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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: F.A.Q. 32
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Meditation QUESTION: What is the correct definition of
Meditation? ANSWER: Meditation is the prolonged concentration
of the mind on a particular object. Any object can be used for the purpose of
Meditation: a flower, a mountain, the Sun, the Moon, the
Sky, the human body, a sense perception (sound, feel, colour,
taste or smell), an emotion, a thought or a religious symbol. A painter may meditate on a particular subject for his work of
art. A poet may meditate on a particular verse. An athlete may meditate on a
tournament. A general may meditate on a battle plan. A parent may meditate on
how to better look after the children. All these are legitimate objects of
Meditation. However, the Ultimate Goal of life is Unity with the Supreme
Being. Therefore, the highest form of Meditation is concentration on the
Supreme. In this sense, Meditation may be defined as paying attention to
Reality. Thus the Shiva Puraana says:
"Meditation is pondering over Shiva (the Supreme Being)",
"Yoga is the concentration of the mind on Shiva", etc. Meditation or Attention to Reality, results in a higher mode
of perception, known as Yogic Sight (Yogi-Pratyaksha)
whereby Reality is seen as it really is, undisturbed and undistorted by the
perceptions, emotions and thoughts which cloud the vision of Spiritually
untutored man. The perception of ordinary man is known as ashuddha
vikalpa (impure or wrong thinking or seeing).
By contrast, Yogic perception is Shuddha Vikalpa (Pure or Right Thinking or Seeing). The whole purpose of Spiritual life and ultimately, of all
life, is the removal of wrong perception or thought and its replacement with
Right Thought. Right Thought is acquired by means of: 1) Mantra (Sacred chant
which develops an attitude of reverence towards Reality); 2) Sat-tarka (Reflection on Reality) leading to Bhaavanaa (Contemplation) and Dhyaana
(Meditation); and 3) Shuddha-vidyaa (Pure Knowledge
of Reality) which arises from the previous two. It is this higher mode of perception resulting in Pure
Knowledge of Reality (Shuddha Vidyaa)
that distinguishes ignorant man (Pashu) from
Spiritual man (Yogi). This also makes the difference between other faiths and
Yoga. While other faiths, in particular, Western ones, rely on all kinds of
man-made beliefs and superstitions, Yoga is based on direct, pure and
unadulterated Knowledge of Reality. What is Reality? It order to know what to meditate on, pay attention to, or
feel reverence for, we must know what Reality is. Reality (Satya) is that which is. If a thing is perceived, or
experienced, as being, or having existence, then it is real. This is because all experience is a creation of Consciousness
(Chit, Samvid), the Supreme Reality. Therefore,
all experiences are real as a creation of Consciousness. Even imagination or
illusion is real in this sense. However, some things (or experiences) must be admitted to be
more real than others on account of their endurance in time and space,
importance accorded to them, capacity to affect us, etc. For example, a persistent thought may be considered to be more
real than a passing one; a situation experienced in waking life may be
considered as more real than a dream; a severed limb may be said to be more
real an injury than a superficial cut, etc. Therefore, some things are held to be more real than others
because they are perceived as such by the person concerned. Other things are
held to be more real because they are perceived as such by a group of
persons, community, society or mankind in general. Finally, some things are
held to be more real because the Supreme Being Himself perceives them as
such. Naturally, the Supreme Being (Shiva, God) perceives
Himself as the Highest Reality. Similarly, because the Supreme Being is
Eternal, has unlimited power to affect us, indeed, our entire life ultimately
depends upon Him, He must be admitted to be the Highest Reality, even by
human standards. God, therefore, is the Supreme Reality, the Highest Truth. In practical life, in order for a thing or experience to be
considered real, it must conform to a certain order of things. If, for
example, we follow a course of action which results in something of value to
us, then that action may be said to be real, right, or true. Conversely, if
it results in the opposite, then it may be said to be unreal, wrong, or
untrue. Actions based on man-made concepts of order are likely to be
invalidated by actions based on a higher and more enduring order. The
Highest, Eternal Order is that of the Supreme Being Himself. Broadly speaking, therefore, we may say that there are two
kinds of Reality (Satya): 1. The Reality of everyday experience (sammati-satya)
corresponding to impure thought (ashuddha vikalpa) and 2. The Reality of Higher Experience (Paramaartha-satya)
corresponding to Pure Thought (Shuddha Vikalpa). While everyday experience is of value in daily life, it must
be somehow validated by Higher Experience. If everyday experience were
completely divorced from and unrelated to Higher Experience, it would hardly
be better than a hallucination, a dream, or a child's play. Therefore, everyday experience must bear some relation to
Higher Experience. This is why Ultimate Reality (Paramaartha)
is so important. Because it infuses commonsense reality with meaning, purpose,
value and order. This being so, Ultimate Reality must always be in the
background of our thoughts, emotions and actions. Without It, we would be
left with no point of reference whereby to judge the reality, meaning,
purpose, value and order of any of our experiences and actions. The Purpose of Meditation We have stated above that Meditation is the activity of paying
attention to Reality. Indeed, ancient texts describe Meditation as "that
whereby Yogis see, that is, perceive or experience, Reality". The Highest Reality is Supreme Purity and Goodness (Parama Shiva). It consists of everything that is Pure
and Good: Light, Truth, Eternity, Order, Justice, Compassion, Unity, Harmony,
Love, Happiness, Freedom, Life, Intelligence, Beauty, etc. A thing is true to the extent that it conforms to Ultimate
Reality (the Supreme Goodness, the Highest Good) and false to the extent that
it does not. In order to know what is true and live our life in accordance
with that, we must consciously turn our mind to the Supreme Goodness Which is
the Highest Truth. This turning of our mind to, and concentrating on, the Supreme
Truth Who is the Highest Good, is called "Meditation" or "Dhyaana". Meditation enables us to see the Supreme
Truth, Goodness and Beauty and live our life in accordance with That, so that
it, too, may become Supremely True and Good and Beautiful. This is the true
purpose of Meditation. Types of Meditation On Earth, there are three levels of reality which are
observable by everyone: 1. The Sky, which is the highest. 2. The Sun, Moon and Stars, which is intermediate. 3. The Earth with mountains, rivers, seas, trees, animals and
men, which is the lowest level. Similarly, Ultimate Reality is God (Shiva) Who is
Consciousness (Samvid) and Bliss (Aananda). This Consciousness and Bliss (Samvid-Aananda), which is eternally One Undivided
Reality, manifests itself as Radiance or Light. Light in turn, manifests
itself as animate and inanimate things. The Universe or totality of Reality (Vishva),
therefore, has three distinct levels: 1. God (Shiva), the Supreme Consciousness and Bliss. 2. Light (Prakaasha), God's Power or
Divine Spirit (Shakti) whereby He creates the
World. 3. The World of objects (Loka),
living creatures and man. On the basis of these three levels of Reality, there are three
levels of Meditation: 1. Meditation on God, the Supreme Consciousness and Bliss. 2. Meditation on God's Light, the Divine Creative Power. 3. Meditation on God's Creation. Any thing that is part of God's Creation can be an object of Meditation,
provided that we remain constantly aware of the fact that it is a creation or
manifestation of God and, in consequence, ultimately One with God. However, the Highest Manifestation of God in the Physical
World is that in which He Graciously appeared on Earth, on the Holy Mount Kailasa (or Meru), at the
beginning of the Age of Darkness, in order to impart the Supreme Eternal
Truth of Heaven (Sanaatana Dharma) unto the World,
so that Mankind might be saved from Darkness, Ignorance and Sorrow. Meditation on God's Visible Form It is important to understand from the outset that Yogic
Meditation devices (murtis, yantras,
etc.) never mean what they appear to mean to the outsider. Moreover, they
often carry multiple layers of meaning which can change during various stages
of practice and requires detailed explanation by a Meditation Master.
Attempting to decipher such images without qualified guidance is like trying
to read a book written in an unknown language and therefore is bound to
result in gross misunderstandings. One of the features of Yogic iconography that baffles
Westerners, who are known for their limited and rigid conception of the
Divine, is the fact that Deities are often portrayed as having several pairs
of arms. However, the following facts may be pointed out in response to this: 1. If Western Angels are shown with multiple pairs of
wings, there is no logical reason why Eastern Gods cannot similarly have many
arms. 2. The fact is that, like the Angels of the West, the
Gods of the East are Spiritual Beings who can assume any shape they wish.
Consequently, different images may show different manifestations of the same
Deity, according to the particular historical and Spiritual situation
portrayed. 3. Eastern Gods and Western Angels are the same thing.
The fact that, in the West, they are exclusively portrayed as winged humans
only means that the Western artistic representation of the Divine is much
more restricted, stagnant and fossilised than its
Eastern counterpart which has retained the original
vibrancy and authenticity of all true Spirituality. To Yogis, who are well-acquainted with Spiritual realities,
the Western notion that Gods (or Angels) retain the same physical appearance for
ever is a misunderstanding which is absurd and grotesque in the extreme. 4. The many arms of an Indian Deity are often not arms at
all but simply symbolic representations of specific powers, which is only
natural if we consider that the Deity in question is itself but a
manifestation of the Power of the Supreme. Finally, what is
important is not the arms but the hands which display certain symbolic
objects or gestures the meaning of which outsiders can have no knowledge of. Another aspect of Yogic iconography which appears to lie
beyond the comprehension of Westerners (and Western-indoctrinated Indians) is
nudity. In the ancient tradition of Yoga, the Lord is depicted as being
surrounded by Spiritual Beings called Ganas, Dakinis, Yoginis or Sundaris who often are portrayed in a state of nudity or
semi-nudity. Indeed, images of fairies, forest spirits and other Nature
Deities (Yakshis, Shalabhanjikas,
etc.) wearing scant, transparent or no garments at all, are found at the
entrance of most traditional Indian temples. On a magico-religious level, images
of this type are often connected with fertility and sexuality, and the
Deities thus represented may be invoked for these purposes by believers. In a
purely Spiritual context, however, nudity symbolises
a higher consciousness characterised by freedom
from material limitations, needs and concerns. In consequence, the above
mentioned beings themselves represent higher states of consciousness or
planes of existence where the Soul is in complete harmony and unity with
other Souls, with Nature and with God. Indeed, ancient religious art often attributes nudity to
certain manifestations of Lord Shiva Himself such as Kamadeva
(God of Love), Yamantaka (Conqueror of Death), Bhairava (Annihilator) and Bhikshatana
Murti (Mendicant Ascetic). One of the earliest
examples of this is the Shiva Lingam of the Apart from the fact that it constitutes an unwarranted
obscuration of the creative powers of the Divine, clothing, which strictly
speaking pertains to the world of man and not to the Higher Worlds of Spirit,
may be seen as an undesirable obstacle that stands in the way of unity
between human worshipper and God. Finally, a Meditation Image (Ishta Murti) is also known as "Pratimaa"
or "Reflected Image". It is so called because it reflects the
Powers, Properties, Qualities or Attributes of the Divine on one hand, and
the higher essence in man, on the other. Therefore, it serves as a
mirror-like instrument whereby man may become aware of and recognise the Divine in himself. As such, the Murti or Pratimaa is a prime
example of a Yogic Instrument of Unification of Consciousness which brings
about Unity and harmony between man and his Creator. Needless to say, there is no limit to such images and their
use. For example, for the purpose of ritual worship (puja)
in temples or at home, the use of the above mentioned Shiva Lingam and other
Symbols of Divinity is permitted. However, for the purpose of Meditation the
best object is the Lord's Visible Form (Murti) as described below. This kind of
Meditation shall be done in the following manner. The meditator shall sit facing
North, towards "There is no higher Truth than Shiva and Yoga is
the Path that leads to Him", "Lord Shiva is my only Refuge" and end with the
Holy Chant (Mantra) of Shiva, "Om Namah Shivaaya" or "Eternal
Devotion to Shiva", while mentally or physically bowing down to His
Sacred Image. If more time is available, the Shiva Mantra shall be repeated
108 times or the multiple thereof, which may be counted on the fingers or by
means of a rosary (rudraaksha-mala or string of
prayer-beads). Otherwise, Meditation may commence after reciting the Shiva
Mantra audibly or mentally just three times. In the Shiva Puraana, the Lord
declares: "He who worships Me with the Five-syllabled Mantra (Na-mah-Shi-vaa-ya)
even once, shall attain My Supreme Abode by the might of this Holy Mantra
alone." The great poet and Yoga Master, Utpaladeva
of Kashmir, also says: "He who utters the Name of Shiva, grows great
through the showering of the sweet, Sublime Nectar. The marvelous power of
this Word enters even into the hearts of fools. That Word, which flows like
honey from the nectar-filled Crescent of the Moon, that
is the Sound of Shiva. Blessed are they who have this Sound ever on their
lips!" (Shivastotraavali).
Lord Shiva's Visible Form shall be thought of as being seated
upon a royal seat, symbolic of Supreme Sovereignty, on the summit of Holy
Mount Kailasa, and facing South. Alternatively, He
may be meditated upon as seated on a Lotus Flower (symbolic of the World of
phenomena) rising out of His Form has the appearance of a sixteen-year-old youth. (16 symbolises completeness on the analogy of the New Moon
becoming Full on the 16th day; youthfulness symbolises
the fact that God is Immortal and Ever Existing - hence He never grows old.)
His body is translucent and has the colour of the
clear blue Sky. (Blue symbolises the Infinite,
All-encompassing Universal Consciousness Which contains everything within
Itself, like the All-embracing blue Sky.) He has a beautiful face with large lotus-like eyes and a
compassionate smile. His long hair is red like the flames of
ignorance-consuming fire and He wears the Crescent Moon upon His brow. The
Moon which marks the measurement of time identifies Lord Shiva as Lord of
Time (Kaala-Naatha) as well as being symbolic of a
New beginning leading to Enlightenment and Rebirth in the Light of Spirit. He
who becomes a devotee of Shiva enters upon the Path of Shiva (Shiva Maarga) that leads to Liberation and Unity with the
Supreme. Sacred snakes symbolic of eternal life adorn His body. He also wears
rudraaksha beads symbolic of devotion and Spiritual
practice (saadhana). He holds in His hands a Hand-drum (Damaru)
as a symbol of His Power of Action (Kriyaa Shakti). And a Trident (Trishula
or Three-pronged Spear) as a symbol of His Power of Knowledge (Jnaana). By the power of Action, the Supreme
Consciousness brings everything into existence. By the Power of Knowledge,
Consciousness is aware of all things as manifestations of Itself. The Third
Eye on Shiva's forehead symbolises Supreme Wisdom,
the Awareness that God, the Supreme Intelligence, alone exists. Lord Shiva imparts the Supreme Eternal Truth of Heaven (Sanaatana Dharma) to the World, sometimes in words,
sometimes through the power of His Mind. He radiates Infinite Intelligence
and Bliss in all quarters of the Earth. His Power (Holy Spirit or Shakti) penetrates the meditator's
heart, pervading and filling his whole being with boundless love, light and
joy. The meditator must feel strong and
fearless on account of the bond of Unity and Love between himself and the
Lord. A unique feature of Yoga, which is the Supreme Spirituality of Unity
with the Supreme, is that it enables man to establish a true relationship
with his Creator which is direct, personal, intimate and strong. This Bond of Unity with the Supreme is the true essence of
Yoga Practice (Saadhana). When we establish this
Supreme Bond with God Who is the Supreme Principle of Goodness, then His Infinite Love (Grace, Prasaada)
descends upon us and illumines our life. The Flame of Unity with the Supreme
burns off all our doubts, misunderstandings and sins. We then leave all false beliefs behind and are reborn as
Beings of Light living in the Supreme Radiance of God. Our Souls are
nourished, satisfied and fulfilled by His Infinite Love. We become channels
through which the Supreme Goodness of Heaven can flow into the World of man,
flooding all with His Gracious Gift (Shiva-Prasaada)
of Unity and Love. We become the lamps of God and Stars in the Firmament of
Wisdom under which the The Bond of Unity with the Supreme also enables the followers
of Shiva to be united and strong so that together they may defeat all Evil
and all enemies of Goodness who seek to create Disunity and stand in the way
of Shiva's Meditation on other Religious Figures Yoga has a well-deserved reputation for tolerance towards
other faiths, no matter how implausible and outlandish these may be. However,
the findings of archaeology, history and other fields of academic knowledge
have cast serious doubts on the historicity of Western religious founders
like Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Meditation on such spurious religious figures
is contrary to truth and ultimately counterproductive. It is therefore
forbidden in Yoga. Western Faiths may have served a purpose in certain parts of
the world in the past, but they do not have sufficient Spiritual knowledge
and power to function as a Universal Faith such as Yoga, at present.
Moreover, even those among their leaders who were historical persons were not
Enlightened Beings. Therefore, they cannot lead us to the Highest Truth. Jewish tradition states that Moses, its founder, died without
being able to reach the Promised Land. Indeed, there is no independent record
or proof that he even lived, let alone that he attained any higher degree of
spiritual realisation. Other Western religious
founders, for example, Jesus, admittedly died in great pain with the words,
"My God, why have you abandoned me?" Prophet Mohammad, the founder
of Islam, is also reported by tradition (hadith) to
have died in pain (having been poisoned by a brave Jewish woman in revenge
for his robbing and enslaving her tribe). One of modern It is, of course, natural for Westerners to think that their
Spirituality is best. All men - including the most ignorant - take pride in
their own culture. However, if we think about it, Indian Spirituality was
revealed by the Supreme Being (Parama Shiva)
Himself and not by any Western “Prophet” or "God". In consequence,
the Spirituality of India is Perfect, Complete and Unsurpassed in every
respect. Western Faiths have nothing to teach us. The fact is that the founders of Western Faiths were not God
but mere mortals. Some of them may have never existed. Lord Shiva, on the
other hand, is God. He is the complete, perfect and full embodiment of the
Supreme Principle of Goodness. He was neither born nor did He die, but simply
appeared to the World and then returned to His Supreme Abode from where He
continues to watch over the World. Says Scripture: "In every World Age, Lord Shiva
incarnates as Teacher of Unity with the Supreme (Yogaacharya)
and propagates its Wisdom for the Salvation of His devotees" (Shiva Puraana, Vay. Sam. I, 32:14;
II, 8:43, etc.). Shiva, therefore, is the Supreme Object of Meditation. He is Pashupati, the Supreme Lord and Protector of all
creatures. All Souls must seek refuge in His Infinite Embrace. The adherents of Western Faiths do not meditate on Lord Shiva
simply because they are ignorant of the Truth. Their leaders prevent them
from gaining knowledge of the True Faith which is the Right Path trodden by
the Ancient Masters from the beginning of time. Deprived of true guidance,
the Western World blunders about like a blind elephant, trampling everything
underfoot. This is a very important point to understand. If we think about it, why do millions of Westerners in
"developed" countries like America and Britain go on courses to
develop their "emotional intelligence"? Obviously, because their
culture has rendered them deficient. If you lack emotional intelligence, how
can you have any Spiritual intelligence? Without Spiritual intelligence, how
can you know which faith is right and which is wrong? This, in short, is the
reason why the Western World is torn apart by Communism, Capitalism,
Christianity and Islam. The whole World is suffering because of Western
ignorance. Westerners must give up their pride and prejudice and see the
truth of the matter as it is. On their part, India's men of Spirit must do
their duty and liberate their Western brethren from the clutches of their
devious leaders and lift them out of ignorance into the darkness-dispelling
light of the True Faith before the World sinks into further chaos and destruction. Meditation on Western Religious Figures, therefore, cannot
lead us to the Right Path. On the contrary, it is likely to lead us astray,
as the wars, genocides, colonialism, slavery, terrorism and other crimes
committed by their followers amply demonstrate. As for Eastern and other Faiths, it is permitted to honour and meditate on Lord Krishna, Mahaavira,
Buddha, the Sikh Gurus and the Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Faiths of
Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe, at the beginning of the sitting
session. The main Meditation, however, must be done on Lord Shiva
Himself Who is the Supreme Principle of Purity and Goodness and the Highest
Truth of all. This is the Meditation on God's Visible Form (Murti-Dhyaana). Meditation on Divine Light God's Visible Form as described above is just a Manifestation
of His Infinite Light. Therefore, when proficiency in the first Type of
Meditation has been achieved, the meditator (dhyaani) may proceed to meditate on Divine Light (Shiva-Prakaasha or Samvid-Prakaasha). Just as waves arise from the Sea, rays from the Sun and sparks
from Fire, so also all created things arise from God's Infinite Light. For
this reason, all forms of light are suitable for the purpose of Meditation: a
burning candle or lamp, a fire, the Sun or the Moon. Of particular importance is Meditation on the flame of a
candle, which can be done anytime in one's own home. A burning candle is
placed at eye-level on a table or some other furniture in a dark room, and
the meditator looks at the flame, without blinking,
for a while. He then closes the eyes and concentrates entirely on the
after-image of the flame until it fades away. This is known as "Trataka" or "Steady Gazing". At the same
time, the Mantra of Shiva may be mentally repeated with each inhalation and
exhalation. This practice is best done in the evening, just before going to
sleep. Gradually, the meditator learns to
contemplate on the inner light which appears between and behind the eyebrows
even without the aid of a candle. Eventually, he becomes able to Meditate on
Boundless Light and merge himself in that until
awareness of everything else disappears. This is known as Meditation on Light
(Jyotir-Dhyaana). In the more advanced phases of the above described stage, the meditator must attempt to identify himself
with that inner light. This awareness of oneself as light must be maintained
at all times, as far as possible, even outside the Meditation session.
Finally, the meditator must develop the awareness
of all things as consisting of light. In this way, a high degree of
unification of experience (and consciousness) is achieved. Meditation on Consciousness At the highest stage, which we shall now describe, Meditation
is done on Consciousness Itself. It will be remembered that the Highest Goal of Yoga, which is
the Spirituality of Unity, is Unity with the Supreme. Meditation, therefore,
means not just paying attention to Reality, but also getting closer to, and
finally becoming One with, Reality. Until that moment, one's life is more
like a dream that needs to be corrected by more real experiences until it
coincides in all respects with Reality Itself. While in the first stage of Meditation Practice we open
ourselves up to a Higher Reality, in the second we get closer to It and, in
the third, we become One with It. We have shown above how the first degrees of Unification are
attained. The final degree is rather more difficult to explain and requires
experience and qualified guidance to understand. However, an inkling of this may be obtained by means of the Five
States (Pancha-Avasthaa). There are three basic
states of consciousness which are experienced by all humans to various
degrees: Waking, Dreaming and Deep Sleep. These are recognised
by all branches of Western Psychology. To Yogis, these states are just various forms of Sleep in
which true Psychology or Knowledge of Spirit (Aatma-Jnaana)
is impossible. To acquire True Knowledge, Meditation is required as a means
of exploring higher dimensions of experience. Indeed, Yogis know two states
of consciousness above the ordinary three which culminate in the Universal
Consciousness itself. In this sense, Meditation is the deliberate and systematic
entrance into the Unconscious or the Mind of God (the Supreme Consciousness)
which is called "Unconscious" because it exists outside the sphere
of experience of the Spiritually unawakened human
consciousness. Thus, the process of Meditation commences with the Waking
State (Jaagrat Avasthaa)
in which the meditator (dhyaani)
gazes with devotion upon an Image of God (Murti or Pratimaa) Who is the Supreme Intelligence. In this phase,
although the meditator is awake in the conventional
(sammati) sense of the word, he is asleep or
un-Awakened (Abuddha) from the perspective of
Ultimate Reality (Paramaartha). In the second phase, the meditator
closes his eyes and directs his conscious attention inwards, entering the
Dream State (Svapna Avasthaa).
This is the first stage of Spiritual Awakening (Sambodhi,
Buddhatva) in which the Seeker begins to gain control
over his own mental states and, in consequence, becomes an Awakened One
(Buddha). In the third phase, the meditator
enters the Unconscious or State of Deep Sleep (Sushupti
Avasthaa). By retaining his full consciousness in
this state in which ordinary people are fast asleep, the Seeker becomes a
Well-Awakened One (Prabuddha). In the fourth phase, the meditator
frees himself from the last limitations of the mind and, penetrating the Veil
of Maayaa (the "Cosmic Magic" or
"Unconscious" proper), he reaches the
realm of Pure Consciousness and awakens to the reality that he is a Conscious
Soul, a living orb of light. This is called the Fourth State (Turya Avasthaa), having
attained which, the Seeker becomes a Perfectly Awakened One (Suprabuddha). Finally, in the fifth phase, the meditator
enters the State-beyond-the-Fourth (Turyaatita Avasthaa) which is the State of Absolute Unity of
Consciousness and he enjoys the Supreme State of Nirvaana
which is Total Identity with the Supreme (Shiva Nirvaana,
Shivatva, etc.). In this Supreme State, the Yogi
becomes the Ever Awake (Sadaa Buddha), the Original
Waking One (Aadi Buddha), the Lord of Yoga (Yogendra) and Greatest God (Mahaadeva)
Himself - Which he has always been without realising
it. To better understand this Process of Identification with the
Supreme it is essential to understand that all things are made of
Consciousness. Therefore, in any perception or experience, it is
Consciousness perceiving or experiencing Itself. Consciousness is, by definition, a force which has the unique
capacity of being aware of itself. Nothing else can
be aware of itself except Consciousness. This essential capacity
Consciousness has of being aware of itself, is the
very Power which drives the Seeker of Unity, and elevates him, towards the
Supreme Experience of Unity with Ultimate Reality. While Supreme Consciousness always remains absolutely Pure and
Free from all impurities, imperfections and limitations, human consciousness
becomes contaminated and clouded by psychological sediments resulting from
everyday experiences and is mostly - though not entirely - unable to perceive
itself. A purification process must be applied to cleanse it of all
debilitating sediments in the same way as a Mirror (Bimba)
or some other shining object needs polishing in order to regain its original
reflective quality. Says Scripture: "Just as a Mirror or disc of gold or
silver covered by dirt shines brilliantly again when cleansed well, the
embodied one, on perceiving his true Self, becomes one with that and abides
self-fulfilled and free from sorrow" (Shvetaashvatara
Upanishad III, 2:14). One of the key techniques in this context is the constant
awareness of the background of all experience. When perceiving light, for
example, the meditator must develop the awareness
of the Reality which is aware of the light and, as before, strive to identify
himself with That. Of particular importance is the development of the awareness
that one is not the body, one is not the mind, one
is the Light within, the Light of Consciousness (Samvid-Prakaasha)
Itself. In other words, awareness must be shifted away from the object
of experience to the Luminous Experiencing Consciousness itself. Not the "seen"
but the "Seer" is what matters. This Self-Identity or Recognition of one's Higher Self with
the Supreme is facilitated by means of the Mantra "Shivoham"
("I am the Supreme"). When correctly understood and assimilated,
this Mantra enables the Seeker to rise to higher and higher states of
Consciousness - or aspects of himself. Says the Shiva Puraana: "With
the awareness, 'I am Shiva', one shall perform the Shaivite
rites of Meditation, Knowledge and the rest". The Upanishad equally declares: "When the Yogi by means
of the Lamp of Knowledge of the Self beholds the nature of Reality, the
Unborn, Unchanging and Unblemished, by knowing That, he is free from all
bondage" (Shvet. Up. III, 2:15). Thus from light to light the Seeker arrives at the Light of
all lights: the Great Light (Mahaa Prakaasha), the Great Life (Mahaa
Sattaa), Supreme Reality (Parama Artha) Itself. This is
the Meditation on Consciousness (Samvid-Dhyaana)
which is the highest Meditation of all and the Supreme Spirituality. Observations on the Practice of Meditation Meditation is best practised two or
three times a day, in particular, in the early morning or late evening, at
least for a few minutes at a time. Twenty or thirty minutes is even better, whenever possible. The higher stages of Meditation are not for beginners. The
first stage, Meditation on God's Visible Form (Murti-Dhyaana),
can be practised by all to
various degrees. It is the best to begin with. Concentration techniques like focusing on the breathing,
counting, the "candle exercise" ("trataka")
etc., are valuable aids in the development of the power of concentration,
attention, observation and visualisation. They also
develop our intelligence, strengthen our memory and stimulate the opening of
the third eye. The study of Yogic texts, association with Spiritually-minded
people, listening to Spiritual music, participating in religious and cultural
events, doing charity work, spreading awareness of the true Teachings of
Yoga, are indispensable means of progress on the Path. The issue of
Spiritual competence or fitness (adhikaara) is
vital to all Spiritual endeavour.
Therefore, it can be neither ignored nor underestimated. Scripture clearly
says that only one among thousands strives to attain knowledge of the
Supreme. And among those that strive, only one attains the final goal (Bhagavat Gitaa 7:3). Moreover,
‘At the end of many births, the man of knowledge directly reaches Me (the
Supreme Lord), realising, “God is all”. Such a
great Soul is extremely rare’ ( Indeed, it goes almost without saying that not all Souls can
attain Supreme Enlightenment in this lifetime. This inability is caused by
Karma and the Will of God. Says Scripture: “He (God) makes him, whom He
wishes to lead up from these worlds [Earth, etc.], do a good deed; and the
same makes him, whom He wishes to lead down from these worlds, do a bad deed.
He (God) is the World-Protector. He is the World-Sovereign. He is the Lord of
all” (Kaushitaki Upanishad 3:8). However, failure
to attain Enlightenment or Liberation in this life does not mean to say that
we have to give up on Spiritual Practice. Life is Spiritual and must be lived with Spirit in mind. It is
the duty of all creatures to live in Unity with their Creator. The fact is
that Yoga, or Unity with the Divine, is not a choice but the Highest Duty
which we all, from King to street sweeper must discharge to our best ability.
Therefore, Yoga must be practised to the very end. One of the main obstacles to progress in Meditation is the desire
to attain quick progress. This is part of a wider strategy adopted by the unawakened mind (or ego, "ahamkaara"),
namely, to manipulate Divine Will and twist it for one's own personal
purposes. This strategy is doomed to fail and is best avoided from the very
beginning in order to save oneself a lot of trouble. The true purpose of Meditation is not to bring the
Supreme under our control but to harmonise our life
with the Supreme. As explained in the Scriptures, while some degree of
Enlightenment can be achieved already in this birth, the Highest Goal may
take three lifetimes to attain depending on Karma and the Will of God.
Therefore, patience and perseverance are the best approach. Another obstacle is the tendency of the unawakened
mind or ego to misuse Spiritual Practice for the purpose of escaping reality.
This also is doomed to fail. We all have a destiny to fulfil.
Very few Souls are qualified to "leave everything behind" and merge
with the Absolute. Nor is it for them to decide. As always, the ultimate
Spiritual Authority is God and not man. Therefore, follow the Path of Spirit
without neglecting other duties. What matters to true men of Spirit, who are Seekers of
Unity with God, is to always do the Will of Shiva and obediently follow His
Supreme Command. What His Command is, may be
gathered from Scriptures, the teachings of the Yoga Masters (Gurus), reason
and Revelation. In this context, it is imperative to understand that, although
Meditation is the best means of attaining true Happiness, it is not always
the best immediate solution to all the problems in the World. We
cannot sit down and meditate when people around us need our help. If such a situation arises, we must take immediate action
while, at the same time, inwardly maintaining a state of calmness, detachment
and devotion to the Supreme, as far as possible. For this reason, in the Bhagavat Gitaa, the Lord does not ask the hero (Arjuna) to sit down and meditate, but to take action in
the form of fighting the enemy, as a matter of holy duty (Sva-Dharma). Meditation, therefore, must not be used as a substitute
for action. Rather, it must be used as a means of drawing inspiration for our
actions. The great Saint and Prophet, Shri Aadi Shankara, was a great meditator. He loved the Supreme above all else. Yet he
was never inactive. He would roam the country from one end to the other,
tirelessly preaching the Word of God. He founded many societies, schools and organisations, Spiritual, charitable and military. Another great Spiritual Master and Prophet, Shri Abhinava Gupta, says: “If
one who has attained Enlightenment were to give up all worldly activities,
this would result in chaos, for ordinary men would lose faith in the
established path and grow indifferent to right knowledge and right conduct…The wise one
understands that it is the Supreme Lord Himself Who is the performer of all
activities and Who acts through him. He therefore surrenders all his
activities to the Lord and engages in action for the sake of others as if he
were at war (that is, like a warrior in battle who fights fearlessly to the
death as a matter of holy duty)” (Gitaartha Samgraha, Meditation or Spiritual Practice must never be confused with
inaction. Meditation and Activity, Knowledge and Action, Jnaana
and Kriyaa, are not mutually exclusive but
complementary. They are the very heart of life. Like the two wings of a bird,
they enable us to rise higher and higher. The Scriptures are
very clear on this matter. Thus, the Gitaa says: “Neither liberation nor perfection is attained by mere
renunciation” (3:4) … “[King] Janaka and
others achieved perfection through works alone. [Therefore] you ought to do
works for the promotion of the welfare of the World, at the very least” ( God Himself is not inactive. He creates the World. He punishes
the wicked and liberates His devotees. The Scriptures are full of His
wonderful deeds. As the Sun shines and Fire burns, so also the Supreme
Intelligence acts. Man cannot think that he is above God. What is required of
us is not to be inactive but to act intelligently, just like God, His Avataras (Manifestations) and His Prophets (Rishis). Only in this way can we do His Divine Will. God has put us in this World for a good purpose. We must not
offend Him by asking Him to take us away. Rather, we must pray for Divine
Guidance that we may know the Right Path and the true course of action in
this world. Shiva is our Lord and Master, and also our Supreme
Example. We must look into our heart and ask ourselves, "What would He
do if He were in our place?" Just think! Would the Lord of Unity and Goodness convert to
the Religion of Evil and Discord? Did Shiva remain inactive when Raavana attempted to storm His Celestial Abode? Did He
silently suffer Daksha's blasphemous offence? When
Evil is persistent, shall Goodness give in? By no means! The Holy Land of India, in particular, urgently needs a
new generation of Spiritual Seekers who are not afraid to put into practice
the insight and inspiration gained in Meditation. Every man, woman and child has inner enemies such as
ignorance, selfishness, greed, envy, laziness and fear. These are deadly
enemies which feed on the strength of the Soul and lead to Spiritual death.
Therefore they must be combated with all our strength. However, we also have
external enemies who seek to enslave us and lead us to destruction. They are
the followers of false religions who seek to impose their rule upon the
World. They have great military and financial power. They cannot be defeated
through meditation but only through forceful action. Seeing that the Country,
Nation or Community is under attack by enemy forces we cannot just sit down
and meditate. On the contrary, it is our duty to stand up and take every
action that is required to eliminate the danger and exterminate the enemy
once and for all. When his brothers and sisters are being oppressed and murdered
throughout the World it cannot be right for a follower of the True Faith (Sat
Dharma) to concern himself with his own Spiritual progress. The true believer
forgets his own preoccupations and fearlessly rises to the defence of his brethren. As the Holy Scriptures say, we live in the Age of Darkness. It
will be a long and difficult struggle. However, we must remember that the
meaning of Yoga or Unity is to combine all our efforts, Spiritual, emotional
and material, and ensure that the True Faith will prevail. Yogis who are the Guardians of
Righteousness on Earth, cannot abandon the World and leave this beautiful
Planet called Mother Earth at the mercy of Maoists, Jihadists,
Missionaries, Colonialists and other agents of Western Imperialism and
Oppression. Therefore we say, Victory to Lord
Shiva, Who is the Highest Truth, Whose Path is the Supreme Stairway to Heaven
and Whose devotees shine like the brightest of Stars! (See also Obstacles on the Yoga Path.) |
