What is the point of meditation?

The Vedic Viewpoint and Other Spiritual Perspectives

Everyone is doing some kind of meditation these days whether it is because of hectic lifestyles, stress, or the need for some kind of outlet or a way to free their mind from innumerable problems. These should not be the only reasons to do meditation.

According to the Vedic literature meditation is to control the mind so one can reconnect with the Absolute Truth, which culminates in self realization.

Most processes of meditation today focus on the material rather than the spiritual.

One popular type of meditation is to focus on the void which is actually like a type of spiritual suicide, negating the self and the variegatedness of everything. This is just child's play and nonsensical and will get your nowhere spiritually. Many are doing meditations on their idea of the most tranquil place; like a crystal cavern, water falls, flower gardens or what ever they like. This meditation is on the mental, material platform. This pseudo meditation of 15 to 45 minutes a day ultimately will not help you.

The Vedas explain that the object of mediation should be on the Absolute Truth, or the Super Soul within the heart. Super Soul meditation is not recommended in this current age, without including spiritual sound vibration of the chanting of the Holy Names of God. In past ages (the period of time which existed over 5,000 years ago and before) one was able to fix their mind on the Lord within the heart (Super Soul). Individuals would live in seclusion and abstinence, strictly controlling all the senses for a long, long time. It is explained that we live in the age of Kali, or the Iron Age of quarrel and hypocrisy. People are short lived and do not have the capacity to focus the mind in this way. The Vedas explain that the quickest way to spiritual realization is to focus the mind on the holy names of God. This is especially true when vibrating or hearing the Maha Mantra.

Hare Krishn Hare KrishnaKrishnaKrishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Mantra means to deliver the mind-and what are we trying to deliver the mind from? "We are trying to deliver our minds from misery and suffering."

This focus on the spiritual sound vibration will bring the mind to the Absolute Truth and to the highest level of self realization and happiness very quickly. This is like taking the elevator as opposed to taking the stairs. This is the medicine for the materially afflicted persons. In the beginning it may be difficult to just focus on the sound and nothing else but with practice, sincerity and faith one will see the results. Ones progress will accelerate if one does this meditation with someone who is already self realized.

When one becomes more advanced while chanting one can meditate on the form of the Lord and the Spiritual world described in the Vedas.

The whole point of meditation is to realize who we are. At the present moment we are covered by many veils of illusion. We think we are the body or the mind or our jobs, or whatever, but this is just an illusion. This chanting process lifts the veils so we can see everything clearly including our actual selves in truth. You can actually see spiritually-by this hearing process. Even a blind person can see things as they are by hearing this spiritual sound vibration.

Some are chanting Aum which was recommended in other ages and can only bring one to a certain level of realization. The Buddhist chant can bring one to the impersonal level of realization, but not to full consciousness. (Read my previous articles on" What is that great light?" And - "The hidden secrets of Lord Buddha.")

Focusing on the breath is just another mechanical way to control the mind and does not bring one to the spiritual platform. Most yoga being taught today can only help the material body and mind. The music played in the yoga centers may help if they are playing pure mantras and one focuses the mind on that transcendental sound.

I am not trying to criticize other processes; I am just trying to let you know, according to the Vedas, the easiest and most blissful process to the highest realization. If you stopped and asked directions to a particular place, I am sure you would want someone to give you the direct and quickest route.

To think you can follow a spiritual process and do all kinds of nonsense like drinking, smoking, eating meat, gambling, and illicit sex is just fooling yourself. One should be serious about spiritual life and quit playing around on the material plane.

If you want to become fully conscious and self realized and see things as they really are, then one should take to the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra which contains everything spiritual. This is the Vedic Viewpoint and knowledge coming down from Vyasa deva, who is the literary incarnation of God. This knowledge has been confirmed by great saints and sages for over 5,000 years. It is said to be purely spiritual and the perfect process. What more proof do you need? Try it for yourself and see the results.

For more details read the Bhagavad-Gita, As it is, translated by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivadanta Swami Prabhupada, a pure saint and spiritual master. There was a prediction he would spread this knowledge all over the western world, as he successfully did in a very short time. Let us make use of all of his hard work and follow his guidance to make our lives a success.

By Jayasri Radha

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( www.stephenknapp.com)