i can't meditate! why? - the circle of solitude

The Circle of Solitude

I can’t

Meditate!

Why?

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

So many of us find it difficult to sit for

meditation. Why?

We try to learn in this SlideShow.


At first we will try to understand where

our thoughts are consumed?

For this purpose, we may visualize

ourselves as a deck of concentric circles.


Each layer

represents a

specific

category of

thoughts.


Firstly, most

of us see

ourselves as a

social being.


The Circle of Society

Thus our mind is occupied greatly in

social thoughts.

We are busy thinking of things and

activities our society bring to us.


Our name, fame, popularity, etc.; these

subjects dominate our thoughts.

We are constantly concerned about our

standing in the society we live.


Next, in

modern times,

our thoughts

are consumed

deeply in our

profession.


The Circle of Profession

We use our profession to achieve our

social objectives.

In so many ways it is our professional

success that decides other things of life.


As a result we work hard to make

ourselves successful professionally.

It is not uncommon to see people

neglect family, health, etc. for this.


Third, in olden

days, people

will lay lot of

emphasis on

family. Now

also its

important.


The Circle of Family

In countries like India, there will be

joint families previously.

People were known by the family they

belonged to.


Now also family is important for us. The

size may have become nuclear.

Thus a lot of things we do in our life are

done for the sake of our family.


Then next, we

are thinking

about

ourselves.


The Circle of Individual

We are thinking of our likes, dislikes,

dreams, desires, emotions, feelings.

We are thinking of things we wish to

do, accomplish & build.


This circle is specifically important to

most of us in the current times.

Our thoughts are greatly captured in

this space.


These 4

thought

spaces

consume us

in modern

life.


SocietyProfession

FamilyIndividual

Even things

like

Humanity,

Nationality,

etc., are part

of this.


SocietyProfession

FamilyIndividual

Beyond these 4 circles, which are all

outward looking, there is one more…

This one exists within us and we know

of it as well.



This is us

when no one

is watching.



This is us

when we are

with our

truest

thoughts.



This is us

when we are

untouched by

any other

kind of

existence.



This is the

voice that

comes from

within.


Meditation is an activity of this space.


We cannot meditate because we are

busy all the time visualizing ourself as a

social, professional, family or the

person we may be.


We cannot meditate because we forget

there is a fifth level in us, as well;

The one which is within & is focused

inwards.


We cannot meditate because we

constantly deny its existence.

We are busy in thoughts that are

flowing outwards.


Now, does

that mean we

leave

everything

else?


???

For 15 minutes when we close our eyes

& sit still…

…if we can keep everything out or at

least in waiting, we can Meditate.


That is why no matter what meditation

we learn…

… they all focus on reducing number of

thoughts in the mind.


Anyone who can understand this, can

Meditate.


Meditation is when lesser external

thoughts disturb us.


For 15 minutes try be free of all external

/ outbound thoughts.


For 15 minutes try to be in your Circle

of Solitude.


For 15 minutes forget everything

outward about yourself & instead try

look inwards.


Do it! & Meditation shall happen.


Gratitude: My revered teacher, Swami Amartayananda &

the message of SDM – Satsang, Disciplined Life & Meditation.

i can't meditate! why? - the circle of solitude

Spiritual

puneet srivastava

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