Sadhana/Meditation

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

Japa is meditation on the mantra.

 

There are many techniques for concentrating the mind. Sri Ramakrishna and

Swami Ji taught each according to their temperament and understanding, as do

all real teachers.

 

Meditation is the end of spiritual practice. After practicing various

methods to still the flow of prana outward and concentrate the mind we end

up in stillness, absorbed in the self. When the desire to practice comes it

is near the end of the journey.

 

Meditation may be described as of two broad types:

 

In the first we concentrate on one form and try to control the mind’s

oscillations re-focusing it over and over on one ideal. This is the

practice of the Bhakta, those of emotional nature. Eventually other loves

are left off and the love of the ideal absorbs the mind into the

concentrated state.

 

In the second we allow the mind to run freely, discriminating constantly on

what is not the reality in this process. This helps those of intellectual

temperament, the Vendantists and their ilk. The mind gradually becomes calm

and clearer and absorbed in the thought of essence in the concentrated

state.

 

Both these methods have similar results and lead to absorption into the

state of grace. It requires consistent practice, of course, and along the

way the teacher’s invaluable assistance will be found, both within and

without.

 

Love, Bob