Hari
Om
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation.
The text being referenced for the next few weeks is "The Art Of Contemplation". Obtaining the booklet for yourself would be a good move. Use it as
your prompt, your guide - even as a note book; don't fear to scribble points
for yourself within the pages! The exercises might be looked at separately; but
there is a 'step-ways' progression, so best to begin at the beginning!
EXERCISE
3
There
is a simple law of physics; no two things can be in the same place at the same
time. In the booklet (if you choose to obtain it), you will note that it is
mooted that in the mind this law is negated as it seems, when in mantra or
japa, other thoughts can come tumbling on top… but this is actually incorrect.
When in mantra or japa, what happens is the habitual, familiar thoughts fight
their way in and knock away the focus thoughts. The thinking process happenings
at lightening speed, so it only seems as
if the two different thoughts are co-existing. What does happen, however, is
that one appears to be thinking the
mantra and working out what to eat later at one and the same time. Truth is the
mantra is only getting a say on every fourth or fifth thought! To keep this
crazy appearance of sitting in mantra, the mundane thoughts take up the rhythm
of the chant.
"Om
shrii guru egg-for-tea - namaH… "!!!
The
mind is powerful. It has many avenues and is the ultimate multitasker. It needs
to become fully employed, not just having a few of its channels occupied on the
mantra. If you are organising a group of children in a sports match, inevitably
there will be one or two who do not pay attention, going off on their own
little 'trips'; to ensure full participation in the event, you may need to blow
a whistle, call their names or other such thing. Mostly it will need to be loud
so the little charmers pay attention.
This
is exactly what is required with the straying channels of the mind. The focused
mantra channels must 'up the volume' - internally, remember, not by mouth.
Actually tell the mind to chant 'louder'. Another way to think of this is
turning the dimmer switch on the wall to maximum illumination. Indeed, raising
the volume internally has no limit - it can be so loud even the far side of the
universe will hear you. This cannot be
achieved by verbal chanting! This sort of mental control sounds simple, but is
actually quite difficult and requires constant and dedicated practice. Bringing
all the channels together as a team on the mantra chanting requires a strong
and respected 'coach' (intellect/will).
Don't
go to max volume directly. In fact, you probably can't do that, and certainly
not in a sustained manner. Begin by simply chanting as if talking to someone in
the same room. That's pretty much what you have been doing anyway, but now you
are doing it with awareness. You are listening to your mind as it chants and
thus moving into observer status. Thus you can see when stray thoughts are
coming along to try and distract. This is when you instruct the mind to chant
as if talking to someone in the next room, or out on the porch. It requires a
little more strength in the 'voice'. Again, those interfering thoughts try to
butt in. This now requires that we become loud enough for the neighbour across
the street to hear us… or perhaps across the other side of town… little by
little we raise the volume.
Loud
chanting sweeps away all other thoughts. Remember, where one thought is,
another cannot be. The beauty of this exercise is that it provides
entertainment value! Gurudev advocates that this method be practiced for one
month and what is likely to be found is that in daily life you are likely to
find that you grow more efficient due to the ability to be more focused on the
tasks at hand - a side effect!
Those
who have independently tried to practice even these first three exercises on a
daily and diligent basis, will find
side-benefits coming into daily life. Those who come along and read, take notes
and store the information without taking any action to implement the exercises
will not.
It
is a simple fact that the method of study employed for the material sciences
will not suffice in the philosophical science. Info-bytes may see us through
exams and help us research any field of study, indeed many can get by on theory
alone. This will not do for the spiritual student! Intellectually knowing All
Is One and the One Is All can be satisfying, but it will make little difference
to daily life unless we work to reconnecting fully with That One. This is the
point of contemplation.
Working
these first three exercises will have helped to crystalise the 'observer'
aspect of your beingness also. The more aware you become of that detached inner
self, the more functional you can become in daily life.
It
is worth noting, too, that vaasanas arise due to repetition of an activity in
such a manner that it becomes habit. One of the ways to sublate negative
vaasanas, mantra-chanting. This follows the 'two
things cannnot share a space' example. Humans are creatures of habit so use
that to your advantage. Chanting mantra louder and louder will help it to
become a positive vaasana. You are likely to find, as countless others have
before you, that the mind starts to want that mantra - more than the meal
planning. When the mind is not focused on a task, you may be surprised to find
that the mantra is waiting at the back to race in and be chanted, so that the
mind is not idle and liable to drift off sideways.
(Note
that the term 'sublate' was used. Negative, worldly vaasanas are extremely
strong and the roots go deep… negation can be extremely difficult to achieve.
It is often a good ploy to acknowledge the habit then seek to 'put it to sleep'
with an even stronger vaasana. After some time (perhaps a lifetime), it may be
completely smothered and can be said to be negated. Till then, know it is like
a landmine!)
Building
a strong spiritual routine, even if it be but ten minutes of full focus per
day, does being to knock out the worldly and bring a sense of peace you may
once have thought unachievable.
