| We are going to discuss about Meditation | | | | |
| based on "Pantajali Yoga Sutra (Ashtanga | | | | Mind is also distinct from the spiritual |
| Yoga)". In his sutras the "Sage Patanjali" | | | | self, 'the Knower' as he just observes the |
| has explained 8 limbs of yoga (Ashtanga | | | | mind and its functions. The Knower perceives |
| Yoga). Those are :- Yama, Niyama, Asana, | | | | the external objects through sense organs but |
| Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyan | | | | with the help of the mind. Perception of any |
| Samadhi. The initial four stage are the basic | | | | event is not possible without the presence of |
| stages which help the person to attain | | | | mind. So in every event of perception there |
| "Sthiram" (stability of mind) which is the | | | | is an external object, an organ of perception |
| prior necessity for practicing the further | | | | (ears, eyes, nose tongue or skin) and there |
| stages of meditation. According to him | | | | is mind and the 'Knower' or 'self'. |
| meditation (Dhyan) means - "Full | | | | |
| concentration of the mind focused on one of | | | | All these are connected very closely, |
| those experiences" In simple terms the | | | | inseparable but still distinct from each |
| spontaneous concentration of the mind on the | | | | other. |
| object is Meditation. | | | | |
| | | | The mind can multiply or divide the strength |
| Now let us see in detail what exactly he | | | | of the Body. The person can't work if he is |
| means to say about Dhyan(meditation), We all | | | | mentally not prepared for the work but a |
| know that our mind is fickle, like a | | | | person can work with extra energy if he has |
| butterfly, which always flies from here and | | | | mentally decided to work. |
| there and does not wait at one place for | | | | |
| long. But the speed of our mind is far more | | | | The mind has tremendous speed. It can travel |
| than the butterfly or it may be greater than | | | | from one point to another point at infinite |
| the speed of light. | | | | distance within fraction of a second. |
| | | | |
| Mind can recollect past experiences, keeps | | | | The mind interconnects the 'Self' with the |
| thinking about the future and experiences the | | | | physical body. The mind controls the physical |
| present with all its might and we do not have | | | | organs through Brain, Autonomous Nervous |
| any control over our minds journey. | | | | System, and Endocrine Gland System. |
| | | | |
| 'Dhyan'(meditation) is the study of deep | | | | We can summarise seven functions of the mind |
| concentration, calmness and tranquility of | | | | as follows. |
| the mind. It is the study of attaining | | | | |
| complete control over ones mind. | | | | Consciousness, Thoughts, Emotions, |
| | | | Perceptions, Memory, Intelligence and |
| Meditation takes the consciousness beyond | | | | Judgment. |
| conscious, sub conscious & unconscious states | | | | |
| to super consciousness. | | | | The Condition Of Mind You have already seen |
| | | | that 1. Mind has no physical existence. |
| How do we achieve that? In the fundamental | | | | |
| stages of meditation one has to decide some | | | | 2. Existence of the mind can't be denied. |
| target upon which one can concentrate. He has | | | | |
| to concentrate with the help of his sensors | | | | 3. The nature of the mind is to move from one |
| like ' Eyes, Nose, Ears, Mouth and Touch' | | | | point to another continuously. |
| that means he can Look at the target | | | | |
| whichever he wants He can recite a small | | | | 4. The mind has tremendous speed. |
| mantra with the help of mouth And he can | | | | |
| listen to the mantra with his ears Further | | | | It is clear from the points that the mind is |
| more he is not permitted to think anything | | | | very unstable. Mind doesn't remain stable at |
| else, except the target. | | | | any particular point or any object. It keeps |
| | | | moving all the time. |
| What is a target? A target would be anything, | | | | |
| which ones mind would like to concentrate | | | | Mind runs after the objects it likes but runs |
| upon. It would be anything, which will give | | | | away from the objects that it dislikes. |
| tranquility and serenity to ones mind. | | | | |
| | | | Controlling The Mind You have already studied |
| For instance it would be a photograph of ones | | | | that the mind is essential in the process of |
| deity. In this case the photo frame is the | | | | acquiring knowledge. For example when you are |
| target . In the fundamental stage one can | | | | listening to a speaker in lecture, you learn |
| look at the frame, the picture of the deity, | | | | through your ears. But if your mind is not |
| the background of the picture. Think about | | | | concentrating on the lecture then you won't |
| all the above factors, recite or hear a | | | | understand anything there. As the mind is |
| mantra of that deity, but one has to see to | | | | unstable, you cannot concentrate on lecture. |
| it that ones mind does not run away beyond | | | | So to learn what the speaker is telling, you |
| the target decided. One can develop his | | | | must establish control over your mind and |
| capacity of sitting in this stage from 5-10 | | | | force it to listen to the lecture. Then only |
| minutes to any amount of time. | | | | you'll be able to acquire knowledge. |
| | | | |
| But once the mind thinks of some other | | | | Hence you have to control movements of mind |
| factors your meditation comes to an end . | | | | and make it stable whenever you want, as per |
| | | | your requirements. But this is the most |
| This stage is truly a very fundamental stage | | | | difficult part because of unstable nature of |
| and needs a lot of practice because we are | | | | mind. This process of making mind stable is |
| never used to control our minds. | | | | called concentration. |
| | | | |
| Once you have achieved this for specific | | | | This is true for any function of mind. |
| period of time you can try for the 'Dhyan'. | | | | |
| | | | If you want to remember a particular event, |
| To explain with Omkar as the target, we have | | | | you will have to concentrate your mind till |
| been looking at it, reciting and listening | | | | you remember that event. |
| the mantra, our mind stays (appeases) upon it | | | | |
| for a specific amount of time. | | | | It is clear from the above discussion that it |
| | | | is essential to control the mind. |
| Now further we close our eyes and recollect | | | | |
| the picture of the OM. | | | | Only then, one can get what he wants. |
| | | | |
| At the same time we are reciting or listening | | | | But controlling mind is the most difficult |
| to the omkar. Then again with closed eyes we | | | | task. |
| are only hearing the reciting of the mantra | | | | |
| on the cassette without reciting by our | | | | Efforts are being continuously made to find |
| mouth. Further our minds only recollects the | | | | out the ways and means to establish control |
| experiences taken by our eyes, ears and | | | | over mind. Meditation is one of the very |
| mouth. The actual Dhyan stage has only one | | | | effective ways to control the mind. |
| dimension, now we concentrate on only a part | | | | |
| of our target and in the next samadhi stage | | | | This control can't be achieved in short |
| the person experiencing the target tends to | | | | period. Meditation is a systematically |
| be nobody. Only the experience remains. | | | | designed technique to achieve this step by |
| | | | step. |
| At this stage the minds target as a number of | | | | |
| dimensions. The mind thinks of all the | | | | Different Links To Access Mind You have |
| factors, which it has experienced in the | | | | already studied that the mind is an |
| initial stages. | | | | inseparable part of the human being. It is |
| | | | distinct from brain, nervous system; it is |
| Meaning, Properties & Functions Of Mind It is | | | | distinct from all other physical organs, it |
| very difficult to understand the nature of | | | | is distinct from Pranic Force behind body |
| the mind because it has no physical | | | | activities. |
| existence. It is very subtle as well as | | | | |
| hidden. But the existence of the mind can't | | | | The mind is distinct from all these systems |
| be denied, as many of our problems physical, | | | | but at the same time, it is closely |
| mental and psychological are the outcome of | | | | associated with all these systems of the |
| our mental condition. | | | | body. Mind is very difficult to access |
| | | | directly but all these systems are relatively |
| Mind exists in the body but it is distinct | | | | easier to access. |
| from the body and organs. | | | | |