Steps of `Raja Yoga Meditation` are simple to perform but before knowing the steps, one has to understand what this meditation is: Raja means King. A king enacts his part in life with independence and self-confidence. Likewise, a Raja Yogi is independent and fearless. Hence, Raja Yoga leads to the path of independence and self-discipline.

Steps of Raja Yoga Meditation

•Firstly, the practitioner has to make an appointment with his inner self for 10 or 20 minutes each morning or evening.
•Find a quiet place and relax.
•Play some soft music. It can create an appropriate atmosphere.
•Now the practitioner should sit comfortably upright on the floor or in a chair. Keep the eyes open and, without staring, gently rest them on a chosen point somewhere in the room.
•Gently withdraw attention from all sights and sounds. Become the observer of own thoughts.
•Do not try to stop thinking; just be the observer, not judging or being carried away by own thoughts, just keep watching.
•Gradually negative thoughts will slow down and the performer will begin to feel more peaceful.
•The performer has to create one thought like "I am a peaceful soul."
•Hold that thought on the screen of mind; visualize being peaceful, quite and still. The practitioner should stay as long as he can in the awareness of that thought. Do not fight with other thoughts or memories that may come to distract the mind. Just watch them pass by and return to the thought, "I am a peaceful soul."
•Think of the Supreme Soul, who is the ocean of peace, bliss, love, power, knowledge, purity, and truth. Now the performer has to think that- the soul- is moving out of his body and going to God`s home.
•Once the practitioner has reached God`s home- a place that is very beautiful and full of light- he has to imagine that he is seeing God, who is also a point of light. Think of receiving a part of all his qualities.
•Acknowledge and appreciate the positive feelings and other positive thoughts, which may spring directly from this thought.
•Be stable in these feelings for a few minutes. Be aware of unrelated thoughts. Just think that one is gaining the qualities of God.
•Now after the appointment is over with God the practitioner has to come back to the earth where his body resides.
•While coming back think of all those who are in misery and in want of peace, love, power, knowledge, truth, bliss etc.
•Now the practitioner has to think that he is giving his qualities that he gained from God to the needy. It is believed that the more one gives the more he gains. So give as much as possible.
•After spreading the qualities around, the practitioner will come back to his own body.
•Now finish the meditation by closing eyes for a few moments and creating complete silence in the mind.

Benefits of Raja Yoga Meditation

•This meditation is a good option for those who wish to experience eternal peace and divinity.
•It improves health and inculcates leadership qualities in the practitioner.
•It improves concentration levels and helps in rejuvenation.