meditation swami ishwarananda. christianity/judaism/islam’s view: meditate on events of jesus’...
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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