Meditation
Meditation is the royal path to freedom, a mysterious ladder which reaches from earth to heaven, from darkness to light and from mortality to immortality.
Meditation is a state of consciousness that can only be understood through direct experience and intuition. Unlike our everyday experiences, which are limited by time, space and by the laws of causality, the state of meditation transcends all limitations. In meditation, past and future dissolve. What remains is the single consciousness of ‘I am’ in the endless, eternal Now.
The peace of meditation is deeper than the peace of sleep. Meditation reduces stress – every part of the body, every single cell comes to rest. Meditation keeps the body youthful and prevents early ageing.
The experiences of oneness, happiness and harmony which can be attained through meditation create new patterns of thinking. Negative tendencies are overcome and the mind becomes more stable. Meditation helps one to develop a dynamic personality, powerful speech, serenity and great mental strength.
The mind is similar to a lake with thought waves moving over its surface. In order to recognise the Self at the bottom of the lake, it is necessary to first still these thought waves. Each human being has an inner treasure of silence, which only manifests itself when the movement of the mind comes to a stop.
Meditation is only possible if you are able to focus your mind. Concentration strengthens the flow of thought – ideas that were once vague suddenly become clear; what seemed difficult, complex and confusing is now easy to grasp.
Tratak is a very effective concentration exercise. First you focus your eyes on an external object or on a single spot without blinking. Then you close your eyes and concentrate on the mental image of this object. This exercise increases our power of attention and ultimately leads to one-pointed concentration.
In this exercise, you close your eyes and imagine a garden with a rich variety of flowers. Then you slowly focus your attention on a single flower.
You visualise the colour, form, texture and scent of this flower, and hold this concentration for as long as possible.
Here, you might listen to the ticking of a clock. When your mind starts wandering, you bring it back to the sound. If there are several background sounds, you can choose the one that is most distinct and concentrate on this for some time – like a witness, without reacting in any way.
The gradual progress in physical and mental well-being that comes when you meditate is mostly silent and unseen, like the quiet unfolding of a bud into a flower in the hours of the night. Try not to set up expectations or goals for change as this may well discourage you if you feel you do not reach them within a certain time. Changes occur at deep and subtle levels and only gradually will they reveal themselves either to you or to the outside world.
Of course, there are no objective tests to measure your progress in meditation. However there are universal indicators that all those who meditate on a regular basis will experience sooner or later. …
