Swami Nithyananda clarified the misconceptions about meditation By asking simple questions.
What is Meditation?
With so many common misconceptions about meditation, it might be better to clarify what meditation is NOT!
Meditation is not relaxation. Relaxation is a natural process where the mind gets so tired of its own chatter that is just drops for a while.
Though this may be a good way to get a glimpse of the no-mind state, it is not valuable in itself. We can come back from relaxation with exactly the same problems and prejudices we had before. Meditation, on the other hand, is a continuous evolutionary process, each experience taking us to higher levels of awareness and understanding, clearing away the mental garbage of many lifetimes.
Though this may be a good way to get a glimpse of the no-mind state, it is not valuable in itself. We can come back from relaxation with exactly the same problems and prejudices we had before. Meditation, on the other hand, is a continuous evolutionary process, each experience taking us to higher levels of awareness and understanding, clearing away the mental garbage of many lifetimes.
Meditation is not concentration. Concentration can certainly be an aid to meditation. In Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, dharana (concentration) complements dhyana (meditation). But they are radically different processes. Concentration is effort, mind is effortlessness. Concentration is exclusive, meditation is inclusive. Concentration works with the mind, meditation is beyond the mind.
Meditation is not having supernormal experiences. The most common (wrong) idea about meditation is that it involves seeing colors and light, hearing music and sensing the presence of Divine beings. While aspirants may have these experiences, they are not meditation. All experiences are of the mind, and meditation can happen only when you drop the mind!
Meditation is not an escape from Life. In fact, meditation is intimately connected with Life. Consciousness spiraling outward is Life. Life spiraling inward is meditation! Meditation is the best and most practical coping mechanism for handling every situation of life with ease – including making money, managing relationships, handling stress or illness – and a thousand other things you wouldn’t dream of calling ‘spiritual’.
This is really great and in depth information and its really important, we all should follow it in order to make our life peaceful.
ReplyDeleteYes you are right, this is really awakening and informative and I think that more and more people should join this meditation program if they can.
DeleteI have a dream to talk to swami nithyananda in order to listen him live and how he interprets his knowledge.
ReplyDeleteSwami Nithyananda is an idol for me, just because of his nature to help the society and to bring them on their path .
ReplyDelete