Hari
Om
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation
SOLITUDE. Does
it serve a purpose for the meditator? Does it have to mean 'lonely'? We are
going to explore the writings of a number of notable contemplatives of various
backgrounds and explore the role of solitude in spiritual pursuit. These are
from a collection published by Chinmaya Publications.
Swami Sivananda was the first Guru of Swami Chinmayananda (Gurudev);
he was the founder of the Divine Life Society. Here are excerpts from his essay
on "Calming The Mind".
Many great masters Realised the Self by doing spiritual saadhana
(practice) while remaining in the world. This is plausible, but not feasible
for the vast majority. Easier said than done, as it were. Lord Jesus was
missing eighteen years; Prince Guatama (the Buddha) went into seclusion for
eight years; Sri Rama Tirtha was a recluse for two years… many had taken up
seclusion during their saadhana. You can make a beginning in the world, but
when you have made some progress, you must shift yourself to a suitable place
where you will find spiritual vibrations and solitude in order to complete the
task.
Willpower can become weak for many people, as they have no religious
discipline or training under appropriate guidance. This is why, quite often,
when making a change to more spiritual living, it is necessary to find those
quite, separated places; to remove the distractions of the world.
Calm the bubbling emotions, sentiments, instincts and impulses
through silent meditation. You can give a new orientation to your feelings by
gradual and systematic practice. Those who have attended to family matters, who
have retired from service, and who have no ties or attachment in the world, can
remain in seclusion for several years practicing meditation and tapas
(austerity) for purification and Self Realisation; when the tapas is over, they
ought to return to the world and share their knowledge with others.
A householder still engaged in matters of the world but with yogic
tendencies and spiritual inclinations can practice meditation in a solitary and
quiet room in their own home, with special attention to holidays and pujas. If
you are a householder who wishes to undertake saadhana, you cannot all of a
sudden sever your connection with your family. It sill haunt you in your
solitude. Break the ties gradually. Build the family's understanding of your
need for solitude one day at a time; let them know it is not lack of love for
them, but for the Greater Love that you do this.
If you are such an aspirant, you need to be free of hopes, desires
and greed. Keep the mind steady. Seek to reduce your possessions and balance
your relationship with those which remain… these ought to be the bare
necessities for keeping the body well and there ought to be no attachment to
them. Those who want quick progress in meditation during seclusion ought not to
engage with the world by any form of communication. This aspirant must reduce
the wants and attractions of the world; there must be discrimination and
dispassion, a true desire for liberation form the bindings of this life. There
must be a level of serenity, gained by seeing and rooting out the vaasanas of
the personality. There must also be fearlessness - a most important
qualification. Self Realisation is not for the faint of heart or timid of mind.
Withdrawing all the senses from the external and focusing on the
internal, a disciplined yogi now can enter the cave of his being. Make the mind
single-pointed. It will require patience and perseverance. Regularity of
practice is paramount. You should know the ways and habits of the mind.
Introspect. Self-analyse. Self-examine.
You will be astonished how, no matter how far you think you have
come, the mind now will seek to return to old habits and tricks! The more you
attempt to still them, the more they will bubble up with redoubled force. Do
not be discouraged! Never despair. Keep on keeping on with the saadhana.
Meditation upon the Immortal Self will act like dynamite upon all thoughts and
memories.
How can sense-control be tested in the forest or upon a mountain
side where there are no challenges or temptations? The yogic student must learn
to test themselves after growing sufficiently by entering the world again and
putting all the theory into practice.
May you al attain success in yhoga and enter into blissful union
with the Lord, through this disciplined self-control and constant meditation.
