MEDIATED MEDIATION

THE STILL MIND AT YOUR DISPOSAL IS LIKE A CAR TANKED UP AND READY TO RUN. ALL IT REQUIRES IS A DRIVER. THANE PLUS GIVES YOU AN INSIGHT INTO MEDITATIONT-THE ABILITY TO STILL YOUR MIND-AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A CAPABLE MASTER TO GUIDE YOU

Nasser Lalljee
Those three lovely words in Sanskrit - dhyanam nirvishayam manaha -sum it up perfectly - emptying the mind and keeping it aloof from bodily functions. The effort is in keeping the mind aloof and not getting involved, and to achieve this objective various steps have been offered by masters as well as those evolved from everyday life.

The stilling of the mind is extremely important and is greatly significant not only for spiritual growth but also equally important in handling everyday situations. By staying calm and aloof, one's appraisal of the situation is from a vantage point, giving the view in its entirety, thus giving wider options to tackle the situation.

Even a simple game of table tennis, cooking or even dishwashing is meditation itself. By keeping the mind focused entirely on the job on hand, there, is no space for anything else. Getting to the point is one thing but keeping it so requires practice, and keeping the mind focused at all times on stillness is no different and far from easy.

Dhyanam means to concentrate and when concentration is absolute one goes beyond time and space. An example to illustrate the point is when you bump into an old friend whom you haven't seen for ages and you go out to catch up with each other, or are completely engrossed in any activity like reading or watching a movie, hours pass before you realise it. The mind being so taken up with the task on hand, dispatches time and comes back refreshed.

Masters across centuries have emphasized time and again upon the importance of keeping a still mind...never idle, but still. Meditation helps in keeping the essences and discarding the junk that has been carried for so long.

Asserts Dr Vinayak Paranjape, "Patanjali Yog, which is a manual for attaining Samadhi is correct in claiming that true mediation only begins when the body is in complete harmony with the mind. For this to happen, first of all, conduct has to be exemplary; the body has to be completely free of any blocks which will prevent the free flow of energy. And a free and supple body is due to two aspects" exercise (asanas) and a controlled, unruffled and a serene mind. Mostly trust of the path and its provider, at every step, is essential."

A capable master is required in whom you have complete trust, and he should be able to save you from wandering or collecting negative energy when your mind becomes empty. Not that you have to give up the path in case of difficulty but he should be proficient enough to judge the individual's requirement and proceed accordingly.

In the process of stilling the mind, one becomes detached from all hatred, anger, fear, lust, greed and the like. Being detached, one looks at life differently, looking at it in totality. Acceptance of the Divine Will is paramount and this is bliss. And it is only attained through detachment.

Another way is to break out, step back and look into your mind, and see which programme is running. You will find nothing for the first few seconds. After that imagination starts when the mind starts wandering. So it is important to pick up those few seconds of nothingness as often as possible.

There are many types of meditation. Just pick one that suits you.