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The word 'Meditation', depending on what books and magazines you have read, invokes some vague images of either a yogi sitting in Himalayan forest on a high rock near the river, with an expression of deep contemplation on his face seeking nirvana, or, of some well sculpted models in yogic postures with a cultivated smile and calm, which most likely comes from the idea of the paycheck they are about to receive and seeing their pictures printed on glossy paper. However, meditation doesn't need one to move to a jungle or a cave, nor does one have to be a model with a hot athletic body that convolutes into tough postures. Meditation is easy. Meditation is simple. Meditation is for everyone. And yes, that includes You!
Meditation may be understood in two aspects. The first aspect may be called the 'State of Meditation' and the second may be called the 'Process of Meditation', that leads to the first. However, the first aspect is not completely dependent on the second, as many of us receive 'glimpses' of the state of meditation, sometimes triggered by profound experiences of awe and speechlessness. Remember the scene from the movie, 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' with Hrithik Roshan (who doesn't even know how to swim) after scuba diving?
The state of meditation, is a state of pure awareness, a mirror like quality of consciousness. Being utterly present in the here and now, fully aware and unclouded by the dust of thoughts, emotions, desires, the past or future - just being! This state of pure witnessing consciousness is referred to as 'Drashta', 'Sakshi' or 'Bodh' also called the True-Self by the mystics.
The process of meditation includes practices and techniques of meditation. And there are hundreds of methods/techniques to finally reach the state of meditation. All the meditation techniques given by different mystics around the world are in fact just preparations, many paths and doorways to reach the state of meditation. And almost all the meditation techniques of the past and present have their roots in 112 Meditation Techniques given by Lord Shiva in 'Vigyan Bhairava Tantra'.
Buddha when asked, what did he really achieve in enlightenment replied, "Nothing! Truth was already there only my eyes were closed and now, they are open." The word 'Path' is a bit of misnomer as there is nowhere to go and nothing to achieve, we are already home and enlightenment is our very nature. We are like the prince dreaming that he has become a beggar, all that is needed, is for the prince to wake up and realize! That is why it is also called the pathless path.
'Bondage' is a dream and so is 'Liberation'. And yet for us this dream is our only reality. Thus the awakened ones designed certain techniques that may help us wake up. The essence of all these techniques is 'witnessing' and the process we go through is called the path of meditation - a very scientific approach that doesn't require us to believe but experiment.
The path of meditation may be divided in two parts for a better understanding namely, 'Dhyana' and 'Samadhi'. Dhyana begins with objective awareness, experiencing that our true self is separate from the body, mind, heart - witnessing the object and the subject as separate - dispelling all darkness. Samadhi begins with the 'I' merging into subjective awareness - that which is, and culminates in realization of our divine self, the all permeating Godliness/Divinity - within and without.
This state is called 'Sambodhi', Enlightenment, Divine Realization, Returning to the Source. It is in this state that the 'Rishis' in the east exclaimed 'Aham Brahmasmi', the state in which sufi mystic Mansur declared 'Ana'l Haq', the state in which Jesus stated, 'I and my Father are one.' And yet, this is just the beginning...
Some Myths & Facts About Meditation:
- Meditation is NOT a philosophy, a dogma or a belief system.
- All exercises, to acquire Siddhis/occult powers or any kind of wish fulfillment is NOT Meditation.
- Any kind of Japa/Chanting triggers boredom resulting in Nidra - a sleepy state and is NOT a state of Meditation.
- Concentration in any form, whether on a Bindu/dot, thought, name, mantra or breath etc. is NOT Meditation.
- Asana, Pranayama, different practices of Yoga, Vipassana, Swadhyaya etc., as generally taught today, are preparatory steps and NOT Meditation.
- Idol worshipping, praying in temples, reading scriptures, bathing in the holy waters, fasting, torturing the body and all other rituals are just that - 'rituals' and NOT Meditation.
- Meditation is NOT about running away from the world and its responsibilities into some caves in the Himalayas.
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- Meditation means becoming more alert, more brilliant, more luminous, more wise.
- Meditation is simple, easy, fun, an art of living a life full of love, peace, joy and is meant for EVERYONE including YOU!
- Meditation is the art of being fully involved and yet completely unattached. Living in the world fulfilling all responsibilities, yet unaffected - like lotus in the mud.
- Meditation is a journey - from the false to the truth, from darkness to the light, from death to deathlessness.
- Meditation means the body, mind, heart and the soul, all functioning in harmony, wholeness, humming beautifully; in a melody... one.
- Meditation is the art of witnessing; a relaxed, unfocused, passive, mirror like quality of consciousness - a state of subjective awareness.
- Meditation means a decision to turn in, a decision to ask, 'Who am I?'; a decision that "Unless the answer arrives, I will go on asking, 'Who am I?'"
Suggested Reading:
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The Book of Secrets is based on 112 meditation techniques originally known as the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra. In it, you will find detailed descriptions of how each technique works to open a new door to the art of watching, observing oneself. The techniques are quite simple, and many of them can be fitted into a few minutes break in your day. By experimenting with them, you can find the ones that "click" for you. In alternate chapters of the book there are answer to questions that arise out of people's experience of the techniques.
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