Hour 70 Meditation – Gourishankar Meditation – Awakening the Pineal

Gourishankar Meditation – Awakening the Pineal

Introduction to Gourishankar Meditation

Gourishankar Meditation is one of Osho’s advanced meditations that are meant to awaken and activate the higher centers of consciousness, targeting specifically the pineal gland. The pineal gland, also called the “third eye,” is a small but very powerful organ found in the middle of the brain. The pineal gland is linked with spiritual awareness, higher awareness, and inner vision, and it is therefore an important point in the activation of higher consciousness.

The term “Gourishankar” is derived from Lord Shiva’s mount, Mount Kailash, or Mount Gourishankar. The meditation is intended to awaken the divine power within, opening doors to greater awareness and spiritual understanding. In this meditation, the emphasis is on using the body’s energy, especially through the stimulation of the pineal gland, to raise consciousness and attain states of inner peace and clarity.

The Phases of Gourishankar Meditation

Gourishankar Meditation consists of three phases, each designed to slowly prepare the body and mind to feel increased awareness. The process is intense and requires physical engagement and focus, but the payoff is immense. The practice as a whole generally takes around 60 minutes, and it is best practiced in a quiet and serene area where you can sit without interruption. The following are the phases of this meditation:

Phase 1: Rapid Breathing and Activation of Energy (15 minutes)

Goal: To awaken the physical body and create energy that will stimulate the pineal gland.

The initial phase consists of rapid, shallow breathing, which energizes the body and creates a heightened state of consciousness. This phase prepares the body and mind for the subtler and more focused work in subsequent phases of meditation.

Technique:

Sit in a relaxed position, either on the floor with crossed legs or on a chair with feet placed flat on the ground.

Start by taking quick, shallow breaths through your nose. The breath must be quick and energizing, prioritizing inhalation and exhalation over resting between breaths.

As you breathe quickly, sense the energy start to flow through your body. The intention is to create a feeling of vitality and energy.

Keep your eyes shut, and allow the body to move with the rhythm of your breath. Let your chest and belly expand and contract naturally as you breathe.

The concept is to enhance the flow of energy through your body, which serves to prime the pineal gland for activation.

Benefits:

This stage oxygenates the body and energizes the nervous system, heightening alertness and energy levels.

The rapid breathing serves to clear out any stagnant energy, placing the practitioner in a more alert state.

By engaging the body in this manner, the meditation starts to pierce the mental blocks that normally limit spiritual experience.

Phase 2: Holding the Breath (10 minutes)

Goal: To generate internal pressure and concentrate on the pineal gland, triggering its awakening.

During this stage, you will retain your breath after breathing in, which creates internal pressure that aids in stimulating the third eye. The pressure along with concentrated awareness on the location of the pineal gland is said to result in profound spiritual awareness and enlightenment.

Technique:

Breathe in deeply, retaining your breath as long as you feel comfortable.

As you keep the breath in, concentrate all your awareness on the center of your forehead, where the pineal gland resides.

Sense the space between your eyebrows become filled with awareness and energy. Imagine that the pineal gland is starting to wake up, as if a light is gradually beginning to shine inside you.

When you must exhale, exhale slowly and gently, then breathe normally a few times before repeating the exercise.

In this stage, the body should remain stationary, concentrating only on your breath and the sensation at the center of your forehead.

Advantages:

Retaining the breath builds up internal pressure and allows for the release of stored energy.

By concentrating on the pineal gland during the breath hold, you start to awaken it, opening up the “third eye” center to awareness.

This stage can also induce feelings of increased awareness and subtle energy sensations, as the practitioner becomes more sensitive to the inner processes of the body and mind.

Phase 3: Deep Relaxation and Stillness (35 minutes)

Objective: To integrate the energy created in the earlier stages and go into a state of intense meditation and awareness.

The last stage is a stage of lying in stillness, so that the energy that was triggered through the earlier two stages settles and gets integrated into body and mind. This stage relaxes the mind and deepens the meditative state so that the practitioner can go into a realm of enhanced spiritual consciousness.

Technique:

Lie down on your back, with slightly separated legs and arms at your sides with palms facing upwards.

Close your eyes and relax deeply, letting go of any remaining tension in your body.

Once again focus your awareness on the location of the pineal gland, as you did during the breath-holding period.

Let your breathing slow and steady, naturally and deeply, releasing all thoughts, feelings, and mental distractions.

Sense the finer feelings in your body as the energy settles into your system. Permit yourself to become engaged with the calm and tranquility within.

Benefits:

The intense relaxation enables the body to take in and assimilate the energetic changes induced by the breathwork.

It provides a chance to feel the fine vibrations of the pineal gland and whatever inner visions, insights, or intuitive wisdom emerge.

The calmness of this stage allows profound meditation, whereby the practitioner feels a sense of tranquility, clarity, and expanded awareness.

The Purpose and Benefits of Gourishankar Meditation

Gourishankar Meditation is a potent method for invoking higher consciousness and entering the internal worlds of knowing and wisdom. The main objective of this meditation is to excite and engage the pineal gland, said to be one of the chief centers for spiritual awakening and broadened awareness.

Some of the main advantages of Gourishankar Meditation are:

Activation of the Pineal Gland:

The pineal gland has been called the “third eye,” and activating it can increase intuition, spiritual awareness, and a sense of connection to the cosmos.

Greater Mental Clarity:

As the pineal gland is stimulated, it is said to give the mind greater clarity, allowing the practitioner to pierce illusions and access higher truth.

Increased Energy Flow:

The exercise opens up the channels of energy in the body, enabling the free flow of energy and the activation of the body’s dormant spiritual potential.

Heightened Spiritual Awareness:

Through the manipulation of the pineal gland’s energy, the practitioner may feel a change in their consciousness, gaining access to higher states of awareness, inner peace, and transcendence.

Improved Mind-Body Connection:

The cycles of Gourishankar Meditation assist in reunifying the mind and body with each other and the environment in a higher manner of being.

Tips on Applying Gourishankar Meditation in Your Everyday Life

Maintain Calm Surroundings:

You need to meditate on this under tranquil and calm settings with minimal diversion. Dim light or burning incense candles around you would prepare your body, mind, and soul for what you’re looking to accomplish by sitting and performing the meditation quietly.

Throughout meditation, keep the awareness at the point between the eyebrows, at the pineal gland. Bringing the focus at this point works to stimulate and energize the third eye center.

Work In Your Limits:

While retaining the breath in Phase 2, do not try to strain your body. Work in your zone of comfort and increase the time gradually as the body becomes increasingly familiar with the technique.

Relaxation Is The Key:

The last phase of deep relaxation is as vital as the active phases. Take the time to relax completely and incorporate the energy from the past phases.

Reflective Questions

Did you notice any sensations on your forehead or between your eyebrows during the breath retention phase? If you did, what were they like?

How did your body react to the rapid breathing? Did you experience any emotional or physical changes that you observed?

How did you feel during the relaxation stage? Were you able to completely release and fall into quietness?

What did you learn or experience during the meditation? Were you able to reach your higher consciousness?

How can you use the clarity and energy you’ve cultivated in this meditation in your everyday life?

Conclusion

Gourishankar Meditation is an effective method that enlivens the pineal gland, causing practitioners to connect with higher realms of consciousness and spiritual understanding. By mixing breathwork, activation of energy, and relaxation, the meditation creates a deep change that opens the doorway to inner awareness, clarity, and peace.

By regular practice of Gourishankar Meditation, you are able to connect with your inner self and the universal consciousness surrounding us in a deeper way. This meditation helps you move beyond the normal and enter the domain of the extraordinary, where genuine spiritual awakening can occur.