Guest guest Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 Can you share a bit about Meditation and Gita? What Meditation techniques have been covered in the Gita ? Isn't Meditation also something that one does (i.e. has beginning and end) therefore is it temporary ? Where does Meditation stand among other spiritual disciplines and practices? A Sadhak --------------------------- Friends Rarely we discuss about great techniques of meditations in Gita. Without meditations it is difficult to absorb the hidden and subtle meaning contained in Gita.Meditation like this is to be practiced. One of the best meditaion technique is in verse 27th of 5th chapter of Gita. " Shuts out of his mind all thoughts of outside objects (of sensual pleasure), keeps his eyes centered between the two eyebrows, watches his breath ( pran and apan). Two actions required are:- 1.Focus attention in the middle of eyebrows 2.Watch the breath in the nose Krishn reminds Arjun of the vital need of excluding from the mind all thoughts of external objects as well as of keeping the eyes fixed steadily between the two brows. Balancing pran against apan and keeping the eyes steadily fixed all the while, he should direct mind, to the breath and let him watch it: when does the breath go in, how long is it held-if it is held in for only half a second, he should not try to prolong it by force, and how long does it stay out? Thus when the mind learns to concentrate steadily on the inhaled and exhaled breath, breathing will gradually become constant, firm, and balanced. There will be then neither generation of inner desires nor assaults on the mind and heart by desires from external sources. regards Ashok Jain GUIDELINES FOR POSTING A RESPONSE: 1. The group is focused on the Holy Gitaji, therefore, only responses which further clarify the understanding of Gitaji, will be posted. 2. Making reference of Gitaji shloka is highly encouraged - at least once in the response. Wherever possible, please quote Gitaji or other scriptures to substantiate your response. 3. Please be as concise and to the point as possible, respecting sadhaka's time. Under no circustance the answer should exceed say one (book) page at the most (500 words or so) 3-4 paragraphs. 4. Kindly limit personal feelings, opinions, beliefs etc. to the extent that they further help in understanding the Gita shlokas 5. Kindly focus your writing to the subject at hand only. 6. Please do not include links to the other sites or other organizations. 7. Complete reproduction of texts from any book is strongly discouraged, however references may be made of the book or author (but not links to other sites). 8. Kindly do not include your personal information such as phone number, address etc. 9. Please do not address the response to a particular individual since the message is going to the entire group. 10. Due to the large readership, only those responses will be posted which are in line with the general philosophy of taking Shrimad Bhagavad Gita as the reference. 11. Moderator at his discretion, may modify the posting, if content is unclear for distribution or not directly related to the question being asked. 12. Please respond taking into consideration the novices, youth, westerners, non-sectarian audience. Kindly limit the use of only Sanskrit words, rather provide the English word with Sanskrit bracketed wherever possible. 13. Any personal remarks over the knowledge of any sadhak or about the stage at which any sadhak is standing in his quest / sadhna / spiritual journey - must not be included in your posting.'' 14. There should not be any sarcasm towards fellow sadhaks in this spiritual learning and sharing. MODERATOR Ram Ram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Hari Om Meditation ( Dhyaan Yoga, Raj Yoga) is definitely an independent path of realisation. Though broadly it gets covered in Jnana Yoga but study of Gita establishes this as an independent path. Here the techniques of Pranaayaam, Asanas etc are used to bring the mind to a thoughtless state. Emphasis is on the stability of mind rather than on stability of intellect as in Karma Yoga. Stability of mind is rather difficult to be achieved and there are strict guidelines reg food, sleeping patterns etc for the striver - as stated in Gita. But if one is determined then certainly he can accomplish this Yoga. This is the only Yoga in which you can afford to retain desires with you – upto a certain distance.. A good progress in this Yoga gets you super natural powers, which have been described as obstacles to the ultimate objective of Self Realisation. A lot of Yogis then fallen from that level. Subject to these, it is definitely a path explained in Gita in detail. It in fact is easy for that aspirant whose perception or mind can be turned back on itself reaching its source. It can also be extremely difficult of attainment for him who lives with his perception or mind directed outwards only. The fact is that for all living beings subtle SAMADHIS occur even during conditions of work; but, they do not come to light on account of absence of proficiency or familiarity. That is called SAMADHI which is the state of absence of deliberation in the waking state. The mere absence of mental contemplation or absence of thought constructs is denoted by the word SAMADHI. Many times the mind deprived of deliberation or thought constructs on the sudden occurrence of very great rapture , satisfaction, fear or sorrow becomes established in its own natural state at the beginning of such experiences momentarily. (Like when you embrace for the first time a new and beloved wife, or when a man unexpectedly sees a tiger or the like equal to death itself, or a man suddenly hearing the news that his son or like, extremely dear to him, verily dead etc etc – you do not know for a moment either the external or the internal. That is called SAMADHI) In fact in case of all of us there are Samadhi-s in the intervals between waking, dreaming and sleeping. If we just pay careful attention then we can at least experience that state at the end of waking state and before sleep, and just before waking ( i.e. before beginning of mental activity). The principle in Meditation is that for one seeing something at a distance with one pointed mind, the mind becomes prolonged or extended in space like a leech in rows of grass. It consists of the appearance of the body, in the body, and likewise, it is of the nature of the object, in the object. In the middle, perceive that mind called NIRVIKALPA ( or without thought constructs) always. A Dhyaan Yogi – Meditator – pays attention towards this interval results in the Samadhi and prolongs that state through practice of Pranaayaam etc. A Dhyaan Yogi meditates on the non dual True Principle called the Self. Then, making the Supreme State meditated upon the object of thought construct, he can remove the Ignorance which is root of transmigratory existence. Reaching the state of Samadhi and then remembering it as " I am that " one would be possessed of recognition. In asamprajnatasamadhi (or ultra cognitive absorption) , the pure I-consciousness ( aham vritti) which is the object of meditation is dissolved in Pure Undivided Consciousness which is the ultimate reality. This is the final fruit of meditation. Recognition is a combination of Anubhava or direct perception and " smriti " or recollection. Thus by the mere non raising of another thought , the thought construct gets excluded and state of absence thereof occurs by itself. It is not correct to say that because Samadhi has a beginning or end – it cannot get you realisation. In fact if your focus is towards the unlimited element , you get that element. Of course at the end you have to acquire SAHAJ SAMADHI, where there is neither closure of nose, nor of ears nor of eyes! Jai Shree Krishna Vyas N B ------------------------------- Friends Other Meditations mentioned in Gita are:- 1)Chapter 6,verses 11,12 & 13 At a clean spot he should devise a seat of kush-grass/r deer-skin covered with a piece of cloth, which is neither too high nor too low. He should then sit on it and practise meditation, concentrating his mind and restraining the mind and senses, for self-purification. Holding his body, head, and neck firmly erect and without movement, his eyes should concentrate on the tip of the nose, looking neither right nor left. 2)Chapter 4,verses 29 & 30 As some offer their exhalation to inhalation, others offer their inhaled breath to the exhaled breath, while yet others practise serenity of breath by regulating their incoming and outgoing breath. Yet others who subsist on strictly regulated diet and offer their breath to breath, are all knowers of yagya, and the sins of all who have known yagya are destroyed. Concentrates on incoming breath only. 3)Chapter 8 verse 10 & 12 With unwavering concentration, with his breath firmly centered between his brows by the strength of his yog, such a man attains to the effulgent Supreme Being.'' Shutting the doors of all the senses, that is, restraining them from desire for their objects, confining his intellect within the Self, fixing his - breath within his mind, meditates on heart. Sadhaks can read the above verses and explanations of the verses to understand the details. According to Meditation stands very high in spiritual practices. Meditations covered in Gita are distortion free, can be done by anyone irrespective of varna/caste and provides immediate results. Regards Ashok Jain ------------------------------- Dear Sadhakas, Namaste! As pointed out by Ashokji, the meditation technique mentioned in the said verse 5:27 is very very beneficial. One inclined to meditation must practice regularly in morning and if possible in evening. For your information, I have a picture in calendar where Lord Krishna is seen meditating. It is so beautiful that just a glimpse of Him would take one in another dimension. When one is on the path of Self-realization through Yoga and/or Self- knowledge, meditation is very useful as it has been my experience. Meditation is total absorption of sense of self-me-I in Atman which is Pure Awareness-Consciousness. In my understanding, Bhakta and Karma-Yogi both are in meditation when absorbed completely in devotion or selfless acts! Briefly, the practice is to assume a posture, physical and mental so mind and senses turn inward from their normal tendencies of going outward towards limited objects of the world. When one closes eyes to focus at the point between the eyebrows in the forehead, with spine straight, and not leaning forward or backward, neck aligned with spine, and breathing in and out gently with hold between the breaths done in Total Awareness, one feels already at peace. This is the most efficient position even from a physical point of view. Witnessing breaths and also whatever arises in Awareness such as external noises, mental chatters, feeling of boredom or any emotional reactions, without any resistence or judgements is of utmost importance. This helps resolve sense of " me " due to identification with body and mind, into Awareness(Consciousness) and one comes to see one directly as this Awareness which has no borders- limitations or attributes of any kind. See that limitations and attributes belong to objects of perceptions arising in Awareness and not to Awareness Itself, the true Self, just as clouds arise in Sky. This realization gets hold stronger and stronger as one matures and ultimately technique itself drops away naturally with disappearance of individual practising the technique! Actually true meditation begins when meditator(sense of " I-me " ) ends. Now we can answer another question of Sadhaka which is " Isn't meditation temporary because it begins and ends " ? The answer is what begins is not Meditation which is the Absolute Awareness or Consciousness Itself, our true nature which remains ever Present witness, before and after the practice, welcoming whatever mental states arise in and end in It. What started as meditation process (means) is transformed into the Meditation(End). What is temporary are these mental states the meditator identifies him/her with, thus giving him/her a feeling that " my " meditation is temporary. Meditator (Temporal) is dissolved in Meditation(Timelessness). Even Samadhi states are temporary for most part as they come and go in That which is Eternal, Ever-Present Witness only relative to these states. As I understand, Samadhi happens upon absorption of sense of " me " into Atman or God-Consciousness. At least in the beginning stage one enters and goes out when sense of " me " returns back. Sages like Ramana and RamaKrishna Paramhansa remained in Samadhi for long periods even while seemingly eating, walking and talking to devotees! Namaskaras.....Pratap (Pratap Bhatt) -------------------------------- Dear Sadak, Sometimes one asks us, " what are you meditating on " . That means your thoughts focused on something seen/heard/experienced. Suppose one meditates on " Who am I " , that will lead to clarity on divinity or how to get eternity. Concentrating on breathing practices mind not to wever about. That leads to slowly in lossing concentration on breathing and mind becomes calm. Then comes one Sidhi by another upto 8. Along with that comes also EGO. When Ego disolved one gets body/face glowing. When mind completely quitens meditation ends. Example: Jada Bharatha in Bagavath- Sabari In ramayan so on. As long as desires in mind birth and death cycle goes on. B.Sathyanarayan ------------------------------- This is my humble opinion about Meditation as per your question below. Yes, you are absolutely right..When we think of 'meditation' as sitting and remembering God/Supreme..etc etc..during certain time for a certain period..then, Yes, we have a start and and end to that. But the idea behind this sort of meditation is; Eventually all these practices of meditation is nothing but the training/tuning our mind to understand that SELF/Supreme..and once we totally understand that, then that person need not do meditation for a certain period etc..for that person, the daily life itself is a prayer or meditation. He has the mental peace in every action he does. To reach that mental calmness all the time : we have all these other steps mentioning about we need to sit quietly for meditation etc etc..and slowly and steadily, once these practises are followed, then we will be able to understand the deeper meaning behind the concept of meditation. Regards, Bharathi ------------------------------ One of the best book for Meditation and Gita is " God Talks to Arjuna " By Paramahansa Yogananda " ushamitha " ------------------------------ Dear Friend/Sadhak, The whole chapter of Chapter 8 is on meditation...please read that chapter carefully and any commentary you may have on the Gita... You may also read " Essence of the Bhagavad Gita " by N K Srinivasan; Pub. Pustak Mahal, New Delhi or through Amazon.com. Japa [Chanting] and meditation [dhyana] are like two wings of an aircraft... regards, In Sai Smaran, N K Srinivasan , " sadhak_insight " <sadhak_insight wrote: > > Can you share a bit about Meditation and Gita? > What Meditation techniques have been covered in the Gita ? > Isn't Meditation also something that one does (i.e. has beginning > and end) therefore is it temporary ? > Where does Meditation stand among other spiritual disciplines and > practices? > > A Sadhak > --------------------------- > > Friends > > Rarely we discuss about great techniques of meditations in > Gita. Without meditations it is difficult to absorb the hidden and > subtle meaning contained in Gita.Meditation like this is to be > practiced. > > One of the best meditaion technique is in verse 27th of 5th chapter > of Gita. > > " Shuts out of his mind all thoughts of outside objects (of sensual > pleasure), keeps his eyes centered between the two eyebrows, watches > his breath ( pran and apan). > > Two actions required are:- > 1.Focus attention in the middle of eyebrows > 2.Watch the breath in the nose > > Krishn reminds Arjun of the vital need of excluding from the mind > all thoughts of external objects as well as of keeping the eyes > fixed steadily between the two brows. Balancing pran against apan > and keeping the eyes steadily fixed all the while, he should direct > mind, to the breath and let him watch it: when does the breath go > in, how long is it held-if it is held in for only half a second, he > should not try to prolong it by force, and how long does it stay > out? Thus when the mind learns to concentrate steadily on the > inhaled and exhaled breath, breathing will gradually become > constant, firm, and balanced. There will be then neither generation > of inner desires nor assaults on the mind and heart by desires from > external sources. > > regards > > Ashok Jain > > > GUIDELINES FOR POSTING A RESPONSE: > > 1. The group is focused on the Holy Gitaji, therefore, only > responses which further clarify the understanding of Gitaji, will be > posted. > > 2. Making reference of Gitaji shloka is highly encouraged - at least > once in the response. Wherever possible, please quote Gitaji or > other scriptures to substantiate your response. > > 3. Please be as concise and to the point as possible, respecting > sadhaka's time. Under no circustance the answer should exceed say > one (book) page at the most (500 words or so) 3-4 paragraphs. > > 4. Kindly limit personal feelings, opinions, beliefs etc. to the > extent that they further help in understanding the Gita shlokas > > 5. Kindly focus your writing to the subject at hand only. > > 6. Please do not include links to the other sites or other > organizations. > > 7. Complete reproduction of texts from any book is strongly > discouraged, however references may be made of the book or author > (but not links to other sites). > > 8. Kindly do not include your personal information such as phone > number, address etc. > > 9. Please do not address the response to a particular individual > since the message is going to the entire group. > > 10. Due to the large readership, only those responses will be posted > which are in line with the general philosophy of taking Shrimad > Bhagavad Gita as the reference. > > 11. Moderator at his discretion, may modify the posting, if content > is unclear for distribution or not directly related to the question > being asked. > > 12. Please respond taking into consideration the novices, youth, > westerners, non-sectarian audience. Kindly limit the use of only > Sanskrit words, rather provide the English word with Sanskrit > bracketed wherever possible. > > 13. Any personal remarks over the knowledge of any sadhak or about > the stage at which any sadhak is standing in his quest / sadhna / > spiritual journey - must not be included in your posting.'' > > 14. There should not be any sarcasm towards fellow sadhaks in this > spiritual learning and sharing. > > > MODERATOR > Ram Ram > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 -Shree Hari- A Sadhak , I think it is excellent that you asked about meditation, and the Gita obviously has techniques described within its sacred texts. Vyas clearly has great knowledge and insight on these matters. The point that is often overlooked in the west is the sheer power that meditation has. One is best to have connection with groups such as Gita Talk, whereby you can obtain good counseling. Absolute respect for the sacred quality of meditation I believe is so important. The wise counsel of brother Vyas, points out you can develop 'super natural powers'. The problem is, (and he touched on it too). How do you deal with such things, one could be caught up in an ego trap, " I I am special " , the truth is one is not, no more than any of GODS children. Or one could be overwhelmed and confused, even shocked. That is why wise counsel is necessary, and the absolute trust and respect in the Divine Lord. Such things should be treated as sign posts not the destination. Also the aim is not to become gifted in this sense, one meditates because perhaps, a 'knowing' is in your heart, that you are seeking the Beloved Lord. With Respect and Divine Love. Mike (Mike Keenor) dearest readers... In regard to meditation, my humble attempts to offer something, what has been given to me as the highest form of meditation by my teachers is to read the pastimes of the Lord, as the Ramayana, or those of Sri Radha Krsna, and contemplate the beauty, the sadness, the happiness the romance,and ultimately the mystery, of the Lord's activities in this world. Due to the constant flow of activity around us, this type of meditation is sometimes thought of as the easiest because one can remember stories one has read, even though engaging in other activities, even if one is stopped to answer a question by a child, or the phone rings. If absorbed in remembering a pastime of the Lord, one can immediately go back to it within the mind. It can be done on the bus, while walking to the store, cooking dinner, etc. This meditation is one that will aid in achieving the goal of entering into the specific pastime of the Lord which one chooses to keep one's mind absorbed in.....Bhagavad Gita. " Whatever state of mind one remembers at the time of death, that state he will attain without fail " . Mahalaksmi Dasi Dear Sadaks, So much beeing told about meditation. Good to note. I am unable to meditate on God purely. How can I talk or advice how to meditate. Basic before meditation is cleansing of mind, which means speaking only truth, seeing only good, hearing only divine matters, having friendship with only spritual minded people, negating jelosy, greed, miserlinous, worldy desires, unrightuous sensual pleasures, loving all equally. Then the mind becomes pure to accept meditation. Many have quoted insight of sastras/vedas/sanskrit words etc. But there is unknown hidden EGO that says I have knowledge. Introgate oneself in mind the fact. This minor fraction of Ego is enough to distrube meditation. Years of meditation Viswamithra lost by desire. Years of meditation lost by Saint Konkaner by ego when a bird passed motion in him. years of meditative powers lost by saint Durvasa when he angered on Raja Angarisha. The negative aspects lie somewhere in corner of ones mind that pops up suddenly. I am victim to this and trying to come out. Sri Rama life is example how to spend life by Virtue, though Sri Rama was educated by Vasista on subject Yoga Vasista, Sri Rama did not sit years in meditation. HE is incarnation, no doubt, but tought human ways to live. Purity of mind, thought, word, life was Sri Rama. So dear sadaks, just spend life dharmically avoiding negative matters and adhere to positive things above said, meditation happens. By forcing the mind to meditate with junk in mind, things does not work. Only when meditating we get forgotten people / things / matters which is common experience. Seek solitude with sat sangh. May Sri Krishna bless all of us. B.Sathyanarayan. , " sadhak_insight " <sadhak_insight wrote: > > Hari Om > > Meditation ( Dhyaan Yoga, Raj Yoga) is definitely an independent > path of realisation. Though broadly it gets covered in Jnana Yoga > but study of Gita establishes this as an independent path. Here the > techniques of Pranaayaam, Asanas etc are used to bring the mind to > a thoughtless state. Emphasis is on the stability of mind rather > than on stability of intellect as in Karma Yoga. Stability of mind > is rather difficult to be achieved and there are strict guidelines > reg food, sleeping patterns etc for the striver - as stated in Gita. > But if one is determined then certainly he can accomplish this Yoga. > This is the only Yoga in which you can afford to retain desires > with you – upto a certain distance.. A good progress in this Yoga > gets you super natural powers, which have been described as > obstacles to the ultimate objective of Self Realisation. A lot of > Yogis then fallen from that level. Subject to these, it is > definitely a path explained in Gita in detail. > > It in fact is easy for that aspirant whose perception or mind can be > turned back on itself reaching its source. It can also be extremely > difficult of attainment for him who lives with his perception or > mind directed outwards only. The fact is that for all living beings > subtle SAMADHIS occur even during conditions of work; but, they do > not come to light on account of absence of proficiency or > familiarity. That is called SAMADHI which is the state of absence > of deliberation in the waking state. The mere absence of mental > contemplation or absence of thought constructs is denoted by the > word SAMADHI. Many times the mind deprived of deliberation or > thought constructs on the sudden occurrence of very great rapture , > satisfaction, fear or sorrow becomes established in its own natural > state at the beginning of such experiences momentarily. (Like when > you embrace for the first time a new and beloved wife, or when a man > unexpectedly sees a tiger or the like equal to death itself, or a > man suddenly hearing the news that his son or like, extremely dear > to him, verily dead etc etc – you do not know for a moment either > the external or the internal. That is called SAMADHI) > > In fact in case of all of us there are Samadhi-s in the intervals > between waking, dreaming and sleeping. If we just pay careful > attention then we can at least experience that state at the end of > waking state and before sleep, and just before waking ( i.e. before > beginning of mental activity). The principle in Meditation is that > for one seeing something at a distance with one pointed mind, the > mind becomes prolonged or extended in space like a leech in rows of > grass. It consists of the appearance of the body, in the body, and > likewise, it is of the nature of the object, in the object. In the > middle, perceive that mind called NIRVIKALPA ( or without thought > constructs) always. > > A Dhyaan Yogi – Meditator – pays attention towards this interval > results in the Samadhi and prolongs that state through practice of > Pranaayaam etc. > > A Dhyaan Yogi meditates on the non dual True Principle called the Self. Then, making the Supreme State meditated upon the object of thought construct, he can remove the Ignorance which is root of transmigratory existence. Reaching the state of Samadhi and then remembering it as " I am that " one would be possessed of recognition. In asamprajnatasamadhi (or ultra cognitive absorption) , the pure I- consciousness ( aham vritti) which is the object of meditation is dissolved in Pure Undivided Consciousness which is the ultimate reality. This is the final fruit of meditation. Recognition is a combination of Anubhava or direct perception and " smriti " or recollection. Thus by the mere non raising of another thought , the thought construct gets excluded and state of absence thereof occurs by itself. > > It is not correct to say that because Samadhi has a beginning or > end – it cannot get you realisation. In fact if your focus is > towards the unlimited element , you get that element. Of course at > the end you have to acquire SAHAJ SAMADHI, where there is neither > closure of nose, nor of ears nor of eyes! > > Jai Shree Krishna > > Vyas N B > ------------------------------- > Friends > > Other Meditations mentioned in Gita are:- > > 1)Chapter 6,verses 11,12 & 13 > At a clean spot he should devise a seat of kush-grass/r deer-skin > covered with a piece of cloth, which is neither too high nor too low. > He should then sit on it and practise meditation, concentrating his > mind and restraining the mind and senses, for self-purification. > Holding his body, head, and neck firmly erect and without movement, > his eyes should concentrate on the tip of the nose, looking neither > right nor left. > > 2)Chapter 4,verses 29 & 30 > As some offer their exhalation to inhalation, others offer their > inhaled breath to the exhaled breath, while yet others practise > serenity of breath by regulating their incoming and outgoing breath. > Yet others who subsist on strictly regulated diet and offer their > breath to breath, are all knowers of yagya, and the sins of all who > have known yagya are destroyed. > Concentrates on incoming breath only. > > 3)Chapter 8 verse 10 & 12 > With unwavering concentration, with his breath firmly centered > between his brows by the strength of his yog, such a man attains to > the effulgent Supreme Being.'' > Shutting the doors of all the senses, that is, restraining them from > desire for their objects, confining his intellect within the Self, > fixing his - breath within his mind, meditates on heart. > > Sadhaks can read the above verses and explanations of the verses to > understand the details. > According to Meditation stands very high in spiritual > practices. Meditations covered in Gita are distortion free, can be > done by anyone irrespective of varna/caste and provides immediate > results. > > Regards > Ashok Jain > > ------------------------------- > > > Dear Sadhakas, Namaste! > As pointed out by Ashokji, the meditation technique mentioned in the > said verse 5:27 is very very beneficial. One inclined to meditation > must practice regularly in morning and if possible in evening. For > your information, I have a picture in calendar where Lord Krishna is > seen meditating. It is so beautiful that just a glimpse of Him would > take one in another dimension. > > When one is on the path of Self-realization through Yoga and/or Self- > knowledge, meditation is very useful as it has been my experience. > Meditation is total absorption of sense of self-me-I in Atman which > is Pure Awareness-Consciousness. In my understanding, Bhakta and > Karma-Yogi both are in meditation when absorbed completely in > devotion or selfless acts! > > Briefly, the practice is to assume a posture, physical and mental so > mind and senses turn inward from their normal tendencies of going > outward towards limited objects of the world. When one closes eyes > to focus at the point between the eyebrows in the forehead, with > spine straight, and not leaning forward or backward, neck aligned > with spine, and breathing in and out gently with hold between the > breaths done in Total Awareness, one feels already at peace. This is > the most efficient position even from a physical point of view. > > Witnessing breaths and also whatever arises in Awareness such as > external noises, mental chatters, feeling of boredom or any > emotional reactions, without any resistence or judgements is of > utmost importance. This helps resolve sense of " me " due to > identification with body and mind, into Awareness(Consciousness) and > one comes to see one directly as this Awareness which has no borders- > limitations or attributes of any kind. See that limitations and > attributes belong to objects of perceptions arising in Awareness and > not to Awareness Itself, the true Self, just as clouds arise in Sky. > This realization gets hold stronger and stronger as one matures and > ultimately technique itself drops away naturally with disappearance > of individual practising the technique! > > Actually true meditation begins when meditator(sense of " I-me " ) > ends. > > Now we can answer another question of Sadhaka which is " Isn't > meditation temporary because it begins and ends " ? The answer is > what begins is not Meditation which is the Absolute Awareness or > Consciousness Itself, our true nature which remains ever Present > witness, before and after the practice, welcoming whatever mental > states arise in and end in It. What started as meditation process > (means) is transformed into the Meditation(End). What is temporary > are these mental states the meditator identifies him/her with, thus > giving him/her a feeling that " my " meditation is temporary. Meditator > (Temporal) is dissolved in Meditation(Timelessness). > > Even Samadhi states are temporary for most part as they come and go > in That which is Eternal, Ever-Present Witness only relative to > these states. As I understand, Samadhi happens upon absorption of > sense of " me " into Atman or God-Consciousness. At least in the > beginning stage one enters and goes out when sense of " me " returns > back. > > Sages like Ramana and RamaKrishna Paramhansa remained in Samadhi for > long periods even while seemingly eating, walking and talking to > devotees! > > Namaskaras.....Pratap > > (Pratap Bhatt) > -------------------------------- > Dear Sadak, > Sometimes one asks us, " what are you meditating on " . That means your > thoughts focused on something seen/heard/experienced. Suppose one > meditates on " Who am I " , that will lead to clarity on divinity or > how to get eternity. > Concentrating on breathing practices mind not to wever about. That > leads to slowly in lossing concentration on breathing and mind > becomes calm. Then comes one Sidhi by another upto 8. Along with > that comes also EGO. When Ego disolved one gets body/face glowing. > When mind completely quitens meditation ends. Example: Jada Bharatha > in Bagavath- Sabari In ramayan so on. > As long as desires in mind birth and death cycle goes on. > B.Sathyanarayan > > ------------------------------- > This is my humble opinion about Meditation as per your question > below. Yes, you are absolutely right..When we think of 'meditation' > as sitting and remembering God/Supreme..etc etc..during certain time > for a certain period..then, Yes, we have a start and and end to that. > > But the idea behind this sort of meditation is; Eventually all these > practices of meditation is nothing but the training/tuning our mind > to understand that SELF/Supreme..and once we totally understand > that, then that person need not do meditation for a certain period > etc..for that person, the daily life itself is a prayer or > meditation. He has the mental peace in every action he does. To > reach that mental calmness all the time : we have all these other > steps mentioning about we need to sit quietly for meditation etc > etc..and slowly and steadily, once these practises are followed, > then we will be able to understand the deeper meaning behind the > concept of meditation. > > Regards, > Bharathi > ------------------------------ > > One of the best book for Meditation and Gita is > > " God Talks to Arjuna " By Paramahansa Yogananda > > " ushamitha " > ------------------------------ > Dear Friend/Sadhak, > > The whole chapter of Chapter 8 is on meditation...please read that > chapter carefully and any commentary you may have on the Gita... > You may also read " Essence of the Bhagavad Gita " by N K Srinivasan; > Pub. Pustak Mahal, New Delhi or through Amazon.com. Japa [Chanting] > and meditation [dhyana] are like two wings of an aircraft... > regards, > In Sai Smaran, > N K Srinivasan > > > > , " sadhak_insight " > <sadhak_insight@> wrote: > > > > Can you share a bit about Meditation and Gita? > > What Meditation techniques have been covered in the Gita ? > > Isn't Meditation also something that one does (i.e. has beginning > > and end) therefore is it temporary ? > > Where does Meditation stand among other spiritual disciplines and > > practices? > > > > A Sadhak > > --------------------------- > > > > Friends > > > > Rarely we discuss about great techniques of meditations in > > Gita. Without meditations it is difficult to absorb the hidden and > > subtle meaning contained in Gita.Meditation like this is to be > > practiced. > > > > One of the best meditaion technique is in verse 27th of 5th chapter > > of Gita. > > > > " Shuts out of his mind all thoughts of outside objects (of sensual > > pleasure), keeps his eyes centered between the two eyebrows, > watches > > his breath ( pran and apan). > > > > Two actions required are:- > > 1.Focus attention in the middle of eyebrows > > 2.Watch the breath in the nose > > > > Krishn reminds Arjun of the vital need of excluding from the mind > > all thoughts of external objects as well as of keeping the eyes > > fixed steadily between the two brows. Balancing pran against apan > > and keeping the eyes steadily fixed all the while, he should direct > > mind, to the breath and let him watch it: when does the breath go > > in, how long is it held-if it is held in for only half a second, he > > should not try to prolong it by force, and how long does it stay > > out? Thus when the mind learns to concentrate steadily on the > > inhaled and exhaled breath, breathing will gradually become > > constant, firm, and balanced. There will be then neither generation > > of inner desires nor assaults on the mind and heart by desires from > > external sources. > > > > regards > > > > Ashok Jain > > -------------------------------- - > > > > GUIDELINES FOR POSTING A RESPONSE: > > > > 1. The group is focused on the Holy Gitaji, therefore, only > > responses which further clarify the understanding of Gitaji, will > be > > posted. > > > > 2. Making reference of Gitaji shloka is highly encouraged - at > least > > once in the response. Wherever possible, please quote Gitaji or > > other scriptures to substantiate your response. > > > > 3. Please be as concise and to the point as possible, respecting > > sadhaka's time. Under no circustance the answer should exceed say > > one (book) page at the most (500 words or so) 3-4 paragraphs. > > > > 4. Kindly limit personal feelings, opinions, beliefs etc. to the > > extent that they further help in understanding the Gita shlokas > > > > 5. Kindly focus your writing to the subject at hand only. > > > > 6. Please do not include links to the other sites or other > > organizations. > > > > 7. Complete reproduction of texts from any book is strongly > > discouraged, however references may be made of the book or author > > (but not links to other sites). > > > > 8. Kindly do not include your personal information such as phone > > number, address etc. > > > > 9. Please do not address the response to a particular individual > > since the message is going to the entire group. > > > > 10. Due to the large readership, only those responses will be > posted > > which are in line with the general philosophy of taking Shrimad > > Bhagavad Gita as the reference. > > > > 11. Moderator at his discretion, may modify the posting, if > content > > is unclear for distribution or not directly related to the > question > > being asked. > > > > 12. Please respond taking into consideration the novices, youth, > > westerners, non-sectarian audience. Kindly limit the use of only > > Sanskrit words, rather provide the English word with Sanskrit > > bracketed wherever possible. > > > > 13. Any personal remarks over the knowledge of any sadhak or about > > the stage at which any sadhak is standing in his quest / sadhna / > > spiritual journey - must not be included in your posting.'' > > > > 14. There should not be any sarcasm towards fellow sadhaks in this > > spiritual learning and sharing. > > > > > > MODERATOR > > Ram Ram > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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