Fish Story- Matsyasana

Lord of the Fishes


Matsya, the Fish, was one of the incarnations of the Hindu God Vishnu. One of many stories tells that Vishnu assumed this form to save the world from the Flood. My favorite is the one I heard from Mataji...

The story is told that while meditating for many years Shiva was granted the key to the universe and which uncovered the mystery of Yoga. Having awakened from many years of performing austerities with this spiritual knowledge, Shiva returns from the Himalayas to his spiritual consort, Parvati.

Shiva quickly shared this glorious discovery with his wife Parvati while unbeknown to them Vishnu in the form of a fish was listening to them. Parvati wasn't listening too carefully as she had other matters on her mind, mostly concerned with how to engage Vishnu. Several times Vishnu caught Matsya listening and threw him back into the river. Each time he swam back to absorb more knowledge.

As he absorbed the information magical things began to happen and he became enlightened by Shiva's words. Shiva became the first "guru' and Matsya became the first "student". Here began a long lineage of teachers and students who have passed their teachings down to students and teachers throughout the centuries.

Meditation Techniques

As a child, I used to get comments on my report cards in elementary school telling my parents about my tendency to let my gaze drift out the widow during the school day. Not much has changed. As an adult I find myself investing time and energy in returning to that early childhood disposition. Learning techniques to focus my attention inward has brought me back to a place I was comfortable with before I learned to read and write.

Self discipline and regular practice sessions have allowed me to realize the peaceful tranquility I was educated to replace with cultivated "sense of urgency." Shifting to to a mode of internal contentment has definitely changed my direction. Meditation is a natural state and it is a better than any prescription at balancing out the mental anxieties often brought on by the chaotic world we live in.

Sally Kempton describes ways to find the right technique for developing a personal meditation practice in Letter to a New Meditator.

NADA YOGA: The Yoga of Sound

A Sound Meditation Class with Baird Hersey at Yoga Vermont Today

Baired was an inspirational leader of meditation through sound. This workshop was beneficial and intriguing. I learned more about meditation techniques than I had ever thought I could take in one day.

“Unequaled bliss comes to the heart of the Yogi who hears the internal sound of the Nada.”
-The Nada-Bindu Upanishad

By bringing our minds to single pointed attention on the internal sacred sound, we quiet the chatter of the mind and experience a deep feeling of comfort and contentment.

This meditation, based on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, will use the 4 levels of sound: Vaikhari (external sounds), Madhyama (mental sounds). Pashyanti (visual sounds), and Para, (the internal sound) to connect us with the Nada, the sound of bliss.

Climbing the Nada Mala: The 4 Levels of Sound
Seeing the Inner Light
Hearing the Anahata Nada
Riding The Bliss: Ancillary & Supportive Practices