Dr.C.S.Raju
Born to taste Success –26
Meditation is a process through which you shift your consciousness from yourself to a state tending to zero thoughts. In this process the mind takes itself away from the self and derives joy and happiness.
In a small tank of still water if you are running your hands across you cannot smooth out the waves. And when there are waves and you see your image in it your face will certainly look distorted. To smooth out the waves you have to simply stop disturbing it. If you do it then you can see the reflection of your face clearly. In the same way, if you remove the oscillating and wavering thoughts from your mind you can feel your TRUE SELF clearly.
The same is called meditation. It allows you to go deeper and understand where the disturbances begin. It also helps you to become aware of why and how your mind gets agitated and helps to develop control to stop those disturbances. Meditation does not bring you PEACE. But you feel it is there once you stop those disturbances like the tank of water example which we have seen above.
India is the world’s headquarters for meditation. Quite a number of spiritual exponents have contributed on this important subject. First let us see what Lord Buddha says:
A conversation a man had with Lord Buddha:
Man: “What have you gained through meditation?”
Lord Buddha: “I gained nothing”.
Lord Buddha further continued – “What I lost through meditation is important. They are ANGER, DEPRESSION, INSECURITY, BURDEN OF OLD AGE, FEAR OF DEATH etc.”
In this chapter we will see three powerful yet simple meditations.
1.FOCUSING ON YOUR BREATHING
This is done in a comfortable sitting posture. By closing your eyes sit still. Without altering your normal breathing process, simply feel in your mind the air going into your lungs and coming out.
It is optional for you to count your breaths. When you exhale count “one”, next exhale “two”. Like this go up to “ten”. Then start from “one”. In between you will find that your thoughts move to something else – the assignment for the day or anxiety of highly important works. It is all quite common. Don’t feel bad. Bring back your awareness to breathing. Tell your body that you are not going to move any part of your body till you finish your meditation.
Depending upon your time availability you can meditate for 10 minutes to 20 minutes.
- PRAYER
Swami Satchidananda in his book THE GOLDEN PRESENT wonderfully describes about prayer. He says:
Don’t think that you can do and achieve everything by your own strengths alone. Understand that there is a super power, a Grace to help you; but you have to ask for help. Open up your heart to God if not for human beings. Develop faith in God and do daily prayers. You will slowly realize that you are feeling joy while getting something from others and feeling depressed while losing the so called your things. With prayers you will understand that you are living a life at a lower plane. Life at a higher plane is – ENJOYING THE COMING AND ENJOYING THE GOING; ENJOYING THE PROFIT AND ENJOYING THE LOSS. When this equanimity gains strength in your mind, your mind gets the grace of God and your mind also sets into creating a bank of joy always.
- TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION (T.M.)
In the last few centuries, Western countries exported to the East their brand of materialism and consumerism. The East contributed Buddhism, mysticism and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s T.M. It is spreading like wild fire in the West.
T.M. has millions of disciples all over the world who claim that they feel more relaxed, not so jittery and tense, more happy and less worried.
To achieve this sublime consciousness, it is necessary to sit in a quiet place and meditate for about 20 minutes while repeating a mantra- a short phrase-which the masters will tell during the T.M. training. It is said that metabolism, blood lactate and breathing are exactly opposite to that when subjected to stress. In effect, T.M. is anti-stress. One can easily learn and practise.
If you continuously practise meditation it certainly helps in giving a sharp memory and clarity of mind and also a sense of freshness in life.=
