Meditation and its Utility in Daily Life

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A keen and true regular practitioner (Sadhaka) will attain quick and sure

results, when he proceeds properly stage by stage under the guidance of his GURU

or master. The first four parts are meant to purify the mind and keep the body

strong and fit to receive and retain the power of the DIVINE. Many moderns,

however, equate Yoga with the practice of few asanas and pranayamas. This is not

sufficient for spiritual uplift. Yet, it is better to practise asanas and

pranayamas for health's sake than not to do anything at all. But Yoga is really

first to withdraw one's mind from the objects of senses (pratyahara), practice

concentration, prolong the period of concentration under proper guidance to

reach the stage of meditation and finally become one, unite (Yoga to join to

unite) with the Supreme Reality, the TRUTH.

 

Thus meditation is not meant merely for the recluse, the ascetic, the renouncer.

It is of utmost important in man's day-to-day life. It is of immense help to a

student, a youth, an old man. A man who can meditate will become a better

manager, a better businessman, a better executive and, above all, a better man.

Conversely, if a person cannot meditate, he will lack composition, courage and

confidence to achieve his goal. Nowadays, several medical doctors and

psychologists advise to their patients suffering from nervousness, unusual

irritation, disordered mind, fear and inferiority complex and lack of

self-confidence to meditate in a specific manner along with the medical

treatment. So, the meditation is very necessary these days when man leads a life

of tension and complexity.

 

Every morning and evening, preferably at dawn and dusk, sit down in a

comfortable posture with your backbone straight, relax each and every limb of

your body, and then your mind, and sit unmoved, in the same pose, as long as you

can. It is always better to invoke your Guru (master) and Ishta Devata first,

when you sit for meditation for their blessings and guidance and gratefully

thank them again when you finish the meditation. Gradually, increase the time of

your meditation. It is easier to relax your limbs of the body but not so easy to

relax your mind. This process of relaxation, stillness and body awareness will

automatically reduce the speed of your breathing, which, in turn, will help in

meditation. So many thoughts will cross your mind now and then. They may even

disturb you. Do not be afraid. Try to remain calm and watch them with

equanimity. Let them come, let them go. Do not fight to free your mind from

thought waves. Try to be indifferent to them. But do not observe these thoughts

with equanimous mind. Gradually, automatically the flitting of thoughts across

the canvas of your mind will diminish. After sometime-sooner than later-you will

be absorbed in your Ishta-Devata if your meditation is objective, or in your

Being, if your meditation is subjective. Once, you get the taste of it, believe

me, you will like to taste it more and more and more.

 

May God Almighty and All-merciful and the Most Revered Gurudev, help you, THEY

WILL.