Meditation is a process to know who we really are.
If I ask you, " Who are you?" what will you say ?
You may say - Well I am 25, male, American , white, Roman catholic, Masters in Computer Science, doing a job in HP, planning to marry this year.
Does the above answer describe you completely?
Well why I am discussing this?
Just to tell you who you really are.
The attributes which you use to describe yourself - like your name, nationality, religion, height, physical appearance- no matter how exactly they describe you with reference to your place in this world, they can not describe the real you. They can not describe the fundamental unchanged aspect of your being which remains intact in all circumstances.
No matter where you born in, no matter of which religion you follow, of which nationality you belong to or what is your educational or financial status, you have an identity which is independent of all these external attributes. The identity which is the fundamental core of your very existence in this world. Meditation is a mean to recognize that identity - yours true identity.
What is this identity? Who you really are?
In reality you are just consciousness.
You are not body, you are not mind, you are not thoughts, you are just consciousness which feels and witness everything as you play your part in life. This consciousness by its very nature is peaceful, calm and rejuvenating.
and Meditation is a process to know this consciousness within you.
"Meditation is a systematic way of making our mind quiet so that we can contact our true identity -self, which is the source of everlasting joy, bliss and peace."
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If you are reading or listening the articles on this website, then two things are certain:
(a) You have a mind by which you are grasping the meaning of what is written
&
(b) You know how to read or listen.
That's all you require to meditate. No matter who you are, where you live or what you do - you also are the part of same consciousness that dwells in everybody. The same supreme self reside in you as it reside in others.
You can meditate : easily and quickly.
Remember you don't have to find your true self. It is already present in you. Through meditation you have to just realize that it exist.
And realizing that is not at all difficult. Just read this book and follow the instructions honestly and you will be on your way to be a skilled meditator. You will be able to meditate anywhere, anytime !
Let us start by knowing benefits of meditation
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation, if done on a regular basis, can do wonders for you. Here are some basic benefits which you will draw by regular meditation .
(1) Meditation makes us aware of the fact that we are intelligent.
Now just think for a moment:
When does a man see with his own eye and feel with his own hearts.
And when does a man do not submit himself to the hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence?
Its only when he recognize that his true identity is free from any kind of prejudice or bias. When he realize the presence of the same consciousness of self in everybody. It's only after realization of self, that we find the presence of one divinity in everybody.
Meditation will brings the above mentioned qualities in you. All kind of prejudices, vanity, hatred, jealousy and pre-conceived notions have their origins in mind. But when in meditation, we transcend the mind and contact this higher entity 'self' we realize the calm and serenity of a focused and peaceful mind. When you meditate, you recognize that being 'more knowledgeable' and being 'intelligent' are two different thing. Once the feeling of an all pervading self comes in you, You will start seeing with your own eyes and feel with your own hearts instead of allowing others to make opinions and decision for you..
(2) The foundation of self awareness that meditation provides is useful in many areas. It shows us how to focus on the present moment and stop worrying about future or past. It teaches us how to be in control of mind and emotions instead of the other way around.
(3) It develops insight into the unconscious causal connections between thoughts, attitudes, perceptions, feelings, body states, and behaviors. When you meditate, slowly you start recognizing even the most subtle fluctuations of your emotions and thoughts. This results in a better understanding and control of mind and body.
(4) Your attitude towards life will change. You will learn how to be more appreciative for good deeds of others. You will start enjoying little moments happiness that life provides us everyday.
(5) You will be able to see the larger picture of things instead of small day to day problems.
(6) Meditation helps us accept the things as they are not as we desire them to be. We become content with what we have. The negative feelings of jealousy, hatred, greed, anger, frustration, anxiety and failures start disappearing from our personality.
(7) You will be more understanding towards others.
(8) You will start ignoring petty issues that consumed much of your energy.
(9) Shall I get Enlightenment ?: I don't promise you an enlightenment ('Moksha' or the state of Nirvana). Enlightenment or the state of no-desire (Nirvana) is often considered as the ultimate and eventual outcome of Meditation. A really interested & dedicated person who is ready to delve into to deepest nuance of subject may reach the state of 'no desires' . But for common people like us it is neither necessary nor desirable to expect such a highest state of being. Theoretically, Moksha or the state when all kind of materialistic desires cease and one attains liberation from bond of death and birth, can be attained by anybody. However, most of us are so much entangled in our day-to-day existential life that the possibility of any of us desiring a 'desire-less state ' is remote. Moreover the very process of wanting anything ( including Moksha) implies that there is a desire in us for this !
Forget about enlightenment. Just meditate. All benefits will follow on their own.
(10) Your inner ability to solve complex problems will increase.
(11) It is a healthy way to handle stress. Meditation lowers hypertension and high blood pressure while slowing heart rate and quickening recovery time.
12.) Meditation increases concentration, self-esteem, spontaneity, creativity, and depth of awareness.
The three yogic aids for meditation are - Deep breathing, Deep relaxation and Deep contraction.
Before describing them in detail , I want to answer this question :
"Are these so called three aids of meditation are really significant and pre-requisite for learning meditation?"
Yes ! they are significant for learning meditation.
Here is why these three aids viz. Deep breathing, deep relaxation and deep contraction are highly recommended for learning meditation .
Most of us have no time. Life is so busy, so complex and demanding ! At the end of the day we become physically and mentally exhausted . There is no energy or enthusiasm left for meditation. Even if we meditate somehow it does not produce any desired results as with our weary and tired bodies it becomes impossible to try any meditation technique wholeheartedly.
So is there anyway of making life somewhat more relaxed, more simple and less demanding ?
Life is busy, Complex and demanding. …off...!!!
Mental and physical exhaustion ……..ouch..!!!
Inability to meditate properly…dud….!!!
Any solution …??
Yes ! a very simple solution…
Do something which results in less mental and physical exhaustion.
Something which make life:
• relaxed (not busy),
• Simple (not Complex); and
• less demanding (not Demanding)
Well meditation can make your life relaxed, simple and less demanding.
But here is the catch
For meditation - your life should be relaxed, simple and less demanding.
And it will be relaxed, simple and less demanding when you meditate.....phew !
What to do.. Is there any way!!!????
We can't change our home or workplace. No one can fled away from domestic responsibility. We can't quit/ shift our job. We will continue to face on daily basis the problems on domestic as well as work front. So this can not be an alternative.
There is this everlasting solution. Adopt the practice of Deep Breathing, Deep Relaxation and Deep Contraction in your daily life.
Consider this :
(1) What about if you got three times more energy per day than the present amount. Suppose you do 'Z' work with 'X' energy at present. Imagine doing 'Z' work with 3'X' energy !!
(2) What about if you get the benefits of 5 additional hours of sleep. Continue to sleep for 7-8 hours daily but get the refreshment of 12-13 hour sleep!!!!
(3) What about if your body remain vibrant, fit and flexible throughout the day instead of its present state of rigid, stale and dull. !
Sounds incredible ? However, when you really give a try to Deep breathing, deep relaxation and deep contraction, you will verify the truth of above statements. These three aids are the practical essence of yoga- the ancient art of far east, the most potent of all self improvement disciplines developed and perfected over centuries by sages and wise men of India. These three aids are self sufficient in themselves. Each one of them is so powerful that a separate website can be built around each.
The regular practice of Deep breathing, deep relaxation and deep contraction will bring dramatic, almost miraculous, changes in you and these three aids are extremely simple to adopt. Your life will become relaxed, simple and less demanding . I have explained in detail each of these three aids. I have no hesitation in claiming that by the active use of these 3 yogic aids , you will be able to make your life much relaxed and comfortable. You will remain full of energy throughout the day which simply means that you will be able to meditate willingly and easily. Your body and mind will help you in meditation instead of the other way around.
In this chapter, I want to tell some important do's and don't in meditation. These are basic guidelines which an absolute beginner should follow if he/she wants to be proficient in the art of meditation. Here we go..
The ideal room : It is better to have a separate room for practice of meditation alone. Do not sleep in that room, it must be kept holy. You must not enter the room until you have bathed, and are perfectly clean in body and mind. Place flowers in that room. Put pleasing pictures in that room. Burn incense morning and evening in that room. Have no quarrelling , nor anger, nor unholy thoughts in that room. Only allow those persons to enter it who are of the same thought as you. Then gradually there will be an atmosphere of holiness in the room so that when you are miserable, sorrowful, doubtful or your mind is disturbed, the very fact of entering that room will make you calm.
No matter which place you choose for meditation, the important thing is that you should be able to meditate there regularly and nobody should disturb you during meditation in that place.
Now just like the ideal room for meditation, here is an ideal condition for meditation.
Even if you can't find time for meditation and are unable to meditate regularly, it is strongly recommended that whenever you mediate, meditate at the same place. If you are an absolute beginner in meditation, you must follow this advise. The reason for my emphasis on 'meditation at the same place' is that every action (be it good or bad) creates its vibration. So when you meditate on a particular place everyday, that place gets filled with the positive vibrations of meditation. So the next time you sit for meditation, these positive vibrations will help you attain the meditative state quickly and deeply. A beginner of meditation is just like a tiny sapling. It's root are not very deep and strong. It can not stand the forces of rain, storms and thunders. However, when it grows, it become a tree with strong roots and branches that can withstand any difficulty. Similarly as a beginner of meditation meditates regularly at the same place, his/her ability to meditate improves and he/she becomes apt in meditating deeply. When he/she attains such expertise in meditation then he/she can meditate anywhere, anytime. But in the beginning it is important that we meditate at the same place and if possible at the same time too.
(2) Make sure that nobody disturb you while meditating:
Now this is something which also very important in meditation. You simply can't meditate if people keeps disturbing you. You should make sure that nobody disturb you while meditation. First of all without hesitation, tell everybody in your family and friend circle that during such and such time in the day you meditate and you don't want to be disturbed by them at that time. Make it very clear- politely and firmly - that you want to meditate and you DON'T WANT TO BE DISTURBED during meditation. (Of course tell them that they can disturb you when there is an emergency ) Further, when you meditate switch off your mobile phone. Remove the telephone plug if it is there in your meditation room. Advise your family to keep the volume of Radio & TV low when you meditate.
Further, if you have a separate room for meditation, close it during meditation and place a board of 'DON'T DISTURB ! I AM MEDITATING' on it.
(3) Posture in Meditation :
There is only rule for posture in meditation :
"Sit so comfortably that you forget your body. "
Meditation is related with spiritual planes of body. You can't touch those planes unless you are comfortable with your physical bodies It really doesn't matter that in which posture you sit for meditation. Moreover, it doesn't matter whether you sit on a floor, on a chair, on bed, in Car, bus, sofa or on table ! The only thing is that you should be comfortable while sitting. It is very important that you sit in a physically comfortable position before you meditate You can sit in lotus pose (cross legged ), you can sit on a chair, a sofa or on a bed. Just keep in mind that in whichever pose you sit, it should be comfortable for your body.
(4) For all extremely busy people:
Adopt the three yogic aids of Deep breathing, Deep Relaxation and Deep Contraction in your life .
Needless to say this again . I have already devoted an entire chapter on these three aids. They are very important especially if you are living a very busy life. Adopt these three aids in your life and you will be able to meditate with effortless ease.
(4) Have patience :
Meditation acts as a cleansing process. It will take its own time to produce its effect on you. Be patient and don't meditate with an aim of getting a time-bound benefit. Meditate without expecting anything. Soon you will find that the joy of mediation is enough.
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(5) Be Playful :
Meditation is not a serious religious process. Don't try too hard in meditation. It is like a Homeopathy Medicine which works slowly but treat completely. Always be playful with the meditation techniques. To be cheerful and playful during meditation is the sure recipe for success.
(5) Always identify the witness within you
Remember this fact : In whichever meditation technique you are, you aim should be to identify your true self : the witness within you. In fact all meditation techniques helps you to identify that witness within you. This is the real key factor of all techniques. No matter what you do, where you do it or how you do it, there is always someone in you who watches the doer as well as the deed. You can experience this in many ways. While watching a movie try to see if it is only you who is watching the movie or is there someone in you who is watching that you are watching the movie. That knower, that particular watcher - the witness is your true self. This self is your eternal essence. If there is any part of you which was present before your birth and which will be there after your death, it is this self - your true identity. Always meditate with an aim to know this self.
Let us summarize all do's and don'ts in meditation.
Do's
• Meditate regularly.
• Meditate at the same place and same time everyday.
• Make sure that nobody disturb you while meditating:
• Sit so comfortably that you forget your body
• Adopt Deep breathing, Deep Relaxation and Deep Contraction.
• Have patience
• Be Playful
• Identify the witness within you.
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Don'ts in Meditation
Let us see some don'ts in meditation:
Do not meditate: where there there are wild animals, or danger like fire or flood water, where there is too much noise and where there are wicked persons.
Do not meditate: when the body feels very lazy or ill or when the mind is very miserable and sorrowful.
Do not meditate at a dirty place.
One last thing about meditation
So up to now, I have elaborated on the meditation, its meaning , the benefits you'll derive from it, the concept of self, the 3 very important aids of meditation i.e. Deep breathing, deep relaxation and deep contraction. Since you are now going to enter into this vast field of meditation, before you leap and start doing meditation, the one last thing which you must be keep in mind while doing any meditative exercise is described here.
As already mentioned (in what is meditation ), the aim of meditation is to realize our true self. Though the true aspect of our existence in the universe is our self, as a lay person we can only see (and feel) our body and mind whereas actually there are 3 aspect of existence, the body , the mind and the self. Since we are aware of only body and mind, in meditation our single minded aim should be to identify this 3rd aspect of self, to recognize it, to feel it as the 3rd aspect of our being apart from body and mind. When you start recognizing this 3rd aspect of your self as a separate identity from your body and mind, only then you can claim to be succeeding in meditation. Because although for language & simplicity's sake I have called it 3rd aspect of your being, it is the self only which is true aspect of our identity. It is this so called 3rd aspect self which is your real nature, the foundation of your presence in this world.
More links
meditation and health
http://mrinalkantipal.blogspot.com/2009/06/medtaton-and-health.html
simple meditation
http://mrinalkantipal.blogspot.com/2009/06/meditation-made-easy.html
why meditate and how to meditate
http://mrinalkantipal.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-meditate-and-how-to-meditate.html
why we meditate
http://mrinalkantipal.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-we-meditate.html
practice of meditation
http://mrinalkantipal.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-meditate.html
Practice of Meditation
http://mrinalkantipal.blogspot.com/2009/07/practice-of-meditation.html
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