How To Meditate? Part-3 By Sri Swami Venkatesananda

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Radhe Krishna To All,

 

13. After this period is over, offer a prayer to the lord for the health and

long life of sick people (whom you can actually visualise in front of you) and

the peace and prosperity of those who are suffering.

 

14. Get up slowly. Do not immediately run away. Take a few minutes before you

leave the meditation room. Your mind and your nerves were extremely calm during

this practice and if you suddenly jump out of that mood and rush into company,

you might injure the nerves. This is very important.

15. You can practise this at other times, too—several times a day. Do not sit

for this practice within two hours after a meal. Do not wear tight clothing.

 

16. Do not eat anything for half an hour after this practice. And do not take

bath immediately either.

 

17. If you wish to do a few rounds of pranayama, you may do so before you start

this meditation practice or soon after step 2 above. Bhastrika is useful.

 

If the mind wanders open your eyes, gaze at the picture and start all over again

from step 5 above.

 

Japa (repetition of a mantra) itself will lead to meditation. The lord’s grace

will lead you to meditation and samadhi.

 

If evil thoughts enter the mind, do not pay any attention to them. Let them

depart, as uninvited guests will if totally ignored! Go on with your japa,

visualising the lord in the heart. If the mind wanders, resort to mental

worship; or, open your eyes again and gaze at the image.

It is very important to see that the body and mind are relaxed. There should be

no tension anywhere. The posture of the body should be steady but not tense. The

mind should be concentrated on the object with ease: otherwise, every extraneous

thought entering the mind will also get fixed there! Let go your hold on the

world and gently hold on to the thought of god.

 

The secret in meditation is to be active without effort. Usually we are either

active and full of effort or we go to sleep. But there is a state which is the

happy medium between the two—to be awake and alert, but without struggle.

 

In the initial stages of meditation it is possible that as soon as the mind is

concentrated and you begin to do japa, something you had forgotten is

recollected by the mind. If it pertains to the business of the day, the mind is

distracted. It is therefore advisable (in the initial stages) to keep a piece of

paper and pencil by your side and note these down, so that the mind may be

reassured that they will not be forgotten again and that it could go on with the

japa. Use your commonsense in overcoming such obstacles.

 

Regards

 

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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