meditation

[samiksha]

I want to know the process of meditation, how is it done?

To whom should we concertrate on n what we should do as a bignner?

I have a wandering mind n want to concertrate n be focus so want to domeditation,

please guide.

Thanking you.

[bhaktajan]

 

 

CLASSIC SILENT MANTRA-MEDITATION

 

1) Find & Sit up-right {chair or floor} somewhere undistubed for 20 Minutes.

2) Eyes closed & hands folded in lap [adjust hands anyway to suit yourself].

3a) Wait a moment in state of readiness . . . REPEAT A MANTRA [try "OM" pronounced 'ohmm'] . . . REPEAT A MANTRA . . . REPEAT A MANTRA . . . REPEAT A MANTRA [Lips don't move. Mantra is repeated in your head silently].

 

3b) This task of repeating a Mantra will be interupted by 'thoughts' --once you become aware of these constant interruptions consciously return to: REPEAT A MANTRA . . . REPEAT A MANTRA . . .

 

4) After approx. 20 minute [or whatever amount of time you may transition into, after much practice] stop the mantra meditation and 'focus your attention onto any spot in your body that you sense pain or discomfort' --after a minute awake and return to your regular life duties.

 

NOTE:

A-- the best time to meditate is before Dawn, and before dusk.

But after practice such meditation can be done in all rested situations ie: Train journey etc.

 

B--Outside Interuptions [telephone, itch, sneeze] are not a problem --simply stop & resume again.

 

C--It has been known that first timers will fall asleep due to cozy-woozie-ness:

You are releasing physical stress via relaxation & mental-stress via release of preoccupations.

 

D--the "means and the ends" is the same here: "REPEAT the MANTRA" --this is the goal. This will focus your attention.

 

E--When you still are repeating the mantra AND no thoughts are interrupting --your consciousness will be fully 'on-guard', without your mind filling-up your consciousness with mental constructs (thoughts, idea, rememberences, day-dreams)-- this is a way of measuring your progress in Silent Meditation.

 

F--Remember that Silent meditation is NOT supposed to make you un-conscious nor sleepy nor trance-like. It is a waking state without being preoccupied with any given set of thoughts. It is likened to extreme alertness in a state of unwavering peace, without the need to introduce an emergency or stressful urgency.

 

H--Higher meditation is the same as real life vocations.

 

Being in the "Zone" is for the purpose of preforming your duties.

 

Duties may be classified in so many ways from Mundane, superfulous, Epic, profunctory, Purple-heart earning, Medal of Honor worthy, Noble-prise-winning worthiness, stupid, accidental, mindless, illegal to Holy and transcendental --such duties/activities will culture your sensibilities --this is what the average day's acts amount to for many people, but without being centered and in-tune with their own subtle existence.

 

I--Warning: The State of becoming one with your own reflection, as seen from the outside in and then from the inside toward the inner most will reveal that you are very small in comparison to the Universe and thus there may be a backlash --to go out and conquer the world rather then sit silently. I wont say anymore.

[Bart Happel]

Simply count your out-breathings from 1 to 10, and then start counting again your out-breathings from 1 to 10, and so on. This is a very simple and effective method to ‘discipline’ the ‘rational’ part of your mind. After some practice it will focus your mind (and possibly activate your ‘spiritual attention’).

 

Doing this for even a few minutes is quite hard at the beginning. You will lose count, and your mind will resist the discipline by distracting you from counting with all kinds of dream-like thoughts or visions, or you will simply doze away. It requires significant mental attention and effort at first.

 

However, there is a simple ‘control’. Whenever you lost count, or if you find yourself ‘dreaming’, or counting higher numbers then 10 (e.g., 11, 12, 13, etc.), then you know something went wrong. In that case you simply restart the meditation by counting your out-breathings from 1 to 10 again.

 

Try this meditation for about 10 to 30 minutes every day and you will (instantly) feel more focused and more alert in your life. At least, that’s what I’ve experienced.

 

Kind regards, Bart

[psa]

 

 

CLASSIC SILENT MANTRA-MEDITATION

 

1) Find & Sit up-right {chair or floor} somewhere undistubed for 20 Minutes.

2) Eyes closed & hands folded in lap [adjust hands anyway to suit yourself].

3a) Wait a moment in state of readiness . . . REPEAT A MANTRA [try "OM" pronounced 'ohmm'] . . . REPEAT A MANTRA . . . REPEAT A MANTRA . . . REPEAT A MANTRA [Lips don't move. Mantra is repeated in your head silently].

 

3b) This task of repeating a Mantra will be interupted by 'thoughts' --once you become aware of these constant interruptions consciously return to: REPEAT A MANTRA . . . REPEAT A MANTRA . . .

 

4) After approx. 20 minute [or whatever amount of time you may transition into, after much practice] stop the mantra meditation and 'focus your attention onto any spot in your body that you sense pain or discomfort' --after a minute awake and return to your regular life duties.

 

NOTE:

A-- the best time to meditate is before Dawn, and before dusk.

But after practice such meditation can be done in all rested situations ie: Train journey etc.

 

B--Outside Interuptions [telephone, itch, sneeze] are not a problem --simply stop & resume again.

 

C--It has been known that first timers will fall asleep due to cozy-woozie-ness:

You are releasing physical stress via relaxation & mental-stress via release of preoccupations.

 

D--the "means and the ends" is the same here: "REPEAT the MANTRA" --this is the goal. This will focus your attention.

 

E--When you still are repeating the mantra AND no thoughts are interrupting --your consciousness will be fully 'on-guard', without your mind filling-up your consciousness with mental constructs (thoughts, idea, rememberences, day-dreams)-- this is a way of measuring your progress in Silent Meditation.

 

F--Remember that Silent meditation is NOT supposed to make you un-conscious nor sleepy nor trance-like. It is a waking state without being preoccupied with any given set of thoughts. It is likened to extreme alertness in a state of unwavering peace, without the need to introduce an emergency or stressful urgency.

 

H--Higher meditation is the same as real life vocations.

 

Being in the "Zone" is for the purpose of preforming your duties.

 

Duties may be classified in so many ways from Mundane, superfulous, Epic, profunctory, Purple-heart earning, Medal of Honor worthy, Noble-prise-winning worthiness, stupid, accidental, mindless, illegal to Holy and transcendental --such duties/activities will culture your sensibilities --this is what the average day's acts amount to for many people, but without being centered and in-tune with their own subtle existence.

 

I--Warning: The State of becoming one with your own reflection, as seen from the outside in and then from the inside toward the inner most will reveal that you are very small in comparison to the Universe and thus there may be a backlash --to go out and conquer the world rather then sit silently. I wont say anymore.

 

 

dear bhaktajan.....

 

what is that state in which there are no thoughts goiing thru' one's mind?

either when he is meditating or when one is just idle?

[bhaktajan]

 

dear bhaktajan.....

 

what is that state in which there are no thoughts goiing thru' one's mind?

either when he is meditating or when one is just idle?

 

 

1--state in which there are no thoughts:

 

Japanese Samurai called it 'musheen' [sp?];

Olympians call it 'The Zone';

School Teachers call it 'focus your attention';

Yoga groups call it 'pure consciousness';

Fencing [sword/epee fighting] call it 'on guard';

Hindu metaphysics call it '???' --[see notes below]

The military call it 'High Alert';

 

 

Warning:

 

A) The mind is never idle--the above is a conscious state performed consciously--it is through meditation that the 'Mind' [mana] (not to be conflated with 'intelligence' [buddhi]) is trained to recognise how thoughts incessently fill ones awareness

 

{The individual soul has awareness in accord with his material body, which he attains by virtue of prakåti, or material nature}

 

{Awareness itself, in contradistinction to the objects of awareness, is not a physical entity but rather a process of perception and understanding};

 

{The pure devotee is described by the words bhaktya kevalaya. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains that bhaktya kevalaya means jnana-karmady-amishraya, “unmixed with fruitive activities or speculative knowledge.” Simply surrendering at the lotus feet is the cause of all a devotee’s enlightenment and awareness}

 

 

B)This is not the same as nirvana [temporary cessation of existence], brahma-bhuta [blissfull soul], samadhi [24/7 enlightenment]; brahma-vidah [completely in awareness of the Absolute Truth]; vijnana [spiritual awareness] -- these are the result of extensive austerities over the course of years pursuent to religious life.

 

{Nyaya philosophy [hindu school of thought classified as impersonalist/voidist/Atheist] believe that awareness is not an essential quality of the soul, they teach that a liberated soul has no consciousness. The Nyaya idea of liberation thus puts the soul in the condition of a dead stone}

.................................................................................

Some advanced note:

 

As per the Bhagavad-gita:

samadhina—by complete absorption.

samah—steady

sama—equipoised

sama-cittatvam—equilibrium

sama—unaltered

Sama—control of the mind.

Sama-darshi—seeing with equal vision.

samam—straight

samam—equally disposed

pratyaya—all forms of Awareness

upalambhana-matrah—pure awareness/consciousness

atma—self-awareness

anubhutih—awareness

cetasah—awareness

avabodha—total consciousness

abahih-matih—awareness within (of the eternal soul)

The 4 states of consciousness = wakeful awareness, sleep and deep sleep.

Bg 10.4-5 Purport: one should restrain the mind from unnecessary thoughts; that is called Sama.

Krishna advises his Royal cousin the prince Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita, verse 2.48:

 

 

 

yoga-sthah kuru karmani

 

 

 

yoga-sthah—equipoised; kuru—perform; karmani—your duties

 

 

 

 

 

 

sangam tyaktva dhananjaya

 

 

 

sangam—attachment; tyaktva—giving up; dhanaïjaya—O Arjuna;

 

 

 

 

 

 

siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva

 

 

 

siddhi-asiddhyoh—in success and failure; samah—equipoised; bhutva—becoming;

 

 

 

 

 

 

samatvam yoga ucyate

 

 

 

samatvam—equanimity; yogah—yoga; ucyate—is called.

 

 

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga."

 

 

2--Classic Silent Mantra Meditation is ulimately meant to become consciousness of the eternal soul within. Actual religious principles are stated to be those that lead one to God's devotional service. Real knowledge is the awareness that reveals God's all-pervading presence.

[Bart Happel]

 

...

{Nyaya philosophy [hindu school of thought classified as impersonalist/voidist/Atheist] believe that awareness is not an essential quality of the soul, they teach that a liberated soul has no consciousness. The Nyaya idea of liberation thus puts the soul in the condition of a dead stone}...

 

 

Isn't there a semantical difference between the terms 'awareness' and 'consciousness'? Isn't 'awareness' more perceptual than 'consiousness'?

 

Kind regards, Bart

[bhaktajan]

 

Isn't there a semantical difference between the terms 'awareness' and 'consciousness'? Isn't 'awareness' more perceptual than 'consiousness'?

 

Kind regards, Bart

 

 

 

1) Yes.

PS: What a most excellent perceptual discrimatory acumen you have.

 

2) "Awareness" is an extention of ones senses/mind and the physical preception and the mental acuity (ability to react in an optimal time frame; ie: a American Baseball player is aware of multiple factors across the playing field and the player is aware & able to re-act instinctually--it is almost the same as an animal's reflex skills.)

 

versus,

 

"Consciousness" is an extention of the "Intelligence", whose function is to ascertain functions/relations and application of ones own applicable Dharma {occupational duty}

 

[intelligence is one of the a seperate element as enumerated by Krishna in the Gita. It is one of eight aggregate elements that comprise the material energy ~ Earth+Water+Fire+Air+Either+Mind+Intelligence+False ego {False ego = "ahankara"}]

 

Together these eight elements comprise the physical body. The soul within the body [weather an animal's body, Demigod's body, insects' body, human body (tall, short, rich, poor, smart, stupid, black, white, male, or female)] --takes birth in a body that will afford it the opportunity to 'enjoy' the facilities that are available in each particular body--the soul then eats, sleeps, mates & defends within the limits of the body, until the Karma for that the concomitant birth allows.

 

Meditation is designed to make the soul self-observe its own entity.

Such meditation is not available by sub-human species.

Also, such meditation is not known to be of utmost importance is celestrial abodes of the Demigods, because life is so opulent for the demigods (and for rich men also) that the nature of the soul, God, and the subtle truths of our transient bodies/birth/karma/circumstances/lusty goals ARE NOT meditated on, except in so far as to further their schemes to eat, sleep, mate & defend further and further till our [plans are cut short by the TIME FACTOR.

 

So, while in the human form of life let us enquire unto "what is the absolute truth".

 

The soul represents our individual & indivisable presence in the ocean of the material cosmos.

 

Some say the soul must seek salvation by desolving itself back into the void.

Some say that the soul is origianlly in the service of the supreme Source of all Souls--and we Must return to that Supreme Souls service.

 

Either way begins by recognising the presence of an Immortal Life-force animating the Grossmaterial body made of the 8 elements --this "recognition of the soul" is acheived by Meditation.

 

 

PS: Remember that the ability to descriminate between subtle similarities is defined as "Intelligence".

Butter is not cheese is not milk is not yogurt is not cream--yet all are the same

[Bart Happel]

@ Bhaktajan

 

Thanks for the compliment!

A question: Do you consider yourself 'realized' or not?

I'm serious

 

Kind regards, Bart

[bhaktajan]

1) -- Yes. I am absolutely realized. Yes, I am unequivically enlightened. My doubts have long been dispelled.

 

I could be any ones Guru. But I am also a slob. So I consider it is best for my senior (and some juniors) to take the helm and do the talking for me.

 

2) -- How do you define 'Realized'? For me enlightenment burdens a person with the vision to see suffering on so many stratums in so many vantage points, namely in the lives of fruitive workers seeking sense-gradification without knowledge that they are not the body etc etc etc.

 

3) -- Self-Actualization ends where 'being realized' begins --it's a continuation of the same path.

 

Being 'Realized' will not pay your bills. But there are many examples of 'following your bliss' where such a thing has no value except the satisfaction of doing a job well-done.

 

But the discipline(s) on a path toward enlightenment compensate for the fact that we are here as spirit souls in the material world.

 

"We want to change the world for the better" --but, what assurance do we have that any act will benefit any one? The answer will be one that is absolutely real or absolutely transient --we must pursue 'the absolute' purposefully . . . before we die accidently --due to accumulated funky karmic-reactions.

 

This last statement of mine is not sarcasm. We must pursue enlightenment NOW. Not later when death comes unexpectantly. We do not know how long we shall live. Ideally, this should have been done in youth.

The ultimate examination comes at the time of death. The consession to this harsh reality is that life will continue to affirm the efforts and rewards that are earned when we make the 'sacrifice' to meditate properly.

 

OK. Here we go:

Unless one is accustomed to devotional practice, what will he remember at the time of death, when the body is dislocated, and how can he pray to the almighty Lord to remember his sacrifices? Sacrifice means denying the interest of the senses. One has to learn this art by employing the senses in the service of the Lord during one’s lifetime. One can utilize the results of such practice at the time of death.

 

Hari bolo,

Bhaktajan

[Bart Happel]

Dear Bhaktajan,

 

Thank you for your explicit answer.

I guess, one must remember Krishna when one dies..

 

Kind regards, Bart