Dec 29, 2004, 12.00am IST
SWAMI NIKHILANANDA.
The first step in meditation is being mindful of what we are doing. Learn to meditate while performing action, with a sense of seva and an awareness of being an instrument in the hands of a higher power. Any action giving a feeling of joy and a sense of performing duty is meditation. It is not necessary to go to Haridwar or Rishikesh to meditate, or even sit at one place for meditation. With such an attitude, even when a person fights for his country, he is in meditation. Observe great singers, dancers and artists; when they perform, they tune themselves becoming instruments in the hands of the Lord, free of any ego or pride. This state of joy is meditation in action.
The next step in meditation is at the level of feel- ing; to experience love for God and for all His creatures. Meera Bai and Tulsidas were in a cons-tant state of meditation, because they loved and saw God in everything around them. When we express deep feelings of love and respect towards anyone we love and revere, in thought, word or action, we are in meditation.
Sage Narada once saw a gopi sitting alone, lost in thought. She was yearning to be with her beloved Krishna. The sage asked if she had studied the scriptures and learnt how to reach the Lord, or whether she had gone through the different stages of meditation to attain the ultimate state of oneness with Him. The gopi innocently said that she only knew that she was in love with Krishna, and whenever and wherever she thought of her Lord, she found herself with Him. Through devotion and love alone she experienced ultimate bliss.
Meditation is feeling compassion, friendship, humility, and love for the One principle pervading all beings and objects of this world. When Jesus Christ was being crucified he cried: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. In that state of forgiveness, Jesus was in meditation. We experience meditation in understanding the true nature of the Universe, through the intellect or buddhi. The philosophy of division sees differences, creates hatred, violence, misery, and agitation in the mind. This cannot give us peace and quietude. The Vedanta philosophy of Oneness views the whole cosmos and every thing in it as pervaded with Ishwara. Through touching, seeing, smelling, hearing and tasting we commune with God alone. See the whole Universe as one family — Vasudhaiv kutumbakam. In this understanding of Oneness, we are in a state of meditation.
The highest state of meditation is at the level of just being. To reach that state of meditation, we do not have to do anything, because being is meditation. That is why we are called human beings. In this state we identify with the core or divinity in us — the Principle of Consciousness and Bliss. A person in this state of joy is in a state of meditation by just being aware of the present moment. Learn from the past, plan for the future but live in the present, aware of your real Self.
For peace, happiness fulfilment, practice meditation in action, feeling, understanding and just being. To achieve the best, perform actions with complete awareness and mindfulness, combined with a sense of service. Consider yourself an instrument in the hands of a higher power. Love is divine; love is giving, not demanding. We do not fall in love; we rise in love with God. Realise your oneness with all living beings, nature, and the cosmos. Succeed in the practice of meditation and experience the joy and bliss of being.
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