Continued..
Another thing, the real nature (sattva) of the Chosen Deity (Ishta) is to be remembered during meditation. For example, we meditate upon the picture of Sri Ramakrishna, sitting in a high yogic state. The whole of it is not arising always in the mind.When the meditation becomes deep then we will see his facial expressions, the extend of his deeply indrawn sight. In other words, we too will dive deep into the depths of his real nature. Now, glancing at the picture of Sri Ramakrsihna superficially, we will not understand the extent of the depth, where his consciousness has merged. But as we dive deeper in our meditation, we shall be able to contemplate more and more the real nature of Sri Ramakrishna.
Let us consider the meditation posture of Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna has himself said, 'This picture depicts a very high state of Yoga.' Do we understand anything of it? Why don't we? Because it is necessary to become a yogi for understanding a high state of yoga. We are not yogis, so we don't understand this. But one thing we can understand by meditating on the picture in depth, by observing it carefully, by thinking of it - though it is entirely my personal view and feeling, I am telling what I myself feel about it - that that is a deep indrawn state of Thakur. Eyes are almost closed. As if the universe has completely got dissolved. There is not the slightest trace of outward consciousness. What an extremely indrawn state! As if he is completely submerged somewhere. No worldly consciousness. In this state, what Thakur is thinking or in which he is submerged-we too should think about during meditation.
Besides, this can be though that he who incarnated as Rama or as Krishna in the past for the welfare of the world, the same 'He' with the help of the power of Maya has come down in the form of Sri Ramakrishna in this age. Meditate like this. At one place in the Siva-mahimnah stotram (25) it is said addressing Siva,'You are verily that Being which the Yogis contemplate during meditation.'
The meaning of that sloka is, 'Thou art indeed that indescribable Truth which the yogis realize through meditation on the self, by controlling the breath according to scriptural directions, and realising which they shed of thrilling joy and swim as it were in the pool of nectar, enjoying inner bliss.
During meditation it will be observed that thoughts are continuously flowing in the mind. It is hardly possible to make mind free of thoughts. And the wonder is that we too flow along with the current of thoughts. After, a long time, we come back to awareness and say, 'What the hell was I thinking about!'That means I was not alert. I too was following in the direction in which the mind was pulling em. If we observe the mind or gradually examine it, then it can no longer drag us. We gain control over it. The mind cannot overpower us. we can control it.
I often think about another characteristic of the mind. The same mind can be divided into two. One is the seer, the other is the seen. that is to say one is the seer-mind and another is the seen-mind. When the seer-mind examines the seen-mind, then it is not possible to get drifted away by the thoughts of the mind. That is why Swamiji has instructed, 'Do not start meditating immediately after sitting on the seat. Observe the mind for some time. Observe what it is doing. You will see that gradually the flickerings of mind will stop. The mind will be concentrated. Then meditate.'
Though we try to meditate with the help of imagination, still it is not merely an imagination. It is imagination to think of some unreal object which has no existence in a real sense. As for example 'imagining a garden in the sky.' It has no real existence. It is merely an imagination. It is impossible for a garden to exist in the sky. But we do not disbelieve in the existence of the object of meditation...
To be continued....
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Another thing, the real nature (sattva) of the Chosen Deity (Ishta) is to be remembered during meditation. For example, we meditate upon the picture of Sri Ramakrishna, sitting in a high yogic state. The whole of it is not arising always in the mind.When the meditation becomes deep then we will see his facial expressions, the extend of his deeply indrawn sight. In other words, we too will dive deep into the depths of his real nature. Now, glancing at the picture of Sri Ramakrsihna superficially, we will not understand the extent of the depth, where his consciousness has merged. But as we dive deeper in our meditation, we shall be able to contemplate more and more the real nature of Sri Ramakrishna.
Let us consider the meditation posture of Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna has himself said, 'This picture depicts a very high state of Yoga.' Do we understand anything of it? Why don't we? Because it is necessary to become a yogi for understanding a high state of yoga. We are not yogis, so we don't understand this. But one thing we can understand by meditating on the picture in depth, by observing it carefully, by thinking of it - though it is entirely my personal view and feeling, I am telling what I myself feel about it - that that is a deep indrawn state of Thakur. Eyes are almost closed. As if the universe has completely got dissolved. There is not the slightest trace of outward consciousness. What an extremely indrawn state! As if he is completely submerged somewhere. No worldly consciousness. In this state, what Thakur is thinking or in which he is submerged-we too should think about during meditation.
Besides, this can be though that he who incarnated as Rama or as Krishna in the past for the welfare of the world, the same 'He' with the help of the power of Maya has come down in the form of Sri Ramakrishna in this age. Meditate like this. At one place in the Siva-mahimnah stotram (25) it is said addressing Siva,'You are verily that Being which the Yogis contemplate during meditation.'
The meaning of that sloka is, 'Thou art indeed that indescribable Truth which the yogis realize through meditation on the self, by controlling the breath according to scriptural directions, and realising which they shed of thrilling joy and swim as it were in the pool of nectar, enjoying inner bliss.
During meditation it will be observed that thoughts are continuously flowing in the mind. It is hardly possible to make mind free of thoughts. And the wonder is that we too flow along with the current of thoughts. After, a long time, we come back to awareness and say, 'What the hell was I thinking about!'That means I was not alert. I too was following in the direction in which the mind was pulling em. If we observe the mind or gradually examine it, then it can no longer drag us. We gain control over it. The mind cannot overpower us. we can control it.
I often think about another characteristic of the mind. The same mind can be divided into two. One is the seer, the other is the seen. that is to say one is the seer-mind and another is the seen-mind. When the seer-mind examines the seen-mind, then it is not possible to get drifted away by the thoughts of the mind. That is why Swamiji has instructed, 'Do not start meditating immediately after sitting on the seat. Observe the mind for some time. Observe what it is doing. You will see that gradually the flickerings of mind will stop. The mind will be concentrated. Then meditate.'
Though we try to meditate with the help of imagination, still it is not merely an imagination. It is imagination to think of some unreal object which has no existence in a real sense. As for example 'imagining a garden in the sky.' It has no real existence. It is merely an imagination. It is impossible for a garden to exist in the sky. But we do not disbelieve in the existence of the object of meditation...
To be continued....
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