Meditation
From the Bhakti List Archives
• August 25, 1998
"During meditation, my mind wanders" is the universal complaint for which many seek remedies.. We are all aware of the fact that when we are engrossed in an item of work in which we are deeply interested, the mind stays focused. Doing Gayatri Japa is also a work for the mind. If the repetitive nature of the work does not keep the mind interested, it reverts to its true nature -- wandering. Those who are successful in Japa are those whose minds are totally committed to the Japa. This happens when one receives initiation from a revered Guru and stays focused because that is what the Guru had instructed the Sishya to do. To most of us who do not have this Bhagyam of unquestioning obedience to a Guru, the scriptures generally prescribe control of breath as an aid to meditation. Like the pilot of an airplane who can switch to auto-pilot and engage in other activities, our minds entrust the work of breathing to the autonomous system and starts wandering in a maze of thoughts. Since breathing is the single most essential activity for life, a deliberate process of steady controlled breathing, including holding of breath for a few seconds at the end of each inhalation and exhalation, forces the mind to concentrate totally on this activity to the exclusion of all other thought-manufacturing processes. Ramana Maharishi refers to this procedure as "Praana bandhanaath, leena maanasam" and proceeds to state that like the bird captured in a net which flies away when the net is opened, the mind controlled in this manner again becomes restive when the controlled breathing process is ended. But to us who desire to be initiated into the first stages of meditation-exercise, this is a very useful tool. Later, one could start following the Bhakti-marga, reduce desire for possessions and pleasures over a period of time, increase the periods of meditation and try to achieve a fair amount of mind-ego-control. A realization that the complete process takes many birhs to complete and accepting this truth in all humility will curb the power of the ego to achieve realization in this birth and for itself, as if it is another possession to be had by the ego! As every saint has pointed out, however, the ego has to vacate first for realization to happen. The Mukthi that we seek is the release from the hold of this magician, the ego, who constantly weaves enchanting patterns in our minds leaving no space for God's magic to work. The choice between the two, unfortunately, is ours to make and it seems to be a very difficult one to make, as we all realize very late in our lives. Adiyen Dasan MK Krishnaswamy surfing@pacbell.net
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