Editing Ananda Marga (section)

=== Meditation, ''Lalita Marmika'' dance and ''kirtan'' ===

In the Tantric tradition of Ánanda Márga, the spiritual aspirant or [[sadhaka]] practices [[sadhana]]. This signifies the effort through which a person becomes completely [[Self-realization|realized]]. In Tantra the spiritual master, the [[guru]], plays a special role, guiding students on the spiritual path. The aspirant learns meditation from a qualified ''acarya''. An ''acarya'' is most commonly a monk or nun, but in the Ánanda Márga tradition there are also "family ''acaryas''". In the [[initiation]] the aspirant makes a commitment to practice meditation and to live in harmony with the universal balance, and is then taught the technique itself. The aspirant is then required to keep the individual [[lesson]]s personal. In addition, he also taught ''Kapalika'' meditation to many ''[[Sannyasa|sanyásins]]''. His system of ''yoga'' can be termed as ''Rájadhirája Yoga'', ''Tantra Yoga'', or simply ''Ánanda Márga Yoga''. The basic Ánanda Márga meditation system is called Sahaja Yoga. The system consists of six meditation techniques or lessons taught one by one, on a personal basis. The six lessons are: 1)''Iishvara Pranidhana'' (Personal mantra and ''Ishta [[Cakra]]''), 2) ''Guru Mantra'' (Personal ''Guru Mantra''), 3) ''Tattva Dharana'' (Concentration on ''[[Cakra]]s' [[Tattva]]s''), 4) ''Sadharana Pranayama'' (Basic ''[[Pranayama]]''. A special breathing technique), 5) ''Cakra Shodhana'' (Purification of ''Cakras''. A special type of ''[[Dharana]]''), 6) ''Guru Dhyana'' (Special type of ideation for ''[[Dhyana in Hinduism|Dhyana]]''). A set of higher meditation lessons is taught to advanced practitioners committed to dedicate more time for spiritual practices and universal service.

According to the Ánanda Márga system, the ''Lalita Marmika'' dance is performed particularly during the collective meditation. It was supposedly invented by [[Parvati]], the wife of the god [[Shiva]]. This yogic dance with swaying movements, combined with a ''[[kirtan]]'' (the chanting of the universal mantra), is regarded as useful in freeing the mind and preparing it for meditation. Ánanda Márga members are recommended to practice collective meditation at least once a week. These meetings, ''Dharma Chakras'' (held weekly in the ''Dhyan Mandir''), are preceded by the singing of ''[[Prabhat Samgiita]]'' ("Songs of the New Dawn" composed by Sarkar) followed by the spiritual dance of ''Lalita Marmika''. Before meditation the ''{{audio|Samgacchadvam.OGG|Samgacchadvam}}'' mantra is chanted. At the end of meditation the ''{{audio|Nityam Shuddham.OGG|Nityam Shuddham}}'' and the ''{{audio|Guru Puja.OGG|Guru Puja}}'' mantras are recited. Baba Nam Kevalam is a universal kirtan mantra given by Sarkar.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/6888/baba-nam-kevalam |title=What is Baba Nam Kevalam? – Definition from Yogapedia |website=Yogapedia.com |access-date=2020-04-18 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812204659/https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/6888/baba-nam-kevalam |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|date=September 2021}}</ref>