----- Original Message -----

From: Bigbobgraham@...

To: meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 12:08 PM

Subject: [Meditation Society of America] apperception? Sandeep

Hi Sandeep:

I will see if I understand you. 

Nothing needs to be considered as good or bad action because any action is taken simply as the result of the gestalt or deposit of actions that lead to it.

 

 

The Total Picture all ready IS.

 

Invite you to have a look at

 

http://www.the-covenant.net/pou39.htm

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Bigbobgraham@...

To: meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 12:08 PM

Subject: [Meditation Society of America] apperception? Sandeep

Hi Sandeep:

I will see if I understand you. 

Nothing needs to be considered as good or bad action because any action is taken simply as the result of the gestalt or deposit of actions that lead to it.  It is completely impersonal.  There is noone to do it, it just happens because of the Matrix so to speak.

The term Matrix has now taken a dramatic hue, thanks to the movie, but decades back, the holographic nature of movement was reached by fundamental Science.

 

I think it was in the 70s, that Bell came up with his theorem of Non-Locality.

 

If you are somewhat scientifically inclined, have a look at "Upanashids, Bell Theorem, Holographic Universe" at

 

http://www.the-covenant.net/rumb02.htm

 

and "The Holographic Universe" at

 

http://www.the-covenant.net/rumb07.htm 

 

 

Things happen as they happen in the moment,...........whether at the Univsersal/cosmic level,....global, national, communal, societal, individual, molecular, sub-ionic levels, ..............because the Universe is the way it is,........ in THAT moment.

 

Every cause is a Universal cause, every effect is a Universal effect.

 

"Pulla a blade of grass and shale the Universe."

 

There is no " independent individual self",......... doing anything.

 

Something, which can be easily investigated and seen.

 

Take any action, (which could be a thought, a choosing among thoughts, aka a decision, or a physical action),

 

.........about which you are conpletely and totally convinced was a result of Bobby's independent volition,.....

 

....and unravel it to ascertain just what independent volition got excercised in that event.

 

 

The conditioning in the moment.

To explain something is to live out your karma to explain.  To kill another is to live out the cultural deposit that led to the killing.  This takes ethics out of the realm of the "real".

 

Yes.

If I AM, .................is all there was,..............all there is,...............is all that there is to be,.......

 

..........then I have to be,......both the sinner and the saint, in simultaneous time, .........isn't it?

If I AM the Primordial cause and I am the phenomenal effect of that primordial cause,.......

 

.......then it can either be said, that all karmas are mine,...............or.................there is nothing like karmas.

 

While the popular connotation of the term "karma" is fate,.........it is actually means action.

 

If I got that much right, then I will try to go a little further.  There is apperception (of the moment to moment?) or there is not.  It does not affect the events as they unfold.  Do whatever you are moved to.

 

Indeed.

And this can be easily ascertained, as suggested above.

Events unfold, Motivation is moot

 

Yes, ........including the unfolding of an appearance, which is hell-bent motivated to search for the cure of AIDS virus, or the artist, which throws a dozen painted canvases away, searching for that "the" expressioning.

 

 

 

and apperception does not hinge upon it.

 

The term apperception, is just another term, as conceptual as any.

 

It connotes the perceiving WITHOUT a "perceiver" thereof.

I have added my phrases to see if I am on the right track with understanding you.

:-)

 

>
> >
> > At some point the concept can be seen as such, and meditation is not
> > hindered by it.
>
>
> Meditation which is "hinderable" or which is "enhanceable:,.............is a technique,.............not meditation.
>
> The state of meditation, is really the end of the concept of meditation,......and thus the end of the "meditator".
>
> It is thus not dependant on ideation, any ideation, any conceptualization, (Zennic or Buddhist or Advaitic or Bhakti)....is not dependant on.....time, ........surrounding environ, ........place, .........or eventings which are happening in the moment.

I think you are saying here that meditation is the "natural state".  With meditation there are no concepts or conceiver; just the state of meditation.

Yes.

 

And since naturalness is already the case, you cannot become what you already are.

 

Which does not preclude having fun with the particular techniques of meditation.

 

In playfulness, ............which then does not serve to enact the same old game, i.e. a "means" to some "end".

 

 

Actually that is what I was referring to in my remark.

E. said "1. The concept of escaping the chain of causation
> > > > > is a motivation for living an ethical life." 

And I responded that at some point the concept can be seen as such, perceived as a concept, and then meditation is not hindered by it.

I hope you will let me know if I am on the right track.

 

:-)

 

Try out the investigation and share what arose in that unravelling,.......

 

......if you are moved to, ofcourse<LOL>

 

 

 

 

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--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "tosime"
<tosime@b...> wrote:
> Journal Entry - tosime
> Date:  December 01 2003
> Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
> Time: 06:30 a.m.
> Duration: 30 minutes (open)
> Posture: Seated on chair
> Body: Eyes closed,
>  - Hands on knees
>  - Index finger touching thumb
> Room Condition: Darkened room
>  - One candle
>  - Incense
>  - Essential Oil - (Gardenia + water on burner)
> Pre-session:
>  - Full body stretch (3 times).
>  - Struck the bell 3 times before starting
> Mind Chatter: Low
> Waves of bliss: None
> Experience: Fair Session. Focused on preparation
>
> Result: Quiet relaxed session - not as satisfying as other
sessions.
>
> Saw preparation for meditation as a form of mediation. I need to
avoid
> making it too complicated since the real purpose is the inner
> preparation as my mind and body get ready for the session.
>
> Noticed how each meditation experience reflected my physical
state. If
> my physical state changed, the meditation experience would be
different.
> My physical state moved through distinct stages of relaxation.
Have a
> sense that the experiences at deeper stages of relaxation
are "purer"
> since they have much les influence from my physical state.
>
> Good insight from previous session helped today as dwelt less on
each
> passing thought.
>
> Question: What is the influence on meditation of keeping and
sharing a
> meditation journal?

What a good question! A long time ago, I kept journals and they did
do something and it was a good thing they did but I can't place
exactly what it was. Maybe, it is somehow related to the way the
athlete is said to improve what he does just by going over it in his
mind.

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, Sandeep
<sandeepc@b...> wrote:

>
>   http://www.the-covenant.net/rumb02.htm


Very nice Sandeep!  I enjoyed this very much.  And thank you for
taking the time to compile this.

About the simultaneity of two particles separated in space.  Isn't
this like telepathy?

In practicing ahimsa I started to take note of the ants underfoot.
After trying to avoid them for some time in my walking meditations I
found that I would occasionally look down for ants and there would be
one on his way to exactly where my foot was headed.

Soon I grew confident that I would never step on antother ant. I
communed with ants is one way to look at it.

I also imagined that Consciousness was one, and the presented thought
of "there is an ant down there" came into being in my mind in a
fashion some refer to as telepathy. Space and time of course are not
relevant here.  But physicists don't really like that way of saying
it.

Love
Bobby G.

Just the current programming in Andy.

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, Andy
<endofthedream@y...> wrote:
> --- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "Andy"
> <endofthedream@y...> wrote:
> > --- In
meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "carolina112900"
> > <freyjartist@a...> wrote:
> >

> > > Somehow the discussion seems a bit different
> > > than simply 'comparing notes' or sharing recipes,
> > > in that there seems to be some challenging going on.
> >
> >
> > *****Not on this end. All that happens here is a reaching out,
> > where such reaching is wished desired. Otherwise...silence.
> >
>
>
> When you say "all that happens here...." it sounds
> like "challenging" is somehow less desirable.
>
>
> To me, it is less desirable.
>
> In my lexicon, "challenge" includes an suggestion of confrontation,
something in which I find no pleasure.
>

......To me, 'challenge' mostly suggests 'stimulating situation'--
perhaps including an atmosphere where I might be asked
to explain, support, give evidence of or justify
something.


> There is a preference here for shared examination, exploration,
inquiry and not for notional debates.  Just as there is a disposition
here for tolerance (as opposed to intolerance).
>
> Just the current programming in Andy.
>
>


OK


>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard

----- Original Message -----

From: freyjartist@...

To: meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 09:50 AM

Subject: [Meditation Society of America] Re: Dealing with 'others'.......

wouldn't even call it 'accepting' them
the way they are, because there is nothing
to accept.    It is more about
the fact that it becomes so
obvious that every reaction of mine illicits
exactly the response that it solicits.

Exactly

And then (a term which unfortunately brings in the concept of "time", and thus shows the inadequacy of communication,any medium of communication),..........even the primary functioning,..........

 

conceptually referred as awareness-not-aware-of-itself.

 

 

 

 

And so, it really does becomes like there is no 'them'--
just parts of one big "I".......

Not even parts, Freyja, for that would lend them some semblence of independent existence.
 
Pieces of a jigsaw puzzle,......which independently have an existence and then come together to form the total picture.
 
 
 
The part is the very Whole, complete.
 
The "wave" in the cup of your hand,.......is the Ocean.
 
The dreamed-up Freyja, struggling with issues in a dream-sequence,........is nothing but the dreaming Freya, lying blissfully in a Noor Jahan bed.

Yes.

As much as is the case of the waking dream.

 

Just to ante up "the interesting factor",......... I forget that it's all my doing,......whether it is the waking dream or the sleeping dream........

 

....and "become" all my desires and the instruments through which the desires unfold.

 

And since, I cannot really forget, .........I also remain the witness to what I have become.

 

The immanence and the simultaneous transcendence.

 

> At the same time, Bobby,...........it would be the same
Consciousness which would have manifested itself as an object or
objects which would appear to be the epitome of "himsa" and keep
crushing ants by the hundreds.
>
> I am one with all things
> in beauty, in ugliness
> for whatsoever is, there I am
>
> Not only in virtue
> but in sin too I am a partner:
> and not only heaven but hell too is mine.
>
> Buddha, Jesus, Lao tzu-
> it is easy to be their heir
> But Genghis, Taimur and Hitler?
> They are also within me!
>
> no, not half- I AM THE WHOLE
> Whatsoever's is man's, is mine-
> flowers and thorns
> darkness as well as light
>
> And if nectar is mine, whose is poison?
> NECTAR AND POISON-BOTH ARE MINE

This is interesting to me on a personal basis right now.   I have
come to see those actions of mine  that I do not like, those thoughts
or memories that indicate weakness or mean spirited tendencies are
aspects of my psyche.

I once thought of them as weaknesses or things that happen
occasionally but are not really me.  But they are as much really me
as the thoughtful caring person that I prefer to dwell on.  It is
more healthy to think of these traits as part of me than to think
that I am something different from them  and that sometimes I "fall
off the wagon" and do something out of character.  That is denial.

Love
Bobby G.
No, Karta is gone.

Question: What is the influence on meditation of keeping and
sharing a meditation journal?

What a good question! A long time ago, I kept journals and they did
do something and it was a good thing they did but I can't place
exactly what it was. Maybe, it is somehow related to the way the
athlete is said to improve what he does just by going over it in his
mind.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
-

Thank you for your comment.

When I meditate and I know I am going to write a journal entry
afterwards my approach to the meditation appears different. I feel like
I am a reporter observing myself and taking notes as the session
progresses. I sometimes wonder if this division of attention helps or
hinders the session.

It could help in that by observing I stand apart from the session and
observe my reactions and by observing I reduce the fear of unusual
events. Since I am observing, I have a sense that the real "me" is not
hurt by anything that might happen during the session.

By observing I bring my learning to a conscious level that allows me
assess what is happening and relate it things I have read about the
experience of others.

By observing I am able to keep good records of past events. When I do
not want to keep records, my memory of the session vanishes quite
quickly. When a number of things have happened in a session, I sometimes
forget the last few items in the time it takes to write down the first
few items.

However, I sometimes feel that observing my meditation changes the
meditation in a negative way. The division of attention tends to limit
the depth of meditation - It is like an anchor that stops you sailing
away.

Also, I find that the attention sometimes steers the session towards
what might be interesting to "report", rather than what might be more
useful to me at that time.

Overall my sense is that, in the long run, it probably does not matter
since you will still get to where you are going eventually. What I might
do is pay less attention to the observing role and let the ship sail
more freely.

----- Original Message -----

From: alienprobemaster

To: meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 10:30 PM

Subject: [Meditation Society of America] Re: Dealing With Life Meditations/Eglaelin

I asked a Mountain Climber wich has treveled the world to climb
verious mountains, she lives here in my town, she likes to come to my
internet cafe and send of e-mails. So I asked her:

"Now tell me, wat do you actual gain out of the experience to climb
al these mountains, is all mountains not the same as the other"

Uuu no, it is not only about the experience of climbing mountains but
also the Freedom that you get out of it.

"Ok, this is getting interesting, tell me if I flash the word "Death"
or "Hurt" to you, how does it evect your experience and freedom by
climbing a mountain"

Many asked me that one, I will say that every moment I undure,
including pain and also a posible near death experience, I just love
it, it makes me feel more complete aaaa wats the word for it ...

"You meen capable of doing something with the leest possible
issitance from stuff as technology while still at risk of you well
being, that is called challenged"

Yea thats the word.

"Hehe, I see you suffer with your English a bit I know you are
Afrikaans, how so when you have travel world wide and met so many
people."

It is more in the fact of who I travel with than who I meet, usually
my husband does all the talking.

"You say you travel in a party, tell me more how it feels to be at
this freedom when people does it with you"

O it is just great to know that there is atleast some1 in the world
who has the same interest.

"Mmmm, because of the interest that the hole party has, can you
define that you trust them more, like I say, to you climbing a
mountain is chop chop work with other people, to me it is more like
following a person into hell"

It is not that some1 asked me to do it, but yes I can say that it
does have a evect to my trust when I even climb with a total stranger
or professional.

"Is that a positive trust or negetive trust, do you feel more freedom
when you for instance chat with some1 that also shares same interest."

Positive trust ofcoarse. Well not really more freedom from just
chating with some1, I think it is like gaining more respect for that
person, but it does reach it's top point when we actually climbed
some big mountain.

"Aaaaa so I see that even comen interest has an evect on trust, now
my last question is, wat is actually trigering this feel of freedom,
is it more like to just eskape every day live."

Ya, for all the time that I worked so hard, both at my job, aerning
money, children and everything, and all this just to go over seas to
climb a mountain.

"Ok, thanx for the time to chat with you, I now understand your
insight of freedom, and o dont worry about your PC time, I will reset
it for you"

So now we can see that not only experience drives a person to do the
unspeakable to get to comfort and luxury, but also Freedom, the
curious mind and stress itself. Amazing, is'nt it ?

State of Mind Now: To be, or not to be, that is the question.

>--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "Eglaelin"
><eglaelin@y...>
>wrote:
> Greetings and Felicitation,
>
> I have been contemplating your comments below for several days. Here
> is thought, or two, about this subject.
>
> Humans are the only creature (that we know of) whom deliberately
seek
> out uncomfortable circumstances for the experience. Have you ever
> heard of an animal going without food when food was available. Yet,
> human beings will deliberately fast when plenty of food is present.
> Why? For the experience. Does any animal climb to the top of Mt.
> Everest just for the experience of doing so. How about living in
> extreme cold, or space, just for the experience? The list of
> activities could go on and on. Maybe this is one of the defining
> differences between animals and humans. Just a thought.

>I would contend that there is comfort to be found in these
>experiences, and that's why we do them.

>That is, we will endure much discomfort in our search for
>more novel kinds of comfort, such as having been to the
>top of the world, etc.
>
>The difference between animals and humans isn't that humans
>seek discomfort where animals won't, it's that humans have
>developed a taste for more exotic kinds of comfor,t for which
>they are willing to endure various levels of discomfort to
>achieve.

>--jody.

>
> --- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "jodyrrr"
> <jodyrrr@y...> wrote:
>
> > The single and solitary goal of all life is to seek
> > comfort. Pleasure equals comfort for many forms of
> > life. You are seeking to be ethical. For the moment
> > that is your comfort.
> >
> > I submit to you that *each and every* thing that you
> > do serves your own personal comfort. You cannot escape
> > your own comfort seeking. Even if you put a gun to your
> > head and pull the trigger, it was because you sought some
> > comfort in it, even if it was only to attempt to contradict what
> > I've written above.



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--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "Terry Wall" <terryw@i...>
wrote:

> I, too, am a mountain climber, and what I most notice is that it provides an
ideal
> exercise for one-pointed mindfulness. One may never lose focus.

And that, I contend, is comfortable for you.  That is, while you may endure much
hardship on the way up, the payoff is such that all that hardship was worth it;
as you were able to extract the comfort you sought thru the activity.

--jody.

>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: alienprobemaster
>   To: meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 10:30 PM
>   Subject: [Meditation Society of America] Re: Dealing With Life
Meditations/Eglaelin
>
>
>   I asked a Mountain Climber wich has treveled the world to climb
>   verious mountains, she lives here in my town, she likes to come to my
>   internet cafe and send of e-mails. So I asked her:
>
>   "Now tell me, wat do you actual gain out of the experience to climb
>   al these mountains, is all mountains not the same as the other"
>
>   Uuu no, it is not only about the experience of climbing mountains but
>   also the Freedom that you get out of it.
>
>   "Ok, this is getting interesting, tell me if I flash the word "Death"
>   or "Hurt" to you, how does it evect your experience and freedom by
>   climbing a mountain"
>
>   Many asked me that one, I will say that every moment I undure,
>   including pain and also a posible near death experience, I just love
>   it, it makes me feel more complete aaaa wats the word for it ...
>
>   "You meen capable of doing something with the leest possible
>   issitance from stuff as technology while still at risk of you well
>   being, that is called challenged"
>
>   Yea thats the word.
>
>   "Hehe, I see you suffer with your English a bit I know you are
>   Afrikaans, how so when you have travel world wide and met so many
>   people."
>
>   It is more in the fact of who I travel with than who I meet, usually
>   my husband does all the talking.
>
>   "You say you travel in a party, tell me more how it feels to be at
>   this freedom when people does it with you"
>
>   O it is just great to know that there is atleast some1 in the world
>   who has the same interest.
>
>   "Mmmm, because of the interest that the hole party has, can you
>   define that you trust them more, like I say, to you climbing a
>   mountain is chop chop work with other people, to me it is more like
>   following a person into hell"
>
>   It is not that some1 asked me to do it, but yes I can say that it
>   does have a evect to my trust when I even climb with a total stranger
>   or professional.
>
>   "Is that a positive trust or negetive trust, do you feel more freedom
>   when you for instance chat with some1 that also shares same interest."
>
>   Positive trust ofcoarse. Well not really more freedom from just
>   chating with some1, I think it is like gaining more respect for that
>   person, but it does reach it's top point when we actually climbed
>   some big mountain.
>
>   "Aaaaa so I see that even comen interest has an evect on trust, now
>   my last question is, wat is actually trigering this feel of freedom,
>   is it more like to just eskape every day live."
>
>   Ya, for all the time that I worked so hard, both at my job, aerning
>   money, children and everything, and all this just to go over seas to
>   climb a mountain.
>
>   "Ok, thanx for the time to chat with you, I now understand your
>   insight of freedom, and o dont worry about your PC time, I will reset
>   it for you"
>
>   So now we can see that not only experience drives a person to do the
>   unspeakable to get to comfort and luxury, but also Freedom, the
>   curious mind and stress itself. Amazing, is'nt it ?
>
>   State of Mind Now: To be, or not to be, that is the question.
>
>   >--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "Eglaelin"
>   ><eglaelin@y...>
>   >wrote:
>   > Greetings and Felicitation,
>   >
>   > I have been contemplating your comments below for several days. Here
>   > is thought, or two, about this subject.
>   >
>   > Humans are the only creature (that we know of) whom deliberately
>   seek
>   > out uncomfortable circumstances for the experience. Have you ever
>   > heard of an animal going without food when food was available. Yet,
>   > human beings will deliberately fast when plenty of food is present.
>   > Why? For the experience. Does any animal climb to the top of Mt.
>   > Everest just for the experience of doing so. How about living in
>   > extreme cold, or space, just for the experience? The list of
>   > activities could go on and on. Maybe this is one of the defining
>   > differences between animals and humans. Just a thought.
>
>   >I would contend that there is comfort to be found in these
>   >experiences, and that's why we do them.
>
>   >That is, we will endure much discomfort in our search for
>   >more novel kinds of comfort, such as having been to the
>   >top of the world, etc.
>   >
>   >The difference between animals and humans isn't that humans
>   >seek discomfort where animals won't, it's that humans have
>   >developed a taste for more exotic kinds of comfor,t for which
>   >they are willing to endure various levels of discomfort to
>   >achieve.
>
>   >--jody.
>
>   >
>   > --- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, "jodyrrr"
>   > <jodyrrr@y...> wrote:
>   >
>   > > The single and solitary goal of all life is to seek
>   > > comfort. Pleasure equals comfort for many forms of
>   > > life. You are seeking to be ethical. For the moment
>   > > that is your comfort.
>   > >
>   > > I submit to you that *each and every* thing that you
>   > > do serves your own personal comfort. You cannot escape
>   > > your own comfort seeking. Even if you put a gun to your
>   > > head and pull the trigger, it was because you sought some
>   > > comfort in it, even if it was only to attempt to contradict what
>   > > I've written above.
>
>
>         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>               ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
>
>
>   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>   meditationsocietyofamerica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
picture I have posted in our photo section
in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
19 inches long, and has filled me and our
whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
blessing.
Peace and blessings,
Bob

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
> first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
> birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
> picture I have posted in our photo section
> in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
> 19 inches long, and has filled me and our
> whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
> of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
> glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
> blessing.
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob

Wow Bob!

That's fantastic.  Congrats to the family.

Another turn of life has occurred.

Here's to Jordon, Aliyah, her granddad, and her new family!

--jody.

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Meditation and its Utility in Daily Life With Practical Hints
By Sri Swami Premananda
A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION
http://www.thedivinelifesociety.org/download/premamedit.htm

Please accept our apologies if you receive this announcement more
than one time or if you are not interested.

We appreciate your taking a look!

Meditation and its Utility in
Daily Life With Practical Hints


By



Sri Swami Premananda


http://www.thedivinelifesociety.org/download/premamedit.htm


A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION


First Edition: 1994
Second Edition: 1996
Third Edition: 1999
(2,000 copies)

World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 2000

WWW site: http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/



This WWW reprint is for free distribution



© The Divine Life Trust Society



Swami Premananda's `Meditation Classes' have become
very popular and there is a great demand. This booklet
will help aspirants and seekers.



Published By
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192
Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh,
Himalayas, India.


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Contents
Meditation And Its Utility In Daily Life
Meditation Practice
I. "Silence Is The Great Revelation"—Lao-Tse
II. Body Sensations
III. Deepening Exercise—Body Sensations
IV. Thought Control
V. Breathing Sensations
VI. God In My Breath
VII. Breath—Communication With God
VIII. Stillness
IX. Body Prayer
X. The Touch of God
XI. Concentration
XII. Finding God In All Things
Individual's Uplift And World Welfare

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OM

Meditation And Its Utility In Daily Life
Meditation is not for a few but is necessary for all human beings.
The inner self of a person touches the Higher Self (the Param-Tattwa)
during deep sleep daily. This unknown touch recharges the battery of
man. So, when he gets up from his sleep, he feels that he is
refreshed, full of strength and relaxed. This is a natural process
for all persons alike. If one could not sleep properly, he feels
disturbed and is in a sort of weariness. It is the experience of
every man, whether he is rich or a beggar, a literate or an
illiterate, an executive or a labourer, a farmer or a business man, a
housewife or a huckster. So, every man needs peace, strength, ability
to discharge his duties and for tranquillity of mind. So, a wonderful
discovery of man is to keep his inner self in touch with the SOURCE
in a wakeful state for longer periods continuously through specific
type of systematic practices. This is called the art of meditation.
And such a person is said to be a YOGI without any
discretion/distinction of caste, creed, colour and country.

Dhyanam nirvishayam manah—That state of the mind, wherein there are
no Vishayas or sensory thoughts, is meditation.

Whether oriental or occidental, Hinduism or Mohammedanism, Buddhism
or Jainism, Christianity or Judaism, Shinto-ism or any other `ism',
the spiritual purpose and meaning is to lead an individual soul to
the ecstatic communion with the Universal Divinity or ONE TRUTH, the
SOURCE. A continuous flow of perception of thought is Dhyana—Tatra
pratyayaikatanata dhyanam. It is the flow of continuous thought of
one object or God or Atman or Supreme Source—Tailadharavat. According
to Raja Yoga, meditation is the seventh rung or step in the ladder of
Yoga. One cannot attain this state unless he knows the art
of "Concentration". What is concentration?—Desa bandhas-chittasya
dharana. Concentration is fixing the mind on an external object or an
internal point continuously, without interruption or break for twelve
seconds. So, an aspirant has to develop himself in concentration,
which itself is changed into meditation, if his state of keeping the
mind focused at one object/point/subject continuously and
spontaneously for 12x12=144 seconds. It is termed as `Dhyana' in
Sanskrit scriptures, which comes from the root `Dhi'. In English we
generally call it `intellect' which is the basic root with different
derivations in different practices. However, `Buddhi' (reasoning
faculty) is said to be directly based on this root term; yet this
term is used liberally by all systems of Yoga, which is central theme
of all mystic techniques leading one to higher levels of spiritual
consciousness with profound depths of spiritual expansion and takes
one to God-realisation or Self-realisation.

Meditation may be objective, or on qualities or purely subjective or
one's own breath. In objective meditation the Sadhaka meditates upon
an idol or picture of his Ishta devata—may be Lord Shiva, Vishnu,
Rama, Krishna, Christ, Buddha or any other god or goddess. For him,
the idol is something alive, vibrating with supreme reality,
omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent. He may meditate upon the
beautitude, the qualities, the activities of his Ishta-devata. Or he
may meditate upon the all-pervading pulsating Supreme Energy which is
within him and without, permeating everywhere. This is subjective
meditation. Similarly on his breath while inhaling and exhaling with
MINIMAL SILENCE. All meditations are good; what counts is the
intensity and unbroken continuity of meditation.

An aspirant has to rest his soul on the bosom of the Lord, to bathe
in the bliss of Divine ecstasy, to drown his ego in the ocean of
eternity, to draw sustenance and strength from the SOURCE to attain
whatever he is capable of achieving. A Sadhaka should meditate
regularly, chew and digest what he has learnt, to transform what he
has learnt into wisdom, to apply that wisdom to solve the problems
that cross his path daily. Says F.W. Robertson: "It is not the number
of books you read, nor the variety of sermons you hear, nor the
amount of religious conversation in which you mix, but it is the
frequency and earnestness with which you meditate on these things
till the truth in them becomes your own and part of your being, that
ensures your growth."

A sincere spiritual seeker meditates to realise the Ultimate Reality
to unravel the mystery of life and death, to understand in the bottom
of his heart, what is Truth. Once he knows Truth, he knows the
Ultimate Reality, he becomes That, and there is nothing more to know.
A person who has realised Brahman, becomes Brahman, and lives in
Brahman. Knowing is being. That is the highest state.

India has been fortunate to have produced many saints and seers who
had realised the Truth and for more or less time lived in a state of
Divine Ecstasy. Even during the past hundred years people have
witnessed such saints like Paramahamsa Ramakrishna, Swami
Vivekananda, Swami Ramatirtha, Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, Swami
Ramdas, Swami Sivananda and several others of world fame. Ramakrishna
would while talking relapse into Samadhi and often prayed to his
Divine Mother not to draw him frequently into Her Bosom so that he
can converse with his disciple, particularly his darling Naren later
known to the world as Swami Vivekananda so that he could prepare a
band of workers to spread his message, the holy message of India.
Swami Ramatirtha was often seen in a state of ecstasy during last
seven years of life in India and United States. Swami Sivananda was
another who would often sing and dance or be just be quiet in divine
ecstasy. There have been more in India and quite a few messengers of
God in other parts of the world.

Meditation and concentration are often treated as synonymous.
However, I have drawn earlier a distinct line between concentration
and meditation. In further explanation when one brings to bear all
his thought waves on a single point or spot like a laser beam where
the scattered rays of light are concentrated, it is concentration.
Every body needs concentration to understand, assimilate and apply
any information, any knowledge. When the concentration is prolonged
for 144 seconds, it is called meditation and when extended to 144
multiplied by 144 i.e. 20736 seconds = 345.6 minutes, it is said to
reach the state of Samadhi. According to Ashtanga Yoga comprising two
main parts of Hatha Yoga—Yama, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama covers the
first one, whereas Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi, is the
second part. There is no equivalent word in English language for
Samadhi. Concentration is the sixth, Meditation the seventh and
Samadhi the eighth and last stage of Yoga when the Sadhaka is united
with the Supreme Being. It shows that concentration leads to
Meditation, similarly prolonged constant meditation leads to Samadhi.
In other Yogas Manana, Nididhyasana, Upasana, Chintana, Dhyana—these
terms are used in different Yogas with subtle differences in their
techniques. Manana is a sort of reflection. It is just to chew the
cud slowly and nicely. It is done through into intense practice of
Manana. Chintana is also a sort of reflection and meditation to
assimilate the thoughts in consciousness for proper and significant
impression with profound understanding. Intense meditation on the
Self or Brahman or ANY SPIRITUAL ILLUMINED PERSONALITY is termed
as `Nididhyasana'. As Saint Francis of Assisi did. `Upasana' stands
for devout meditation which is being used in both i.e., Jnana Yoga
Sadhana and Bhakti Yoga. Upasana means `sitting near by'. In Jnana
Yoga Sadhana the seeker has to sit near the Self or Brahman; whereas
in Bhakti Yoga a devotee has to sit by the side of God.

A keen and true regular practitioner (Sadhaka) will attain quick and
sure results, when he proceeds properly stage by stage under the
guidance of his GURU or master. The first four parts are meant to
purify the mind and keep the body strong and fit to receive and
retain the power of the DIVINE. Many moderns, however, equate Yoga
with the practice of few asanas and pranayamas. This is not
sufficient for spiritual uplift. Yet, it is better to practise asanas
and pranayamas for health's sake than not to do anything at all. But
Yoga is really first to withdraw one's mind from the objects of
senses (pratyahara), practice concentration, prolong the period of
concentration under proper guidance to reach the stage of meditation
and finally become one, unite (Yoga to join to unite) with the
Supreme Reality, the TRUTH.

Thus meditation is not meant merely for the recluse, the ascetic, the
renouncer. It is of utmost important in man's day-to-day life. It is
of immense help to a student, a youth, an old man. A man who can
meditate will become a better manager, a better businessman, a better
executive and, above all, a better man. Conversely, if a person
cannot meditate, he will lack composition, courage and confidence to
achieve his goal. Nowadays, several medical doctors and psychologists
advise to their patients suffering from nervousness, unusual
irritation, disordered mind, fear and inferiority complex and lack of
self-confidence to meditate in a specific manner along with the
medical treatment. So, the meditation is very necessary these days
when man leads a life of tension and complexity.

Every morning and evening, preferably at dawn and dusk, sit down in a
comfortable posture with your backbone straight, relax each and every
limb of your body, and then your mind, and sit unmoved, in the same
pose, as long as you can. It is always better to invoke your Guru
(master) and Ishta Devata first, when you sit for meditation for
their blessings and guidance and gratefully thank them again when you
finish the meditation. Gradually, increase the time of your
meditation. It is easier to relax your limbs of the body but not so
easy to relax your mind. This process of relaxation, stillness and
body awareness will automatically reduce the speed of your breathing,
which, in turn, will help in meditation. So many thoughts will cross
your mind now and then. They may even disturb you. Do not be afraid.
Try to remain calm and watch them with equanimity. Let them come, let
them go. Do not fight to free your mind from thought waves. Try to be
indifferent to them. But do not observe these thoughts with
equanimous mind. Gradually, automatically the flitting of thoughts
across the canvas of your mind will diminish. After sometime—sooner
than later—you will be absorbed in your Ishta-Devata if your
meditation is objective, or in your Being, if your meditation is
subjective. Once, you get the taste of it, believe me, you will like
to taste it more and more and more.

May God Almighty and All-merciful and the Most Revered Gurudev, help
you, THEY WILL.


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Meditation Practice
I. "Silence Is The Great Revelation"—Lao-Tse
1. Scripture as the revelation of God.

2. Discover the revelation that silence brings.

3. Silence offers, one must attain silence. It is NOT EASY.

Comfortable Posture. Close eyes for 10 minutes. Observe total silence
of Heart and Mind. Describe `Silence' in terms of your attempts.
Experience may infinitely be varied. You have to still the constant
wandering of your mind. To quiet and emotional turmoil. On
approaching frontiers of silence there may be PANIC and WITHDRAWAL.
You may have frightening experience. NO REASON TO BE DISCOURAGED.
Wandering thoughts are a great revelation. Take time to EXPERIENCE
this wandering mind and TYPE of wandering it indulges. SOMETHING
ENCOURAGING—awareness of mental wandering, inner turmoil and
inability to be still shows that you have small degree of silence
within you. AGAIN close your eyes, become aware of wandering mind for
two minutes. Now sense the silence that makes it possible to be aware
of wanderings of your mind.

MINIMAL SILENCE—as it grows, it reveals more and more rather it
reveals yourself to you. You will have ATTAINMENTS—like WISDOM,
SERENITY, BLISS, GOD, PRECAUTION: you shall have no talk and no
discussion. Inhale and exhale deep and slow breathing throughout.
Again close your eyes for five minutes. SEEK SILENCE. Now see your
success—whether more or less. Don't seek ANYTHING SENSATIONAL. In
fact, do not seek at all.

Limit yourself to observing. Take in everything that comes to your
awareness whether big, small, trite or ordinary. CONTENT of awareness
is less important than the quality of awareness. As quality improves,
so silence deepens, you will experience. You will discover, to your
delight, that revelation is not knowledge. It is power: a mysterious
power that brings transformation.

II. Body Sensations
One must become aware of certain body sensations of which one is
explicitly not aware. To go around by yourself to become conscious of
your toes, your feet, your legs, your knees, your thighs, your
buttocks, your waist, your stomach, your chest, your shoulders, your
fingers (starting from the tips), your forearms, your elbow, your
arms, your full back, then again your shoulders, your neck, your
chin, your lips, your nose, your cheeks, your ears, your eyes, your
forehead, your head, upper side of your head and backside of your
head. Do not dwell for more than two or three seconds on each part of
your body. REPEAT it again and again for five minutes. This act of
yours brings a sense of relaxedness. BIGGEST ENEMIES: Nervous
tension, living too much in head i.e., to remain conscious of the
thinking and imagination and to remain conscious far too little of
the activities of the senses. It is a must to remain in the PRESENT
and not in past and future. One must master this technique of sense
awareness. One must learn to get out of the area of thinking and
imagination and move into the area from Head to Heart i.e., feeling,
sensing, loving and intuiting where contemplation takes birth, prayer
becomes transforming power and a source of delight and peace. A few
of you may feel an increase in Tension. Note what part of your body
is tense and see exactly what the tension feels like. Become aware of
the fact you are tensing and note exactly how you are doing this.
Note means not to reflect but to feel and sense. You pick up no
sensation. Why? Your sensibility has been dead from so much living in
head. Our skin is covered with trillions (3 Powers of a million) of
bio-chemical reactions—that we call sensations and you are finding it
hard to pick up even a few of them? You have hardened yourself not to
feel may be due to some emotional hurt or conflict that you have long
since forgotten. And your perception, your awareness, power of
concentration and attention are still gross and underdeveloped. It is
as a means for attaining relaxation and stillness. GET IN TOUCH WITH
SENSATIONS AGAIN AND AGAIN without naming limbs and organs as you
sense. If you notice an urge to move or to shift your posture or
position—do not give into it. Do continue this exercise for a few
minutes. You will gradually feel a certain stillness in your body. Go
on with your AWARENESS exercise and leave taking care of stillness.
If you are distracted, get back to awareness of body sensations,
moving from one to another, until your body becomes still once again,
your mind quietens, you are able to sense again stillness that brings
peace and a foretaste of contemplation and of God. HOWEVER, DO NOT
explicitly rest in the stillness. Because resting in it can be
relaxing and even delightful. BUT in it there is DANGER of mild
trance or mental blankness which is not good for contemplation. It is
like a sort of self-hypnosis that has nothing to do either with the
sharpening of awareness or with contemplation. IMPORTANT: DO NOT
DELIBERATELY seek stillness or silence within you and not EXPLICITLY
REST in it when it occurs. BUT SEEK SHARPENING OF AWARENESS. In
moments, stillness becomes so powerful that all exercise and all your
efforts become impossible. Then it is no longer you who go in quest
of stillness. But stillness takes possession of you. THEN you may
safely, and profitably, let go of all effort and surrender to this
overpowering stillness within you.

III. Deepening Exercise—Body Sensations
The body sensations exercise is so simple, in fact, as to prove
disillusioning. To advance in it, you have to preserve in simplicity.
Resist temptation to seek novelty, but try to seek DEPTH. You have to
practise second exercise over a long period of time. You may ask for
benefits. Don't ask. Do what you are asked to and you will discover
yourself. TRUTH is found less in words and explanations than in
action and experience. So get to work, with faith and perseverance.
Close your eyes. Repeat previous exercise of body sensations for five
to ten minutes.

NOW CHOOSE JUST ONE SMALL AREA OF YOUR FACE, PICK UP EVERY SENSATION.
At the beginning you may not feel. Continue previous exercise, then
enter in this area. Be aware of the type of sensations that emerge;
itching, pricking, burning, pulling, vibrating, throbbing,
numbness....... If your mind wanders, bring it patiently back to
exercise.

IV. Thought Control
By doing previous awareness exercises, your mind may be distracted.
To deal with such situation, you shall keep your eyes half closed—
resting on an object or one spot three feet ahead of you. You are not
to focus on the object/spot. By doing this, you may have trouble with
your wandering mind. No cause for alarm. You practise control over
your wandering mind with patience and perseverance. Gradually you
will succeed.

To deal with distraction of mind you may follow any of the two ways:

a) You have to follow your thoughts as a puppy in the streets follows
any pair of legs it finds in motion. It does not care for the
direction where they are moving. After some seconds, you shall make
yourself aware that you are thinking. You may say to yourself
interiorly that I am thinking ......... thinking ...... thinking. By
this you will be aware that thinking process is going on.

b) The other way to overcome distraction is to observe your thoughts
as a man stationed at his window watching passers by on the street.
After doing this for a while, you shall keep yourself aware that you
are thinking .... thinking .... thinking .... You may do any of the
above two exercises for not more than five minutes. Thinking tends to
stop by making yourself aware of it. A distraction charged with
strong emotion: love, fear, resentment, sorrow—will not easily yield
to this exercise. Other exercises discussed hereinafter shall help
you in that.

V. Breathing Sensations
(Become aware of sensations in various parts of your body)

Become aware of the air as it comes in and goes out through your
nostrils. Do not concentrate on the air as it enters in lungs, but
limit awareness to nostrils breath. Do not control your breathing.
Don't attempt to deepen it. It is not breathing exercise, but
breathing awareness. Whenever you are distracted, return with vigour
to your task to enable you to make you aware of each breath. Continue
this exercise for ten to fifteen minutes. This exercise may be
difficult for some of you in comparison to previous exercises; but it
is most rewarding in sharpening awareness, bringing calmness and
relaxation. HOWEVER, in attempting breathing awareness DO NOT tense
your muscles. Determination must not be confounded with nervous
tension. You may be distracted at the beginning but you must keep
returning again and again to the awareness of your breathing the mere
effort involved in doing this—will bring beneficial effects that you
will gradually notice.

After developing some proficiency in this exercise move on to
somewhat difficult and more effective variant:

a) Become aware of the sensation of the air passing through your
nostrils. Feel its touch—in which part of the nostrils you feel the
touch of the air while inhaling .... and in what part of the nostrils
you feel the touch of the air while exhaling .......

b) Become aware of the warmth or coldness of the air .... its
coldness when it comes in, and its warmth when it goes out.

c) Also be aware of quantity of air that passes through one nostril
is greater than the amount that passes through other .....

d) Be sensitive and alert to the slightest, lightest touch while
inhaling and exhaling .... STAY with this awareness for ten to
fifteen minutes. In case you put in more time, you will get better
results. But DO NOT stay on breathing awareness alone for many hours
over a period of more than two or three days. Although this exercise
brings you great peace and a sense of depth and fullness that
delights you but prolonged concentration on breathing is likely to
produce hallucinations or to draw out material from the unconscious
that you may not be able to control.

AWARENESS AND CONTEMPLATION AND PRAYER

Prayer means a communication with God that is carried on mainly
through the use of words and images and thoughts. Contemplation means
a communication with God that makes a minimal use of words, images
and concepts altogether. The exercise of awareness of body sensations
or breathing can be termed as communication with God. Many mystics
tell us that, in addition to the mind and heart with which we
ordinarily communicate with God, we are endowed with a mystical mind
and mystical heart, a faculty which makes it possible for us to know
God directly, to grasp and INTUIT Him in His very being—apart from
all thoughts, concepts and images.

Ordinarily all our contact with God is indirect—through images and
concepts. To be able to grasp Him beyond these thoughts and images is
the privilege of this faculty—a mystical heart. In most of us this
Heart lies dormant and undeveloped. If it is awakened, it would be
straining towards God and, given a chance, would impel the whole of
our being towards Him. Hence, it needs to be developed, it needs to
have the dross that surrounds it removed so that it can be attracted
towards the ETERNAL MAGNET. To be near or discover Eternal Magnet,
one is to find means of silencing the mind. And to silence the mind
is an extremely difficult task. How hard it is to keep the mind away
from thinking, which is producing thoughts in a never-ending stream.
But it is also said that one thorn is removed by another. So you can
be wise to use one thought to rid yourself of all the other thoughts
that crowd into your mind. One thought, one image, one phrase or
sentence or word that your mind can be made to fasten on. For to
consciously attempt to keep the mind in a thoughtless state, in a
void, is to attempt the impossible. The mind must have something to
occupy it. The seemingly disconcerting conclusion is that
concentration on your breathing or body sensations is very good
contemplation. The awareness exercises lead to a deepening of the
prayer experiences. Now is the time to expose yourself to the Divine
Sun in SILENCE.

VI. God In My Breath
With closed eyes practise the awareness of body sensations for a
while. Then come to the awareness of your breathing as done before
and stay with this awareness for a few minutes .... Reflect now that
this air that you are breathing is charged with the Power and the
PRESENCE of God. Think of the air as of an Immense OCEAN that
surrounds you .... an ocean heavily coloured with God's presence and
God's being .... While you draw the air into your lungs you are
drawing God in .... Be aware that you are drawing in the Power and
Presence of God each time you breathe in... Stay in this awareness as
long as you can... Notice what you feel when you become conscious
that you are drawing God in with each breath you take ......

ANOTHER REFLECTION

1. While you breathe in, be conscious of God's Spirit coming into you
Fill your lungs with the divine energy he brings with Him ....

2. While you breathe out, imagine you are breathing out all your
impurities .... your fears .... your negative feelings .... Your
shortcomings and weaknesses.

3. Imagine you see your whole body becoming radiant and alive through
this process of breathing in God's life-giving Spirit and breathing
out all your impurities ......

Stay with this awareness as long as you can without distractions.

VII. Breath—Communication With God
Devotional Prayer may here be called as `PRAYER';
whereas `Intuitional Prayer' may coincide roughly with CONTEMPLATION.
Both type of prayers lead to union with God. Such of them is more
suited to some Sadhakas than to others. According to time and need
suitability of these Prayers may change.

Any Prayer that limits itself to the thinking mind alone is not
prayer really but! at best, a preparation for prayer. Even among
Sadhakas there is no genuine personal communication that isn't at
least in some small degree heart communication, that does not contain
some small degree of emotion in it. If a communication, a sharing of
thoughts, is entirely and totally devoid of all emotion you can be
sure the intimate, personal dimension is lacking.

Here are some variations of the previous exercise more devotional
than intuitional. As the thought content in prayer is minimal—it will
easily move from the devotional to the intuitional, from the heart to
the heart.

Become aware of your breathing for a while. Now REFLECT presence of
God in the atmosphere all around you.... Reflect His presence in the
air you are breathing—BE CONSCIOUS OF HIS PRESENCE.... Notice what
you feel, when you become conscious of His presence in the air you
are breathing in and out....

Now express yourself to God non-verbally. Frequently, express a
sentiment through a look on a gesture .... Then again by breathing.
Express first of all, a great yearning for Him without using words,
even mentally, say to Him, "MY LORD, I long for You ...." Just by the
way breathe. You may express this by breathing in deeply, by
deepening your inhalation.

Now express another attitude or sentiment: ONE OF TRUST AND SURRENDER—
NO words—just through breath, "My LORD, I surrender myself entirely
to you ...." You may do this by emphasising your exhalation, by
breathing out each time as if you were sighing deeply. Each time you
breathe out feel yourself letting the whole of yourself go in God's
hand.

Then, after sometime, take up other attitudes before your LORD and
express these through your breathing such as: LOVE.... CLOSENESS....
and INTIMACY ADORATION.......... GRATITUDE.......... PRAISE.... if
you are tired of doing this, return to the beginning of this exercise
and just rest peacefully in the awareness of God all around you and
in the air you are breathing in and out.... Then, if you tend to get
distracted, fall back on second part of the exercise and express
yourself to God non-verbally once more.

VIII. Stillness
Modern man is unfortunately plagued by a nervous tension that makes
it almost impossible for him to be quiet. If he actually wants to
learn to pray he must first learn to be still, to quieten himself. In
fact, this very quietness and stillness frequently becomes prayer
when God manifests Himself in the form of STILLNESS.

Repeat the exercise of becoming aware of sensations in your body—
whole body. This time start with the top of your head and end it with
the tips of your toes, omitting no part of the body. Beware of every
sensation in each part.... You may find some parts of your body
completely devoid of sensation.... Dwell on these for a few seconds—
if no sensation emerges, move on......

As you become more proficient in this exercise you will, hopefully,
sharpen your awareness to the extent that there will be no part of
your body in which you do not feel several sensations.... For the
time being you must be content to dwell briefly on the blanks and
move on to the parts where you feel more sensations—Move slowly from
head to foot.... then once again, from head to foot..... and so on
for some fifteen minutes. As your awareness sharpens you will pick up
sensations that you hadn't noticed before.... you may also pick up
sensations that are extremely subtle, too subtle to be perceived by
any but a man of deep as a whole. Feel the whole of your body as one
mass of concentration and deep peace. Now become aware of yours body
as a whole. Feel the whole of your body as one mass of various types
of sensations.... Stay with this for a while, then return to the
awareness by parts, moving from head to foot.... then, once again,
rest in the awareness of your body as a whole......

Notice now the deep stillness that has come over you. Notice the
complete stillness of your body.... Do Not, however, rest in the
stillness to the extent of losing awareness of your body.... If you
are getting distracted, give yourself the occupation of moving once
again from head to foot, becoming aware of sensations in each part of
your body. Then, once again, notice the stillness in your body. If
you are practising this in a group, then at occasions, notice the
stillness in the whole room.

It is very important that you do NOT move any part of your body while
doing this Sadhana. This will be difficult at first, but each time
feel the urge to move, or scratch, or fidget, become aware of this as
sharply as you can.... Don't give in to it.... It will gradually go
away and you will become still once more........

It is extremely painful for most people to stay still. Even
physically painful and you become physically tense, spend all the
time you need becoming aware of the tension.... where you feel it,
what it feels like.... and stay with it till the tension disappears.

You may feel physical pain, rather severe pain. No matter how
comfortable the position or posture you have adopted, your body is
likely to protest against the stillness by developing aches and pains
in various parts. When this happens, a serious Sadhaka MUST RESIST
the temptation to move limbs or read just posture so as to ease the
pain. Just become keenly aware of the pain.

Your awareness may wholly be absorbed by the acute pain. You may
start sweating, may be profusely. Your mind may think that you are
going to faint with pain; at such moment firmly decide Not to fight
it, Not to run away from it, Not to desire to alleviate it, but to
become aware of it, to identify with it. Then you may see that the
pain sensation is broken into its component parts and you may be
surprised to discover that it is composed of many sensations viz.,
intense burning sensation a pulling and tugging, a sharp, shooting
sensation which may merge every now and then.... and a point which
may keep moving from one place to another.... This point you may
identify as pain.... As you will keep up this exercise, you shall
find that you are bearing the pain quite well—i.e., pain without
suffering.

Every Sadhaka has to experience some types of pains, as indicated
above, until his body becomes accustomed to remaining perfectly
still. Deal with the pain through awareness. When your body finally
does become still, you will have a rich reward in the QUIET BLISS
that this stillness will bring you. The temptation to scratch is
another frequent temptation with beginners. This is because, as their
awareness of their body sensations sharpens, they become aware of
itching and pricking sensations that were there all along but were
hidden to awareness because of the psycho-physical hardening that
most of us submit our bodies to and because of the grossness of their
awareness. A Sadhaka must resist such temptations during awareness
Sadhana.

IX. Body Prayer
(A devotional variant of the body sensation)

First quieten yourself through the awareness of sensations in various
parts of your body.... Sharpen your awareness by picking up even the
subtlest sensations, Not just the gross and evident ones.... Keep
your hands on knees. Now very gently move your hands and fingers so
that your hands come to rest on your lap, palms facing upwards,
fingers joined together.... The movement must be very, very slow....
like the opening of the petals of a flower.... And while the movement
is going on BE AWARE OF each part of it.

Once your hands are resting on your lap, palms facing upwards, become
aware of the sensations in palms.... Then become aware of the gesture
itself, this is a gesture of prayer to God.... What meaning does this
gesture have for you? What are you saying to God through it? Say
without words, merely identifying with the gesture... It may give you
some taste of the kind of prayer you can make with your body....

When you pray with your body you give power and body to your prayer.
People fail to attend to their body in prayer; they fail to take
their bodies along with them into the holy temple of God. When they
themselves visit temples or places of worship, they stand or sit in
the presence of God, but they are carelessly slouched in their seat
or standing in a very slovenly fashion.... They are still not gripped
by the living presence of the Lord. Therefore, a devotee of the Lord
should try to understand the meaning and purpose of `Body Prayer'.
The `gestures' suggested are merely samples. A `devotee' may invent
his own gestures to express
his `Love', `Praise', `Adoration', `Surrender', `Gratitude'....

Close your eyes. Quieten yourself through one of your awareness
exercises. FEEL you are in the presence of God in a very devout way,
hands devoutly joined in front of you, slowly raise your face upwards
towards God.... Let your eyes continue to be closed.... What are you
saying to God through your upturned face? Stay with that sentiment or
communication for a few moments.... Then become as fully aware as
possible of the position of your face.... of the sensations on your
face.... After a few moments ask yourself once again what you are
expressing to God through your upturned face and stay with that for a
while....

X. The Touch of God
This is a devotional variant to the exercises on body sensations that
you will find helpful if you have reservations about calling the body
sensation exercises true prayer or contemplation. Repeat one of the
body sensation exercises. Take some time to experience as many and as
subtle sensations as you can in various parts of your body......

Now make the REFLECTION: Every sensation I feel, no matter how light
and subtle is the result of a bio-chemical reaction that could not
exist except for God's Almighty Power.... FEEL God's power at work in
the production of every single sensation.... Feel HIM touching you in
each of those sensations that HE is producing.... Feel the touch of
God in different parts of your body: rough, smooth, pleasurable,
painful....

The experience of God need not be something sensational or out of the
ordinary, unless your devotion and Divine Love is developed. There
is, no doubt, an experience of God that is different from the
ordinary run of experiences that we are accustomed to: there is the
deep silence that I spoke of earlier, the glowing darkness, the
emptiness that brings fulfilment.

There are sudden, unaccountable flashes of Eternity or of the
infinite that comes to us when we least expect them, in the midst of
our work. One needs to do so little, really, to experience God. All
one needs to do is quieten oneself, become still—and become aware of
the feel of your hand. Beware of the sensations in your hand....
There you have God, living and working in you, touching you,
intensely near you.... Feel HIM.... Experience HIM. Most of the
devotees look upon an experience like this as far too pedestrian.
Surely there is more to the experience of God than just the simple
feel of the sensations of one's right hand. This needs a long
explanation to know the reality—Yet, you are assured that these
simple and humble exercises shall help you a lot to march towards
that reality.

We forget all too easily that one of the big lessons of incarnations
is that God is found in the ordinary also. Do you wish to see God?
Look at the fact next to you. You want to hear him? Listen to the cry
of a baby, the loud laughter of a simple party, the wind rustling in
the trees. Or just quieten yourself, become aware of the sensations
in your body, sense HIS ALMIGHTY POWER at work in you and feel how
near He is to you.

XI. Concentration
(This is an exercise in pure awareness)

Choose one sense object for a basic object of attention. It is
suggested that you choose either the sensations in one part of your
body of your breathing or the sounds around you.

Focus your attention on this object, but do so in such a way that if
your attention shifts to something else you are immediately aware of
the shift.

Let us suppose you have chosen for your basic object of attention
your breathing. Well, then, concentrate on your breathing.... It is
quite likely that after a while your attention will move to something
else—a thought, a sound, a feeling.... Now provided you are aware of
this shift of attention to something else, this shift is not to be
counted as a distraction. It is important, however, that you be aware
of the shift while the shift is taking place or immediately after it
has taken place. Count it a distraction only if you become aware of
the shift long after it has taken place.

Suppose you choose breathing as your basic object of attention. Then
your exercise will possibly go something like this:—

"I am breathing.... I am breathing.... Now I am thinking....
thinking.... thinking.... Now I am listening to a sound....
listening.... listening.... Now I am irritated.... irritated. Now I
feel bored.... bored.... bored...."

In this exercise, the wandering of the mind is not considered a
distraction provided you are aware that your attention is shifting to
some other object.... Once you have become aware of this shift, stay
with the new object (thinking, listening, feeling....) for a while,
then return to the basic object of your attention (breathing)....
your skill in self-awareness may become so great that you will not
only become aware of the shift of your attention on to some object,
but even of the desire to shift, the impulse in you to shift on to
something else. As when you want to move your hand you will first
become conscious of the desire arising within you to move the hand,
your consent to this desire, your carrying out of this desire, the
very first stirring of your hand.... All of which activities are
performed in an infinitesimal fraction of a second and so we find it
impossible to distinguish one from the other until the silence and
stillness within us has become almost total and our awareness has
acquired razor edge sharpness. Self-awareness is a powerful means for
increasing in love of God and of neighbour. The self-awareness
heightens the love. The love, when it is genuine, fosters deeper self-
awareness.

Do not go in search of abstruse means for developing your self-
awareness. Begin with humble things like the awareness of the feel of
your body or awareness of the things around you and then more on to
exercises like the ones which are suggested here and it won't be long
before you notice the fruits of peacefulness and love that heightened
self-awareness brings with it.

XII. Finding God In All Things
(This is a recapitulation of most of the previous exercises)

Do any of the awareness exercises that have preceded. Take your body
sensation, for instance, as the focus of your attention.... Observe
not only the sensations that yield themselves readily to your
awareness, the grosser sensations but also the subtler ones.... If
possible, do not give the sensations any names (burning, numbness,
pricking, itching, cold.... ). Just feel the sensations without
putting a label on to them....

Do the same with sounds.... Capture as many of them as possible....
Do not try to identify the source of the sounds. Listen to the sounds
without putting a label on to them.

As you proceed with this exercise you will notice a great
peacefulness coming upon you, a deep silence.... Now become aware,
briefly, of this peacefulness and silence......

Feel how good it is to be here now. To have nothing to do. To just
be. Be.

For those who are more devotionally inclined. Do the previous
exercise until you sense the peacefulness that comes with it....

Become aware, for a brief while, of that peacefulness and silence....

Now express yourself to God non-verbally. Imagine that you are dumb
and you can only communicate with your eyes and your breathing. Say
to the Lord, non-verbally, "Lord, it is good to be here with you."
Or, do not communicate with the Lord at all. Just rest in His
presence.

Also, for the devotionally inclined, a rudimentary exercise in
finding God in all things.

Return to the world of the senses.... Become as keenly aware as
possible of the air you breathe.... of the sounds around you.... of
the sensations you feel in your body.... Sense God in the air, the
sounds, the sensations. Rest in this whole world of the senses. Rest
in God.... Surrender to this whole world of the senses (sounds,
tactile sensations, colours....) ......

...... Surrender to God ......


----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Individual's Uplift And World Welfare
The Divine Life ideal offers a panacea for all the social and
political ills of the modern world. The three fundamentals of Divine
Life—Serve, Love, Give—are the pillars upon which an individual can
stand and uplift himself and the brotherhood of man can be built.
Thus the life in this world can become more fearless and happy as
well as purposeful.

If one tries to observe people, one may see there three types of
persons—extroverts, introverts and ambiverts. Extroverts are persons
whose mind always goes outwards. They become slaves of their senses.
They are after money, pleasure and passion, position and power,
honour and acclaim. They are bound with the conditions and
circumstances and the circumference of life. Naturally, their pursuit
is of the outer and they forget the purpose and destination of human
life.

Introverts are those persons who are reflective and contemplative and
long to study their inner realm, the inner universe hidden within.
Goethe called it as "Man's inner universe". They renounce pleasure
and position, keeping themselves aloof—away from acclaim and honour.
The charm of the world is such that one may find only a few who are
introverts. Ambivert is a person who does not cut himself from the
outer, but lives in the `inner' and makes the outer a vehicle of the
inner. He dedicates his life in selfless service of humanity and
places his life as an offering at the altar of the Great Creator of
the universe the Lord. Such a person realises the sanctity of
service, seeking nothing for himself, keeping ablaze the Divinity
within. They are the embodiments of humility and compassion and love
pure and simple at heart. But without becoming introvert it is not
possible for anyone to become ambivert. And such a person is called
sadhaka in its real perspective. In fact, man is an inborn sadhaka,
but fails to recognise the same due to misconceptions,
misunderstandings, arrogance and vanity.

Holistic View

"There is a common tendency to isolate spiritual principles from
politics, especially in these days of great intellectual power.
Dreamers and visionaries are often brushed aside as people with their
heads in the clouds", out of touch with stark realities. In so many
ways man has become wedded to the doctrine of self-salvation, self-
achievement and self-dependence that in the resultant excitement of
great material achievements he is in danger of forgetting the eternal
truths upon which this entire universe exists and its future heritage
depends.

The bad habit of complaining against others, the conditions and
slackness in sincere attempts, and a lack of love for himself and
humanity—and man becomes a prey of vanity which subsists on false
values. Man generally thinks falsely that he is unblemished and
superior to others and that others are blemished and inferior. The
inevitable consequence is that he gets a perverted vision and loses
the capacity for seeing and accepting Truth. If a man develops an
attitude of selfishness, he is liable to poison every good sight and
tie. But, if his attitude becomes one of helpfulness and
understanding, he shall beautify every tie—foes will turn into
friends, problems will have their solutions and man will have his
salvation. Unfortunately, man thinks his gain in the loss of others,
his progress in another's downfall and his happiness in another's
unhappiness. It is a tremendous mistake and a dangerous trend born
out of indiscrimination and selfishness.

The inspired visions of saints, mystics and leaders in the religious
education, social, economic and artistic scene of every country have
truly reflected the true aspirations of the people. From these
visions was born the practical reality of everything which is
recognised to be good in their way of life. And of course, everything
that is discordant or bad is the outward result of individual and
collective negative or evil thinking or beliefs.

One of the greatest saints of the present day Sri Swami Sivanandaji
Maharaj has placed before the world the `Divine Life' gospel for the
uplift of the individual and attainment of divinity in the end which
can be summed up in six succinct words, "Serve, Love. Give, Purify,
Meditate, Realise."

The physical frame of a man owes much to the world because it is made
of the same five elements of which this world is composed. One has,
therefore, to serve one and all without any distinction whatsoever
and without any expectation of return or reward so that he may clear
out his debt towards the world. One must properly understand that the
acquired wealth and power are not his own but are the `trust' of the
poor and weak. In the right use of things lies the key which consists
in the service of others. Service and sacrifice, hence, are the acme
of duty and dutifulness. When a duty is performed as a duty for
duty's sake, it becomes the source of salvation and not the bondage
of attachment. But he should not have the idea of doership. Hence the
service and performance of duty with a feeling of responsibility and
pure heart without expectations, which is prompted by an inner sense
of fellowship and unity, reduces attachment and destroys the sense of
doership and thus liberates the man.

Love is light, life, eternity. There is nothing else to achieve in
this world but love. In love consists the perfection of human life.
All impurities are rooted in the craving for the pleasure of the
senses, but love is not there. Love is the nature of the beloved and
the life of the lover. One must know that faith and Love go together,
because in the sense of unity resides Love and in the ending of
desire is the dawn of Love. Man has sincerely to understand that the
outer form of action warranted by a given situation generally makes
little difference to the Love and sympathy in one's inner attitude.
The man has to learn a great lesson that he has to love even a
sinner, while hating the sin. A man, who is an inborn sadhaka, must
learn the lesson of forgiveness even without asking for the same from
the person who has done something wrong. Thus only the impurities of
man's mind can be washed off. Of course, it requires great moral
strength to seek forgiveness for one's own past wrong actions. Only
one who is truly repentant and who has realised that any satisfaction
of the senses derived from evil propensities is bound to reap a
harvest of evil and sorrow.

Man should not be confounded with a seeming contradiction between
forgiveness and justice. Man's sense of justice is distorted, on
account of the limitations of his ego, his reactions are perverted.
Strictly speaking, in one sense, man can do justice only to himself
because he can understand his own mind and not of others. As a man
and as a sadhaka one should, therefore, refrain from judging others;
and also one should be forgiving others in so far one feels wronged
by others. When the mind is devoid of hate, a long step is taken by
man towards recovery. Love is the tremendous curative force for an
individual and for the society. So the great Master emphasised
greatly this love factor and preached in practice—Love all, hate
none. God is in all, do not hurt Him.

The urge to give happiness to others helps man to destroy his own
craving for pleasure. The desire for pleasure is the cause of
frustration; giving and sharing what you have and serving others with
compassion consumes the craving for pleasure. He warned an aspirant
that generosity motivated by attachment, and renunciation caused by
anger are fruitless. The truth is that the supreme giver is ours, but
all the things He gives are His. Therefore, man should learn the
lesson of giving and giving with happiness all the good that he
possesses and not think that by giving he will lose. In fact he will
gain something which is Divine and Eternal.

If the three mottos above—Serve, Love and Give—are properly
understood and practised by man in his day-to-day life, he will find
that his heart has become purified and he is living in a higher stage
and better society. In fact, in the renunciation of one's rights and
protection of rights of the others lies the secret of attainment. His
mind becomes purified and then alone he is in a position to meditate
and realise.

This is the gospel of Divine life which is the need of the hour, and
if we follow this, we shall be serving this world in a better way on
its upward march. Then alone can there be `Ramarajya'.

Let us march on this path with confidence and faith, with sincerity
and strength, with devotion and dedication. May God and Gurudev bless
you!


----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Radiate to all thoughts of love and goodness. Never look into the
faults and defects of others. Always appreciate the good in others.
Overlook their weakness. Pray for the one who wishes to harm you.
Bear insult and injury. Be good and do good.

—Swami Sivananda

Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
picture I have posted in our photo section
in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
19 inches long, and has filled me and our
whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
blessing.
Peace and blessings,
Bob




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--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
> first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
> birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
> picture I have posted in our photo section
> in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
> 19 inches long, and has filled me and our
> whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
> of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
> glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
> blessing.
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob


*****Another star has been apparently lit in the inifinity whcih is
all life.  Wit you and your family, I celebrate the perfection.

~andy

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com,
medit8ionsociety <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
> first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
> birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
> picture I have posted in our photo section
> in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
> 19 inches long, and has filled me and our
> whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
> of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
> glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
> blessing.
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob

sg:      belated congratulations.....

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
> first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
> birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
> picture I have posted in our photo section
> in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
> 19 inches long, and has filled me and our
> whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
> of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
> glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
> blessing.
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob

Clink, may love and peace
and great joy fill the house.
What a special early holiday
gift. Congratulations all
around, Bob...ah, Grandpop.

Papajeff

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
> first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
> birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
> picture I have posted in our photo section
> in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
> 19 inches long, and has filled me and our
> whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
> of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
> glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
> blessing.
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob

What a beautiful little baby! Grandpophood sounds great!

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com, medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Well, today I became a Grandpop for the
> first time. My daughter Aliyah gave
> birth to a beautiful little girl (whose
> picture I have posted in our photo section
> in the Baby Jordan file). She's 5 lb 4 oz,
> 19 inches long, and has filled me and our
> whole family with a 10 ton, mile high feeling
> of joy. Please join me in raising a cyber
> glass of champagne as I rejoice in this great
> blessing.
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob

You are a lucky man dear Bob Rose.  You know how to notice it all.

Love
Bobby G.