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PURPOSE OF MEDITATION. Several reasons: Stress management Peace of mind Quiet time All are true but more: Balance life’s activities Spiritual purpose – realize inner Nature . WHAT IS MEDITATION. As you think so you become. “Meditate” means to rest mind on one thought
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PURPOSE OF MEDITATION • Several reasons: • Stress management • Peace of mind • Quiet time • All are true but more: • Balance life’s activities • Spiritual purpose – realize inner Nature
WHAT IS MEDITATION • As you think so you become. • “Meditate” means to rest mind on one thought • Meditation is having, prayer is asking • Meditation is an activity and an event - waiting
Body, Mind & Soul • Body, Mind and Soul are connected: • Exercise (Outdoor walking) makes you think clearly • Use of Will Power helps you to be disciplined with exercise • Soul or spirit can be freed to experience its real nature, if Body and Mind understand the real Nature of Soul and cooperate • Use the mind to regulate the mind • Use the mind to purify the mind • Use the mind to help the soul expand and soar
Created to Evolve? • Nature of life: • It grows and changes • It has a purpose of evolution, from amoeba to being God-like • Up to human level it is automatic evolution • Humans are bestowed with Will and Determination • Choices are made till we become slaves of those choices
Characteristics of Life • What are we today? • Choices, experiences, knowledge are nothing but what we are today… – our personality • Characteristics of life • Human life should also evolve – No choice • It is an evolution of knowing and being who we really are, and ought to become • Freedom of will makes it challenging • Body is limited, mind is less limited and soul is unlimited. • How do we realize this?
Meditate • “As long as we think we are what we are, we can not be THAT we can be” • So, we think of THAT we can be and we have to be • So, let us want to be THAT • Let us remind ourselves of THAT • Align our willed action with THAT
WHAT IS MEDITATION • As you think so you become • So, let us think about what we can become, becoming which we are content! • It is not riches, beauty, intelligence – not all rich people are happy, not all beautiful people are good, and not all intelligent people are spiritual • So, we meditate on Realizing our REAL NATURE – God-likeness or divinity
Natural Path • So How does Natural Path (Sahaj Marg) work? • Open for all that is willing and able to practice • What is the practice? • Meditation, Cleaning, Prayer meditation • No fees charged • Balanced existence and Universal brotherhood • People from all walks of life leading a normal life with a divine sense of purpose
How to meditate? • Done in the morning for a minimum of 30 minutes… preferably for an hour • Try to do it first thing in the morning • Sit in a comfortable position with eyes closed • Begin the meditation with a prayer for spiritual elevation • Begin with the IDEA that the heart is filled with divine light
What happens in meditation? • Mind will wander… Ignore the thoughts • Gently come back to the heart and the IDEA • Transmission will be felt • Divine energy comes when a vacuum is created • It can be felt… feels like lullaby for the soul • Nourishes the soul, soothes the mind and quiets the body • Takes 3 – 6 months before one feels the transmission
How to do Cleaning? • It is done in the evening, for approx. 30 minutes • Preferably on returning from regular work • Sit like in the morning, but now with the idea that we are cleaning ourselves of all the past impressions, thoughts, impurities, grossness, heaviness, etc. • Think that these are going away in form of smoke or vapor from the back side • Imagine that the divine energy is coming from the front filling up the heart
What happens in cleaning? • The mind wanders as usual… ignore it • Focus on cleaning. Use of will power is important to think the going away of the impurities and attracting divine energy from the front • You will feel lighter at the end of the session and also feel transmission at end • Cleaning complements meditation • We forget what we need to forget and remember what we need to remember
Prayer Meditation • Normally done at night as we go to bed • Spend about 10 – 15 minutes… Introspecting and resolving to do better • Today ends tonight and tomorrow is a brand new day • Remind ourselves of the Divine Nature in us and meditate on the meaning of the prayer and go to sleep! • We connect the morning meditation to this nightly prayer and sleep peacefully!
What is the prayer? • “O, Master! Thou art the real goal of human life; We are yet but slaves of wishes putting bar to our advancement. Thou art the only God and power to bring us up to that stage” • Who and what is a Master? • Both a principle and a person • One who has Mastered himself • Spiritual Master similar to Master Artisan, Master Craftsman and Master Physicist
Guru, The Master, The Teacher • Realizing the need for a Guru • It is easier to be taught a practice than to invent on our own • Like a mountain guide… You need him till you return to the base! • How to select a Guru • One who is not money, power, fame-minded • Serves humanity in the remembrance of God • Practices what he or she preaches • Leads by example
Benefits of this Practice • No experience without practice • No substitute for experience • Experience will show • Better clarity of mind • Better health • Natural improvements in habits • Better relationships • Efficiency at work • Deeper inner abidance and beatitude • And in-the-world and not-of-this-world conditions
Support • Individual sittings with the preceptors • Preceptors are trainers and practitioners • More like sponsors or mentors • Group meditation • Day time Venue • Sunday time Venue • Support from the Guru –books and seminars • Practice of Constant Remembrance
Reference Materials • www.srcm.org or write to info@srcm.org • Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 1 • By Ram Chandra • My Master • By P. Rajagopalachari • Sahaj Marg Companion • By Clark Powell
How to get started? • If you are interested in trying this Natural Path system of Raja Yoga meditation: • You should be 18 years of age • No money is needed • Allocate 70 - 100 minutes a day • Start with 3 individual sittings in 3 days • Call one of the Preceptors by contacting info@srcm.org
Practice Towards Perfection!Prayers for all the best! The End!