The World we live in today has heavy information
overload.
From the evolutionary standpoint, we were never
meant to spend this much time indoors or staring at computer screens. To add to
that, we also have our life to deal with.
There are continuous thoughts that keep our mind
busy:
- Worrying about what we have to do for the day
- Worrying about tomorrow
- Worrying about what happened yesterday
- Opinions on the article we just read
- Opinions on somebody’s tweet
- Status Updates on Facebook
- etc…
The list really does go on and on... It’s pretty
much endless…
Imagine if we had a vehicle that we drive
continually, and we never did any maintenance on it and every night somebody
else took it and drove it all night. Eventually, it would break down much
faster.
Similarly, our brains are kind of the same way.
They weren’t possibly meant for never-ending thoughts. Even when we sleep we
are still thinking.
Meditation on the Heart
When we apply our consciousness to learn about
ourselves, it is as if our thoughts and feelings are separate.
When we meditate on the heart, we feel one with nature and develop intuitive
understanding. Meditation heals and transforms us.
Why Meditate?
Regular practice of meditation has the following benefits:
·
Improved quality of life
·
Stress relief
·
Better quality of sleep
·
Stimulation of the immune system
·
Greater concentration
Meditation is either going thoughtless or
focusing on a single idea/thought while still being aware of your surroundings.
Four States of Human Awareness:
Jagruti: The
waking state of consciousness
Swapna: The
dreaming state of consciousness
Sushupti: The state
of deep sleep in which the mind, the ego and superego are still
Turya: The
state of thoughtless awareness beyond the mind
Significance of Thoughtlessness
"All that happens in the thoughtless state is enlightened. Light never talks. If you switch on the light in the room, the light won't speak or give you any ideas. It would just make everything visible. The same is true about the light of thoughtlessness.
"All that happens in the thoughtless state is enlightened. Light never talks. If you switch on the light in the room, the light won't speak or give you any ideas. It would just make everything visible. The same is true about the light of thoughtlessness.
First become thoughtless and then doubtless.
Then all your doubts go and you know that there is some power that works. It
works very fast and is all-subtle. You will be amazed how it happens. This is
also about time. I never look at a watch. But my real watch is in the
thoughtlessness.
A thoughtless mind can be incredibly powerful in
so many areas of your life. Have you ever noticed when you stop thinking about
a problem, a few hours later you have the solution?
A thoughtless mind enables some of the most
creative things we will ever do.
Thoughtless Awareness Meditation
When there is no thought in mind, that is the
state of thoughtlessness or void (Shoonya).
One can be in thoughtless state without
awareness, for example when one is in a dreamless sleep or in a coma.
When the state of thoughtlessness or void (Shoonya)
is coupled with “conscious attention”/awareness of this state, it is called
thoughtless awareness.
Thus, thoughtless awareness is the
combination of a thoughtless mind and awareness (conscious attention) of this
thoughtless state.
As per yoga, this is considered to be the
highest stage of meditation.
Adi Guru Shankaracharya proclaimed, “Achintaiva Parama
Dhyana” – to be in thoughtless awareness is the highest stage of meditation.
Buddha was asked: “What have you gained from
Meditation?” He replied: “Nothing.”
“However”, Buddha said, “let me tell you what I lost: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old Age and Death.”
find purpose of life
“However”, Buddha said, “let me tell you what I lost: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old Age and Death.”
find purpose of life
