Triple Stream

Meditation – Yoga

Meditation is mind suspended in space-pure and complete awareness. It is a means of establishing a link with the inner self by causing a detachment (delinking) from the external stimuli including all kinds of thoughts and feelings. It consists in silencing the inner dissonance in some way or the other – for example through mantras or controlled breathing. Inner self is pure consciousness or awareness brought about by the inaction of the mind and the senses. Silence is not mere non-sound. It is a state into which we enter when thought is suspended.

Some people may question why one would seek such desert-like, utter silence inside. But they alone who have tasted it after a long search and practice know its supreme joy!

Buddha once told his principal disciple Ananda “Only on those occasions when the perfect one stops focusing attention on all that is external, by bringing his feelings to one end, by steadily remaining in the state that is detached and objectless, only then is the perfect one’s body comfortable. (MAHA PARINIBBANA SUTTA – Digha, Nikaya – ii, 100)”. Objectlessness is a state when the mind is thought-free. In that condition there is no focusing of the mind on any thing. One is free from the pressure of thoughts, feelings and inhalation and exhalation processes. One should be free from religious or spiritual practice also! Not doing such practice is in fact the highest spiritual practice!

YOGI RAMA says “Where the meditator forgets his body, mind and intellect, and his world of objects, emotions and thoughts, the ego in him ends – the ego disappears into the vision of reality”. As CICERO says “Only a man who can relax will be able to create and bright ideas strike his mind like a flash of lightning”.

One can sit cross-legged or in any manner provided one feels comfortable. A straight bone aligns its central channel and all the different ‘chakras’. As a result of this there will be smooth and frictionless flow of energy and the mind becomes calm and at ease. One should sit any where, calm and quiet, with no pre-determined object except to dive within and experience himself, in deep relaxation. Some way use a name chanting, a mantra, candle flame, spot on the wall, picture, image – to concentrate and stop the ever-flowing stream of thoughts. Meditation is the freeing of the mind from thought, memory and time consciousness.

However, it should not be a deliberate act. If it is a deliberate act, it involves effort. There are two sides to every human being, visible and invisible. With eyes open, we see the objective world including our physical selves. With eyes closed we see nothing but darkness. Yet our consciousness or awareness remains keen. In deep meditation we penetrate the veil of darkness and see light which is the fountain source of all creation. In deeper meditation our experience transcends that light and enters blissful consciousness.

Speaking about meditation (Dhyana Yoga) to Arjuna, Lord Krishna says : “As a lamp placed in a windless window does not flikcer, a Yogi with controlled mind practices union with the self in the same manner. When the mind is totally controlled, in that state it becomes still and serene. The meditator sees the self by the self and is fully satisfied in the self alone. In that state transcending the senses he feels infinite joy and unbroken peace. It is perceived by means of the purified understanding”.

This state is not mere curbing of evil thoughts and sensual pleasures. It is a state of super consicousness, a supra mental state. Words are weak to describe this transcendental experience. The mind goes beyond all opposites.

As Bhagavadgita puts it “The Supreme Brahman shines through the functions of all the senses, and yet it is unattached to the senses”. Unless one completely loses the identity of the self, one cannot reach out to the Self (Brahman). Meditation is the means of that realisation.

In ‘YOGA VASISHTA’ Sage Vasishta tells Rama “O Rama, there are two ways of achieving the silencing of the mind. One is the way of Yoga which involves the control of the movement of thought. The other is the path of true knowledge (Jnana) which involves the realisation of truth”.

Swami Sivananda explains the efficacy of Meditation: “If you wish to escape the pains and afflictions of the cycle of births and deaths or Samsara, you should devote yourself to meditation. It is the path which leads to divinity. It is the royal road to the kingdom of Brahman. It leads us towards knowledge of the self i.e., to eternal peace, bliss and intuitive knowledge”.

In Paramahansa Yogananda’s ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ (Chapter – ‘the Science of Kriya Yoga’) Yogananda says “Kriya Yoga is an ancient science and it is a simple psycho-physia-logical method by which human blood is decarbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into the life current to rejuvinate the brain and spianl centres. By stopping the accumulation of venous blood the Yogi is able to lessen or prevent the decay of tissues. The advanced Yogi transmutes his cells into energy – (235).

Jiddu Krishna Murthy the great thinker and philospher is of the opinion that Meditation is not for a prescribed or limited period only. “It should be done even while walking and if it is done before and during sleep it will reach the deepest recesses of the mind. Even in sleep meditation continues”.

SVETASVATRA UPANISHAD says “Meditate upon Him and trancend physical consciousness. Thus you will reach union with the Lord of the Universe. The truth is you are always united with the Lord. But you must know this”.

RAJNEESH (OSHO) says, “Meditation is only courage to be silent and alone. Slowly, slowly you start feeling a new quality to yourself, a new aliveness, a new beauty, a new intelligence which is rooted in yourself”.

As we have seen, there are several theories and techniques of meditation. In India Yoga and Meditation are linked together. As a matter of fact, meditation is one of the eight limbs of Yoga presented by the sage PATANJALI who belonged to the second century B.C.  According to his YOGA SASTRA, the eight limbs are: YAMA (Control), NIYAMA (Prescriptions and proscriptions), ASANAS (Psycho-neuro exercises), PRANAYAMA (Breath control), PRATYAHARA (Curbing the senses), DHARANA (Single pointed concentration), DHYANA (Meditation), and SAMADHI (Super conscious state).

Gautama Buddha presented another path, the Noble Eight fold Path. It too has eight limbs – Right perspective, Right Aspiration, Right speech, Right Conduct, Right living, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation. Today the Buddhistic technique is called VIPASANA which is a 10 day course.

BHAGAVADGITA propounds three systems – Karma Yoga (Path of active service), Bhakti Yoga (Devotion) and Jnana Yoga (True knowledge).

The Japanese adopted a modified form of Buddhistic technique and called it Zen Buddhism. It includes asking questions which are called KOANS. These questions have no answers at the level of the thinking mind. Zen Buddhism is used in HRD.

Today there are several methods of meditation presented by various organisations – Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga popularised by Sri Rama Krishna Math. Transcendental Meditation (T.M) enunciated by Mahesh Yogi; the Raja Yoga of Brahma Kumaris; Sahaja Yoga, Kriya Yoga of Parama Hamsa Yogananda, Sahaja Marg of Ramachandra Mission, Chinmayananda Mission, Radhasoamis and so on.

What ever method is followed, meditation is a scientific exercise for peace, and a personal growth technique. All religions recommended it. It is a secular route to personality development. Meditation is not the monopoly of ascetics and sages. It is useful to the common man. It will unfold the infinite potential talent in man and foster a frictionless flow of creative intelligence. Scientists have described this state of restful alertness as a fourth major state of consciousness which is physiologically and psychologically different from the other three states – wakefulness, sleep and dreaming. Meditation is the condition of greatly reduced metabolism. Along with alert calmness of mind, the body is expected to carry out silently certain adjustment processes which are not possible during wakeful state of activity and the less deep rest of sleep. As a result of meditation there will be freedom from stress, tension and fatigue. Peace flows out of a rhythmic breath and a steady heart beat through management of thoughts. It has been found to be a cure for diseases like Blood Pressure and Diabetes. It is an asset to HRD in helping to take right decisions in conflict resolution and crisis management.