Wednesday, February 07, 2007
GITA 108 DAYS - DAY 44
44. Meditation
Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as “Pandawa” to remind him of Pandu who went to the forest after giving up everything. Although Pandu had left the external world, his internal desires were not extinct and he was burnt to death in the fire of desires (forest fire). If he had chosen to live in the world, devoid of internal desires, he would not have had to face this fate. Just by giving up one’s actions or choosing a particular style of life externally, one will not become a sannyasi or a yogi. Sannyasa is a stage where one is able to say good bye to past actions and their results once for all. Non-attachment is the essence of sannyaasa.
After developing deeper insights in to our conscious mind, we need not depend on anyone else other than ourselves. Once we have won over ourselves, we are our best friend. For others they are their own worst enemy. All pairs of opposites have the same effect on those who are peaceful and have control over mind. For those who are steadfast in their resolve, gold and dirt are of equal value. Not that the yogi will throw away the gold that comes in his way, but he has clear awareness of the truth and cause behind everything. He is aware of their relative existence, but he is not at all concerned about gaining or losing either one of them.
It is a unique quality to have an attitude of equanimity, and behave equidistant to the pairs of opposites. Not that one should not get involved in anything; we should act, but with full awareness and perform the action without any emotional attachment to it. Don’t expect anything- even an expression of gratitude from anyone. Only when the mind is well settled and devoid of worries, one can attain the state of meditation. One cannot meditate amidst a mayhem.
One develops insight through meditation. Ideal time to meditate (brahma muhoortham) is indeed the time an individual is able to make his mind calm and serene- may be in the morning or in the evening or at noon time. Sit down at a clean place after cleaning your body and the surrounding. Don’t sit at a high elevation or at a low place. Fold up a straw mat and spread a piece of thick clean cloth over it to set up your seat. If you sit on the floor directly, your leg may go numb. Select a room in your home with good air flow, where there are no distractions. Wear loose comfortable clothes. Don’t start your meditation after eating to help us be alert. Keep your body, neck and head in one vertical line and without moving, concentrate your sight at the tip of your nose. Be fearless and direct your mind to concentrate in the consciousness.
Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as “Pandawa” to remind him of Pandu who went to the forest after giving up everything. Although Pandu had left the external world, his internal desires were not extinct and he was burnt to death in the fire of desires (forest fire). If he had chosen to live in the world, devoid of internal desires, he would not have had to face this fate. Just by giving up one’s actions or choosing a particular style of life externally, one will not become a sannyasi or a yogi. Sannyasa is a stage where one is able to say good bye to past actions and their results once for all. Non-attachment is the essence of sannyaasa.
After developing deeper insights in to our conscious mind, we need not depend on anyone else other than ourselves. Once we have won over ourselves, we are our best friend. For others they are their own worst enemy. All pairs of opposites have the same effect on those who are peaceful and have control over mind. For those who are steadfast in their resolve, gold and dirt are of equal value. Not that the yogi will throw away the gold that comes in his way, but he has clear awareness of the truth and cause behind everything. He is aware of their relative existence, but he is not at all concerned about gaining or losing either one of them.
It is a unique quality to have an attitude of equanimity, and behave equidistant to the pairs of opposites. Not that one should not get involved in anything; we should act, but with full awareness and perform the action without any emotional attachment to it. Don’t expect anything- even an expression of gratitude from anyone. Only when the mind is well settled and devoid of worries, one can attain the state of meditation. One cannot meditate amidst a mayhem.
One develops insight through meditation. Ideal time to meditate (brahma muhoortham) is indeed the time an individual is able to make his mind calm and serene- may be in the morning or in the evening or at noon time. Sit down at a clean place after cleaning your body and the surrounding. Don’t sit at a high elevation or at a low place. Fold up a straw mat and spread a piece of thick clean cloth over it to set up your seat. If you sit on the floor directly, your leg may go numb. Select a room in your home with good air flow, where there are no distractions. Wear loose comfortable clothes. Don’t start your meditation after eating to help us be alert. Keep your body, neck and head in one vertical line and without moving, concentrate your sight at the tip of your nose. Be fearless and direct your mind to concentrate in the consciousness.
# posted by Sukumar Canada @ 4:56 PM 
