Archive for the ‘meditation’ Category

Silence of Meditation

Modern life with all its distractions and features seems particularly unsuited to silence. Even if we have actual outer silence our mind is rarely silent. If we analyse our thoughts there seem to be a never ending stream of worries, anxieties, and regrets.

In meditation we try to do a very difficult thing – silence our thoughts completely. It is difficult only because we are so unused to this idea. The mind is so used to thinking that it is easy to think our existence is defined by our thoughts and this must be our only existence. To quote the famous saying of Descartes “I think therefore I am”
However meditation teaches that what we are is unencumbered by thoughts. The real “I” is our self which is beyond thought.

There is an interesting exercise to prove this. Whenever a thought arises in the mind, ask yourself where is the origination of this thought? This leads you to part of yourself which is beyond thought. Also be aware of the fact that you can choose which thought to accept and which to reject. This again shows us that what we are, is not our thoughts. There is some inner self which can decide whether to pursue thoughts or not. It is when we are able to stop thoughts entering our mind that we will start to experience real silence. This technique of meditation on the question “Who am I?” was particularly recommended by Spiritual Master Ramana Maharshi.

 

Silence of Meditation

The silence of meditation is not just quietness. It embodies a dynamic and vast consciousness far beyond our usual experience of everyday life. It is in this mental silence that we can access our own hidden consciousness. By silence we really mean the silence of the mind.

“Silence is not silent. Silence speaks. It speaks most eloquently.
Silence is not still. Silence leads. It leads most perfectly.”

Sri Chinmoy

 

Difficulties in achieving Silence

A difficulty we face in experiencing silence in the mind is that part of us is uncertain what will happen. It is like stepping into the unknown, this fear of the unknown keeps us from diving deep into our meditation. To experience the silence of meditation it is necessary to give up worries about the future, regrets about the past. It is also necessary to give up our own notions of what we are. We have to feel the need for giving up these negative qualities and suspending the judgement of the mind. If we can experience the silence of meditation it is liberating because unencumbered by our own thoughts we can make ourselves receptive to the inner peace of our own soul.

“Silence tells the seeker in us to love, to love himself. It tells us it is wrong to hate ourselves because of our imperfections.”

– Sri Chinmoy

 

Silence is experienced in the Heart.

When we meditate we can try focus our sense of awareness in the heart. When we talk about the heart in meditation we are actually referring to the spiritual heart. This is a Chakra or energy centre. We have seven of these charkas and they are explained in Hindu, Buddhist and other scriptures. If we concentrate on the spiritual heart, which is located in the centre of the chest near the physical heart, then over time we will feel a physical sensation like a rotating disc. This is a good sign. It is in the heart that it is easiest to silence the mind. The heart has a power of its own. The nature of the heart is not to judge, think or criticise. The qualities of the heart embody vastness, oneness and love. It is here that we can experience silence most effectively.

Article by Richard Pettinger

Sources:Silence at Sri Chinmoy Library

Meditation better than an afternoon nap

Researchers led by Prashant Kaul of the University of Kentucky, investigated whether meditation could help people become less tired in the afternoon.

The students were asked to undergo a series of tests and then have their responses measured. The study found that alertness was the highest after meditation, followed by caffeine and then exercise. Napping had the worst results.

The findings of Prashant Kaul were recently submitted to a conference for the Society for Neuroscience.

Previous studies have shown that when meditating although people are awake their are similar brain patterns to sleeping.

Some adepts in meditation are known to need very little sleep having become able to draw in cosmic energy.

See: NY Times for more information

Meditation Music

 

"Meditation and music cannot be separated. When we cry from the inmost recesses of our heart for peace, light and bliss, that is the best type of meditation. Next to meditation is music, soulful music, the music that stirs and elevates our aspiring consciousness. "

 

Sri Chinmoy

 

Meditation Help Prison Inmates

The inmates of Gwalior Central Jail recently had a day long session of taking lessons in spiritualism, relieving stress and how to shun violent tendencies by a visiting team of volunteers representing a New York based organisation.

The inmates serving various jail terms in the Gawlior Central Jail attended a six hour long session on spiritualism to develop and realise their inner selves. It was organised by the Krishna Bhavnamat Sangh, the New York based voluntary organisation.

The nearly six hour long session was attended by almost all of the 2,800 inmates. About 200 jail staff was also present during the programme.

The initiative was taken to make them learn how they can rehabilitate themselves in society after being released. Inmates were motivated to participate in spiritual meets to overcome emotional stress and sense of guilt.

A musical programme was also conducted in the jail premises.

"We have conducted these spiritual meets in the jail at Agra and many prisoners have been able to change this lifestyle and outlook. Some prisoners were creating nuisance in the jail but it was spiritual interactions with us that changed their attitude. Those prisoners have started meditating for about eight hours a day," added Jankiram, Campaign Secretary of Krishna Bhavnamat Sangh.

Following this experimental spiritual programme, the prisoners serving jail terms beyond five years or serving life terms felt an urge to transform their lives.

It was hoped that the programme would help the inmates shun criminal tendencies and reorient their attitude and outlook in a positive way.

According to Jail officials, such programmes may be very helpful for the prisoners to think positive and reshape their lives.

From: https://www.zeenews.com/nri/inner1.asp?aid=197818&sid=BUS