Hari
Om
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation
Meditation
has become something of a 'buzzword' these days, particularly in the West. It
has been 'discovered' as a means to stress reduction, a mental balancer and
well-being enhancer. Which is, of course, true. However, for it to actually be true, it is necessary to understand it.
Whilst going along to the local sports hall or library for an hour in peaceful
surroundings, with or without music, almost certainly with a 'facilitator', is
definitely a good start… that is not meditation as such! It is merely a setting
of example, a preparation. What needs to happen is that one then practices this
thing every day in order to ensure the peacefulness felt in that source room is
carried with us.
What
also is required is the learning of what it is exactly. Meditation is not the
destressing; that is but a side benefit. Meditation is an at one-ness with
Spirit. Not our ego-spirit, but the Universal Consciousness, the energy which
drives all creation. To gain that at one-ness, we have to work really hard on
our personalities, our habits... our egos.
Sitting
in peaceful contemplation, with the mind at rest - but not sleeping! - is a great benefit to many people and is not
to be disparaged for that much. However, if the 'facilitator' is worth their
spiritual salt, they will seek to educate and raise the individuals in their
group beyond mere peacefulness. There is something to be had which is so far
beyond peacefulness, words fail in its description. This is the true goal of
contemplation; to rise to full meditation. When following jnaana-marg (path of
knowledge) we must also take on the teachings of the masters. If we, the students,
are worth our spiritual salt, we will
question, bring forth our doubts, debate and relate with our Guru so that can
clear away the chaff of life and ego and leave space to work on the truly great
teachings. These are found in the form of mahaa-vaakyas (great sayings) of which there are quite a number, but
there are four key vaakyas.
When
we set out on any journey, we are likely to have made preparations for the
trip, but also have a good idea of where we are headed. Without that
destination in mind, we can go so easily side to side and lose all sense of
worth or value in life. We also will be looking out for way-markers; a lookout
point, a place of refreshment and so on.
This
'trip to meditation' has the Great Four Statements.
- Consciousness Alone Is
- That (Consciousness) You Are
- Consciousness and mySelf Are One and the Same
- I Am Brahma
There
is a lot of preparation a student must do before truly taking on the
contemplation of these statements; that does not preclude us from viewing them
and beginning to churn within as to the possibilities contained within them. We
shall take a longer look at them from next week.
