The Inner Sunrise meditation is a style of meditation based on connecting with natural planetary rhythms. Since time immemorial, yogis, fakirs, shamans, monks and the like have awaken before sunrise to conduct their spiritual practice. All of life on planet Earth begins to awaken as the Sun's early rays begin to fall upon the planet. The atmosphere is highly charged and provides the essential food to all living organisms in nature. Being still and quieting the mind at this auspicious time of day is transformational on cellular, glandular (endocrine), energetic and spiritual levels.
This practice is simple and can be experienced by anyone. Arise before dawn, have some tea, empty the bowels, sit in a comfortable upright position with a straight spine. Close your eyes, gently drop the chin a bit, softly place the tongue at the roof of the mouth where the front teeth meet the gums. Begin to turn your attention inward. Make a conscious effort to reduce the activity of the mind by listening to the sound of your breath. As the mind, body and breath become still, bring your inner gaze to the middle of the head where the right and left hemispheres of the brain meet. It is helpful for a practitioner to visualise a small point of light.
If one is familiar with the chakra system, one can spend three to seven breaths (or more) at each chakra. Begin at the base of the spine centre, Muladhara chakra (See the chakra chart). Move upwards one center at a time, working with discipline (Tapas) and concentration (Dharana). Work your way up the spinal axis to the crown centre (Sahasrara chakra), eventually bringing your awareness and attention to Ajna chakra at the center of the forehead/eyebrow.
The breath is the carrier of our subtle vital energy. Energy follows intention or energy flows where our attention goes. Working with the practice of the Internal Sunrise meditation, one is able to harmonically distribute and direct energy in the body on a daily basis from the lower centres (root, sexual and navel) towards the heart and higher centres in the brain.
Living at the rapid pace of the modern technological world, humankind has become disconnected from the natural rhythm within and without. Working with this meditation practice at sunrise will allow the practitioner to re-establish their own inner clock to the natural rhythm of planet Earth's diurnal cycle of light and dark. Individuals in due course of time will recognise through their own experience how their mood and mental perspective throughout the day can be positively enhanced. Latent and dormant parts of the brain will begin to awaken. Specifically the pineal gland is stimulated and the practitioner is able to establish a clear, illuminated way of being.
The state of harmony with nature is attainable when the effort is sincere, consistent and the practitioner is not attached to the results.