108 prostrations.

Prostrations are psycho-physical exercises that combine physical action (full prostration of the entire body) and various techniques working with consciousness. By combining the energy of the sky and the earth in oneself, a person receives a state of complete harmony and tranquility inside. Thoughts slow down, and during this meditation, it is very easy to feel your true Self. With each bow, you can express your gratitude to everything that is in your life, attracting all the well-being and letting go of difficult negative situations. This is the practice of reconciliation with oneself. A side effect is a complete awakening and a great healing effect on the whole body.

Sacred meaning.

The technique of bows is present in any religious tradition. Over time in younger religions, this practice has lost some elements.

In early Christianity, prostrations were full. From a standing position, kneeling, and then the whole body was stretched in a prone position. Now the lying element has been simplified. There is only a bow from a standing position to a kneeling position.

Islam, as an even younger and "progressive," cut out the standing position. Only a bow from a kneeling position. In Buddhism, the practice of Tibetan prostrations is one of the most powerful foundations.

But what the essence is invariable. In all traditions, the bow is a symbol of humility and purification.

Achieving a complete purification of the body, mind, and consciousness is the main motive for prostration. Therefore, Buddhists say that by doing this practice with sincerity and dedication, we open our hearts and free ourselves from the power of the mind. Prostrations purify the mind and relieve us of suffering. At the moment of practice, instead of worrying and thinking about some negative event in your life or the life of a loved one, you can direct all your power into intention from your soul to the soul of someone who needs your support. The prostrations come from the sincerity of the heart, and not from the searching mind. Through this act of gratitude, we can transform and renew sincerity in our hearts.

Here is what the sages write about this technique: “Prostrations are the acceptance of everything that was, that is, and that will happen to us. An indispensable practice with disagreement in the heart, the pain of life loss, and the fear of moving forward. Let go, relax and accept yourself, your life, and your loved ones without the desire to change anything, but with a heart filled with love and compassion. In the practice of prostration, repentance is deeply felt. This requires a humble mind. It is impossible to go through repentance with arrogance. Prostrations can help you to be more receptive and honest. You become more complete and more harmonious. People who do prostrations every day have always been distinguished by strong physical health and strength, as well as immunity to various infectious diseases. Tibetan medicine doctors claim prostration a very effective way of both spiritual and physical improvement.

Physical benefits.

The prostrations have an impact on the balance and harmony in our bodies. The blocks in energy channels gradually dissolve. This helps to avoid illness, energy loss, and other problems. Our mind becomes clearer. Our ability to understand increases.

For prostrating we use a huge number of muscles in our body: biceps, triceps, deltoids, abdominals, transverse abdominals, external obliques, internal obliques, back muscles, gluteus maximus muscles, thigh muscles, neck muscles, etc. Stretches put a significant load on almost all major muscle groups. Prostrations also include stretching: when you bow, you are stretched forward in a prone position. Muscle stretching occurs, which does not allow muscle fibers to lose elasticity and harden, which means you do not lose flexibility. This is an essential point, since sipping and stretching the muscles improves the state of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, significantly reducing the risk of diseases. Prostrations help us realize that there is something more important than ourselves. Through this practice, we purify the pride we have accumulated through countless thoughts "I am right", "I am better than others" or "I am the most important". The purpose of prostrations is to change the mindset.

On an emotional and spiritual levels.

Prostrations allow us to rely on something greater than our pride and ego-clinging. With these practices, through absolute sincerity, we release everything that has been accumulated from pride, clear the mind of thoughts, emotions, and desires that impede realization, expand our consciousness, transform our anger, ignorance, and jealousy into higher vibrational emotions and get rid of the accumulated low vibrational emotions of the past.

Why 108?

In Islam, the number 108 is used to represent God. In Hatha yoga, 108 basic asanas of therapeutic yoga are distinguished. In Ayurveda, 108 energy points can be found in the human body. In Buddhist temples, the bell rings 108 times to overcome the 108 passions that prevent people from reaching enlightenment. The number of beads on the rosary is 108. The distance from the Earth to the Sun is equivalent to 108 diameters of the Sun. By repeating some action or reading a mantra 108 times, we have every chance to assimilate information forever or achieve our goal.