Bhagavad Gita - Chapter VI
The ‘I’ is free from limitations. When we study and understand the ‘I’ of pure knowledge, we become a mass of pure consciousness. Alone to the Alone is the way. You alone have to lift yourself. Selfless work is good for beginners but work on the Self is the way forward. Sambuddhi is to be maintained at all levels of the body-mind-intellect, when there is a play at body-level (heat and cold), mind-level (pleasure and pain) and intellect-level (honour and dishonour).
One should constantly practice and concentrate on withdrawing from mental and emotional preoccupations by sitting in solitude, in a clean place, (Cleanliness is next to Godliness.) on an aasana comprising kusa grass or deer skin covered by a piece of cloth. After establishing oneself on the meditation seat, holding body, head and neck erect, keeping the vertebrae straight, gazing at the tip of one’s nose, with a serene mind, firm in the vow of Brahmacharya, he thus focuses his mind, single-pointedly on the supreme Godhead. This state of peace and quietude, without the impurities of the mind, along with moderation in all activities, relating to food, sleep and recreation, sets the stage for a total balance between swapna (state of sleep, experiences of the ego) and avabodha (wakefulness, Absolute Knowledge).
The art of Meditation is to be achieved by renouncing all desires of the mind, controlling sense organs from their field of activity, which will thereby decrease the flow of thoughts and lay the foundation for inner peace. No thoughts are to be entertained in this state and even if the wayward mind does play truant, it is to be brought back to control. Meditation is only a technique to stop the wanderings of the mind and the individual is awakened to the experience of supreme Bliss. In this harmonious state of the mind, the seeker realises that the divine awareness in him is also in all forms of existence around him. Awakened to this knowledge of the Self, the seeker thus realises that even though he is involved in other activities, the knowledge of his divine awareness would not be lost to him.
The Lord says, “He never becomes separated from Me nor do I become separate from him.” Arjuna’s recurring doubt: The mind is restless by nature. How will I keep my equanimity?” Krishna’s reply, “Practice and dispassion are the tools to bring the wavering mind under control.”
Arjuna’s doubt: What is the future of a seeker who in spite of his reposed faith falls prey to the wanderings of the mind?
Krishna’s assurance, “There is no destruction for a seeker who strives to do right action in this world or here after. The destiny of a seeker who could not complete his pilgrimage in yoga would lead him to be born in the house of the pure and prosperous, while a seeker involved in the path of selfless upasana is born in the family of yogis or wise men and continues his journey, in a spirit of selfless dedication.
A true yogi is one who strives to go beyond body, mind and intellect, fervent in his contemplation of the self, dedicated to the principles of reality, having the courage to hold on to moral and ethical values. He is indeed the perfect one, to achieve a place in the sanctum sanatorium.
Practise of Meditation
Based on verses of Vivekachoodamani
(morning sessions)
The morning sessions on the practice of meditation was divided into two parts. There was a talk on meditation verses of Vivekachoodamani, followed by a meditation session. Session was on contemplation of Brahman, to realise that the truth which bears no form, shape or entity is the substratum upon which the pluralist world functions. Walking the spiritual path, by concentrating on sravanam and mananam, meditating by focusing steadfastly on the Lord and doing selfless activity in the world, one can endeavour to end all misconceptions and superimpositions on the Self. Dwelling on the above thoughts, Swamiji took us through a series of guided meditation sessions, which left a lingering peace and a desire for many more such sessions.
