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Vishal P. Rao
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Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 699
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2007 02:15 · Edited by: Vishal P. Rao
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This is in response to the question asked by one of our members:
What is meditation? Is it spiritual advancement? Is it just a calming exercize? Is it a tool to focus your direction? Is is a drug to experience the inner worlds? Is it a tool to escape? A combination of the above? What is the main purpose? Why was it/is it revered?
In simple words, meditation is learning to live, how we were destined to live, in this moment.
Man is always tends to live in the future or in the past. The focus is never in the present moment, where the real happiness is. He keeps postponing happiness. Tomorrow when I get a new car, I'll happy. When I get a higher pay, I'll get happy. Yes, the happy does come when he reaches his goals. But it is not eternal. Immediately his happiness shifts to another goal. A better car, still higher pay check. And so this continues through out his life. The real happiness never comes. And then he spends the later part of his life reminiscing about how beautiful his past was! How he missed his childhood days. His first car.... Don't you see the irony? In the past, he was in future. And in the future, he is in the past. But he never realizes that it's the present moment, NOW, where the real happiness is. Not in any material things, not in any relationship, not in reaching any goals. But this very moment.
Just watch the nature. Except for Man, every creation is in eternal bliss. See the birds, the animals, fishes, the trees. They are all in celebration. They have no goals, no ambitions. Just enjoying their presence. A crow is not trying to be an eagle and an eagle is not trying to be a hawk. Only Man is trying to be something, to reach somewhere. And hence his miseries.
Meditation is learning the art of living in the present. But if you do it with any intention, you miss the whole point. Just be where are are, how you are. Just relax and let-go of all worries, tension and anxieties. You are already in the destination.
Take a deep breath. Imagine you are filled with air like a balloon. Now exhale very very slowly. Imagine that with every exhalation, you drive out all the air from your body and along with it, all your resistance and your urge - to go anywhere, to reach anywhere. Just relax and enjoy the no-doing/no-going attitude. Do it now and see the peace and happiness it brings to you, out of no where.
Once you realize that you can be happy no matter what, you'll slowly start losing happiness in material things. And then the real life starts. As if you are born again.
Just like you can appreciate the taste of honey to the maximum only after you have eaten something bitter, to experience the real bliss of meditation, you have to be fed up with your present situation  Only then can you get the real taste of meditation. Else, it'll only be a futile exercise.
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Newbie Shield
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Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 815
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2007 07:04
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Vishal,
You're a wise man and that was every bit as perceptive as it was poetic. So meditation is an attitude and a focused contentment on the present moment?
Well said,
Newbie Shield
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luvtravel
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 599
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2007 07:10 · Edited by: luvtravel
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Hmm something to definitely ponder Vishal. Thank you.
I will try it today!
I think that where the term meditate began to change is when practitioners began to use meditation as the step into visualizing.
That's what I thought meditation was a way to visualize.
The world has become extremely noisy with each new advancement comes more noise. So much and so many clamoring for ones attention which in turn causes stress, overeating, and than heart trouble.
The one and only time I heard the most quiet (yes I know sounds weird) was when I was on top of a hill and it was so quiet... a quiet I couldn't really describe, I hated to leave there because I never felt such peace and quiet. I would love to be able to go back to that place both in meditation and physically. Wonder if the world has swallowed up that quiet little place, it was called Brown County in Indiana.
One must learn the art of meditation .
We all have become so busy that I guess we would feel guilty just sitting, doing nothing, and just being because we have to constantly be doing.
Terri
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Vishal P. Rao
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Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 699
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# Posted: 24 Sep 2007 01:12 · Edited by: Vishal P. Rao
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Quoting: Newbie Shield So meditation is an attitude and a focused contentment on the present moment?
Very true!
Quoting: luvtravel The one and only time I heard the most quiet (yes I know sounds weird) was when I was on top of a hill and it was so quiet... a quiet I couldn't really describe, I hated to leave there because I never felt such peace and quiet. I would love to be able to go back to that place both in meditation and physically. Wonder if the world has swallowed up that quiet little place, it was called Brown County in Indiana.
Terri, it's absolutely true that you feel at tremendous peace and bliss when you are with nature. It's an absolutely great idea to spend as much time with nature as possible. There is nothing more rejuvenating than it. However, if you are getting addicted to it, then it's not meditation When you learn the real knack, just watching the blue sky with eagles soaring effortlessly can bring similar peace and bliss like being on the top of mountain.
Quoting: luvtravel We all have become so busy that I guess we would feel guilty just sitting, doing nothing, and just being because we have to constantly be doing.
There is a big difference between lazing around and doing nothing of meditation. They are poles apart. When you are lazing around, you are not aware and conscious. You are simply dreaming and engrossed in your thoughts. In meditation, you are fully conscious and aware and your mind is free of thoughts and desires. So don't be guilty. It's the way of recharging ourselves.
On another note, meditation also does not mean sitting idle doing nothing, in its true sense. It's the way of realizing our true self, our true purpose. Once you achieve that, through a sustained period of doing nothing, you'll start brimming with new found energy and automatically engage in some form of activity, that you are made for. But this time, your approach will be totally different. You will start doing it out of no materialistic expectations and desires. The process of doing itself will bring ecstasy in you.
For all those interested in this beautiful experience, I suggest reading books or listening to some great audiobooks by Osho (the sound quality is not excellent though) or subscribing to Osho Times. I absolutely love his down to earth way of conveying the truth.
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jlyn12
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Joined: 3 Nov 2007
Posts: 24
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# Posted: 8 Jan 2008 15:25
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Meditation based on the Bible is mentally "massaging" passages to extract greater and greater understanding. You read the Word, and medidate on the Word. Christians do not strive to "empty the mind", but rather fill it with the Word. This leads to Divine revelation of deeper spiritual truths and is a gift from God. I can relate it to having a Creamsaver in your mouth and taking your time with it, rolling it around and enjoying all the subtle delights of the flavor. Psalm 34:8 says "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Meditation helps you to do just that. It is in those still quiet moments when we hear the voice of God most clearly and can commune with Him. Meditation is intimacy with God.
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TheGuild
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Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 173
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# Posted: 26 Jan 2008 09:49
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Hello,
Here is what Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj said about meditation:
http://www.srinisargadatta.com/meditation.htm
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the one just is
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Joined: 27 Jan 2008
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# Posted: 28 Jan 2008 01:17
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You all are correct. There are many different out comes in dong meditation and the pathway to get there is all the same. You must come to a quiet mind. The mind is the enemy but yet the most bloved friend. Once we break thru the polarity of thinking then we will get what ever gift the spirit world has to offer you. Whether it be hearing the word of knowledge, astrel projection, healing powers, prophecy, or being able to see in both wolrds, spiritual and material, before long you are no longer ignorant of either world and come to understand what it is you are here to do.
Look at life as a dinner plate, its always full, and you keep eating of the same food that has been on your plate all the time. So lets say you take something off your plate that is a worldly desire and put on your plate something that is a spiritual food. Then you continue to do so and before you know it you will become this totally spiritual being. Its only a change of desire and that is no worldly desire.
You can obtain certain gifts only through meditation. Its a change of energy. There is but one way and that way is to Do It For Life. That means that it never ends. From this life right over to the next life it continues, and at some point you will realize that the soul that you are obtained with has a home and it doesnt have to return to this place of material. The only way to get it home is thru meditation all the gifts are to reassure you of what the truth is and has been given since the beginning of time. You are right, there is nothing new under the sun. Look at all those that have surpassed it. All of them say the samething, "No longer will I have to return". From Christianty, to Hindu, to Budhist, to The Dalia Lamas, to Egyptians, to Mohammud, to Bahia. They all say it. They are all correct and they all say don,t be Judgemental.
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the one just is
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# Posted: 28 Jan 2008 01:28
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It goes much deeper but yes that is all so ;-)true. We are all scratching the surface we must become one sound mind. There are so many avenues to adventure, and they all take the same effort . You sound like a person who has ventured into meditation and found it useful in life. Tell me more of the information that you have. I am one who does it for one purpose and one purpose only. That is to free my soul of bondage so that it can go home with its creator. All the gifts do is let me know that I am on the right track.
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Vishal P. Rao
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Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 699
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# Posted: 28 Jan 2008 05:02
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Quoting: the one just is You sound like a person who has ventured into meditation and found it useful in life. Tell me more of the information that you have.
I don't know whom are you referring to, so I'm just taking a guess that it's me You can ask whatever questions you have. I'm still learning and am far from calling myself successful. But the journey has indeed changed my entire outlook and my life.
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