The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam

62. How to do meditation?

Oh! The mind controls and binds. The thoughts drag us here and there. Being caught in between these two, man struggles in the same way as a parrot gets perplexed when it is put inside a cage, being unable to fly off independently, in spite of it having wings.
Doing meditation is only that of journeying inwards thinking, 'Oh! You ego! You drag me here and there through thoughts! Where are you?'
An important rule in this journey The passenger should remain only as a spectator.
If you travel with the belief that it is possible to cut the ego which makes the man a slave and shouts loudly and triumphantly then shouting loud with total independence will certainly be possible by meditation.
This is a peculiar journey. As the speed of travel increases, the speed of thoughts will decrease.
As the speed of thoughts decreases, the quantum of inner independence will begin to increase.

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This is an interesting conversation between a 60 year old grand father and a 6 year old grand son.

The grandson said, 'Oh grandpa, it seems the mind is a monkey! My teacher said, if you control the mind, you can study well. One, who wins over his mind, will win over this world itself. If tried this would be possible. How long will it take to control the mind, grandpa?'

The grand father got angry and said, 'Did you ask how many days? Your teacher is wrong. Don't believe him. Not simply days. Even if it is sixty years, a man cannot control his mind.' When he said this, the 6 year old grandson saw with wonder the way in which he said this.

Mind cannot be controlled. Mind should become calm by itself.

The more you try to control, suppress and subdue the mind, the more it will go the opposite way. You will lose your control.

What one has to do for the mind so that it will subdue by itself?

Inside this article...

Many are eager to know the answers for the heading.

Reason: When they sit to meditate, it appears as though more and more thoughts seem to come to the mind as compared to ordinary times.

The reason for such an appearance is, that then only, for the first time in their lives, they come face to face with the mental horse which is continuously galloping within themselves.

For those who are thinking, 'I am quite natural', it will be only the 'unnatural quality' which is inside them, which would come out when one sits for meditation.

An interesting incident.

On the twenty fifth day after Bharat got independence...

That youngster who was from Andhra, had come to Ramanashram, with a quest for inner independence, to learn meditation.

As usual that day also, Ramana Maharishi (an enlightened Master) set out for a walk.

That youth was not prepared to waste even a minute, as his 'fire of inner independence' was burning furiously.

He crossed Ramana Maharishi and requested him, 'I have come from a very long distance to do meditation. I do not know which place is suitable in the Ashram to do meditation. Wherever you want me to meditate, I will do it there.'

Ramana did not appear to have listened to the question. Ramana simply rubbed his feet and ankles and started for the walk.

The patience of the youth was tested.

As the youth who asked the question was standing before him, Ramana turned towards the people behind him and said, 'If you ask in which place I have to meditate, what can be said? It is good to stay at the place where the self is there. It will be very correct. Remain in that place and meditate.' Laughingly Ramana said these words and moved away.

As the answer to his question was like a Yagna, the youth got irritated a little.

The youth said to those present there, 'What is this? He is saying, 'Be at the same place where you are.' Have I come all the way from Andhra to hear this? He is a great man. So I thought he would tell me about a place suitable for me and that is why I asked him, but he says, 'Be at the same place where the self is.' I am near this sofa now. So, does it mean that I should meditate here only? What is this futile play?' He said sadly.

At that moment he could not understand as to how Ramana Maharishi had put a great secret in such a simple way.

Then a devotee took that youth aside and said, 'Oh friend, whether he says humorously or playfully, what Bhagavan speaks will be about truth only. Wherever the ego 'I' is staying, that very place is where 'you' are. Going with awareness to the place where the ego is and watching as a spectator – is only meditation. Remaining with awareness at the place, where you (ego) exist, is only meditation. Leaving that aside and asking, 'Can I do meditation by sitting here; or there?' - These are all waste of time.' So saying, he finished his explanation.

The youth understood, 'Oh! Being in a state of awareness and looking at happenings of the external world with playfulness is what Ramana meant by meditation', and then he applied himself fully on meditation.

'Penetrate into the still feeling which is present inside you.' It is difficult to understand this...

First of all, learn to look at your thoughts and your mind as a spectator only.

For every one to understand better here is an example.

You are watching a picture in a cinema theatre. In that picture, a scene of your liking is going on. Because it is to your liking, the same scenes will not come continuously.

Same way, a scene not to your liking, is going on. Because you don't like it, those scenes cannot be stopped at that moment.

Because this picture is not good and is boring, a new picture cannot be screened at that very moment there. It is not possible.

Whatever is screened, let us watch. With this idea only, you will sit and watch for three hours and come home.

Same thing you do with meditation also. Simply watch. Watch simply as a witness only. Watch a cinema for thirty minutes inside you.

Just in case the thoughts that come to you are not to your liking, do not stop those thoughts and scenes.
The thoughts that come, if they are to your liking, don't continue and follow those thoughts and scenes.
Do not try to create any new thought or any new scene. That is all.

If you adhere to these three rules, it will be easy to watch like a witness. You can involve yourself in meditation well. Meditate and see.

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A meaningful incident.

After a few days of beginning to meditate, THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM, feeling very joyful said:

'I searched and searched within me; there was not even a single reason to worry. What joy is there which is bigger than this?'

These are the outcomes of the path of meditation:

First, worries will get dissolved.

Next, joy will overflow.

Last, bliss will remain permanent.

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Meditation chisels. Chisel No.17.