1. What is meditation?

Meditation is an act of making the thought dwell on the pious object.

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2. What is the method prescribed to meditate?

Sit with closed eyes for an hour thinking that Divine Light is present in your heart. Do it in quite a simple and natural way without forcing your mind. Never mind if you do not see the light there. Start with a mere supposition, so to say and sit meditating in one posture with your attention turned towards the heart in a natural way without any effort to concentrate. Try to be unmindful of the thought arising at that time.

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3. Is there any specific time, place and posture to meditate?

Yes. Rise before dawn. Offer your prayer and puja at a fixed hour, preferably before sunrise, sitting in one and the same pose. Have a separate place and seat for worship. Purity of mind and body be specially adhered to.

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4. What should be the object of meditation?

• Meditation should be done on object of subtler nature in subtlest way and not on any solid or concrete like idols, photographs, signs, symbols etc.
• A divine quality(for ex: Divine Light) should be taken as the objective to meditate upon.

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5. What is Divine Light?

This light is not something like coming from the sun, moon, stars, candle or ordinary light. It is taken as light without luminosity i.e., light that is beyond the perception of our senses (an illusion only).

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6. What would happen if meditation is done on solid or concrete objects?

If one does meditation on solid object then instead of moving towards subtlety one develops more and more grossness and solidity making impervious within and with-out to receive Divine light.

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7. Why should we close our eyes while meditating?

When our eyes are open we see God’s creation. With our eyes closed we see our own tiny creation which we have made. Dwelling on pious thought with the eyes closed is called as meditation and with eyes open it is nothing but constant remembrance.

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8. Do we need to pray before sitting for meditation?

Yes. We have to begin our puja with prayer for spiritual elevation, with a heart full of love and devotion.

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9. Can meditation be done keeping the worldly object in view?

First of all this cannot be called as meditation at all. If meditation is done for limited purposes like worldly benefits or removal of miseries, this very meditation may create complexities, including some undesirable things, instead of removing them. Doing prayer and attaining prayer state before starting meditation is emphasized for the same reason to avoid this pitfall.

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10. Why is meditation on Heart most effective?

Religiously, it is believed that heart is the residing place for the Supreme Lord and hence meditation on heart yields proper results.Scientifically, heart is considered the nucleus of all life as it pumps the blood to all parts of the body. So when meditated upon heart, the blood there gets purified. This in turn pumps the purified blood to each and every cell of the body thus purifying the whole System.

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11. For what one should be attentive during meditation?

One should be attentive towards the heart, waiting and observing for the communication from Master in the form of sound, vibration, light or thought.

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12. How to meditate when seated alone, when seated in group and when seated in front of preceptor?

• Meditation when seated alone: start by saying prayer, take supposition, and then wait.
• Meditation when seated alone in front of preceptor: start, try to observe whether you are living with Master, in Master or allowing Master to live in you.
• Meditation when seated in group: observe your heart.

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13. When does meditation become ‘Real meditation’?

• Having fixed the goal as Highest.
• Guidance and training from an adept in this art, who has attained the Ideal.
• Pranahuti’ or Transmission power at his command, which is transmitted onto seeker.

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14. What is the Spirit of meditation?

• Linking thought with subtle quality of that object helps in realization of reality of the object (Divine light) is spirit of meditation.
• It is moving from quality to substance and from substance to Source.

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15. What is the theory behind meditation?

Human has an active mind. When mind is let loose it associates itself to body consciousness and works for the gratification of physical desires and cravings. Mind being centre of all activities has to be regulated or oriented in one direction. Hence in meditation we try to dwell on a pious thought so that it is relieved from its obnoxious trend and begins to realize its Original state.

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16. When does meditation become natural?

When the effort to meditate is minimized to nil and it ceases to be a wilful act only the result or pure knowledge remains. When this (knowledge) too goes away, i.e., when Meditation proceeds towards Reality, or the essence of the object meditated upon, the real or the natural state is the result. This is true only when Meditation is done as it ought to be done, and when the object chosen for Meditation is in conformity with the result aimed at.

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17. What are the stages of meditation:

• Meditation done on supposition of Divine Light in the heart.
• Meditation takes place on Master’s form.
• Meditation occurs on vague idea.
• Here idea also disappears – Turiya state.

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18. What are the transformations noticed in an abhyasi practicing meditation?

Initial stages

• Laziness decreases with the increase in lightness of heart and mind.
• Interest in meditation begins.
• There is an anxiety about happenings in meditation.
• Inquisitiveness about God develops.
• Power of discrimination (Viveka) develops day by day.
• Idea of renunciation (Vairagya) starts developing.
• Interest declines in unnecessary activities/work.
• Wandering tendencies of mind and sensual pleasures are reduced.
• Intensity/pressure of desires are decreased.
• A kind of satisfaction and peace is felt.
• Even under unfavourable circumstances there is no feeling of disinterest and dejection.
• Loss of importance related to social feelings.

Changes after sometime

• Clarity in the concept of goal increases and interest to achieve it also intensifies.
• Increase in the tendency of vairagya.
• With an awareness of Divinity being present in all things there is decrease in Moha (attachment), Lobha (greed), Madha (pride) and Matsara (jealousy). Kama (passion) and Krodha (anger) come under control to some extent.
• There is softness and subsequent change in dealings, lifestyle, living, conversation etc.
• Master becomes the central point of our aspiration as one feels God Realization and realization of Master to be one and the same. God and Master become one.

Changes after considerable length of time

• Development of love with the Creator and His creation.
• Expansion of heart and mind.
• Feeling of ‘mine’ is reduced to a great extent.
• Restlessness to achieve goal as early as possible increases. One becomes disgusted with the thoughts other than goal.
• All desires end and renunciation (Vairagya) takes place completely.
• Power of discrimination (Viveka) develops fully.
• All other interests are greatly reduced to become nil.
• Mind remains undisturbed for any events or circumstances, may it be good or bad. As we find lotus blossoming in a dirty lake, same way mind remains untouched with the dirt surrounding it and calmness blossoms.
• Life becomes simple and natural.
• No feeling of hatredness and revengeful attitude.
• Always drowned in the thought of Master.
• Abhyasi (student) resigns completely to the Will of Master.
• He is thankful to the wrong done by others.
• He is devoid of jealousy, pride, self-projection and his state resembles like a just born baby.
• One transforms into a Perfect human being and wherever he goes influences people around and arouses a feeling of love and piety in them.

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19. What is the importance of meditation in our practice?

• It is foundation of our practice.
• Mind begins to ignore unnecessary thoughts as uninvited guest and stops forming further impressions.
• It is passive in nature. The state of forgetfulness is developed in the student which quickens the process of self dissolution.
• It is the process of infusion and purification.
• Meditation develops balanced state, moderation and regulation which is prerequisite state to realize ‘Ultimate Reality’.

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20. Factors to keep in mind during practice of meditation.

• Meditation is the means to reach the goal and not the goal.
• Heart is taken only as the base for locating our attention and presence of divine light as mere supposition.
• Here light means light without luminosity.
• Remain unmindful of the thoughts arising during meditation treating them as uninvited guest.
• Waiting and observing.

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21. What is meant by Regulation of mind?

• It is proper adjustment and due moderation in all things related.
• It is purging out evil elements from mind. It does not mean total elimination of all feelings, passions and emotions.

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22. For meditation do we need to concentrate?

No. Concentration is the result of meditation.

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23. Why should we not force mind to concentrate?

This leads to suppression of mind. As a result one remains involved in mental struggle all the while and practically there is no meditation at all.

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24. What is meant by Concentration?

We first fix our attention on one thing and then begin to think over it. When we feel lost in it then it can be presumed as concentration also known as Samadhi.

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25. What is the difference between meditation and concentration?

Meditation means a sense of thinking over and over again on a pious thought. Concentration brings the idea of fixing rigidly on one and same thought. God realization is possible through process of meditation. We cannot get God by concentration.

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26. What is the result of meditation?

• Silent mind.
• Regulated and Balanced state.
• Dynamism.
• Freedom and fearless life.
• Sublimated life.
• Change of consciousness from individual to universal then to Divine.

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27. How long in our life should we continue meditation?

• One needs to continue meditation till he loses its awareness. The meditation itself comes to an end when the abhyasi loses awareness completely regarding the life, interest in living and doing the meditation.
• When our Guru/guide conveys not to do meditation.

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28. What are the common errors and misinterpretations in meditation?

• Meditation is not trying to concentrate.
• One should not try to see light during meditation.
• Rush of thoughts during meditation indicates the removal of all buried thoughts stored, hence need not worry.
• One should not misinterpret his unawareness in meditation as sleep or not to have done meditation at all.
• Suppressing the thoughts is misinterpreted as blissful state. But it is not so.
• Meditation should not be done on the result of meditation. All the confusion and complexities are due to the negligence of this primary principle.
• Meditation not done under guidance of an adept may create adverse effect.

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