Hari
OM
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation.
Meditation & Life, with Sw. Chinmayanda (Gurudev).
We are now exploring the writings of Gurudev on our focus subject of
Meditation. The book is a thorough treatment of the subject and extends to over
170 pages of closely printed text. No attempt is intended, here, to present the
text in its entirety. However, important paragraphs and quotes will
be given, within a summary of each section. You
are encouraged to use the links on sidebar to obtain a copy for yourselves from
CM publications (or from Amazon).
1;
Self-Mastery
The
Cure for Mental Anguish.
In
clear and unequivocal terms, Gurudev set out the causative factors which
generally prevent mankind from enjoying a degree of happiness which
remains steady. Now he turns his focus to what there is
available to us to overcome such gloom and doom. It can be no surprise the
'answers' lie in the historic texts which we refer to as scripture. Why are
such texts held sacred? For the straightforward reason that the truths are self
apparent, the exercises are readily practiced and the results are proven
throughout generations. Through all the scriptures of the world there is a
common thread of knowledge, technique and promise of relief. In none of these
texts do the 'Gurus' despair even of the worst personality. Regardless of the
Master and whatever the original native language, the message comes through
that "Any individual who has mastered
himself is a master of the external world."
It
is our own inefficiency in applying the proven tactics, our tendency to always
fall to the easier path and thus becoming enslaved by our passions which is our
downfall. In current times, there is much societal pressure to live externally
and in contradiction to our inner nature.
To
train ourselves to live life more simply, more introvertedly, with
self-discipline and balance is the purpose of 'religion'. The noble values of
life (which are universal) constitute philosophy. "The message of self-mastery is one and the same in all the scriptures
of the world, though each may teach a different technique of
self-development. If these techniques
are mastered, to whatever degree possible by each of us, then we could truly
enjoy the godly blessing of the scientific age in which we live. Materialism is certainly acceptable and can
be a blessing to us. The comforts of
this age, a life made easier by machines, profits gained by harnessing natural
forces - all are ours by heritage. To
decry them is to insult the intelligence of humanity. However, when technology
becomes our master and persecutes us, we must protest…" We stand at
risk of allowing technology to drive us, rather than being in full control of
technology. Many of us are coming to appreciate this and seek to turn the
tables, but without a firm structure to guide us, this can be as hazardous as
staying put. Many a misguided soul has 'taken to the hills' in anticipation of
peace and quiet, only to find that they have not been prepared for the lack of
the things being left or - worst still - of having to face being with
themselves. All the great texts in their
suggestions for self-mastery and the art of right living do not ask us to
escape life, but to maintain an intelligent way of living according to
circumstance and to use what is external to us for our internal betterment.
"In every walk of life and at all moments, we must
make use of the ever-changing patter of challenges and, while consciously
meeting them, train ourselves to become stronger individuals with greater
mastery over ourselves and, subsequently, the outer world… The instrument with
which we live our experiences is not, as we think, the body. When we observe an individual, we see that
the experiencer in him is not his body, but is in all instances his mental
makeup and intellectual peculiarities.
No doubt, his mind and intellect do come into contact with situations
through the instrument of the body**. Thus in a given situation, the experience
we gain is as much related to our body as a pair of glasses is related to the
eyes. What the eyes see will be coloured
by the hue of the glasses; but the efficiency of vision depends entirely upon
the sight mechanism within the eye. A blind person will see nothing through
wearing glasses...therefore, the condition of the eyes is the primary factor in
determining the clarity of vision...similarly, though our experience is
[received via] the body, the experiencer is our mind-intellect equipment...the
imperfections of our [interface with the world] can be fundamentally improved
if the mind-intellect are disciplined to behave better in all circumstances…"
It is for this purpose alone that all the techniques of self-mastery are given;
the disciplining of our psychological and intellectual selves.
In
some cases, the methodologies within various philosophies have been mysticised
and make, perhaps, exaggerated claims or imply much superstition. Indeed, such
confusion and misappropriation of spiritual philosophy has taken place that
very often the various established religions do not directly address the people
they seek to guide. The many who feel the call of religion at the philosophical
level may find themselves thwarted as very few are able or willing to teach
such supplicants, or the individual themselves lacks sufficient intellectual
training to take up the subtler points.
With a conscious effort though, by adhering to the step-wise guidance
absolutely anyone can raise themselves to a better understanding of his or her
own religion. Now Gurudev thunders forth his promise; "I am addressing the followers of all
religions who may have fallen from their own faith or who still cling to it but
find no succour there. I will place before them the logic as well as the
methods of meditation. Whoever assimilates the logic and begins his spiritual
practice (saadhana), shall come to recognise the sanctity of all life and the
true meaning of the religion of his birth. This is the first benefit - and
there are a number of them - all finding their consummation in the glorious
realisation of the Divine."
**Note
that mind and intellect are here and throughout this text differentiated thus;
mind is the aspect of thought characterized by doubt, emotion and agitation;
intellect is the aspect of thought which judges, decides and discriminates.
