Hari
OM
Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!
VEDANTA IN ACTION.
This is the title of a publication from CM which,
whilst it of course has items by Gurudev, also includes selections of writing
from other well-esteemed Gurus from the Vedantic tradition as well as leading
businessmen. Its focus is the working life. We shall be exploring these essays
for the next few weeks on Workings-day as, clearly, they pertain directly to
the premise of this section of AVBlog! As ever, you are encouraged to read back over previous
posts, to ensure full benefit.
3: Actionless Action.
Meditation in Action (Swami Ajaya)
The World as Teacher
In
stead of thinking of involvement in the world as an interruption to your
peacefulness, you can see these activities as opportunities to learn how to
meditate in all sorts of different contexts. Without being in the world and in
the midst of activity, that opportunity would be lost.
You
can go through life so that nothing affects you, but it is also possible to
enjoy the various aspects of life while maintaining a centred self. When you
remember this centre continuously you will not become attached, dependent, or
swayed by the world. You can experience the joys of the moment without
clinging. This is the path of meditation in action.
There
is a branch of yoga called tantra. Most people think that tantra yoga involves
mystical rituals, or has to do with male/female relations. However, tantra is
to be understood as an attitude toward all life. In this practice, instead of
withdrawing from the world, one uses the activities of the world as a means of
centring the mind and expanding consciousness. Here we work with those things
that ordinarily distract us. Instead of avoiding experiences for fear of their
effects upon us, the student chooses to become involved in it and learns to
develop objectivity in the context of that situation. From this perspective one
ought to be able to maintain a meditative attitude amidst the madding crowd.
A
Daily Exercise
As
we understand the process of meditation in action, we realise that it is a
process of self-study. We become our own best observer. There are many useful
methods which can assist the process. These often involve some kind of
discipline by which we can evaluate ourselves more objectively. Keeping a
spiritual journal is useful. Another technique is called introspection
(sometimes retrospection), whereby we review each day at the end of it and our
part within it, paying attention in particular to those things which caused us
disturbance and which were the calmest moments and fully assessing our state of
mind in those times, which we may not have managed whilst actually in the
'play'.
Simply
begin to remember the last experience you had that day. Without becoming
absorbed, let the event pass through your consciousness. Notice the quality of
the experience… anxious?.. relaxed?.. angry?.. peaceful?.. Make notes. Then move
back to the experience before that, continuing in this way back through your
day. Remain at all times as a neutral observer, as watching television. Do not
get caught up in subsequent emotions or criticisms and judgements, but simply
make notes of the experiences.
This
does not have to be a long process… indeed if long, you are overthinking it!
Think in terms of not more than 15 minutes for the exercise. Do this daily.
It
is not necessary to be judgmental for this exercise to be effective. By being
an observer, you will naturally start to correct; it will become easier to
observe within experiences. The centre will begin to be the focus, and
objectivity and peace will begin to become the normal. You may find yourself
pausing as you discover yourself using old habits in response to a situation
and be able to correct right there and then for a more positive outcome.
A
similar exercise may also be practiced at the beginning of each day. In this
case you can spend a few minutes after waking (and after any routine such as
ablutions and prayers), to objectively visualise the experiences you are likely
to meet in the day ahead. If you anticipate going shopping, what quality will
the event have? Will you be preoccupied? Will you enjoy the visit?.. Simply let each anticipated
happening pass across your consciousness before you step out to embrace the
day. In this manner, you can centre your objectivity and regardless of what
actually occurs, you will be more prepared to deal with the day. Positive
affirmations arose from this technique.
Thus,
a few of the very many aspects and techniques of meditation in action have been
shared here. If you are to experience their value, they must be used daily in
your life. As with physical exercise, it is the systematic application which
yields rewards. All too often we read books, or go to lectures about higher
states of consciousness or spirituality, to be inspired, informed or
entertained. We accumulate knowledge-bytes aplenty, but barely use any of it to
our advantage.
The
important thing to note is that, as with anything, meditation in action
requires patient and persistent practice. If you practice one method
consistently, you will find more benefit than learning a hundred techniques and
practicing each only once or twice. It is the human habit, particularly in this
century, to expect instant results and if they do not appear we move on to the
next 'great thing'. Find a method with which you feel comfortable in its
execution and, no matter how long it takes, follow it. All the way.
