Meditation and Meditation Techniques ~ Bhaerava

Kaala

Meditation is a state of a profound unity with our True Nature, manifesting as a non-
dual experience in which all movements of the mind are ceased. In other words,
Meditation is a state of Samadhi.(Samadhi is a state in which there is no duality, in which
the observer and the object of observation i.e. the observed are completely unified.
There are three basic levels of Samadhi: Savikalpa, Nirvikalpa and Sahaja.) This is
Meditation in the true sense of the word. Yet, there are various explanations of what
Meditation is and all of themaretrue up to a point, but not completely. One of the most
precise and de-mystifying explanations, devoid of meanings that remain unclear unless
you had the experience - says that it is a state of expanded consciousness in which you
register but dont react.

All internal manifestations of the Minds movement ought to be registered but without
additional reactions. Every experience, everything that happens to us, is a reaction. We
know nothing outside reactions. I might describe man as a reaction on aremote control.
To state more simply, Meditation would be a relaxed Awareness of the Minds movements
without additional reactions. This would be the simplest explanation of Meditation.

Techniques are not meditation. They are instructions aiming to bring us to a point of
heightened consciousness in which our awareness and attention are amplified and were
able to detach from the fluctuations of the Mind and simply observe it. We ought not to
confuse techniques for Meditation. Most explanations of meditation are wrongly equating
techniques with meditation. In general, when we say that wemeditate what we mean is a
set of instructions we use during this meditation. Lets get this straight this is not
meditation.
On the other hand, there is meditating.
What does it mean when we say were meditating?
Have you ever asked yourself?
Frankly, it means nothing.
Its just a verb describing an action in which we are mentally identifying with the
instructions aiming to bring us into a state of Meditation, isnt it? When we say were
meditating what we meanis following instructions that are supposed to bring about
unification with the object of meditation. The moment when the mind becomes unified
with the object of meditation is the moment of Savikalpa Samadhi. (Savikalpa Samadhi is
a state of unification with the object of meditation in which there is still a manifestation
of thoughts and emotions, but you remain unaffected by them).
There are as many techniques of meditating as there are goals to reach through
it.Usually, the mind expects some complicated technique, a complicated sadhana and in
most schools such things are given. Arriving at a simple technique of meditation requires
years of practice and self-confronting, which is usually slow and gradual - up until the
Mind realizes it doesnt need a complicated techniqueor a complicated sadhana in order
to experience unification with the object of meditation. This state, Savikalpa Samadhi or
unification with the object of meditation, is still not the one surpassing the Mind, for the
Mind survives this state and continues to function normally afterwards.

There is a widespread misapprehension Ive often came across, of how difficult it is to

reach Savikalpa Samadhi. Perhaps it is difficult, since this state wasnt properly
presented and was given far too much significance. Youve all experienced Savikalpa
Samadhi. An example is when youre embraced with someone you love and who fulfils
you and in that moment everything disappears, the sense of time and space vanishes. All
thatsthere is the fulfilment youre feeling from your partner. Within this fulfilment there
is no partner and no you, there is only the state of Fulfilment and Love.

All of you experienced the state of Samadhi in a great orgasm. Or, when your internal
reaction blends with something beautiful or joyful and for a moment the internal movie
stops. There remains only the feeling of ecstasy filling you up. Also, you enter Samadhi in
the state of deep sleepwhen all identification with you as a person, as a Mind or body
ceases. There are many examples showing that Samadhi is not something mystical or
beyond reach for most people. Yet, there is a difference between the Samadhi which you
experience unconsciously, accidentally, by way of something, and the one you experience
voluntarily and consciously.
In order to progress on the Way of Internal Evolution you must be conscious.
Unconscious experiences dont count. Thats why you need to walk the Way. If it were
not so, doing what the so called tantric groups do while yielding to unconscious
enjoyment in sexual rituals or other pleasures - would be enough. All of those people
would have been awakened, which isnt the case. In order to unite with your Nature
you must make an effort, and although that state is effortless, reaching it is impossible
without effort.
Ill try to explain since its a bit contradictory. Lets say you have decided to work on your
body which you have been neglecting for a few years. You start a workout regime and for
you it is a super effort: sore muscles, painful stretching, strength workout and the like. It
can go on for a few days up to a few months. Later, when you get in shape, your
workout becomes effortless, you glide through it. The same principle applies to other
things, meditation included. While learning the dance steps difficulties are to be
expected, but once you had learnedthem dancing becomes effortless and natural. It
becomes routine.

Speaking of routine, we mustnt forget that although routine in meditation is necessary,

meditation ought not to become a routine act. Yet another contradiction! Routine is
necessary in the beginning because the Mind resents being subdued. Thats why it is
advised that you meditate regularly, always in the same place which is specially prepared
so that you feel comfortable etc. - all with the aim of preventing the Mind from being in
too much conflict. Later, when you get into a certainroutine,though Id rather say the
habit of meditating regularly, i.e. of doing the technique, most of those things such as
time and space dont matter anymore. You ought to be able to do the technique at any
time and any place.

To many seekers meditation technique becomes a routine and after a few years they
realize they havent moved one bit. Most often the reason for this is that theyre doing it
wrong. The other reason is there is no consciousness. The third one is that meditation
technique is not meditation but simply calming the mind and putting it in a mould. If you
complain about this to your Master you might hear something along the line of: Keep
working and results will come, or, You are making progress, youre just not aware of
it, and the like. Most people continue working and in time get stuck in a rut. The way
you wash your face and brush your teeth every morning - completely unconscious of
what youre doing is also the way you meditate. How, then, do you expect to get
results? Result is a routine; you feel you have done your duty, did what you must, and
youre satisfied with it. The Mind is under the impression that it compleated its daily
sadhana and now its spiritual. You keep filling it with texts, explanations and new
techniques, but there is no progress -because meditation technique is not meditation.
Youre going about it the wrong way, adjusting the mantra to your internal noise and
entering a mould.

Meditation, in the real sense of the word, is not mould-ness, dullness, unconsciousness,
or a routine. Now you might be wondering why such a thing even exists? If all of this is
the end result then what is the point of all those meditational techniques? Meditation
itself is the point. The goal is not awakening, nor acquiring powers, meeting gods and
goddesses, entering wonderland and so on. As the purpose of Life is life itself, so the
purpose of meditation is Meditation itself. You cannot, and you will not, attain anything
else by it. Bit of a mind-trap, isnt it?

You feel like theres no way out of routine and habit, out of fantasies and projections the
Mind has about mantras, techniques, meditating. Congrats! Thisis exactly what needed to
happen. You needed to experience a complete disappointment in all spiritual disciplines,
efforts, sadhanas. They cant carry you any further. You realize that their aim is fulfilled.
Meditating,doing mantras and techniques had brought you to their goal, which had
nothing to do with your own goals and projections.