Meditation - 8

Why am I unable to meditate?

Mother answers:

Because you have not learnt it. A sudden fancy seizes you and you say, 'Now I will sit down and meditate.' But to sit down cross-legged, cross-armed, eyes closed is not doing meditation. You have to learn how to meditate, even as you learn to do mathematics or play on the piano. There are regular courses of meditation given by all teachers in all ages and countries. There are so many rules and regulations. There are all kinds of instructions, such as, to keep the mind quiet, to be silent and not to think, to gather all your thoughts and concentrate them, etc. You have been taught how to sit, stand, walk, eat. You do not remember the method and the discipline, because you did that when you were very young. In the same way if you were taught how to mediate in your childhood, you would not find it difficult to do today. Unfortunately you were not taught. You are not taught things of that kind. You are not taught even how to sleep. You think that to go to bed and lie down anyway is the way to sleep. Not at all. You are to learn to sleep exactly in the same way as you learn how to walk or eat. You do not learn so many things, you are not taught. As you grow in years, slowly, laboriously through unpleasant experiences, through suffering and blundering, in the end you come to know of certain fundamental things. And when you are old, and your hairs are gray, you see you are beginning to learn something, when, that is to say, it is too late. Instead of that, if your parents, the people who looked after you took the trouble of teaching you what you have to do, to do it well, to act well, to think well, to feel well, in the correct manner - then you could avoid all the blunders you have been making all your life. You are surprised when you fall ill, when you feel tired and exhausted. For you know nothing. It requires years to learn something, to learn even the most elementary things such as to be clean.

To live as one should, in the right way, is a very difficult art. It requires study, it requires practice. Try simply to keep the body healthy, the mind quiet, and the heart full of good will - these are some of the indispensable elements for the basis of decent living, you will see the thing is not easy.

Meditations -7

Chakra Meditation:

Chakras means "wheel" and represent the major nerve plexi which branch off the spinal cord to serve the major organs of the body. Chakras represent a different level of energy manifestation and consciousness development.  Anusandhana means "discovery or search of the chakras". It is a simple way for beginners to explore the chakras self -tutored. It helps in awakening them gently, and in a balanced integrated way.

 

How To:

It can be done sitting, or lying. Close your eyes, adjust your body, clothing. Let the breath relax, slow and deepen, but do not control it. After a few minutes of settling in, commence Ujjayi pranayam, and carry on for some time Now bring awareness to the spinal passage, such that awareness of breath is from bottom to top, Spend a few minutes establishing this inner breath pattern up and down. Ascending with inhalation, descending with exhalation.

Begin to locate chakras within that channel. Need not pin point the exact location, just focus on general area.

Try to feel the location of each station and mentally repeat its name as you pass by it. On your way up mentally repeat from Mooldhara to Ajna, and way down reverse the order. Just before finishing let go of breath sound, then names. And chant mantra' 'Om' 3 times.

 

Precautions:

Awakening of Chakra can have its side effects. Excessive mental energy can be a problem with those who do not have abundant physical activity. Never meditate on one Chakra without qualified guidance. It can lead to an imbalance and cause personality problems.

Meditation -6

Steady gaze (Trataka):

Trataka (to stare steadily) has been followed by most spiritual systems. In Trataka, a steady gaze is performed on a point. While, it strictly comes under the category of a yoga cleansing technique, effective trataka practice takes one to the shores of meditation. Trataka means steady gazing. It is a very simple and beautiful Meditation Technique.

Method:

In this a ordinary candle is used, however any other object of choice can be used. The candle is set up at an arm's distance, height with eyes, and steady gazing is first done with the eyes open. After a moment or two, the eyes are closed, and the after picture of the flame is 'gazed at' with eyes closed at the eye brow center. Try not to move through out the practice. Relax your breath, let it extend, deepen. This open gazing of the flame and then with the eyes closed is alternated a couple of times before concluding the practice. If using a candle for Trataka, the gaze should be fixed at the wick tip and not on the flame.

Benefits:

It improves the optic function, both external and internal, such as poor eyesight and visualization abilities. It helps develop concentration and mental resolve. Develops the ability to maintain one-pointedness in amongst the noise and distractions of daily life. Develops the psychic eye that is the ability to "see" or understand what is inside and beyond the obvious. It develops the power of Intuition.