Meditation (Dhyaana) is a huge Vedaantic concept which is practiced in a very simple way. It is an inseparable part of the spiritual life; it is the most important and powerful component of the spiritual practice (Saadhana). Meditation in general is practiced purely as a trnsaction of the mind (Manasaa Vyaapaara) for the sake of gaining concentration (Ekaagrata). It is frequently described as an uninterrupted (continuous) stream of thoughts about the God – like the continuous flow of oil from one vessel to another.
Meditation is now accepted as a cure for hypertension, insomnia, stomach ulcers, back pain, asthma etc. If you have spiritual interests also, you focus attention inward and try to glimpse into the vast and peaceful spiritual horizon. The inner experience of divinity gives you an extraordinary tranquility and detachment. But, the spiritual persons, who practice meditation, consider the therapeutic benefit merely as a fringe benefit.
In the Patanajali’s Ashtaanga Yoga, meditation is to be practiced in three stages.
Pratyaahaara: Mind which has strong tendency to go out into the world of objects is restrained to remain within and stop wandering hither and thither. The external thoughts are sought to be eleiminated with this technique.
Dhaarana: Mind is strongly directed to think of god exclusively. (in the early stages unsuccessfully). Mind is very unruly like a wid horse. It has to be persistently and relentlessly restrained. When thoughts from the internally memory bank pop out the meditattor is required to ignore them.
Dhyaana: continuous uninterrupted flow of thoughts about god
Transcendental meditation is a specialized form of Meditation, which has been popularized all over the world through the pioneering efforts of Maharshi Mahesh Yogi. They call this type of meditation as “An appointment with yourself”. It is considered very efficacious in easing tensions – resulting in relaxation. You do not need to be either religious or spiritual for practicing this meditation.
Man has a vast memory bank in his subconscious mind. There are invariably some memories in it, which relate to guilt, stress, fear, trauma etc – experiences with which the person could not cope up earlier when they occurred. They remain in the subconscious mind – weighing heavily on the person. They are a burden, which the person continues to carry with him. As long as they continue to exert their pressure, the person continues to move in life with fear, agony and sorrow – and he finds no thrill in living this way. Unless, these accumulated agonizing memories are brought out and sublimated, they continue to torment the person.
Fortunately, these memories have a way of coming to the surface suddenly, during the quiet moments of meditation - like bubbles coming to the surface in a quiet pond, when decaying organic matter underneath, releases a gas. These are the unassimilated, undigested and hurtful experiences, which lie buried deep within the subconscious mind, which now bubble up and disappear forever. These memories pop up without any seeming connection and relevancy. They should not be considered as disturbances – and opposed. You let them bubble up. Just leave them alone – and they disappear. It is for this reason that in TM, you are advised not to concentrate – they positively discourage concentration.
In this form of meditation, you tie your self to some "Mantra" and allow yourself to slip out of your conscious awareness, freely and unobtrusively. You do not oppose thoughts as they appear, one after another, while you close your eyes and repeat the mantra silently. Let the thoughts come and go freely. Mantra brings you up every now and then, from wherever you happen to have wandered. You keep going and coming back – all the time. When you go down, the mantra brings you up. It is just like dipping your self into a deep well, after making sure that you will not sink – and the mantra is supposed to ensure this. You dip into your subconscious mind and bring out the accumulated tension.
The next thought is about “What is Hinduism”
No comments:
Post a Comment