MEDITATION AS EXPLAINED BY BHAGWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

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> Have a lamp with a bright steady flame or a candle before

> you. Sit in the Padmasana posture or any other comfortable

> asana in front of the flame. Look at the flame steadily.

> Then closing your eyes, try to feel the flame inside you,

> between your eye brows. From there let it descend down into

> the lotus of your heart, in the centre of the chest,

> illumining the path.

>

> When it enters the heart, imagine that the petals of the

> lotus bud open out, one by one, bathing every thought,

> feeling, emotion and impulse in the light and so removing

> darkness there. There is no space now for darkness to take

> refuge. It has to flee before the flame.

>

> Imagine that the light becomes wider, bigger and brighter.

> Let it pervade the limbs; now these limbs can never more

> deal in dark, suspicious and wicked activities. These have

> become instruments of light and love.

>

> Let the light reach up to the tongue and falsehood, slander

> and spite vanish from it. Let it rise up to the eyes and the

> ears and destroy all the dark desires therein. Let your head

> be surcharged with light and all the wicked thoughts flee

> there from, for these are the denizens of darkness. Imagine

> that light in you more and more intensely and it will become

> so. Let it shine all around you and let it spread from you

> in ever widening circles, taking in your loved ones, your

> kith and kin, your friends and companions, your enemies and

> rivals, strangers, all living beings, the entire world.

>

> Stay on in that thrill of witnessing light. If you are

> adoring God in any form, now try to visualise that form in

> the all pervasive light, for light is God and God is light.

>

>

> " Just like a child yearns for its mother's bosom;

> a lost calf for its mother in a herd; and a widow cries for

> her lost husband in a corner, you too must aspire for the

> proximity of Sai and reap joy therefrom. "

>

>

> " A root pest would eat away the roots of a tree and a

> white ant would eat away the tree itself. Similarly, a man

> of evil nature would bring about the ruin of a virtuous

> one. Listen! O son of Bharat. "

> The power of spirituality is inexplicable and infinite. The

> institute or individual that cannot obtain this becomes

> virile.

>

> The power of spirituality can transform an animal into man

> and man to a divine being. The paths of spirituality have

> sprung up to lead man from human state to that of divine.

> Man tries to understand everything.

>

> He has been trying to acquire many types of learning.

> However, he has not yet made an effort to find out his real

> nature. All learning is naught if it can not help one to

> realise one's own nature. Knowledge without practical

> aspect is akin to a lamp in a blind man's hand.

>

>

>

>

> Just as, Narada had skill in 64 types of learning/sciences

> - 4 Vedas, 6 Sastras, 20 Upangas, Painting, Sculpture,

> Dance, Music, Literature etc. None could surpass Narada in

> singing. In spite of such accomplishments Narada could not

> overcome restlessness.

>

> Narada had mastered Gaja Karna and Gokarna which could not

> be mastered by anyone in the world. Seeking a solution for

> his restlessness, Narada came to Sanat Kumara. He expressed

> his restlessness. Sanat Kumara asked Narada about his

> qualifications.

>

> Narada explained that he had learnt everything. Sanat

> Kumara asked Narada if he had known about his own self.

> " That alone I have not learnt " said Narada. Sanat

> Kumara then pointed out that to be the reason for his

> restlessness.

>

>

> Today man desires to know about everything that goes on in

> the world. From the moment he gets up, he desires to know

> the news from all quarters of the world and does not pay

> heed to the nuisance coming from within.

>

> If he were to understand the principle within him, he could

> understand the world better. In Andhra region, there is a

> proverb, " win over the self and win over the

> village. " Unless one saves oneself, one cannot save

> others.

>

> Philosophy and learning can get you food but not

> liberation. " Therefore, Narada, when you desire to

> know yourself, you have to awaken a dormant factor within

> you " said Sanat Kumara. Narasimha Murthy stated that

> sleep played a chief role in Ramayana. Even in the Ramayana

> of life, sleep is very important.

>

>

> Every person has to awaken the Kundalini that is asleep

> within one. Kundalini, Sanat Kumara taught, should be led

> in a proper path towards the goal to fulfil one's life.

> In the Bharat's Yoga Shastras, it has been mentioned

> that there are 7 types of lotuses in the spinal column

> helping people to take to right path.

>

> They are known as Naadi Mandalas/Chakras. (Nerve centres /

> disks) Kundalini power starts at Muladhara disk at the

> beginning of the spinal column.

>

> This nerve centre is situated at the place of excretion of

> faecal matter. It has 4 petals.

> Swadhishtana is situated in the urinary excretory point. It

> has 6 petals. Manipuraka - Naabhi/Navel point has 6 petals.

>

> From there to Anahata near heart with 16 petals. Thence to

> Visuddha the power travels near throat - From there it

> comes to Agneya situated between the brows. It has two

> petals. From there it goes to Sahasrara which is situated

> on the crown of the head. It has 1000 petals.

>

>

> Muladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipurakam, Anahata, Agneya,

> Visuddha and Sahasrara are the seven Chakras. Each is at a

> higher plane than the other. Behind these chakras, on

> either side of spinal column Ida and Pingala nerves keep

> throbbing.

>

> In the centre of spinal column there is a nerve by the name

> Sushumna. All these perform their duties in the prescribed

> manner.

> How does one awaken the Kundalini power? All have believed

> it to be in the form of a dormant serpent near the

> Muladhara Chakra.

>

> Snakes of the world are considered poisonous. The serpent

> (Kundalini) dormant in man is that of worldly desires.

> These desires become poison.

>

> Worldly snakes eat frogs, rats etc. Kundalini serpent

> consumes only the life principle of man. To awaken this

> serpent, one has to control the intake of this life

> principle.

>

> When we hold breath through Yogic practices, the Kundalini

> power does not get food near Muladhara Chakra. In search of

> food, it becomes active and continues to come up.

>

> During meditation when we deny the food, it travels upwards

> from Muladhara to Manipuraka, Swadhishtana and comes to

> throat. Even near the throat food is not available for it.

> Then it reaches Agneya. Unable to find food even from

> there, it merges into Sahasrara. Therefore, to awaken the

> life principle or consciousness from Muladhara and let it

> merge in Sahasrara has been described as

> 'liberation' by Vedanta.

>

> Dhyana, now-a-days, both in India and abroad has taken

> various forms. They believe it to be concentration. But

> both are different. Right from dawn to dusk whatever

> activities we perform, they are done with concentration. To

> walk, to eat, to read a book, to write a letter - all need

> concentration.

>

> Concentration is natural for man. Why should are

> spend/waste time for such concentration by sitting

> separately. But one has to question the source from which

> one derives concentration. We have held a book in hand. We

> can see with our eyes. What has been seen is sent for

> enquiry to the intelligence/Buddhi. After the enquiry, mind

> begins to recollect/reflect upon it.

>

> It is an 'Indriya' (instrument/sense) that held a

> book. Again it is another indriya that saw the matter. It

> is yet again another indriya that reflected over the

> matter. It is due to the collective effort of all the

> indriyas that we are able to perceive the matter.

>

> Therefore, concentration is below senses. It is meaningless

> to call concentration which is below senses as meditation.

> Meditation is beyond senses. There is a border between

> concentration which is below senses and meditation which is

> beyond senses known as contemplation.

>

> Contemplation is said to be the second stage of

> intelligence. Intelligence is said to be the essence of

> Satwa. It can be best illustrated with an example to make

> it clear to you.

>

>

> There is a rose plant. It has leaves, thorns and rose

> flowers. Concentration helps you to identify as to where

> the thorns are and where the rose flower is. In

> concentration, we have only rose as the objective, without

> touching the thorns we have to pluck the flower. " Love

> is flower; lust is thorn. " There is no rose without

> thorns but we have to pluck the flower without touching the

> thorns. For what purpose is this cutting of rose? To cut the

> love (flower) away from worldly desires (thorns) is

> contemplation.

>

> Concentration is identifying the various locations of the

> thorns and flowers by looking at the tree/plant. To offer

> the flower so cut, to the Lord is meditation.

>

> In our body likened to that of a rose plant, we have pure

> love in the form of rose. It is permeated with

> fragrance/good smell of virtues. But right under this are

> the thorns of worldly desires. True meditation is to

> identify the thorns of worldly desires from selfless love

> and offer that selfless love to the Lord.

>

> From ancient days, meditation has been considered as the

> highest goal in Bharat. Today meditation is done as though

> it were a panacea akin to saridon which removes headache.

> Meditation that comes so easily cannot be termed as such.

>

> People such as Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and

> Tumbura considered meditation to be the process of sending

> the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara. During

> meditation, one should not join worldly desires and must

> reach only selfless love as the goal.

>

> The method/posture of meditation is also very important. In

> the beginning, we must sit in Padmasana. Spinal column

> should not bend to any side. Some people bend the neck and

> sit. This is very dangerous. If Kundalini power were to get

> locked there, where many nerves are present, it would damage

> the person and cause paralysis.

>

> There are many who have damaged their heads/senses by

> wrongly adhering to Kundalini. One should not bend

> backwards either. One should be so straight that if a nail

> were to be driven down from Sahasrara, it should appear as

> though the whole body were wrapped around the nail. Not

> only that, one should loosen the garment that is around the

> waist prior to sitting for meditation. If the garment is

> tightly wound round the waist, it might, to an extent,

> obstruct the Kundalini.

>

> Usually people who practise Kundalini yoga are single

> garmented. So, waist should not be tightly bound. Vision

> should be centred at the tip of the nose. If one were to

> sit for meditation with open eyes, all those who pass by

> would cause disturbance to the mind. If eyes are totally

> closed, the goddess of sleep would envelop us.

>

> Therefore, we should have half closed eyes posture. Some

> believe the tip of the nose to be between the eye brows.

> No! It is forehead; It is the end of nose. i.e., Tip of the

> nose that has to be concentrated upon.

>

> Lord Krishna has also described the same.

> " Kasturi Tilakam Lalaata(1) Phalake Vaksha(2) Sthale

> Kausthubam

> Naasagre(3) Navamouktikam... "

> 1) Refers to the eye of wisdom. 2) Lord Krishna adorned his

> chest with the plaque of happiness 3) He kept his vision

> fixed on the tip of his nose. Such a Krishna had two

> bracelets on His hand. One bracelet signifies -

> " Save the righteous and punish the wicked "

> The second bracelet signifies -

> " One who constantly relies on me, I shall take care of

> all his needs " .

> God wears bracelets for fulfilling vows. So, Lord

> Krishna's vision was on the tip of His nose i.e.,

> always meditative.

>

> We may have to observe certain physical activities. Mind is

> very much wavering. Knowing fully well that something is

> wrong, it would like to do it. We know well that to hear

> bad things is not good and yet we do it.

>

> We should teach it a lesson.

> " O ears! Why do you go after listening to the tales of

> all and sundry? When the Lord's name is chanted, why

> don't you pay heed? "

> You should teach the ears to listen to tales that would

> give happiness to all and such facts that would gloria the

> Lord.

> " You go and see films, which do you no good, again and

> again. But you do not wish to contemplate on the Lord even

> for a moment. O eyes! Pay heed. "

>

>

> In this manner, you must teach senses lessons and control

> them. When mind begins to wander hither and thither, one

> must engage it. If mind does not have anything to do, it

> would roam the whole world. " By the time truth begins

> to wear sandals, untruth would go around the world and

> come. "

>

> Similarly mind, if no work is assigned, would go round the

> world. So, before sitting for meditation, one must assign

> some work to the mind. What type of work? It has been a

> known fact that mind is a mad monkey. To make a monkey busy

> while he performs other feats, the street performer would

> plant a stick in the ground and ask the monkey to

> repeatedly go up and down the stick.

>

> Similarly we must assign the job of a watchman to the mind

> near that part of forehead where eyebrows join. By constant

> practice, we can make the mind stay in one place. As one

> constantly breaths 'Soham', the breath gets

> controlled.

>

> This is the great power of Yoga. There is no separate

> effort that one needs to make to arouse Kundalini. When all

> the vital air remains outside, in search of food, Kundalini

> would rise. Some base 'lamp' as the point of

> concentration. This elucidates the principle of 'Unity

> in diversity' and 'Many in One'. This cannot be

> understood by all very easily and does not confer bliss very

> easily.

>

> We should construe three types of pictures - imaginary,

> mental or one based on feeling and actualisation.

> Example for the first one - you have seen Swami. If you

> close your eyes and begin to visualise Swami's hair and

> robe, then you would have picture created by imagination or

> 'Uha'. This picture goes away in a moment. It

> appears as though it has been seen but goes away the moment

> you begin to visualise further.

>

>

> The second type of picturisation - 'Bhava' is not

> like this. It takes some time. You can picturise Swami from

> feet upwards - feet, gown, inside robe, hands, neck, eyes,

> nose, mouth, ears and crown of hair. Like this by the time

> you picturise, half-an-hour would have elapsed.

>

>

> If you continuously go about doing this - picturising Swami

> from foot to head and vice versa - it would lead to

> Sakshatkara i.e. actual manifestation. Upon practising in

> this manner you would realise that you are able to see the

> form for a fraction at least before it fades away. So, this

> is not the goal. One should not go by imagination. One

> should go by feeling. One should go on painting each limb.

> One eye on one side and another eye on the other side-You

> should not think thus. Is this eye parallel to the other? -

> In this fashion, one must minutely paint the picture. In the

> process, mind would become totally engaged.

> " Knower of the Brahman becomes Brahman " .

>

> If you were to melt silver and pour it into the mould of

> Lord Krishna, the feet, hands, eyes, mouth and even hair

> would be that of silver. Similarly, when one concentrates

> and paints the mind with the form, the mind would also be

> transformed into the form.

>

> When you question as to where the mind is, you would get

> the answer - in Swami's feet, in Swami's hair, in

> Swami's eyes etc. i.e., mind is totally immersed in

> Swami's form. Therefore, meditation is that which would

> transform mind into the form and not vice versa.

>

>

> When we sit for Meditation our body should not be in

> contact with anyone else's body. When one works with

> electricity, one would done some sort of insulation

> (wood/cloth) to insure against shock. Similarly, meditation

> also is a kind of power. It also would give a shock if two

> bodies touch. In every body, there is current.

>

> The current goes/gets lost through nails, hair, eyes and

> speech. In the olden days people allowed nails and hair to

> grow because they did not want the current to be wasted. It

> is due to that current that hair and nails grow and eyes and

> other organs function. What is the reason for Munis to

> observe silence? They realised that current gets wasted

> through words and hence observed silence.

>

> Not understanding this we begin to conclude that in the

> forest the saints did not have any facilities to trim their

> hair and nails and hence they were unkempt. They were making

> efforts to convert the current in the body into Divine Power

> and hence their appearance. One should not have contact with

> another in more than necessary manner.

>

> Attachment with an object or a person might grow into a

> deeper relationship. They lead to certain desires. As the

> desires get fulfilled, ego would begin to sprout. If the

> desires do not find fruition, anger would develop.

> Therefore desires have ill-effects, either way.

>

> When the desires become many, man's sense of

> intelligence dwindles. This causes loss of control over the

> speech and unwarranted words would emanate from the person,

> criticising and hurting others. That would lead to abusing

> others. The act of abusing is a fuel to the fire of sin.

> Therefore, the root cause for sin is relationship.

>

> So, excess of contact should not be had in the first place.

> In Rishikesh there was a choultry by the name 'Kali

> Kamliwala'. It was a tradition in those days to feed

> all those who came there. One Sannyasi got a wheat bread

> and since he could not find any place, went to the river

> Ganga and sitting on a rock, began to partake of the same.

>

> In this manner, he spent some years using the rock as his

> dining place. As it happened, a relation developed between

> him and the rock. On a particular day by the time he could

> procure alms, it became later than usual. Meanwhile some

> other Sannyasi got his alms and sat at that rock to have

> his meal.

>

> The older Sannyasi got his wheat bread and came to the

> rock. He began to have an argument - " Ai! This is my

> rock; you go somewhere else. " They both began to have

> a duel. At that place, there was a saint by the name

> Satchidanandam. He came and enquired of the quarrelling

> Sannyasins as to the reason for their fight. When he became

> aware of the reason, he admonished them saying - " You

> have left behind your wives, children, parents, relatives

> and shaved your head and swore to lead a life of

> mendicancy.

>

> Now due to your attachment, you have developed anger

> between yourselves. " Similarly, you have all come here

> leaving behind many things for education and Swami. Why

> develop unnecessary contacts? Maintain a relation akin to

> " Hello! Hello; How are you? Good-bye! Good-bye. "

> There is another incident that took place at Rishikesh.

>

> One person went from Mysore state and became a Sannyasin at

> Rishikesh. About 6 kms from Rishikesh is a famous cave known

> as 'Vasishta's cave'. Purushottamananda used to

> do penance there. It was near Ganges and the air was cool

> and serene and the area was dense with shade bestowing

> trees.

>

> That Sannyasi (one who came from Mysore) used to meditate

> under the tree and live by eating whatever bread was given

> to him. One day, a tourist bus came from Karnataka state.

> They also came to see 'Vasishta cave' and later

> were sitting under a tree talking.

>

> The Sannyasin who was meditating, heard them speak in

> Kannada. A little attachment towards the language sprouted

> in him. He left meditation and began to converse with them

> in Kannada. They told him that they came from Bangalore

> District. " Which village do you come from? " asked

> the Sannyasin who was influenced by the attachment to his

> own street.

>

> They said that they were in the street of Rama's

> temple. Affected by the attachment to his house, he asked

> them as to what was their house number. They said that

> their house number was 11. He asked the troupe if they knew

> his father who was in the house numbered 12. Body attachment

> prevailed. They said that his father passed away 3 months

> previously. The Sannyasin began to weep.

>

>

> Why should the Sannyasin leave his meditation in the first

> place and enquire of the tourists various details? This

> attachment caused all the sorrow. It is only when you leave

> all responsibilities can your meditation progress. Sometimes

> the varied nature of Nature attracts. One should never

> succumb to the temptations.

>

>

> To arouse Kundalini and sit in meditation is very

> difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No meditation can

> surpass/equal this.

> We want to prepare Sambar. We got fresh vegetables from

> Bangalore in the morning. We got fresh tamarind, white,

> spotless salt and impeccable Dal also was procured. The

> cook is an exceptionally skilled one. We have made Sambar.

> But when it was served, it turned out to be poison. Reason?

> None of the ingredients were faulty nor was the cook. The

> vessel in which it was cooked was not clean!

>

>

> Similarly, we do meditation, Bhajans - in fact we even

> swing during Bhajans but we are far away from obtaining

> peace. This is because we do not have the unsullied love in

> our hearts. Many wonder as to why they have not obtained

> peace in spite of doing meditation and Bhajans etc. It is

> because they have not cleaned their hearts with pure love.

>

>

> Another example. There is a mango tree. Hundreds of ripe

> and unripe mangos are present. You water it and put manure

> also. All of a sudden, one fine morning, the tree looks

> dried-up, what is the reason? Have you not given water and

> manure? What is the reason for a tree which was

> resplendently green the previous day to look lack-lustre

> the very next day? The roots have been eaten away by the

> pests! Similarly, we may be doing meditation, chanting

> rosary and attending Bhajans externally; but wicked

> qualities might be gnawing at the heart.

>

>

> Therefore, send away wicked qualities; fill yourself with

> virtues; and develop love. Meditation is not something of a

> pose given for a photographer. It is not for others. It is

> for one's own self. There are certain cautions that are

> to be observed in this regard.

>

>

> One should be seated on a plank at least 1/2 inch above the

> ground. On top of this, skin of an animal - preferably a

> docile and pure - satvic animal - deer is to be spread. In

> order to prevent the deer hair causing irritation, a thin

> cloth is advised to be spread over it. All these to be done

> so as not to cause any disturbance to our meditation. If

> kundalini were to really begin rising, the earth would pull

> it downward.

>

> To avoid this and to avoid any shock, this plank is put. In

> this manner the ancients have experienced and expressed it

> to us.

> Instead of going for meditation and spoiling your mind, it

> is better you create the form you are interested in, put

> that picture in front of you and observe carefully.

>

> While observing deeply, close your eyes. Now, begin to

> paint the form that you have seen, in your mind's eye.

> Then your mind would be totally enveloped in the form.

> Gradually even when you open your eyes, you begin to see

> the form everywhere. That is manifestation - Sakshatkara.

>

> This does not happen if you were to do it once in a while.

> You should daily do this both morning, evening and at all

> other times also. Then you begin to see the form spreading

> itself in all limbs and all bodies.

> Most importantly, youth's mind is most wavering. During

> the day the youth must spend time reading class books and

> assimilating them.

>

> The reason being that mind will not enter unnecessary

> avenues when it has a lot of work to do. We must attach

> ourselves to work so as to deprive mind from associating

> itself with outside world. Both morning and evening let the

> mind be immersed in Dhyana/Meditation in the aforesaid

> manner. Meditation is a path of obtaining sanctity. It is a

> process of obtaining unity; a path of experiencing divinity.

>

>

> Your mind must merge in the Lord just as a river merges

> into the ocean. Then mind as such does not exist. Then you

> become beyond mind. The river has a form, name and taste

> before merging into the ocean. After merging, it loses all

> such identities.

>

> This has been conveyed by Ramadas in a song form:

> " There is a fortress of seven boundaries. In the fort

> there is a garden - one of worldly desires. If you want to

> find the path through the garden, sing the name of the Lord

> Rama. The whole Kingdom will be filled with light. "

> The boundaries referred to are the seven

> nerve-centres/chakras. This song was heard by Lord Rama. He

> replied:

> " The essence is like oil. The Truth is like wick. When

> the light fades away, neither the oil nor the wick follow

> it. They stay there itself. "

>

>

> Then Ramadas got a doubt " The support is the tree and

> the grip is another branch of the tree. If the

> basis/support is left in the hope of relying on the

> strength of the branch and the branch also breaks then

> salvation is imminent. "

>

>

> Here, the basis is the worldly desires and the branch which

> would break is the society in which you live. If you leave

> the desires and if the world/society shuns you, you are

> bound to attain salvation. You need the society as long as

> you have not understood the true reality. Therefore, one

> needs firewood only as long as the cooking is being done.

> One does not need firewood after the food has been cooked.

>

>

> Veda, Shastra, Purana, Itihasa etc. are essential only as

> long as one has not understood oneself. After one has

> realised oneself, all these become unnecessary. Hence, it

> is not possible to renounce/detach oneself from the society

> unless one has realised oneself. You have to realise

> yourself by living in the world. Some creatures like

> caterpillar, crawling from one leaf to another. In the

> process, it catches the leaf it would like to go to and

> then release the leaf it has been on. It does not leave the

> base before catching/obtaining the support. Similarly, we

> should leave world after obtaining divinity and not before.

> Otherwise, we would have lost both the worlds.

>

>

> Do not be carried away by the term Meditation. It is not

> something that one does by sitting for a couple minutes or

> hours. It should be always at all places (the contemplation

> on the Lord). It should not pertain only to

> Mandir/meditation room. Wherever one goes, be it market or

> classes, one should be totally absorbed. We should be

> totally sacred in our feelings.

>

> This is possible only through the path of love. Speak

> lovingly to all people. Even such a speech should be in

> moderation. This is because mind begins to change as words

> become many.

>

>

> One sage came from the Himalayas and declared that he had

> conquered anger. He met his friends and told them that he

> was totally at peace and that he had no anger in him at

> all. One came and asked him - " Sir! Have you conquered

> anger? " " Yes! I have controlled " came the

> guarded reply. That person reiterated, " Sir! You of

> all the people! Have you really conquered anger? "

> " Yes, it is true " came the gruff reply.

> " What sir! It is really impossible to believe. How

> could you conquer anger? " Asked the man for the third

> time. " Ai! Can't you understand when I have said

> so? " Came the hot reply. " Sir! When this is the

> case, how could you have conquered anger? " , asked the

> man for the fourth time. " Are you out of your senses?

> I told you that I have conquered " . So, while saying

> that he had conquered anger, due to repetition of words, he

> lost control over anger. If words were not expressed, anger

> might cooled down. But as he expressed them, anger grew.

> Due to lack of

> patience, anger emanates. There is no other remedy for

> anger. Only cultivation of patience is the answer.

>

>

> Today man is bent upon conquering/vanquishing/controlling

> anger. This is wrong. He must inculcate patience. Then

> anger will automatically subside. If darkness has to be

> expelled, light has to be brought. Similarly, to expel

> anger, patience has to be fostered. So, make efforts to

> develop patience.

>

> Patience or sanctity can be attained only through love.

> There is nothing that cannot be attained with love. One can

> attain all with love.

>

> Everything is dedicated/subordinate to love. Hence it is

> said LOVE IS GOD; LIVE IN LOVE. If the concept of love is

> perfectly understood, it in itself becomes Meditation.

> Meditate on love. But the love should be selfless. It

> should be dedicated to the Lord. Any kind of love once

> offered to Lord becomes sanctified.

>

>

> We have made sweet pongal at home. We call it sweet pongal

> and eat it. The same sweet pongal once it is offered to the

> Lord in a temple, we call it 'prasadam' / blessed

> food. The moment you offer it to the Lord, it becomes

> prasadam. All defects - defects of the ingredients, cooking

> and the vessel would get removed after such an offering.

>

> For the sweet pongal made at home, there may not be

> cleanliness of the vessel, ingredients or the cooking

> process itself. In order to remove all defects from the

> food cooked - we do not know wherefrom the vegetables have

> come; may be they were stolen; may be the intention of the

> seller was not good. We assemble all food items and pray to

> Lord that everything be blessed. Then it all becomes

> prasadam and all defects run away from the same.

>

>

> There is a small clause in meditation. All cannot do the

> same type of meditation. Meditation changes from person to

> person depending on their state of evolution/capacity. All

> doing one type of meditation is not proper. Each has his

> own form to worship and the way he goes about it may also

> differ.

>

> Some worship God as Mother of the Universe; some consider

> Him as Father of the Universe while others consider God to

> be their friend. There are those who worship God as

> Master/husband. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Gauranga are

> examples of this nature. Jayadeva and Gauranga had not done

> any meditation. They felt no need for meditation as they

> could see God everywhere.

>

>

> There is a small anecdote. This happened to many great men

> in all the yugas. Gaurangada entered a small village called

> Nava Dweepa. He could not find a place to live. If he were

> to go the streets to do bhajan, mischievous boys would

> throw stones at him. They troubled him in numerous ways. To

> avoid all this, he entered the temple of Lord Eshwara.

> Keeping his legs on top of the Lingam - image of Lord

> Shiva, he lay down to sleep.

>

> In the morning the chief priest arrived. Considering him to

> be a mad man, the priest beat him. " O fool! How dare

> you put your feet on top of the Lord's image? Could you

> not find any other place to keep your feet? " , asked the

> priest. Then Chaitanya replied - " Sir! Please show me

> the place where Eshwara does not exist and I shall gladly

> place my feet on that spot. " Saying that he would show

> him, the priest dragged Chaitanya by the feet and dropped

> him aside.

>

> Due to his merit, even there the image of the Lord

> appeared. The pujari dragged him all over the mandir,

> wherever Chaitanya's feet fell, Eshwara's image was

> seen to emerge. Then the pujari realised his folly. God

> pervades the universe. How then can anyone define a place

> to be devoid or filled with God? For a true aspirant

> God's insignia are seen everywhere.

>

> Since God pervades the creation, there is nothing that is

> unsacred. But there is bound to be a change in the way we

> utilise the same. Therefore, we can make some changes in

> the society, house and people with whom we deal. Then alone

> can we obtain peace of mind. It is not meditation if one

> were to close one's eyes/sit in lotus posture/sit

> without movements.

>

> The most important factor for meditation is to fill the

> heart with love. That love is verily God Himself. Along

> with this love you must also sit in the lotus posture and

> in the manner described earlier to awaken the kundalini

> power and thus give more meaning to your lives.

>

>

> You may go anywhere and do anything. But your heart must be

> filled with pure love. Gaurangada, Tukaram, Nammalwar etc.,

> have lived in this manner. If purity of heart is one's

> property, one can question the Lord's ways as a

> rightful gesture. After a lot of merit, we have acquired

> the birth of a human being. If we do not make good use of

> it, it would be a sheer waste.

>

>

> Gems in the ocean are not easily available. With a great

> difficulty if one were to dive deep and brave the attack of

> sharks, one could manage to obtain rare pearls hidden in the

> womb of the ocean. The pearl that is got after such a

> strenuous effort, if one were to lose it, one would not get

> it back however much one may pine.

> " Sway! Lord Krishna! I have obtained with great

> difficulty the pearl of Krishna from the deep ocean of

> samsara. Please shower your grace that I may not lose

> it " , prayed Meera. Since her prayer was such, Lord

> Krishna also granted her that wish.

>

> She loved and pined for Krishna so much that her anguish at

> the separation from the Lord turned into penance and she

> merged into the Lord. Every human who would like to turn

> the energy in him to divinity must participate in prayers.

> Prayer for mind is as essential as food is for body. Good

> food strengthens the body. Stale food brings about

> ill-health. Similarly, if we participate in prayers, our

> heart becomes pure. If, on the other hand, one were to

> participate with pomposity, ego and show, it would be like

> the bad food harming the mind. Therefore youth must travel

> from slumber and inactivity to penance. Whatever we may do,

> we must do with determination. One should not stop

> meditation after having begun, in a span of 2 days. Whole

> life should be transformed into meditation.

>

> We have come essentially for that purpose. We must

> discharge our duties. Along with this knowledge we must

> seek worldly education also. One must accept the basis of

> the worldly education. I have told many a time. I am

> repeating, observe the message carefully.

>

>

> There are many metals in the earth - Iron, steel etc. As

> they are deep inside earth, due to heat, they are available

> in the form of liquid. Due to this heat even iron would be

> in a liquid state. This we call as Chemistry.

>

> As we gradually come to the surface, the materials solidify

> as the temperature decreases and we call it as Physics. As

> dust and other particles join this, plants begin to sprout

> in it. The study of these plants is called Botany. Insects

> and birds come from everywhere to these plants.

>

> The study of these birds and insects is called Zoology.

> What is the basis for Zoology? Botany? The foundation of

> Botany is Physics which in turn is based on Chemistry. So,

> for Chemistry also there must be some foundation. Isn't

> it? There is water in this tumbler. For the water to stay,

> there must be a container in the first place. If there is

> no vessel, how can liquid stay put? Therefore the source of

> sciences - Chemistry has its foundation in divinity.

>

> Therefore, all the sciences have stemmed from the root of

> Divinity. So, for all subjects Divinity is the primal

> basis. If we were to catch the vessel, Divinity, all the

> contents, subjects, would easily become ours. Today we are

> ready to catch the creation and investigate but have not

> ever thought of investigating the nature of the creator.

> Even those that harm us become friendly in the presence of

> the Lord.

>

>

> Serpent adorns the neck of Lord Shiva. Since it is around

> the neck of the Lord, we bow down to it also. Same serpent

> if seen in the bazaar would die due to the blows received

> from us. Though it is a poisonous snake, since it adorns

> the neck of the Lord, it becomes worthy of worship.

>

>

> Once Lord Vishnu sent Garuda to Eshwara with a message.

> Eshwara's body is very peculiar. His body is smeared

> with vibhuti/ash. He has moon as his crown jewel and

> serpents as his other ornaments. To such Shiva when Garuda

> flew and landed, the breeze created by his wings disturbed

> the sacred ash of the Lord which fell into the eyes of the

> snake adorning His neck. The serpent, in anger, hissed at

> Garuda. Garuda replied, " O snake! Since you adorn the

> Lord's neck you are saved. Had you been in the

> bazaar/market place, I would have snatched you with my feet

> and torn you to shreds. Since you are in the proximity of

> the Lord you have earned the right to be forgiven. "

>

>

> Similarly, since you are enjoying Swami's proximity,

> people praise you. The moment you leave Swami and go,

> people do not care a fig for you. Wherever you go, you must

> absorb whatever has been taught here and keeping the

> discipline as your shadow and Swami in your heart must

> create peace around you. Once in a while to recharge your

> batteries, you can come to Swami. In this way, you can

> enjoy Swami's Love and Grace.

>

>

>

>

--

>

> Jyoti Meditation

>

>

>

--

>

>

>

> " As regards the technique of meditation, different

> teachers and trainers give different forms of advice. But I

> shall give you now the most universal and the most effective

> form. This is the very first step in spiritual discipline.

> At first, set a few minutes every day for meditation, and

> extend the time as you feel the bliss that you get.

>

> " Let it be in the hours before dawn. This is

> preferable because the body is refreshed after sleep, and

> the dealings of daytime will not yet have impinged on you.

> Have a lamp or a candle before you with an open, steady,

> and straight flame. Sit in front of the candle in the lotus

> posture or any other comfortable sitting position. Look on

> the flame steadily for some time, and closing your eyes try

> to feel the flame inside you between your eyebrows. Let it

> slide down into the lotus of your heart, illuminating the

> path. When it enters the heart, imagine that the petals of

> the lotus open out by one, bathing every thought, feeling,

> and emotion in the light and so removing darkness from

> them. There is no space for darkness to hide. The light of

> the flame becomes wider and brighter. Let it pervade your

> limbs. Now those limbs can never indulge in dark,

> suspicious, and wicked activities; they have become

> instruments of light and love. As the light reaches up to

> the

> tongue, falsehood vanishes from it. Let it rise up to the

> eyes and the ears and destroy all the dark desires that

> infest them and which lead you to perverse sights and

> childish conversation. Let your head be surcharged with

> light and all wicked thoughts will flee there from. Imagine

> that the light is in you more and more intensely. Let it

> shine all around you and let it spread from you in ever

> widening circles, taking in your loved ones, your kith and

> kin, your friends and companions, your enemies and rivals,

> strangers, all living beings, the entire world.

>

> " Since the light illumines all the senses every day so

> deeply and so systematically, a time will soon come when you

> can no more relish dark and evil sights, yearn for dark and

> sinister tales, crave for base, harmful, deadening toxic

> food and drink, handle dirty demeaning things, approach

> places of ill-fame and injury, or frame evil designs

> against anyone at any time. Stay on in that thrill of

> witnessing the light everywhere. If you are adoring God in

> any form now, try to visualize that form in the

> all-pervasive light. For Light is God; God is Light.

>

> " Practice this meditation as I have advised regularly

> every day. At other times repeat the name of God (any Name

> fragrant with any of His many Majesties), always taking

> care to be conscious of His might, mercy, and

> munificence. "

>

> - Sri Sathya Sai Baba

> Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume X, Page 348-350, Shivarathri,

> 1979

>

>

>

> Jyothi Meditation

>

> Based on Bhagavan's step-by-step directions.

>

>

>

--

>

>

>

> Jyothi (flame) Meditation is the foremost spiritual

> discipline geared towards gaining inner peace.

>

> 1) We should have a fixed time and place every day where we

> sit for meditation either in the morning and/or evening.

>

> 2) We should sit on a thin mattress for this exercise. The

> sitting pose or asana should be comfortable both for our

> mind and body.

>

> 3) We should then chant Omkar, the Universal Mantra

> glorified as 'Nada Brahma' at least 3 times but

> preferably 21 times. The mind under the influence of this

> divine sound slowly loses momentum and becomes more and

> more tranquil and steady.

>

> 4) The next step is to put the breath in rhythm. The

> easiest and the most effortless method is to watch the

> breath, thereby the process becomes normal, that is, longer

> and calmer. When we inhale, the breath sounds 'So'

> and when we exhale, it sounds 'Humm' which means

> 'He' i.e. " God " and 'I'

> respectively or " God am I " .

>

> 5) Accordingly, synchronizing with these two breaths,

> imagine that the flame 'Jyot' is within us. Feel

> that the light of the flame is in our heart, right in the

> centre of the Lotus. Gently move the light to other parts

> of your body -- the stomach, the limbs, the eyes, the ears

> and the tongue. Feel that the entire body is illumined

> thereby. Rejoice that the light is the light of love; it

> removes hatred; it dispels darkness and doubt; it reveals

> that all are Divine.

>

> 6) As the light fills the eyes, you must feel that they

> have been purified. They shall no longer seek to look upon

> evil sights. When the light lights the tongue with love,

> decide that there is no more scope for uttering harsh

> words. Similarly, once the radiance of the divine light

> bathes the arms, they can no longer delight in performing

> harmful deeds while the feet can no longer move into

> polluting areas and places.

>

> 7) Now visualize the light as surrounding our physical body

> and spreading far out to family members, neighbours and even

> those whom we do not like. Every object is enveloped in

> that divine effulgence. Isavaasyam Idam Sarvam. All this

> is illumined by God. This is the stage of bliss.

>

> 8) In this manner, the ONE flame on which we concentrate

> can cleanse our mind and body and spread its light and

> radiance to include our entire environment.

>

> 9) Finally, take the Jyot on to the figure of our Ishta

> Devta or the Deity of you choice and/or fix our vision on

> the Jyot, and commence meditation or silent sitting for a

> few minutes, followed by Japa of our chosen Mantra with the

> full understanding of its meaning and firm faith in its

> power and benefits. It should be inter-woven with our

> breathing process of inhaling and exhaling.

>

>

>

--

>

>

>

> Exercise on Jyoti Meditation. Instructions compiled from

> Sri Sathya Sai Discourses

>

> 1. Let us close the eyes and chant Omkar (OM) 3 times

>

> To make the mind become tranquil and steady.

>

> 2. Keeping the eyes closed, let us put the breath in rhythm

>

> To make it normal and calmer.

>

> In our mind (mentally) repeat " SOHUM'. (1-2 mins.)

>

> As we inhale mentally repeat " SO "

>

> As we exhale mentally repeat " HUM " . (1-2 mins.)

>

>

> 3. Let us mentally bathe the senses in the light

>

> Look at the Jyoti, imagine that the flame is ablaze in the

>

> Lotus of our heart. Having the beautiful feeling of LOVE.

>

> Take the flame to the different parts of the body.

>

> " Let not my eyes see evil

>

> " Let not my ears hear evil or bad

>

> " Let my tongue speak only sweet words

>

> " Let my hands do only right things

>

> " Let my legs be always moving towards places for good

> actions

>

> and good work. "

>

> Now, bring the flame up the legs slowly, strengthening; up

> through

>

> the stomach, cleansing; through to the eyes, taking away

> all the

>

> darkness and out of the body through the head, purify us.

>

> 4. Open the eyes and look at the Jyoti. (2-3 mins.)

>

> 5. Now imagine the figure, of the form of your choice

> (Baba), for worshipping in the Jyoti. (2-3mins.)

>

> 6. Effortlessly repeat OM SAI RAM or your personal mantra.

> (2-3 mins.)

>

> It should be natural and without tension. Relax.

>

> 7. Slowly close the eyes and meditate for a few minutes.

> (15-20 mins.)

>

> 8. Keep the eyes closed, stop repeating the mantra, or

> having the flame and form consciously. (2-3 mins.)

>

> 9. End meditation. Softly and slowly.

>

> Om Asato Ma Sadgamaya

> Lead me from untruth to truth

>

> Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya

> Lead me from darkness to light

>

> Mrutyor Ma Amrutamgamaya

> Lead me from death to immorality

>

> Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

> Peace Peace Peace

>

>

>

--

>

>

>

> Lord Sai Baba on Meditation

>

> • We always have enough time to talk, visit cinemas etc.

> There is certainly time for meditation. The power is from

> God (referring to the feeling of strength after

> meditation).

>

> • Early morning is best. Mind is quiet and there is not

> the pressure of responsibilities. There is difficulty

> during the day. People are around, and there is work. If

> meditation is attempted, even work may suffer.

>

> • Real meditation is getting absorbed in God as the only

> thought, the only goal. God only, only God. Think God,

> breathe God, love God. Concenration means, when all senses

> and desires fall away and there is only God. In between

> concentration and meditation, like a separation between the

> two, is contemplation. Concentration to contemplation, then

> meditation. As long as one thinks " I am

> meditating " that is the mind and not meditation. As

> long as one knows he is meditating, he is not meditating.

> In absorption in God, one puts aside every form and merges

> into God. In that process the mind naturally stops.

>

> • Meditation for its proper practice, should be at the

> same place, at the same time. In that way, it surely will

> be successful. If one is away from home in travel, in his

> mind he can go to the accustomed place no matter where he

> is. Truth is in every place at all times. When away from

> Swami, by remembering Him doing this or that, the battery

> is " recharged " . That also is genuine meditation.

> Meditation is constant inner inquiry as to who am I, what

> is true, what is ego action, what is loving and what is

> harsh. Meditation is thinking on spiritual principles,

> searching out the application to oneself of what Baba says,

> and the like.

>

> • For the one who has completely surrendered to God and

> whose heart is filled with love for God, these 'college

> courses' (referring to Hatha Yoga etc) are not needed

> and have no meaning and are quite unnecessary.

>

> • The Atma is everywhere, but for the purpose of sitting

> in meditation, the life principle can be considered as

> being 10 inches above the navel and at the centre of the

> chest. An inch in this measurement is the width of the

> thumb at the first joint.

>

> • Without concentration nothing can be done. And we use

> that concentration through-out the day. Why is that same

> concentration so difficult to come in spiritual matters?

> Because the mind is outward turned, and by desire the mind

> clings to object. But the mind can be trained to

> concentrate inwardly, and the heart can be cultured to grow

> with love for God. How? By sadhana. The best sadhana is that

> every act through the day be done as worship of God.

>

> • A fence is placed around a young tree to protect it.

> The same precautions must be observed in meditation. People

> think it is all right to meditate in any place. There are

> currents, there is will power. There is a strong current

> passing into the earth. Because of this, the earth exerts a

> strong attraction. In meditation it is advisable to insulate

> oneself from such currents. For this reason, meditators sit

> on a plank and cover their shoulders with a woollen shawl.

> Once the person has grown strong in his meditation, he may

> sit anywhere and not suffer for it.

>

> • The light is first moved into the heart which is

> conceived as a lotus, the petals of which will open. The

> Jyothi is then moved to other body parts. There is no

> particular sequence. But important is the final body

> station, which is the head. There the light becomes a crown

> enshrining and covering the head. The light is then moved

> outside, from the particular to the universal. Move the

> light into relatives, friends, enemies, trees, animals,

> birds until the entire world and all its forms are seen to

> have the same light at their centre as has been found to be

> within oneself.

>

> • The idea of moving the light into the universal phase,

> the idea of universality is that the same divine light is

> present in everyone and everywhere. To impress this

> universality on the mind, we do the spreading of the light

> outside one's own body.

>

> • One should understand that what comes about in

> meditation as one moves deeply into it, is not the thinking

> of the light, but the forgetting of the body and thereby the

> direct experience that the body is not onself. This is the

> stage of contemplation when the body is totally forgotten.

> It cannot be forced. It comes about by itself and is the

> stage that naturally follows correct concentration.

>

> • Seeing the light and moving the light here and there is

> to give work to the mind, to keep the mind occupied in the

> right direction so that the mind will not be thinking of

> this and that and thus interfering with the process of

> becoming more and more quiet. Spreading the light into its

> unviersal phase, sending the light into every other body,

> and when one is so concentrated in it that he is no longer

> conscious of his body, is the stage of contemplation. As

> contemplation deepens, the stage of meditation comes about

> of its own volition. It cannot be forced.

>

> • If the meditator remains conscious of himself and that

> he is engaged in meditation, then he is not meditating but

> is still in the preliminary stage, at the beginning of

> concentration.

>

> • There are three stages: concentration, contemplation

> and meditation. When contemplation deepens it moves

> naturally into meditation. Meditation is entirely above the

> senses. In the state of meditation, the meditator, the

> object of his meditation and the process of meditation have

> fallen away, and there is only one, and that One is God. All

> that may change has fallen away and Tat Twam Asi, That Thou

> Art, is the state that exists.

>

> • As one gradually returns to this customary and habitual

> state of consciousness, the Jyothi is again placed in the

> heart and kept lighted there thoughout the day.

>

> • The three stages, concentration which is below the

> senses, meditation which is entirely above the senses and

> contemplation which lies between and is partially within

> the senses and partially above the senses, which is on the

> border of each, this is the experience in genuine

> meditation whether the object taken be form or light.

>

> • There is no essential difference. If the devotee has a

> form of God to which he is particularly devoted, he may

> merge that form into the Jyothi, and that form is most

> attractive to him and is the object of his concentration

> and is seen to be within the light wherever it is seen. Or,

> the concentration may be just on the form of God, for God is

> universal in every form.

>

> • Again, the object chosen is just a device to allow one

> to sink deely into quietness and to allow the body, which

> is non-self, to fall away out of consciousness. Anything

> concrete, such as light, form or sound may be chosen as the

> object of concentration. It is possible to just move

> directly into the stage of meditation.

>

> • Meditation as described by Swami is the royal road, the

> easy path. For meditation to be effective there must be

> steady practice with no hurry and no worry. With steady

> practice, the person will become quiet and the state of

> meditation will naturally come about. To think otherwise is

> weakness. Success is assured. Call upon God, He will help

> you. He will respond and He himself will be your guru. He

> will guide you. He will always be at your side. Think God,

> see God, hear God, eat God, drink God, love God. That is

> the easy path, the royal road to your goal of breaking

> ignorance and the realization of your true nature. Which is

> one with God.

>

> • Light a lamp or a candle. Gaze straight ahead at the

> flame. Then take the candle flame, the Jyothi, into the

> heart and see it in the midst of the petals of the heart.

> Watch the petals of the heart unfold and see the light

> illumine the heart. Bad feelings cannot remain. Then move

> the flame to the hands and they can no longer do dark

> deeds. In turn move the flame in like fashion to the eyes

> and ears so they may henceforth take in only bright and

> pure sensations. Then move the light outward and into your

> friends, relatives and enemies, and then into animals,

> birds and other objects so that all are illumined by the

> same light. Christ said, " All are one, be alike to

> everyone. "

>

> • To sit straight is important. Between the 9th and 12th

> vertebrae is the life-force. If the spine is injured at

> this point, paralysis occurs. If the body is in straight

> position, as if it were wound around a straight pole, the

> life force may rise up through the straight body and give

> the quality of intense concentration of the mind.

>

> • Moreover, just as a ligthning rod attached to the roof

> of a building attracts ligthning, in like fashion a

> perfectly straight body provides a conductor, so to speak,

> for divine power to enter the temple of your body and give

> you the strength to accomplish your task and reach your

> goal. As another example, the divine power is always here,

> just as radio signals are here. But to hear the radio music

> there must be an antenna. Further, if the tuning device is

> not properly adjusted, there will be some sound but no

> music. In like fashion, the divine power, which is always

> present, may flow into you if the meditation is correct and

> the body straight.

>

> • First you are in the light. Then the light is in you.

> Finally, you are the light and the light is everywhere.

> Enjoy for a while, then bring the light back to the heart

> and hold it there for all the day. The form of God may also

> be included. Krishna, Rama, Jesus, Sai, as you wish. The

> form of God selected may be seen in the centre of the flame

> wherever it is carried, and then you are with God

> everywhere.

>

> • The stomach is four parts: 1/4 part air, 1/4 part food,

> and 1/2 part water. Too much food results in dullness of the

> mind. Food in moderation does not result in sickness. Too

> much milk is bad. It is rajasic.

>

> • The type of food you eat, that kind of thought will

> come to your mind. If you have satwic food, there will be

> satwic effect. Fruit and milk everything that is cool and

> not hot like strong onions. Meat gives the blood its

> effect, like passion and similar qualities. Dirty thoughts

> come with fish. Although fish is always in water, it has a

> bad smell.

>

> • If you are keen on spiritual life, eating meat is not

> worth while; but if you are keen on worldly life, it is all

> right. There is another spiritual reason. When you kill an

> animal you give it suffering, pain, harm. God is in every

> creature, so how can you give such pain? Sometimes when

> someone beats a dog he cries, he feels so much pain. How

> much more pain then in killing. Animals did not come tor

> the purpose of supplying food to human beings. They came to

> work out their own life in the world. When a human being is

> dead, the foxes and other animals may eat, but we have not

> come to provide food for those that eat the human body; we

> have not come for that purpose. Similarly, man eats the

> animal, but the animal has not come to provide man with

> food. But, we have taken to eating meat as a habit.

>

> • In Dwapara Yuga, before Kali Yuga, 5680 years back,

> milk came into favor. Eleven thousand years is the full

> length of the Kali Yuga. (ie 3712 BC to 7288 AD). The world

> is also turning round like a fan. Even if the Kali Yuga

> stops, it still has a few more revolutions to go before the

> final ending. (speech dated 1968) There are four Yugas. The

> sequence is circular, and when the last is finished, the

> whole cycle starts all over again. Kali Yuga still has

> 5,320 years before ending. (AD 7288. Year now is 1997,

> another 5,291 years to go!!)

>

> (Extracted from: Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai

> Baba by Dr. John Hislop, pages 145-156, 22. Conversation

> recorded in 1968)

>

>

>

>