Dhyana or Meditation is an important component of Ashtanga Yogas—the eightkinds of yogas that lead to spiritual elevation and salvation. Man's mind is compared to the silly and mischievous activities of a monkey! It can never keep quiet. Numerous thoughts crisscross in the mind disturbing its stability. What is Yoga? Sage Patanjali, the author of Yoga Sastra defines Yoga as “ Yogas chitta vrutti nirodhaha” The object of Yoga is to arrest the activities of the mind. It is through Dhyana or Meditation alone that the unsteady and vacillating mind can be controlled. But to sit in Dhyana is not an easy task. It requires proper initiation from a qualified Preceptor or Guru. “ In order to calm the mind and keep it on an even keel, Dhyana is prescribed as a Sadhana. Dhyana is the process by which the positive and negative aspects of the mind are regulated out of existence.” Says Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Saibaba. (SSS VolX) It is very difficult to gather and concentrate the mind which runs after mundane things in diverse directions. It is as difficult as gathering the mustard seeds that escape out of a torn package and are scattered in all directions. Dhyana has been practiced by innumerable sages and seers from time immemorial.
What is Dhyana? It is not mere sitting erect and silent. It doesn’t mean that you are without any movement. It consists of merging all your thoughts and feelings in God. Dhyana cannot be successful till the mind is merged or dissolved in God! There should be no other extraneous thought or feeling except God. In the Bhagavadgita , Lord Krishna says that He shall take over the burden and responsibility of the person who adores Him without any other thought or feeling. “ Ananyaschintayanto mam ye janah paryupasathe tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga kshemam vahamyaham.” People capable of such Dhyana are very rare. Interruption to Dhyana are the worries and anxieties relating to family, property and riches. Some, during Meditation strike at the mosquitoes that pester them. It is wrong. One should lose himself in Dhyana until he rises above all mental urges and impulses. Meditation should be done with purified mind. It is not as if you can do it in your spare time. Cultivate fine virtues and concentrate on good thoughts. Peace of mind can be yours if you avoid needless desires, envy, hatred, anger and lust. “Real meditation is getting absorbed in God as the only thought, the only goal. God only, only God. Always God breathe God love God, live God.” Remarks Swami in His Divine discourse. (SSS Vol V) If you are conscious of meditation, your meditation is off the track! You should lose yourself or merge in God and forget everything. It is in this process that the mind stops naturally.
According to Sri RamaKrishna “The easiest way of concentrating the mind is to fix it on the flame of the candle. The in most blue portion corresponds to the causal body or the 'Karana sareera.’ Power of concentration is obtained through this process. The bright portion around the blue flame is said to represent 'Sukshma sareera’ or the subtle body. Outside of that signifies the gross body or 'Sthula sareera'. When in meditation the mind should concentrate on the object of meditation and on nothing else. That is what the ordinary man is unable to do! When can you say that there is perfect meditation? It is when nothing else is heard or seen! All feelings disappear. One doesn’t feel the creeping snake on his body!! He becomes unconscious of everything outside like the birds building nests in his hair!! We hear of such tremendous tapas and meditation by our ancient sages and seers who had the bliss of the vision of God! In deep meditation the senses are inhibited and the function of mind is arrested as if the door is closed. The objects of the senses stay outside unseen! This is because the mind should remain absolutely calm for union with God! In great Yogis, sages and seers the mind is under their control while the ordinary mortal is under the control of mind!
Man's inherent Divinity is perfected by Dhyana or Meditation. It should not be overdone or done casually or carelessly. Can anyone train another in meditation? It is possible to teach a person the posture, the pose, the position of legs, feet or hands, neck, head or back, the style of breathing or it’s speed. But meditation is the function of the inner man. As Bhagwan Sri Sri Satya Saibaba remarks it “Motivates deep subjective quiet, the employing of the mind and filling oneself with the light that emerges from the Divine spark within. This is a discipline that no textbook can teach and no class can communicate. (SSS Vol VII A) Time is an important part of Dhyana. It can be on any form one likes during the time interval called “Brahma Muhurtha” which is from 3am to 6am. “Padmasana” is prescribed for performing Dhyana. Sitting on the bare ground must be avoided. Sit either on a wooden plank or on a mat. Spread a piece of clothing over it. The reason is that you shouldn’t be disturbed by the power of conduction of the earth.
It may not be possible to perform Dhyana in one and the same place. Care must be taken to see that there is no change in the time for meditation. “ What you have to give to God is Prema. It must be Prema coming from within your heart. It must be at the appropriate time. So, if you give heartfelt Prema at the appropriate time then God will certainly receive it and God will shower on you all happiness”, remarks Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. Let us follow the footsteps of our ancient sages and seers and perform Dhyana under ideal surroundings with imperturbable faith in God and derive indescribable bliss!
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What is Dhyana? It is not mere sitting erect and silent. It doesn’t mean that you are without any movement. It consists of merging all your thoughts and feelings in God. Dhyana cannot be successful till the mind is merged or dissolved in God! There should be no other extraneous thought or feeling except God. In the Bhagavadgita , Lord Krishna says that He shall take over the burden and responsibility of the person who adores Him without any other thought or feeling. “ Ananyaschintayanto mam ye janah paryupasathe tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga kshemam vahamyaham.” People capable of such Dhyana are very rare. Interruption to Dhyana are the worries and anxieties relating to family, property and riches. Some, during Meditation strike at the mosquitoes that pester them. It is wrong. One should lose himself in Dhyana until he rises above all mental urges and impulses. Meditation should be done with purified mind. It is not as if you can do it in your spare time. Cultivate fine virtues and concentrate on good thoughts. Peace of mind can be yours if you avoid needless desires, envy, hatred, anger and lust. “Real meditation is getting absorbed in God as the only thought, the only goal. God only, only God. Always God breathe God love God, live God.” Remarks Swami in His Divine discourse. (SSS Vol V) If you are conscious of meditation, your meditation is off the track! You should lose yourself or merge in God and forget everything. It is in this process that the mind stops naturally.
According to Sri RamaKrishna “The easiest way of concentrating the mind is to fix it on the flame of the candle. The in most blue portion corresponds to the causal body or the 'Karana sareera.’ Power of concentration is obtained through this process. The bright portion around the blue flame is said to represent 'Sukshma sareera’ or the subtle body. Outside of that signifies the gross body or 'Sthula sareera'. When in meditation the mind should concentrate on the object of meditation and on nothing else. That is what the ordinary man is unable to do! When can you say that there is perfect meditation? It is when nothing else is heard or seen! All feelings disappear. One doesn’t feel the creeping snake on his body!! He becomes unconscious of everything outside like the birds building nests in his hair!! We hear of such tremendous tapas and meditation by our ancient sages and seers who had the bliss of the vision of God! In deep meditation the senses are inhibited and the function of mind is arrested as if the door is closed. The objects of the senses stay outside unseen! This is because the mind should remain absolutely calm for union with God! In great Yogis, sages and seers the mind is under their control while the ordinary mortal is under the control of mind!
Man's inherent Divinity is perfected by Dhyana or Meditation. It should not be overdone or done casually or carelessly. Can anyone train another in meditation? It is possible to teach a person the posture, the pose, the position of legs, feet or hands, neck, head or back, the style of breathing or it’s speed. But meditation is the function of the inner man. As Bhagwan Sri Sri Satya Saibaba remarks it “Motivates deep subjective quiet, the employing of the mind and filling oneself with the light that emerges from the Divine spark within. This is a discipline that no textbook can teach and no class can communicate. (SSS Vol VII A) Time is an important part of Dhyana. It can be on any form one likes during the time interval called “Brahma Muhurtha” which is from 3am to 6am. “Padmasana” is prescribed for performing Dhyana. Sitting on the bare ground must be avoided. Sit either on a wooden plank or on a mat. Spread a piece of clothing over it. The reason is that you shouldn’t be disturbed by the power of conduction of the earth.
It may not be possible to perform Dhyana in one and the same place. Care must be taken to see that there is no change in the time for meditation. “ What you have to give to God is Prema. It must be Prema coming from within your heart. It must be at the appropriate time. So, if you give heartfelt Prema at the appropriate time then God will certainly receive it and God will shower on you all happiness”, remarks Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. Let us follow the footsteps of our ancient sages and seers and perform Dhyana under ideal surroundings with imperturbable faith in God and derive indescribable bliss!
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