MeditationMeditation

Swami IshwaranandaSwami Ishwarananda

Christianity/Judaism/Christianity/Judaism/Islam’s view:Islam’s view:

Meditate on events of Meditate on events of Jesus’ lifeJesus’ life

Meditate on a verse of Meditate on a verse of Torah to uncover the Torah to uncover the meaning (Jewish)meaning (Jewish)

Meditate on one or Meditate on one or more of the several of more of the several of the Qur’an’s Ninety-the Qur’an’s Ninety-nine Most Beautiful nine Most Beautiful Names of God.Names of God.

In solitude – he sits cross-legged – body In solitude – he sits cross-legged – body erect – mindfully he breathes, knowing “I erect – mindfully he breathes, knowing “I breathe in long” and breathes out, breathe in long” and breathes out, knowing “I breathe out long”…knowing “I breathe out long”…

When he walks he knows ‘I am walking”, When he walks he knows ‘I am walking”, and while standing he knows “I am and while standing he knows “I am standing.”standing.”

He reflects on the body: ‘There are in this He reflects on the body: ‘There are in this body: hairs of the head, body hair, nails, body: hairs of the head, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, marrow, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, marrow, kidney, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, bowels, kidney, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, bowels, intestines, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, intestines, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, saliva, mucus, urine.”…sweat, fat, saliva, mucus, urine.”…

MINDFULNESS – contemplating body in the bodyHe who meditates… Buddhism

MINDFULNESS –MINDFULNESS – contemplating feelings in contemplating feelings in feelingsfeelings When experiencing pleasant feeling he When experiencing pleasant feeling he

knows, “I experience a pleasant feeling”, knows, “I experience a pleasant feeling”, when experiencing painful feeling he when experiencing painful feeling he knows, “I experience a painful feeling.”…knows, “I experience a painful feeling.”…

MINDFULNESS –MINDFULNESS – contemplating contemplating consciousnessconsciousness

He knows the consciousness with anger He knows the consciousness with anger as with anger; consciousness without as with anger; consciousness without anger as without anger…anger as without anger…

MINDFULNESS –MINDFULNESS – contemplating mental contemplating mental objectsobjects When the sense desire is present he knows, When the sense desire is present he knows,

“The sense desire is in me,” when it is not “The sense desire is in me,” when it is not present he knows, “There is no sense desire present he knows, “There is no sense desire in me.”…in me.”…

Buddhism

Verily, from meditation arises Verily, from meditation arises wisdom. Without meditation wisdom wisdom. Without meditation wisdom wanes.wanes.

Concentration is unafflicted one-Concentration is unafflicted one-pointednesspointedness

Calm is his mind, calm is his speech, Calm is his mind, calm is his speech, calm is his action, who rightly calm is his action, who rightly knowing, is wholly freed, perfectly knowing, is wholly freed, perfectly peaceful and equipoised.peaceful and equipoised.

-Buddhism-Buddhism

Hindu/Jain/Taoist view:Hindu/Jain/Taoist view:

Meditation is to:Meditation is to: Stay in solitudeStay in solitude Control the sensesControl the senses Control thoughts and feelingsControl thoughts and feelings Reach the state of stillnessReach the state of stillness

Result : revelation of Self withinResult : revelation of Self within

Meditation – Bhagavad-GitaMeditation – Bhagavad-Gita Those who eat too much, or too little, Those who eat too much, or too little,

who sleep too much or too little will not who sleep too much or too little will not succeed in meditation. But those who are succeed in meditation. But those who are moderate in eating, sleeping, work and moderate in eating, sleeping, work and recreation will come to the end of sorrow recreation will come to the end of sorrow through meditation.through meditation.

Select a clean spot – sit firmly – hold your Select a clean spot – sit firmly – hold your body, head and neck firmly in a straight body, head and neck firmly in a straight line, and keep your eyes from wandering. line, and keep your eyes from wandering.

Whenever the mind wanders, there and Whenever the mind wanders, there and then turn it inward.then turn it inward.

Through practice withdraw the mind Through practice withdraw the mind from all wanderings and absorb in the from all wanderings and absorb in the Self.Self.

Meditation – Sri Ramana Meditation – Sri Ramana MaharshiMaharshi Meditation is the stage before Realization.Meditation is the stage before Realization.

Meditation is sticking to one thought. It keeps Meditation is sticking to one thought. It keeps away all other thoughts. It weakens all other away all other thoughts. It weakens all other thoughts such as “I am the body”, “I am a thoughts such as “I am the body”, “I am a proud father of my children” and so on.proud father of my children” and so on.

A beginner can begin with meditating on a form A beginner can begin with meditating on a form (of God) or symbol.(of God) or symbol.

In the beginning stages, Meditation is a fight by In the beginning stages, Meditation is a fight by one thought against many thoughts. Strengthen one thought against many thoughts. Strengthen the single thought. Later, it will stay on even the single thought. Later, it will stay on even when you are engaged in other activities of life.when you are engaged in other activities of life.

Thought-free consciousness is the goal of Thought-free consciousness is the goal of MeditationMeditation

Meditation – Swami Meditation – Swami ChinmayanandaChinmayananda

Mind turned towards its source – the Mind turned towards its source – the SELF - is the Art of Meditation.SELF - is the Art of Meditation.

True Meditation can fashion out of True Meditation can fashion out of an ordinary person an incomparable an ordinary person an incomparable genius.genius.

Leave the idols alone. Turn inwards. Leave the idols alone. Turn inwards. Reach the silence. Burst into it and Reach the silence. Burst into it and scale the heights to arrive at the scale the heights to arrive at the depths of that which is all these. depths of that which is all these. Taste it and be silent within. When Taste it and be silent within. When full, there shall be no blabbering, no full, there shall be no blabbering, no words.words.

MEET ME THERE.MEET ME THERE.

What is NOT MeditationWhat is NOT Meditation

Chanting the name of the Lord (Chanting the name of the Lord (Japa), Japa), Mantra-s, Stotram-s and Prayers – Mantra-s, Stotram-s and Prayers – these these are good to quiet the mind.are good to quiet the mind.

Contemplation on the verses from Contemplation on the verses from Scriptures.Scriptures.

Concentration on objects.Concentration on objects. Control of breath – Control of breath – Pranayama.Pranayama. Visualizations.Visualizations. Mindful engagement in activities.Mindful engagement in activities.

MMEEDDIITTAATTIIOONN

INDIND

NGAGINGNGAGING

EEPLYEEPLY

NN

OTALOTAL

WARENESSWARENESS

RANSCENDINGRANSCENDING

TSTS

WNWN

ATUREATURE

What is Mind?What is Mind?

Mind is flow of thoughts – An activity in Mind is flow of thoughts – An activity in the brain (made of water, lipid and the brain (made of water, lipid and protein).protein).

At any time there is only one thought.At any time there is only one thought. Rapid succession of thoughts make it Rapid succession of thoughts make it

appear that there is the presence of appear that there is the presence of ‘Mind.’‘Mind.’

Slowing down the thoughts is a Slowing down the thoughts is a necessary preparation for Meditation.necessary preparation for Meditation.

What is a Thought?What is a Thought?

When an object is perceived through eyes, ears, When an object is perceived through eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin, a thought is experiencednose, tongue and skin, a thought is experienced

When an object is imagined through memory also a When an object is imagined through memory also a thought is experienced thought is experienced

Thoughts are created in your own brain and Thoughts are created in your own brain and therefore there is no source of thought outside therefore there is no source of thought outside you.you.

Thoughts do not know thoughts! Awareness is that Thoughts do not know thoughts! Awareness is that which is conscious of thoughts – their presence which is conscious of thoughts – their presence and absence. and absence.

In Meditation your focus should be on Awareness and NOT on In Meditation your focus should be on Awareness and NOT on object of perceptionobject of perception

Object of Perception Awareness Thought+ =

MIND

WAKING

Sense perceptions

Thought Awareness

Flow of thoughts

Awareness

Pleasure from the world – Objects, Emotions &

Thoughts

Self Awareness

DREAM

No externalSense Perceptions

ThoughtAwareness

No Self Awareness

Pleasure fromSelf-created world-

Objects, emotions & thoughts

Engagements of the mind in Waking & Dream

MIND

DEEPSLEEP

MEDITATION

No externalSense Perceptions

No externalSense perceptions

No Thought Awareness

No Thought Awareness

NO Flow of thoughts

Awareness

Joy from absence of Objects, emotions &

thoughtsBliss of SELF

No Self AwarenessTotal

Awareness

Mind in Sleep & Meditation

FullAwareness

Bliss

STATE OFMEDITATION

No Mind

Flicker-less FlameFlicker-less FlameMind unwavering like the Mind unwavering like the

flame of a lamp in a flame of a lamp in a windless place is the windless place is the state of deep state of deep meditation.-Gita 6.19meditation.-Gita 6.19

Lamp – MindLamp – Mind

Wick – IntellectWick – Intellect

Oil – Practice with LoveOil – Practice with Love

Windless place – Absence Windless place – Absence of distractions (like of distractions (like desire etc)desire etc)

The spark to light-up the The spark to light-up the lamp is the knowledge lamp is the knowledge

provided by the teacher / provided by the teacher / scripturescripture

Benefits of MeditationBenefits of Meditation

Calmness of the Calmness of the mindmind

CheerfulnessCheerfulness Clarity in Clarity in

thinkingthinking Absence of Absence of

anxietyanxiety ConcentrationConcentration

Due to practice of attention on silence

Due to inner bliss

Ability to regulate the the flow of thoughts

Due to less interest in seeking joy from objects

Due to practice of mindfulness