DAILY SLICES OF LIFE

 The Value of Meditation

 “Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.

         This simple but very intriguing observation speaks clearly and accurately to the true value of meditation in the life of anyone of us. It was originally made by the highly controversial Jewish-born Buddhist convert and spiritual leader, Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati (Joyce Green), who was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA, but gained international notoriety for her many challenging beliefs. In saying this however, she was correctly confirming an irrefutable fact that only when the mind is cleared of the chattering and noises caused by the thoughts and the activities of life, can a person truly hear the deepest needs of his being. For unless the mind is freed of the continuous and constant demands made on it and the endless internal restlessness that overwhelms it, it will never be able to function to its full capabilities. These continuous, ongoing and conflicting contradictions of living are the root causes of its fears, anxieties and uncertainties. They will never permit it to listen to, or to hear the real needs of its true self, -Its Soul.

          Meditation is, in fact, an attempt to get beyond these obstacles, to clear the debris, to set aside the incessant need for the discursive, reflexive thought processes standing in the way, and achieve a more intimate and relaxed state of mind. For it is only by bringing all of one’s mental processes under greater voluntary control, can one begin to enhance the opportunities to make it possible to focus attention, through concentration or mindfulness, and thereby greatly improve thinking and logic. The aim of meditation is always to develop an intentional focus, by first neutralizing the random thoughts about the past or the future, and in so doing, vastly improve awareness, alter consciousness, induce a sense of calmness, and become much more receptive to the one’s fundamental needs.       

          Meditation has been practiced in one form or another for as long as man has been in existence. The first documented evidence was contained in the wall art of ancient India more than 5000 BCE, where it reflected the earliest Hindu traditions of the Vendatic philosophy. Following this, other forms of meditation became prominent both within ancient China, led by Lao Tzu (Taoism) and in India by Lord Buddha (Buddhism). Since then, meditation has been recognized and practiced all over the world as a form of mind/body medicine that will effectively create a sense of calm and inner harmony. In addition, because it is essentially based on faith and belief, it has found almost universal acceptance in the world’s religions as a way of achieving peace and spiritual enlightenment, by altering  consciousness and facilitating better awareness and understanding. St. Francis de Sales, the 17^th century Roman Catholic prelate recognized for his deep faith and his writings on spiritual direction, very beautifully explained this effect in the following terms:

 “Where there is peace and meditation there is neither anxiety or doubt."                                                                                                 

          The ultimate aim of meditation has remained constant and virtually unchanged over the centuries, and a wide range of varying techniques have been developed to achieve the desired goal. Of the many forms utilized, perhaps the most popular of these are:

-Mindfulness Meditation; originating from the Buddhist philosophy, and has since become the most popular form, practiced worldwide. It involves trying to focus exclusively on the thoughts and being aware of them without judging them. This is often combined with a word, a sound, or an action to augment and increase mental concentration.

-Spiritual Meditation; commonly used in religious setting, where prayer and certain rituals are used to achieve deeper connections and to get closer to God or to the universe.

-Mantra Meditation; prominent among Hindu and Buddhist traditions.  It involves the use of repetitive words or sounds to clear the mind and increase awareness.

-Transcendental Meditation; quite popular among general population because of its relative simplicity and ease of application. It involves the use silent thoughts or sounds acting as personal mantras to achieve a state of relaxation.

          But irrespective of the method adopted, the fundamental aim of meditation is to induce the brain to clear itself of all its distractions, focus on becoming and staying more attentive, and as a result, be rewarded with the wide range of holistic benefits that can accrue. Among these are:

1.   Inner Peace and Calmness: by neutralizing the toxic influences resulting from the negative emotions, thoughts, energies which gave rise to the fears, uncertainties and anxieties. These, when left unprocessed, seriously interfere with the quality of life lived.

2.    Living in the Present: and in so doing, we are able to remove the anxieties of past experiences, the worry of the future and deal more effectively with the present.

3.   Finding Inspiration: by unlocking the unconscious mind, freeing it from the interference and distractions of the present, this serves to stimulate creativity, and facilitate finding solutions.

4.   Feelings of Well-being and Fulfillment: these naturally will follow when the mind is freed from its inhibitions, and allowed to respond with its own initiatives.

5.    Feelings of Trust and Compassion: which will inevitably follow when the restrictions of suspicion and distrust are lifted, and we are allowed to show our humanity and need for interdependence.

          Contrary to the very common belief, meditation cannot be utilized to find answers or solve problems, nor is it a way for finding solutions or excuses to justify behavior. It is in fact, essentially a vehicle to help the individual to remove the debris and distortions that had accumulated over the years, and then find the true person, freed of the shackles of doubt that had accumulated. By inducing a sense of calmness and relaxation, and by improving the psychological balance, it succeeds in restoring confidence, increasing understanding and awareness of one’s needs, as well as, the choices of the corrective actions required. It cannot be used to search for a lost object, but rather to assist in finding the truth, that already exists. The great 17^th century English mathematician, astronomer and theologian, Sir Isaac Newton, considered by many as one of the most influential scientists of all time, and a devout proponent of meditation, confirmed this when he wrote:

“Truth is the offspring of silence and meditation.”

        

         Repeated well designed scientific studies have consistently confirmed the significant benefits of good meditation practice on the emotional and physical health of the individual, ensuring long-                                               term feelings of fulfillment and well-being. Meditation serves to awaken all the hidden aspects of the conscious and unconscious mind and improve genuine motivation. Overall stress responses are stabilized leading to better cognition, problem-solving and decision-making. There is also greater emotional stability resulting in better empathy, understanding, and attitude. By inducing mental and physical stability, the individual is able to enjoy substantial benefits both in the quality of life and overall performance.

 

         Repeated studies have consistently confirmed that all the many, genuine benefits that can result from trying to incorporate regular routines that include meditation, are not only reproducible, but fully documented in the pages of scientific papers. Without doubt, meditation has been evolving into a significant, most important development among the younger generations, seeking to adjust to the confusing demands of current societies. This is perhaps what the internationally acclaimed, American-born Hindu monk and prolific author, Swami Kriyananda (J.D. Walters) meant to convey when he recorded:

 

 “The more regularly and the more deeply you meditate, the sooner you will find yourself acting from a center of inner peace.”

 

-This therefore is the most important value of a consistent program of meditation for the image and well-being of an individual. It serves to clear the debris of the cluttered, confusing mind, shift the smoke of fear and conflict, and allow the bright sunshine of truth and reality to enter.

 

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