Meditation

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"During meditation, my mind wanders" is the universal complaint for

which many seek remedies..

We are all aware of the fact that when we are engrossed in an item of

work in which we are deeply interested, the mind stays focused.

Doing Gayatri Japa is also a work for the mind. If the repetitive nature

of the work does not keep the mind interested, it reverts to its true

nature -- wandering. Those who are successful in Japa are those whose

minds are totally committed to the Japa. This happens when one receives

initiation from a revered Guru and stays focused because that is what

the Guru had instructed the Sishya to do.

To most of us who do not have this Bhagyam of unquestioning obedience to

a Guru, the scriptures generally prescribe control of breath as an aid

to meditation. Like the pilot of an airplane who can switch to

auto-pilot and engage in other activities, our minds entrust the work of

breathing to the autonomous system and starts wandering in a maze of

thoughts. Since breathing is the single most essential activity for

life, a deliberate process of steady controlled breathing, including

holding of breath for a few seconds at the end of each inhalation and

exhalation, forces the mind to concentrate totally on this activity to

the exclusion of all other thought-manufacturing processes. Ramana

Maharishi refers to this procedure as "Praana bandhanaath, leena

maanasam" and proceeds to state that like the bird captured in a net

which flies away when the net is opened, the mind controlled in this

manner again becomes restive when the controlled breathing process is

ended. But to us who desire to be initiated into the first stages of

meditation-exercise, this is a very useful tool. Later, one could start

following the Bhakti-marga, reduce desire for possessions and pleasures

over a period of time, increase the periods of meditation and try to

achieve a fair amount of mind-ego-control. A realization that the

complete process takes many birhs to complete and accepting this truth

in all humility will curb the power of the ego to achieve realization in

this birth and for itself, as if it is another possession to be had by

the ego! As every saint has pointed out, however, the ego has to vacate

first for realization to happen.

The Mukthi that we seek is the release from the hold of this magician,

the ego, who constantly weaves enchanting patterns in our minds leaving

no space for God's magic to work. The choice between the two,

unfortunately, is ours to make and it seems to be a very difficult one

to make, as we all realize very late in our lives.

 

Adiyen Dasan

MK Krishnaswamy

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