How did the reign end? Alexander II

Thus, the most l best time to start meditation- this is Brahma-Mukhurta, i.e. 96 minutes before sunrise.

The uniqueness of morning meditation time

Mind is a subtle material element, often called ">Mind" a person is constantly troubled by all sorts of desires and aspirations. And, interestingly, many of them are simply useless. Therefore, it is very important not to start doing anything or talking to anyone until you finish japa meditation. After it, an amazing effect will occur - all the unnecessary desires that you had from the very beginning will simply be eliminated. It turns out that desires have changed and only those that are truly vital and important now remain.

“The foundation of love for the Holy Name is laid in the morning.”
EAT. Acyuta (achyuta) - ">Acyuta Priya Ave.

It is very important to repeat a maximum of circles in the morning, the more, the better. 16 is the minimum. This will allow you to repeat additional circuits throughout the day. If you haven’t completed 16 rounds in the morning, then say goodbye to any hopes of repeating more mantras during the day. You will “crawl” to complete your minimum of 16 laps all day long. The mind is already excited, and you are constantly distracted, many ideas arise, someone turns to you, the phone rings... After you are distracted, in order to restore concentration, it will take you a circle or two just to to “accelerate”, to re-enter the process of repetition.

16 rounds should be subtracted at least before 10 am, ideally before 7:30. If you have some urgent service in the morning, for example, worshiping the Deities in the temple or preparing prasadam, then at the end of this service you should disappear from the outside world and repeat your daily minimum of japa without interruption or distraction.

The depth of meditation and the human condition

For Vaishnavas, the depth of meditation is often related to the number of rounds of japa subtracted: the deeper you are immersed in a relationship with Krishna, the more you want to be with Him, repeating His Names.

But why not less than 16 laps?
There is a definite difference in your condition depending on how much you chant daily - 16, 25 or 32 rounds. Why skimp? Here is what Srila Prabhupada writes about this:

“I am happy to know that you are chanting 48 rounds. Actually it is good to chant 48 rounds. If a person is able to chant more than sixteen rounds, up to 64, then that is very good. Try to increase, but never decrease.” (Letter from Srila Prabhupada, December 17, 1967)

“I must again advise you to always repeat, increasing the quantity. Usually 16 rounds are prescribed, but for now you can stop all other activities and increase the repetition to 64 rounds.” (Letter from Srila Prabhupada, February 12, 1968)

“By repeating in the morning, you also save time. In the morning, one lap will take you 5 minutes, maybe 5.5 or 6 minutes, but in the afternoon it’s very difficult to repeat at that speed.”
EAT. Achyuta Priya Ave.

“It is very good if you can chant 64 rounds; great if you're capable. But above all, we should not be alarmed under any circumstances. If you're worried, it means you're still not ready to achieve your goal." (Letter from Srila Prabhupada, March 23, 1969)

“I was very encouraged to know that you regularly chant 20 rounds on beads every day. Be careful never to decrease but to increase their number, so you will become stronger in Krishna consciousness.” (Letter, March 3, 1970)

By repeating in the morning, you also save time. In the morning, one lap will take you 5 minutes, maybe 5.5 or 6 minutes, but in the afternoon it is very difficult to repeat at that speed. There is an opinion that repeating quickly is not important. I have spoken to many senior devotees and they admit that it takes them 8-9 minutes to complete a round, even though they have been chanting 16 rounds for 15 or 25 years!

Most often, slow repetition is a sign of lack of enthusiasm (uttsaha).

Morning is the best time for meditation

Thus, the best time for meditation is the morning, and from it - Brahma Muhurta - 96 minutes before sunrise. Meditation at this time is the most favorable, since it promotes general mood surrounding area.

Meditation is a philosophy and technique that together allow a person to achieve internal balance between physical, emotional and mental states.

IN in a broad sense the value of meditation is that it creates the prerequisites for a person’s self-realization, eliminating artificial barriers and inspiring new steps towards spiritual growth. When a person comes to the decision that he needs to meditate, this intention must, first of all, be linked to his attitude towards life in general and his consciousness in particular. Below are some tips on how to meditate.

Meditation is a step towards emotional comfort

Although we use our brain in our lives, few of us seek to understand its nature and how it functions. As a result, we know almost nothing about the state of our brains and consciousness at any given moment. And the question of what really exists in the reality around us, and what we have imagined for ourselves, often remains open. A simple example will help you understand the danger of such confusion.

Imagine that in front of you is your favorite chocolate cake, and you are looking forward to the pleasure of enjoying it to your heart's content. At this moment you sincerely find it tasty and attractive. But when you eat two or three pieces and are full, you will look at the cake completely differently. He will no longer evoke the same enthusiastic feelings in you. It is quite possible, on the contrary, that you will try to move him away from you. Please note that the taste of the cake has not objectively changed, but your ideas about taste have changed.

The idea that it is not objects themselves and the world as a whole that evoke certain feelings in us, but that we ourselves are the sources of these feelings, lies at the basis of the philosophy of meditation. Achieving balance between the world and our relationship to it is the goal of mediation training. Happiness and suffering are equally rare experiences and states of our mind, and both appear in us not under the influence outside world, but as our internal response to something.

Understanding this makes us relatively independent in what and how we can and should feel at any given moment. Therefore, if we want to reduce our suffering and prolong our state of happiness, we must learn to manage our feelings without giving them over to external influences.

Meditation is a step towards self-regulation

Sometimes things don't go the way we planned or expected, sometimes we come face to face with difficult circumstances or a real challenge of fate. But the way we react to this is the result of the work of our brain only and nothing else.

When, in response to difficult life circumstances, our brain, instead of worrying and suffering, accepts the challenge and begins to solve it as interesting task, we are surprised to discover that, imperceptibly for ourselves, we begin to emerge victorious from the most difficult situations. So, positive attitude mind restructures our perception of the world into better side. This is why control over consciousness and state of mind is important condition well-being and happiness.

Look around, and you will see that more and more new ways of influencing people’s consciousness are appearing (such as, for example, advertising and the Internet). Think about it, if these methods influence your consciousness so easily, what prevents you from controlling your consciousness at your own discretion? To begin with, you can learn the rules of how to meditate correctly at home, and then you can move on to more complex meditation programs.

Meditation is a step towards brain development

Meditation is a useful tool for increasing your overall performance. This may seem strange. After all, everyone knows that meditation is “doing nothing” for some time. How does it affect the productivity of our work?

So, here are just a few of the results of meditation that neuroscientists pay attention to:

• the need for sleep decreases, and the person sleeps less than before;
• high relaxing and calming effect;
• energy increases and strength increases;
• blood supply to the brain improves;
• the aging of brain structures slows down and an increase in gray matter brain;
• concentration of attention increases;
• helping the brain in processes that support the defragmentation of thoughts, which, in turn, allows you not to get stuck in one thing information space, but to think for the future.

This can be achieved with the help of simple mediation exercises, and meditation at home is quite possible.

With Vikium you can start meditating at home. To start meditating, go through the “Brain Detoxification” program on our website.

“Brain detoxification” - small, but very effective training, which will help you carry out " general cleaning” in your brain and thus get rid of habitual, but already outdated mental practices and thinking techniques.

What is the idea of ​​meditation?

The main idea of ​​meditation is quite simple: learn to voluntarily control your attention and state. For this, special exercises are used. To begin with, the simplest ones are aimed at ensuring that attention is directed “inward” for a certain time (say, half an hour). During meditation, attention seems to be distributed, “smeared”, spreads out. He has no focus. It does not pick up on our thoughts or experiences, but glides along the surface of our consciousness, not clinging to anything.

This is enough difficult task, especially for beginners - keep your attention “on nothing”. Therefore, the center of attention is placed... breathing. Here typical advice for those who are beginning to master the technique of meditation:

• Every time your attention wanders from your breathing to something else, bring it back.
• You should keep your breath in your field of consciousness at all times.

This way you will begin to train your consciousness, returning it from the objects that attract it (your thoughts or distracting sounds around) to the object that you set (your breath).

This is the basic idea of ​​meditation for beginners.

How to start meditating at home

To do this you will need two things:

• seating area,
• timer.

You can meditate standing or walking, but this will be the next level of difficulty. To begin with, it is better to meditate while sitting. You can choose one of the following options:

1. Chair. Especially recommended for those who experience back problems.
2. Meditation pillow. It is quite difficult to use for beginners.
3. Meditation bench. Recommended for those who have foot problems.

The timer will help you stay at the same pace all the time and not be distracted from the main object of your attention - your breathing. You can even use your mobile phone for these purposes.

Where to start

• Keep your back straight and upright throughout the meditation process.
• Your eyes may be closed or open. If you find that you find it easier to focus on your breathing with eyes closed, then close your eyes. Occasionally focus your gaze on the space on the floor in front of you.
• Let your hands rest freely. Legs can be crossed.
• Direct your gaze slightly downward, even if your eyes are closed.

What to do - 6 basic actions during meditation

• 1) Create a state of comfort for yourself - external for the body and internal for the consciousness. Stop the flow of your thoughts, take your mind off your worries and worries. Focus on the situation you are in now.
• 2) Start the timer. Start with 10 minutes of meditation.
• 3) Focus all your attention on your breathing. Breathe through your nose. Close your eyes and watch the breath enter and exit through your nose. Find a balance between your attention to your breathing and your state of relaxation.
• 4) What to think about during meditation? - Don't think. Don't analyze or judge your breathing. Just carefully monitor your inhalation and exhalation.
• 5) Bring your awareness back to your breathing every time you become distracted by something.
• 6) Release your consciousness and stop the meditation at the timer signal.

There is probably no clear answer to the question of how to meditate correctly. But there are some tips that may be useful to you:

• It is better to meditate for 10 minutes every day than 70 minutes once a week. When you first start learning to meditate, you may feel bored or even anxious. This normal conditions. And don't be afraid of them.
• Start with a short period of time. Don't immediately set the timer for 30 minutes. You can even start with just 5 minutes of meditation. It is only important to do this regularly, preferably daily.
• Choose a nice and soft timer signal.
• Choose a place for meditation that is calm and protected from outside interference. Either a weak, dim light or darkness will help you concentrate.
• Please note that attention is more easily lost when exhaling than when inhaling. Give your exhalation more control.
• If you can't concentrate, count to five. Then repeat the count.

Meditation is a relatively simple practice. However, it requires a certain self-discipline and perseverance. But the effect of the mastered skill exceeds all expectations.

Paul the First went down in history as a cruel reformer. Liberal views and European tastes were persecuted, censorship was established, and a ban on the import of foreign literature. The Emperor, having received the throne, largely limited rights noble class . Maybe that's why his reign was so short.

In contact with

Childhood

Peter the Third, Paul's father, was on Russian throne only 186 days, although he planned that many years of rule awaited him ahead. After palace coup the emperor signed the abdication of the throne, which passed to his wife (Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst).

Catherine built her reign on expanding the rights and privileges of the noble class, as well as enslaving the peasants. During her reign borders Russian Empire were moved to the south and west.

The first son of Peter and Catherine, named Pavel, was born on September 20, 1754. During this period, there was a political struggle, so the boy was deprived of the love and care of his parents. At the age of eight he lost his father. Paul's mother hired a staff of the best nannies and teachers, after which she withdrew from raising the future heir to the throne.

Boy's teacher became Fedor Bekhteev- a diplomat distinguished by incredible discipline and rigor. He published a newspaper where the slightest misdeeds of the pupil were described. Nikita Panin became the second mentor, thanks to whom the boy began to study wide circle items - natural history, God's Law, music, dancing.

The immediate environment also had an influence on the formation of the personality of the heir to the throne, but communication with peers was kept to a minimum - only children of noble families were allowed to interact with him.

Ekaterina bought it for her son the huge library of academician Korf. The boy studied a lot foreign languages, arithmetic, astronomy, history, geography, learned to draw, dance and fencing, studied the Law of God. The boy was not taught military discipline; Catherine did not want her son to get carried away with it.

The heir had an impatient character and was restless child, however, he could boast of a rich imagination and love of reading. His education was as high quality as possible at that time.

Personal life of the future emperor

The first wife of the future ruler died during childbirth, and the second chosen one was Sophia Dorothea of ​​Württemberg (Maria Fedorovna).

Children of Paul I– firstborn Alexander (1777), Konstantin (1779), Alexandra (1783), Elena (1784), Maria (1786), Catherine (1788), Olga (1792, died in infancy), Anna (1795), Nikolai (1796) ), Mikhail (1798).

Despite having many children and almost constant pregnancies, Maria Fedorovna took care of the house and regularly participated in social events. However, she was not of particular importance at court due to her husband’s discord with his mother.

Maria Feodorovna was a submissive princess, who followed the postulates that she had learned in her youth, but due to circumstances beyond her control, her personal life with her husband came to discord after 20 years. After the birth of her last son, the obstetrician forbade her to become pregnant, as it could cost the woman her life.

The emperor was disappointed by this circumstance and started a relationship with another woman, his favorite Anna Lopukhina. Maria Feodorovna herself became involved in charity work and began managing orphanages, streamlining the work of institutions for homeless and abandoned children. She also actively addressed issues of women's education and founded a number of educational institutions for them.

Rise to power

When Paul I reigned? He ascended the throne at the age of 42 on November 6, 1796, when Catherine II, his mother, died. This late date is explained difficult relationships future emperor with his mother. They almost completely moved away from each other, realizing that they were people with opposing views. At first, the boy was raised as a future heir to the throne, but the older he became, the further they tried to keep him from matters of national importance.

Important! Many people blamed Pavel Petrovich big hopes. His name was often on the lips of rebels, for example, . During the reign of Catherine II, many were dissatisfied with her decrees and laws.

Transformations

Numerous reforms characterize the reign of Paul 1: internal and foreign policy have undergone a number of changes.

What important steps have been taken:

• amendments were introduced to the procedure of succession to the throne, which was developed. The rights to the throne began to be enjoyed exclusively by sons or brothers ruling dynasty in descending line, or by seniority;
• the emperor's associates received the titles of senior officials or senators;
• comrades of Catherine II were removed from their posts;
• activities of higher government agencies has undergone changes for the better;
• a petition box was placed next to the palace, and reception days were also established for peasants who could openly leave complaints against their owners;
• canceled Physical punishment for elderly people over 70 years of age;
• Instead of the grain duty, which was burdensome for peasants, a financial tax was introduced. Debts of 7 million rubles were written off;
• it was forbidden to force peasants to work on holidays and weekends;
• corvee was limited - now it lasted 3 days a week;
• the sale of landless peasants and household servants was banned. If the owner treated the serfs inhumanely, the governors were obliged to carry out secret arrests and send the offenders to the monastery.
• over 4 years, 6,000 thousand state peasants were transferred to the nobles, since the emperor believed that their life was worse than that of the serfs;
• reduced cost of salt and food products in stores - the shortfall was compensated for by money from the treasury.

When Paul came to power, one of the the most important areas His activities turned out to be an infringement of the privileges and rights of the nobles.

He ordered all noble children who were enrolled in them to return to the regiments, and prohibited the unauthorized transfer to civilian service from the army without the permission of the Senate, approved by him personally.

The nobles had to pay new taxes, the money from which was sent to support the local administration.

The right according to which a nobleman addressed him with complaints and requests was abolished: now this was allowed to be done only with the permission of the governor. Punishment was reintroduced noble people through sticks.

Immediately after ascending the throne, the emperor declared an amnesty, but multiple punishments soon followed. Decrees of Paul the First, limiting the power of the nobility, aroused anger and enmity on the part of the privileged class. Over time, the first conspiracies began to appear in the highest guards circles to overthrow the autocrat.

Features of foreign policy

Initially, it was announced at court that neutrality would be observed towards France. He always dreamed that wars would be fought solely for the purpose of defense. However, he was an opponent of the revolutionary sentiments of this country. Friendly relations were concluded with countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Prussia, which was the result of the creation of an anti-French coalition consisting of:

• Russia,
• Kingdom of Naples,
• Austria,
• England.

In Italy, commander A.V. Suvorov headed the domestic expeditionary force. In just six months he won a victory in Italy over French troops, after which he entered Sweden, where he joined the corps of General A.M. Rimsky-Korsakov.

During the same period, the squadron F.F. Ushakova achieved several naval victories, as a result of which the Ionian Islands became free. However, the Russian-English corps located in Holland was unable to achieve its plans, as a result of which it returned. At the same time, only Russia's allies reaped the fruits of victories over Napoleon, which caused the severance of allied ties with Austria and England. The Emperor, outraged by England's position, decided to move closer to France.

Cause of the Emperor's death

Against ruling emperor a conspiracy was formed. It was headed by the Zubov brothers, the military governor of St. Petersburg P.A.

Palen and a number of others. Reason for the conspiracy - domestic politics autocrat, because he eased the situation of the peasants and at the same time limited the rights and privileges of the noble class.

Among the conspirators was Alexander Pavlovich, who was promised that his father would be left alive.

Led by Count Palen on the night of March 12, 1801 The conspirators broke into the Mikhailovsky Castle, reached the imperial chambers and put forward a demand to leave the throne. Having heard Paul's refusal to abdicate the throne, the conspirators killed the autocrat.

There were several conspiracies during the life and reign of the emperor. Thus, three cases of unrest among the troops were recorded. After the coronation of the new emperor, the Canal Workshop was formed - a secret organization whose members sought to kill the ruler. After the discovery of this conspiracy, all those who took part in it were sent to hard labor or exiled. All materials related to the investigation into the conspiracy were destroyed.

It was officially announced that Emperor Paul 1 had died from apoplexy.

Paul 1st - reign of the Tsar, reforms

The reign of Tsar Paul 1st - domestic and foreign policy, results

Results of the board

How long did Paul 1 reign?? His reign lasted several years, years of reign: from April 5, 1797. to March 12, 1801. In such a short period of time, no significant changes occurred in Russian society, although the emperor tried to introduce as many new measures as possible. At the beginning of the reign, they created favorable conditions for the development of industry and trade, but by the end of the reign domestic trade was in chaos and ruin, and the external one was almost completely destroyed.

Attention! The state was in a sad state when Paul I was killed.

Who ruled after Paul 1? The heir to the throne was his first-born Alexander 1. His reign turned out to be more successful: the first step was taken, the State Council was created, and a victory was won over Napoleon in 1812; the Russian army distinguished itself in other foreign trips. was more successful.