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Pop star SZA recently visited India and indulged in an intense Samyama meditation programme. Here’s all that you need to know about it.
SZA was seen donning traditional Indian wear and eating Indian food on her meditation journey.
American singer-songwriter SZA recently travelled to India on a journey of self-discovery, drawing inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. The Kill Bill singer visited Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation near Coimbatore, where she took part in the intensive Samyama meditation program. This deep meditative practice requires participants to disconnect from the outside world for extended periods, including abstaining from phone use and even avoiding mirrors.
Reflecting on her experience, SZA shared a series of photos on Instagram from her time in Tamil Nadu, captured before and after the retreat. Expressing the impact of the experience, she wrote, “Life is so profound and chaotic and beautiful. I have no words for my Samyama experience. No phone, no mirrors, no eye contact for 8+ days … for a fundamental yapper I lost my mind… then found it.”
If you’re wondering what Samyama meditation is and why it left such a profound impact on SZA, let’s explore this powerful practice.
What Is Samyama Meditation?
Samyama meditation is a profound and intricate practice that involves long hours of meditation in a state of silence. This meditation technique is a culmination of three advanced stages of concentration: Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (absorption). Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting, this profound practice aims to still the mind, cultivate inner peace, and transcend the limitations of the self.
Benefits of Samyama Meditation
By activating the parasympathetic nervous system and calming the mind, Samyama can effectively reduce stress and anxiety levels. This meditation technique is said to help people free themselves from karma and open them up to new experiences. Samyama can help individuals overcome cognitive obstacles and expand their consciousness. The practice cultivates qualities of unconditional love and compassion, fostering a deeper sense of connection and evolving practitioners into beings of kindness and greater love towards all. Samyama is a powerful way of reducing negative thoughts and beliefs as we completely lose our sense of self.
Talking about the same, psychologist Juhi Pandey said that Samyama meditation is rooted in psychological mindfulness, focusing on self-awareness, reflection, and mental clarity. She said, “From a psychological mindfulness perspective, Samyama involves paying full attention to the present moment and observing thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations without judgment. This can help individuals achieve inner calm, greater awareness, and a deeper understanding of themselves,” as quoted by Indian Express.
By temporarily shutting off external distractions, individuals may enhance emotional regulation, improve focus, and promote overall mental well-being. However, she cautioned that extended isolation isn’t for everyone, as those who aren’t unaccustomed to being alone with their thoughts may bring up unresolved emotions, discomfort or feelings of loneliness.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
