by Gurani Anjali
There’s a place called meditation
Brought through deep concentration
Born of the afflictions
There’s a place called meditation
Beyond the senses
Beyond the mind
Beyond the body
Beyond you and me
In this place there is no fear
The heights are soared beyond the stars
All those that have been there
Have taken rebirth
Born of the silence
Words cannot express
A place called meditation— Song “Meditation” by Gurani Anjali
To be in this place we have to set our minds on receiving and being open to that inner calling, which speaks to us when we turn our attention toward it. There is a deeper depth to our present reality. We must and will go into this, so that we will be renewed with courage; totally eliminating fear which keeps us in a perplexed state of mind. Unclear is our circumstance. Unclear are our situations and relationships. How can we survive being held in the grips of fear? Meditation brings us peace beyond the body, beyond the mind, beyond the senses.
Before we begin to meditate, consideration of proper intentionality is necessary. When that is undertaken the practice of dharana (concentration) is experienced. This leads to a steady flow of vital energy; releasing us from tension, thus enabling us to float, so to speak, beyond contemporary thinking. The primal essence is in every living being. It is generated by awareness and made known through our temperaments; which change from circumstance to circumstance and from person to person. Therefore, intentionality, commitment and decision are a must; for herein lies the will to be or not to be. The mind is very powerful, and locked within the mind are thoughts which are negative and positive. Impressions of the past are holding us in prison within our own minds. How pitiful…how sorrowful. Can we overcome this? …..Yes!
- Start with sincerity.
- Pick an auspicious time – sunrise, noon or sunset. If this is not convenient, pick the time that is best for you. This does not have to be rigid. Don’t make a big show of what you are doing. Keep it to yourself and the Universal Self.
- Wash hands, feet and face, or take a quick rinse off, to purify yourself physically.
- Set up a pleasant atmosphere to enhance your progress.
- Lie on your back, for a few minutes. Sit up in cross-leg position, or whatever position is conformable. Breathe by inhaling, holding, and then exhaling. Repeat a few times. Then do alternate nostril breathing, a few times. Temperature in the body is regulated, and a calmness sets in.
- Direct the mind to the goal. Keep centered on the object of your attention. Stay in dharanam. If you find difficulty, place a fruit before you with the words, “What do I see?” Stay with it for about 15 minutes or longer.
- Now go into your breath, and center there. Feel inner peace. This will keep the mind centered and you will enter by stages into realms beyond this physical reality.
The inability to cope with everyday life situations causes great sorrow. We bind ourselves in the fetters of pleasure and pain. Discrimination (discerning the real from unreal) is needed to overcome petty grievances. Our spiritual life is denied — ignorance (avidya), I-ness (asmita), attraction (raga), repulsion (dvesha), clinging (abinivesha); these are the afflictions. Work on them. Get rid of them. Through sincerity and an earnest approach the light of divine grace will appear — dispelling all afflictions. - When you feel that you have sat long enough, and that you must end the meditation, slowly breathe in “Om” mentally. Exhale “shanti.” Repeat five times. Open your eyes slowly. Look around. Look at your flame if you are burning a candle. Feel blessed. Say, “Om shanti” and go on with your activities.
The prime factor in meditation is the desire and the will to perfect one’s life; through which one can have direct experience. Meditation gets us in touch with our intuitive powers. Hidden truths are surfaced and grasped by the discriminative mind. Clear understanding is appreciated. Yoga sadhana is very necessary and is important for development. A healthy mind creates a healthy body. Negative impressions are replaced by positive impressions. Om shanti.