The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Path of meditation

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Thursday, May 12, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Path of meditation

CHENNAI: Though caught in the flux of this material world there are many who aspire to cultivate their spiritual nature. Driven by an urge to go beyond the daily routine, such people choose the path that scriptures have laid out. This pursuit of the Ultimate is a demanding and rigorous mission.

But the goal is not something unattainable. To those who are keen and persistent, there is a way shown by none other than Lord Krishna, who explains to Arjuna the nature of the Ultimate and the importance of meditating on the various aspects of this Ultimate. Lord Krishna has stressed that this is a Yoga that needs strenuous discipline and incessant practice, said Sri Goda Venkateswara Sastri, in his lecture.

Meditation on the Supreme has to be practised regularly, so that in course of time it becomes a habit. Once the mind is so conditioned, it would tend to be riveted on God even at the time of one's death. Considering the mind's fickle nature, it is not easy to practise meditation.

The first step is to chase away all other thoughts and focus on the qualities of the Supreme Being, whose knowledge is unlimited, who is omniscient and omnipotent, and who is within each one of us, an Antaryami. One should realise His all-pervasive presence is the essence of all beings and the source of all sensations.

He is the one who controls everything. He is the one who dispenses the fruits of one's Karma, the good and bad deeds. He is the brightness in the sun that dispels the darkness of ignorance.

The next step in the pursuit of the Ultimate is to focus on His form. Scriptures say that He is capable of assuming any form as Vamana or Rama.

When the five-year old Dhruva did penance to see God, under Sage Narada's guidance, it is said that all living beings began to feel the effect of the child's intense power of concentration. Then the Supreme Being appeared before the boy seated on the Garuda. He was able to assume the form the child had imagined him to be.

It is important that one is always able to focus one's mind and reason on God's all pervading presence, so that with this thought at the time of one's death, it is possible to reach the Supreme Being.

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