MEDITATION – A MENTAL EXERCISE

Meditation is a mental exercise and has several benefits.  Meditation can be used in several areas including the health of a person. The sixth chapter of Bhagavad Gita analyses meditation as a spiritual sadana as prescribed in the scriptures. In the spiritual context, meditation is not for the attainment of Moksha. Moksha is our very nature. We do not have to attain Moksha through any effort including through meditation. Secondly, meditation is not meant for getting extra ordinary powers or extra ordinary experience. According to our scriptures, extra ordinary powers or extra ordinary experiences have nothing to do with spirituality or spiritual growth. On the other hand, extra ordinary powers or experiences become obstacles for spiritual growth. A serious spiritual seeker must go far away from extra ordinary powers or extra ordinary experiences. Third misconception to be negated is that meditation is not meant for getting spiritual knowledge. For attaining knowledge, one has to go through spiritual education program under a spiritual Guru (Mundaka Upanishads) say the Scriptures. Guru starts teaching systematically the spiritual education program. In the second chapter of Gita Arjuna wanted spiritual education and Lord Krishna starts to teach spiritual education in a systematic way.

A question arises as to why this blessed meditation. It is for a smoother purpose other than those three mentioned above.  Meditation has an important purpose. Meditation is for refinement of mind before exposing to spiritual education program. It is for receiving the teaching and retain the teaching. (Gnanayogyada prapti). It is called preparatory meditation. It polishes the mind. It is a fitness exercise for the mind like a fitness exercise for the physical body. Only the mind receives the knowledge and not the “Athma” or the “Body”. Mind has to be refined to receive the knowledge because the spiritual knowledge is extremely subtle. “Athma” is the consciousness principle.      

Consciousness alone is elaborated in the Upanishads. The five features of consciousness are as under:

1.    Consciousness is not a part or product or the property of the body (inert). Moonlight is not a part of the moon. Moonlight is not the attribute of the moon.

2.    Consciousness is an independent principle, which pervades and enlivens the body. Sun pervades the moon and makes it bright. So also, consciousness pervades the 11 anathmas and enlivens the 11 anathmas. 

3.    Consciousness is not limited by the boundaries of the body and extends beyond the boundaries, which is all pervading (just as sunlight pervades the entire sky) but invisible like space.

4.    Consciousness will continue to exist even if the body or matter disintegrates. It is eternal. It is an independent principle and survives the death of the body.

Consciousness, which is surviving, is not accessible to us. After the disintegration of the body, the surviving consciousness is not experienced by us. It requires a medium for its experience. (Not for existence). This consciousness principle is called “Athma”. Another name of athma is ‘SAT’ (Sathu). Whatever exists in all the three periods of time without undergoing any change. Any material will constantly change. Its appearance and disappearance. Birth and death. Consciousness principle is changelessly permanent.

The important purpose of meditation is refinement of mind before the spiritual education program. Meditation in spiritual context is preparatory meditation. It is of many types like fitness exercises, which are countless. The four types of preparatory meditation are in the form of relaxation meditation (train the mind to relax), Concentration meditation (train the mind to focus), Expansion meditation (train the mind to expand) and Value meditation (train the mind to value life).

Preparatory meditation should precede spiritual education program. First do Upasanam (learning/ listening to the teaching, preparation), then Shravanam (Learning from teaching) followed by Mananam (Clearing the doubts you have after learning from teaching). Another type of meditation is after spiritual education program. Eaten food will not nourish. Only assimilated food will nourish. So also assimilated teaching will only nourish. Allocate some time after teaching. Teaching is about my higher nature. I have to learn to invoke my higher nature. I am the nature of consciousness. Body will go away/ perish but ‘I’ the consciousness principle is always present. Life is to be seen as playing a series of different roles like a cosmic drama. I should play the role but I should remember the role about the internalizing process, which is the second form of meditation. In Vedanta sastra, it is called Nidhithyasanam (Spiritual education program/ vedantic meditation). You do Nidhithyasanam after study (Practice what you have learnt after clearing your doubts). Study is sandwiched between Upasana dhyanam and Nidhithyasanam. In the sixth chapter of Gita Lord Krishna is focusing on Nidhithyasana Dhyanam, which is assimilatory teaching. Krishna teaches Arjuna in the Second chapter Viz. verse 11 to 25.  He talks about the nature of “Athma” and gives the description of “Athma”.  Krishna talks about Athma Dhyanam in a structured manner in the sixth chapter of Gita.

In the Sixth chapter of Gita, Krishna divides Nidhithyasanam into Five topics.

First Topic is on the general preparation to be undertaken by a vedantic student for successful Nidhithyasanam. We have to take care of our Lifestyle throughout the day. Bring a change in lifestyle by following meditation friendly lifestyle as told by Krishna. It is bhagiranga sadanam. We have to follow food discipline. Exercise has to be followed.

Second topic is about Antharanga sadana. It is about the specific preparation to be taken care of during the meditation. Viz. place of meditation, time of meditation, seat and posture to be taken during the meditation and so on.

Third topic is about the process or procedure of meditation. What should I do or what should I think? Emptying the mind is a misconception for meditation.

Fourth topic: What are the obstacles that will come when a person attempting to do meditation and remedies to get over the same.

Fifth topic: What are the benefits of practicing meditation? Atma dhyanam or Dhyana palam is discussed here. What benefits that a person can get by doing meditation.

I hope you will read the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad Gita and get to know the benefits of doing meditation. Enjoy reading …

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com