WHAT IS VEDANTIC MEDITATION?INNER YOGA -64

MEANING OF VEDANTA;-

04 FACTS;-

1-"Veda" means complete knowledge and "anta" means end. Simply put, Vedanta means the culmination of Vedic wisdom or the final step on our spiritual journey. We don’t know how old the Vedas are or who wrote them. It’s said that God revealed the true knowledge of the entire creation to enlightened saints while they were deep in meditation.

2-The Vedas are therefore said to be Shruti, Divine Knowledge, or knowledge that is heard from a divine source rather than learned from a book. These saints then brought these eternal truths out to the world in the form of Sanskrit hymns and chants, which continue to be passed down and recited even now.

3-Meditation is the centering of the force of thought on the highest conception of the ideal to be attained. Hence meditation starts with a belief in the reality of a dual existence. Without such a faith in duality, meditation lapses into a state of the faculty of thinking and contemplation becomes impossible. Meditation starts with duality and ends in the Glorious Consciousness of the Unity of Life.

4-A belief in the degrees of truth and reality in being is necessitated by the fact that the whole universe is a gradual materialisation of the Highest Brahman Itself.

THE CORE TEACHINGS OF VEDANTA;-

12 FACTS;-

1-Brahman is the ultimate reality, without a second, beyond space and time, name and form, without beginning or end.

Brahman manifests through Maya as the multi-creation, thus the universe is an illusion constantly changing. Space begins when we have a body, time begins when we start thinking, and causation begins when we apply limitations.

2-The world disappears when there is no thought such as in deep sleep and in transcendental consciousness, so the world is in the mind.

3-Human beings are divine and their real nature is Atman—infinite, pure, and eternal. Weaknesses, good and bad, right and wrong are all in the mind. This ignorance disappears in the light of pure knowledge.

4-We can learn to recognize our Divinity through the Four Paths of Yoga (Union), Karma (selfless service), Gyana (knowledge of the Self), Bhakti (love and devotion), and Raja (techniques such as meditation).

5-ruth is universal and can’t be limited by race, religion, or personal choice. It may be expressed in different ways. All ultimately lead to the same truth.

6-Swami Vivekananda observed, “In the West, if a man doesn’t believe in a God outside himself, he is considered an atheist, whereas Vedanta says that a man who doesn’t believe in himself is the atheist.”

7-There are several schools of Vedanta. Advaita Vedanta was the main focus of Adi Shankara’s teachings .Advaita concerns itself with the correct understanding, knowledge, and interpretation of the sacred texts, together with direct personal experience.

8-Understanding, verified by direct experience, removes the veils of ignorance, leading to the realization that Atman and Brahman are one and opens the door to enlightenment.

9-It is said that the knowledge contained in Vedanta is so perfect that ordinary human intelligence has difficulty understanding it. While the experience of higher states of consciousness is the goal of Vedanta, consciousness must first be raised in order to begin to comprehend it.

10-Vedanta offers us knowledge of the goal and also the ways in which to achieve it, such as:

10-1-Meditation

10-1-Discernment

10-1-Non-attachment

11-The Six Treasures are:-

11-1-Discipline of the mind,

11-2-Discipline of the sense organs,

11-3-Abstaining from worldly longings,

11-4-Endurance,

11-5-Faith, and mental equilibrium

11-6-The Desire for Liberation

12-Finally, Vedanta says it cannot show us Brahman because we are that already. It can only help remove the veils that hide the truth. We can never be free on the earthly plane but we are always, already free on the spiritual.

VEDANTIC MEDITATION;-

Meditation is an attempt to make the mind stop creating by seeking the source of experience. Though experience is also a function of the mind, its real source (consciousness) is in the Atman or the self.

Meditation is an attempt to isolate the self and discover the Uncreated or the Absolute, which is what humanity is trying to seek through creative activity. Meditation is a movement towards unity and peace.

ESSENTIALS OF VEDANTIC MEDITATION;-

07 FACTS;-

1-A beginner in Vedanta should study Atma-Bodha, Tattva-Bodha, Laghu Vasudeva-Manana and Vivekachudamaniof Adi Shankara.

2-He should have a comprehensive understanding of the Vedantic Prakriyas. He should have an intelligent grasp of the three bodies, the five sheaths and their Dharmas or functions, and the three states of consciousness, viz., Jagrat, Svapna and Sushupti.

3-He should know the various Yuktis such as Anvaya Vyatireka, Adhyaropa- apavada, Neti-neti, Laya Chintana, Bhaga-Tyaga Lakshana, etc.

4-He should have a clear knowledge of Vivarta Vada, Advaita Vada, Drishti-Srishti Vada, Sva-Prakash-Vada and Ajati Vada.

5-An advanced student should study Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Panchadasi, Vichara Sagar, Naishkarma Siddhi, Advaita Siddhi, the monumental works on Vedanta.

6-Advanced books should be read under a Brahma-Srotri, Brahma-nishta. He should repeat mentally Pranava (OM) at least 21,600 times daily.

7-He should start his Sadhana, Japa and Nirakara meditation early in the morning at 4 a.m. He should possess the four means of salvation.

VEDANTIC MEDITATION(EXERCISE ONE);-

05 FACTS;-

1. Meditate on the all-pervading air, ether, light, expansive sky, expansive ocean in the beginning to render the mind subtle and fit for abstract meditation.

2. Meditate on abstract virtues, viz., mercy, generosity, magnanimity, courage, patience, peace, balance, poise, etc. Possess these virtues also to the maximum degree. Become an embodiment of these virtues. Have the mental image ‘Om Courage, Om Mercy.’ Repeat these formulae several times daily.

3. Meditate on the following. Take up one formula every month. Repeat the formula several times daily.

Vedantic Formulae...

(a) Nothing exists (names and forms).

(b) The world is a long dream.

(c) Nothing belongs to me (Whenever anybody dies in your house, whenever you lose anything, repeat this formula several times daily. You will have real peace of mind).

(d) I am not the body (I am distinct from body). I am not the mind (I am distinct from the mind). I am not Prana (I am distinct from Prana). I am not Indriyas (I am distinct from Indriyas). I am Immortal Atman. (Body idea will disappear).

(e) I am Sakshi OM OM OM

I am Sakshi of mind OM OM OM

I am Akarta OM OM OM

I am Asanga OM OM OM

(f) I am Immortal Atman OM OM OM

(g) I am Satchidananda Brahman OM OM OM

(h) I am Brahman OM OM OM

4-Those who meditate on the above ideas and formulae will become changed. They will become veritable Gods on earth, radiating joy and peace everywhere.

5-After doing some practice, stick to one idea only. This one idea will die by itself when you get established in Brahman, in pure Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Take any triplet which you like best and meditate on that seriously in right earnest.

EXERCISE TWO

Meditate on the following. Feel and identify yourself with the whole world.

Formulae for Meditation

(a) The whole world is my body.

(b) The whole world is my home.

(c) I suffer and enjoy in all bodies.

(d) I work through all hands.

(e) I eat through all tongues.

(f) I see through all eyes.

(g) I hear through all ears.

This will result in Cosmic Consciousness and oneness of life. All sorts of hatred, envy, jealousy, will vanish. You will become one with the Virat and Hiranyagarbha.

EXERCISE THREE;-

05 FACTS;-

1-Meditate on these ideas:-

(a) All is good.

(b) All is sacred.

(c) All is one.

(d) All is God (Brahman).

(e) All bodies are mine.

2-Positive Nirguna Meditation

(a) I am the All.

(b) I am all-in-all.

(c) I am the Immortal Self in all.

Feel this. Feel this.

3-Vedantic Assertions

(For Self-Realisation)

1. Enquire “Who am I?”

2. Find out the “Seer” of sight.

3. We are neither body nor mind We are the Immortal Atman. Feel this. Feel this.

4. Deny body, deny world. Assert. Recognise. Realise. “I am the living Truth. I am the living Reality. I am Satchidananda Brahman. “Aham Brahma Asmi”—“I am the Immortal Self.”

5. Roar... OM OM OM, Soham, Soham, Soham Shivoham, Shivoham, Shivoham, like a lion of Vedanta and come out of this cage of flesh, as“Tat Tvam Asi!”

NOTE;-

1-Soham and OM are one and the same. Soham Dhyana is Nirguna, Nirakara meditation only. Soham means “I am he” This is associated with the breath. Repeat “So” when you inhale and “Ham” when you exhale.

2-This is easy for some. This is known as ‘Ajapa Japa’. Feel that you are the all-pervading pure consciousness when you think of Soham. The source for this breath is Brahman or Atman. You are identical with that source and reality.

.....SHIVOHAM...