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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/02/16/stories/2002021601800800.htm)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Meditation enables to retain vision of the Self

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

FEB.16.

 

Meditation is the art of focussing the mind on one thought to the exclusion of

all other thoughts - single-pointed concentration. This presupposes that a

person has the capacity of general concentration as whatever activity he engages

in needs concentration. Even in worldly engagements it can be seen that the

majority of people are unable to concentrate on the activity they are engaged in

most of the time. Why is this so? The distractions are due to latent desires

which make the mind wander in different directions. So first of all one must

master the art of withdrawing the mind by reducing desires through the practice

of Yoga. When the mind becomes steadfast one can concentrate on anything and

such a mind can plunge into meditation ultimately leading to Self-realisation.

Hence there is no shortcut to realisation and one has to proceed step by step.

 

The Bhagavad Gita says that God is not an object of knowledge and hence cannot

be described. Words can only point to Him. Just as one can explain what

electricity is to a villager who does not know what it is by showing its

manifestations as light in a bulb, heat in an oven and current of air in a fan,

so also, the scriptures resort to concepts with which we are familiar to explain

the Supreme Reality. Likewise, the Self (Atman) is not an object of knowledge

and does not need anything to illumine it. On the other hand, it is because of

the Self that one is able to gain all other knowledge. In fact, it enables one

to be aware of one's ignorance also.

 

In his discourse, Swami Parthasarathy said everything in creation was

meticulously planned and maintained but we take it all for granted without being

aware of what we were enjoying. The various systems in the functioning of the

body, like breathing, are so perfect and the composition of air balanced to the

needs of living beings; we do not consciously recognise this in our day-to-day

life.

 

Awareness of the beautiful design in nature is devotion. Gratitude for what one

enjoys comes as a consequence of this knowledge. But, in general, one can see

that instead of a feeling of satisfaction there is always some want which makes

for unhappiness with one's lot in life. He who is aware of the totality of

existence (Reality) and can appreciate it becomes the knower of the Self. A

spiritually evolved person can see God in His creation. Just as a classical

musician stays attuned to the Sruti in a concert, one can retain the vision of

the Self while engaged in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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