this way, we direct our energy into the central channel – Sushumna – and push it upward toward the higher chakras (Ajna, Sahasrara). During this stage, you may feel this upward flow of energy, observe it, and consciously guide it to the highest chakras.

Stage Six (5 minutes)

We perform a full yogic inhalation, expanding the chest and abdomen, followed by a quick, intense, full exhalation, contracting the abdominal muscles inward and reducing the chest volume.

This must be done quickly but fully. Imagine that with the inhalation, the breath fills you from top to bottom, all the way to the Muladhara chakra.

Such intensive full breathing spreads energy throughout the entire body, cleansing and activating the whole system. At this stage, you may deeply feel and sense your body – the heartbeat, the circulation of blood throughout the body.

Stage Seven: Silent Meditation and Observation

(Duration: 20 minutes)

The final stage of the Tejas Practice is one of stillness and pure observation. Release the hand mudra and simply sit in silent meditation. The goal is to allow the mind to become completely silent.

We stop completely, becoming still, and hold our breath for as long as comfortably possible. This is a sacred moment of complete silence – of non-being. It may be an experience of enlightenment, even if just for a brief moment. But you can feel it.

In this state, you may sense the blood circulating in your body and become fully aware of your internal landscape. It is crucial to resist drowsiness and maintain conscious attentiveness. This final phase of Active Meditation trains you to become a "watcher," observing what is not a part of you.

Afterwards, we return to natural breathing – like children, without controlling it, letting it be spontaneous. We observe everything happening in our body, attuning ourselves to the subtlest vibrations and sensations.

If thoughts arise, we neither dive into them, nor analyze them, nor chase them away – we simply observe them, just like any natural process around us.

Additional Recommendations to Practice:

1. Pronounce the sound properly.

2. No whispering; pronounce the sound with full opening (wide) of the mouth.

3. Sound shouldn’t be nasal.

4. One breath, one sound.

5. No mouth breathing.

6. Keep your body relaxed during practice.

7. Keep your eyes closed during the whole practice.

   
   

Precautions

• Avoid this practice if you have high blood pressure.

• Do not practice if you suffer from heart problems.

• Refrain if you experience epilepsy or vertigo.

• Pregnant women should not perform this practice.

• Women with painful menstruation are advised to avoid it.

• If practiced despite mild conditions, do it slowly, gently, and with full attention to the body’s signals.

• Stop immediately if any discomfort, strain, or uneasiness occurs.

  
  

Conclusion

Active Meditation, particularly through the disciplined structure of the Tejas Practice, offers a profound path to self-awareness. By integrating movement, sound, and breathwork, this practice helps quiet the mind's chatter and connects you to a deeper, more observant state of being. Embracing this step-by-step method can unlock a powerful sense of presence and inner peace, making it a valuable tool for anyone seeking a more dynamic and engaging meditative experience.

FAQs

1. What is the primary goal of the Tejas Practice?

The Tejas Practice is an Active Meditation that aims to engage one's full energy, awareness, and presence, progressing through seven stages to awaken the body, mind, and breath.

2. Are there any specific requirements before starting?

Yes, practitioners should always use a sponge or yoga mat, practice on an empty stomach, and keep their eyes closed throughout the entire session.

3. What chants are used during the practice?

The practice uses specific chants in a sequence: "FUM" in Stage One, "HUM" in Stage Two, "HAM" in Stage Three, and a "HUM-HAM" in Stage Four.

4. Can you describe the hand gesture used?

The mudra for Stages Two, Three, and Four involves bending the index finger across the thumb, while the middle and ring fingers also bend to touch the thumb.

5. What is the purpose of the final meditation stage?

The 20-minute final stage is for silent observation. The goal is for the mind to become completely silent, allowing the practitioner to become a "watcher" of their internal state and sense what is not a part of their true self.