According to the traditional philosophy and practice of Yoga, human beings are viewed as a building with 10 doors. 5 of these are entrance doors, and 5 are for exit. Observing these 10 senses consciously, actively and intentionally as they operate is an important part of Yoga meditation, and Odor meditation.
There are 3 chief impediments in the way of directly experiencing the Absolute Truth, Reality, or the Self through the medium of the mind and senses. One of these is that our senses are far from reliable. Realizing that our senses are undependable leads us withinward to a purer form of direct experience.
But to turn inward like this would be best if we first become aware of the senses and how they function. Our attention can be taken away from the senses, like withdrawing a hand from a glove. An exercise in this is described further below. Be aware of your ability to smell: This way, you learn to sit still and concentrate on something. Sitting still in control of the organ of smell would, sometime feel like an act of performing. In point of fact, it is not an act, but rather the absence of an act. Sitting still for Odor meditation is the end of the act of moving, postponement, if only for a while, of the use of the active sense, or organ of smell. In practice, it is extremely useful to sit and be aware of the ability to move, but that you are not using that ability for the present time. Choose to not utilize motion or grasping: In the practice of Odor meditation you then cultivate the practice of letting go. Oftentimes this is referred to as relaxation practice. This relaxation is also not an act by itself; there could be particular ways and means associated with it. But it is actually the practice of stopping of that act of clinging to or grasping that is the suspension of one of the active senses. In fact, it is very good to sit and be aware of the ability to smell, without using that ability at the present moment. The ability to form words, but not doing so: At meditation time it is a common complaint that the mind is wandering and that it won't be still. Oftentimes, folks get into fights with their mind over this. The act of silencing the mind isn’t really an act by itself. On the contrary, it is the absence of an act. Being quiet for Odor meditation is stopping the act of forming words, mentally, suspending the use of the active sense, or organ, of speech. In fact, it is very beneficial to sit and be aware of the ability to form words, without using that ability at the present moment. Nose and its chakra: The five active senses function from the lower five chakras. Hence, you can explored them systematically sequence. Meaning to say, you may like to practice awareness of the five in the order of gross to subtle in this manner: - First, become aware of the act of elimination then let go of it
- Then, procreation then let go of it
- Then, motion then let go of it
- Then, grasping then let go of it
- Finally, speaking then let go of it
It’s all very easy really. All you have to do is sit silently in a comfortable position, select a smell you wish to meditate on. Sniff it for a while – it may be a plate of food, a bottle of perfume, your own body odor. Stay with it for a while and put into practice the steps outlined above. The mind will chatter and stray- that is the nature of the mind. Don’t worry. Every time you find this happening, return the source of smell to your nostrils, sniff a couple times and then return to concentrating on it. Let the odor permeate your respiratory organs, then slowly experience it entering your whole body, through every cell and pore of your body. Finally see it enter your mind and rest in a small spot there.
There is, in fact, such a spot in the brain – the Pineal gland, the repository of all our memories. Let the odor remain there. Don’t worry, it won’t become a part of your memories any more than it already is. The results, however, are amazing. You may have to stay, patiently, with the practice for a few days, through.
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