Benefits of Meditation

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BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

 

by Swami Sivananda

 

1. This world is full of miseries and sufferings. If you want to get

rid of the pains and afflictions of this Samsara, you must practice

meditation. Meditation is the pathway to Divinity. It is the royal

road to the Kingdom of Brahman. It is a mysterious ladder which

reaches from earth to heaven (Vaikuntha or Kailasa or Brahman) from

error to truth, from darkness to light, from pain to Bliss, from

restlessness to abiding Peace, from ignorance to Knowledge, from

mortality to Immortality. Meditation leads to knowledge of the Self

which brings about the eternal peace, supreme Bliss. Meditation

prepares you for the integral experience or direct intuitive

knowledge.

 

2. Truth is Brahman. Truth is Atman. Truth is quite pure and simple

You cannot realise the Truth without reflection and meditation. Be

silent, Know thyself. Know That. Melt the mind in That.

 

3. Without the help of meditation you cannot attain knowledge of the

Self. Without its aid you cannot grow into the Divine state. Without

it you cannot liberate yourself from the trammels of the mind and

attain Immortality. If you do not practice meditation, the supreme

splendour and faceless glories of Atman will remain hidden from you.

Tear the veils that cover the soul by practicing regular meditation.

Rend asunder the five sheaths that screen the Atman by constant

meditation and then attain the final beatitude of life.

 

4. The fire of meditation annihilates all foulness due to vice. Then

suddenly comes knowledge or Divine Wisdom which directly leads to

Mukti or final emancipation.

 

5. There are many valuable trainings of the mind which are essential

to mental culture, for instance, the training of the memory, the

cultivation of reflection, discrimination, Vichara or enquiry of 'Who

am I?' The practice of meditation itself is a potent clarifier of

memory. The practice of memory-culture powerfully helps the

attainment of meditation.

 

6. Meditation is a powerful tonic. It is a mental and nervine tonic

as well. The holy vibrations penetrate all the cells of the body and

cure the diseases of the body. Those who meditate save doctor's

bills. The powerful, soothing waves that arise during meditation

exercise a benign influence on the mind, nerves, organs and cells of

the body. The Divine energy freely flows like Taila-dhara (flow of

oil from one vessel to another) from the feet of the Lord to the

different systems of the Sadhaka (aspirant).

 

7. If you can meditate for half an hour, you will be able to engage

yourself with peace and spiritual strength in the battle of life for

one week through the force of this meditation. Such is the beneficial

result of meditation. As you have to move with different minds of

peculiar natures in your daily life, get the strength and peace from

the meditation and you will have no trouble and worry then.

 

8. A Yogi who meditates regularly has a magnetic and charming

personality. Those who come in contact with him are much influenced

by his sweet voice, powerful speech, lustrous eyes, brilliant

complexion, strong healthy body, good behaviour, virtuous qualities

and Divine nature. Just as a grain of salt dropped in a basin of

water dissolves and becomes distributed throughout the whole water,

just as sweet fragrance of jessamine pervades the air, so also his

spiritual aura becomes infiltrated to the minds of others. People

draw joy, peace and strength from him. They are inspired by his

speech and get elevation of mind by mere contact with him.

 

(Source: http://sivanandaonline.org/html/ )