Meditation 1

The basic purposes of meditation are contemplation, connecting with the inner world and diminishing the influence of the noises and disturbances of the outside world. However more often than not it is considered as a fad, a new trend for “spirituality seekers” whatever that may be. Nevertheless, getting addicted to meditation is certainly better than getting addicted to drugs, nicotine or alcohol and if a generation spends some time and money in search of that elusive peace, what is the harm? Peace is a fundamental need for every living being on this earth and there are very few who would not opt for this at any cost. Most of the fellows who are addicted to hemp or cocaine or alcohol do so because they can blissfully forget the “existence” which is so full of problems and miseries. However the effect of such recourse is very temporary and the impact is most damaging. Meditation, on the other hand can bring you closer to the ineffable bliss of the divine reality, at best, called Sat Chit Ananda (Reality, Consciousness and Bliss), or at worst, can provide you peace for about an hour or so without any negative impact.

As per Bhagavat Gita, meditation is just one way to realize the truth, but it is an extremely powerful tool to control the mind. In the 6th Chapter of Gita called Dhyana Yoga, the lord Krishna explains to Arjuna the way to meditate in the most detail and scientific manner, starting from how one should sit and concentrate the mind to what kind of person will be able to meditate best. He ends the narrative with a small but extremely important advice–

Jatah jatah nishcharati manah chanchalam asthiram
Tatah tatah niyamya etad atmani eva bashanm nayet

which can be interpreted as - whenever the fickle and restless mind goes here and there, try to control it and bring it back to its place of dwelling, the Atman or the Self or the God, just as a parent would bring its errant child back by restraining her from running around.

When Arjuna, just like many of us, doubts whether mind can be controlled at all –

Chanchalam hi manah Krishna pramathi balavaddridham
Tassya nigraham aham manye bayoh iva sudushkaram

--- O Krishna, the mind is so restless, it’s so powerful, to control it, according to me, is as difficult as controlling the mighty wind.

The Lord provides an assurance – yes, certainly mind is powerful; however it is possible to control it.

Asamshayam mahabaho manah durnigraham chalam
Abhyasena tu Kaunteya vairagyena cha grihyate

Mind, though powerful, can definitely be controlled (I have done it, so have others, you can do it too! That’s the implicit message). That can be done through practice and dispassion.

Mark the words – practice and dispassion. We know that nothing can be achieved without practice which is comprised of sadhana, intense and dedicated work, perhaps sacrifices as well. So practice is an essential part, but the other equally important part is dispassion or Vairagya. Unless one is able to get a sense of detachment from all material things, unless one is able to renounce mentally, it is not possible to achieve much success through meditation. The mind will remain as restless as ever, however hard one tries.