Question And Answers On Meditation

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Posted by: " Bhakta Dhruva " bhakta_dhruva bhakta_dhruva

Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:13 pm (PDT)

 

Disciple asked, " What is the real nature of meditation, sir? "

 

Swami Vivekananda: Meditation is the focusing of the mind on some object. If the

mind acquires concentration on one object, it can be so concentrated on any

object whatsoever.

 

Disciple: Mention is made in the scriptures of two kinds of meditation " one

having some object and the other objectless. What is meant by all that, and

which of the two is the higher one?

 

Swami Vivekananda: First, the practice of meditation has to proceed with

some one object before the mind. Once I used to concentrate my mind on some

black point. Ultimately, during those days, I could not see the point any more,

nor notice that the point was before me at all " the mind used to be no more "

no wave of functioning would rise, as if it were all an ocean without any breath

of air. In that state I used to experience glimpses of supersensuous truth. So I

think, the practice of meditation even with some trifling external object leads

to mental concentration. But it is true that the mind very easily attains

calmness when one practices meditation with anything on which one's mind is most

apt to settle down. This is the reason why we have in this country so much

worship of the images of gods and goddesses. And what wonderful art developed

from such worship! But no more of that now. The fact, however, is that the

objects of meditation can never be the same in the case of all men. People have

proclaimed and preached to others only those external objects to which they held

on to become perfected in meditation. Oblivious of the fact, later on, that

these objects are aids to the attainment of perfect mental calmness, men have

extolled them beyond everything else. They have wholly concerned themselves with

the means, getting comparatively unmindful of the end. The real aim is to make

the mind functionless, but this cannot be got at unless one becomes absorbed in

some object.

 

Disciple: But if the mind becomes completely engrossed and identified with

some object, how can it give us the consciousness of Brahman?

 

Swami Vivekananda: Yes, though the mind at first assumes the form of the

object, yet later on the consciousness of that object vanishes. Then only the

experience of pure " isness " remains.

 

Disciple: Well, sir, how is it that desires rise even after mental

concentration is acquired?

 

Swami Vivekananda: Those are the outcome of previous SamskÃras (deep-rooted

impressions or tendencies). When Buddha was on the point of merging in Samadhi

(superconsciousness ), Mâra made his appearance. There was really no Mara

extraneous to the mind; it was only the external reflection of the mind's

previous Samskaras.

 

Disciple: But one hears of various fearful experiences prior to the

attainment of perfection. Are they all mental projections?

 

Swami Vivekananda: What else but that? The aspiring soul, of course, does

not make out at that time that all these are external manifestations of his own

mind. But all the same, there is nothing outside of it. Even what you see as

this world does not exist outside. It is all a mental projection. When the mind

becomes functionless, it reflects the Brahman-consciousne ss. Then the vision of

all spheres of existence may supervene, " " Whatsoever sphere one may call up in

mind " (Mundaka, III. i. 10). Whatsoever is resolved on becomes realised at once.

He who, even on attaining this state of unfalsified self-determination,

preserves his watchfulness and is free from the bondage of desire, verily

attains to the knowledge of Brahman. But he who loses his balance after reaching

this state gets the manifold powers, but falls off from the Supreme goal.

 

So saying, Swamiji began to repeat " Shiva, Shiva " , and then continued: There

is no way, none whatsoever, to the solution of the profound mystery of this life

except through renunciation. Renunciation, renunciation and renunciation " let

this be the one motto of your lives. " For men, all things on earth are infected

with fear, VairÃgya (renunciation) alone constitutes fearlessness "

(VairÃgya-Shatakam) .

 

-(Translated from the diary of a disciple " Sharatchandra Chakravarty)