Question:
Some say that meditation is a process of getting rid of thoughts. If so, then
what is that which brings thoughts in to our mind? How to minimize these
thoughts?
Answer: Mind means thoughts, a stream of thoughts. Mind cannot remain
silent even for a moment. It is only in the highest samadhi that mind
becomes free from all thoughts, which means mind becomes non-extent, as it
were. But one begins one’s meditation by maintaining a single type of thought
in the mind.
From where do thoughts come? They arise either from external
stimuli created by our five senses such as sight, sound and touch or from the
subconscious mind where our past impressions are stored. When we sit for
meditation with closed eyes in a solitary place, external stimuli are cut down
to the minimum, but thoughts continue to arise from the subconscious mind.
These must be controlled by steady, patient and devoted practice for a long
time.
Question:
Even after practice to calm the mind, there is always a voice behind that is
still speaking and disturbing. How to stop this voice?
Answer: The disturbing and speaking voice of which you are talking is
nothing but the restless mind. This mental noise indicates that the mind has
not yet been fully concentrated. In perfect concentration, only the object of
concentration fully occupies the mind. Then there is no mental noise or voice
speaking inside. Constant practice with zeal and determination is the only
solution to calm that disturbance.
Question:
What is the minimum time required by any ordinary man to control the mind?
Answer: There is no set time for controlling the mind. Much depends
upon the intensity of practice. According to Sri Ramakrishna, one can achieve
the goal within three days, or in three years or it may take three lives or
even more!
Question:
Isn’t the end of desires the end of life? So why should we consider it as a
‘drunk’ state of mind as the mystics call it? Doing meditation is also, after
all, a desire for something.
Answer: End
of desire is not the end of life. A desireless person does not die. As a matter
of fact, to be desireless is the highest goal of human life. Desirelessness brings a sense of deep fulfillment and inner
bliss. It is not a ‘drunk’ state of mind
in the ordinary sense of the term but a desireless person, in a sense, becomes
totally drunk with divine bliss.
True, meditation is also a means to fulfill some desire—the
state of desirelessness. But once this state is achieved, meditation is no more
required; it falls off on its own. For a man of perfect desirelessness, life
itself becomes one continuous meditation.
Question:
How to get concentration? Most of the time when I sit to study or am hearing a
lecture which I otherwise like very much, after some 10-20 minutes, I find that
I am no longer having concentration. Any solution?
Answer:
First of all give up all activities or habits which destroy your concentration.
Compulsive watching of TV for long hours is one of them.
Be focused always. Whatever you do, do it with full
concentration—even apparently insignificant action like sweeping a room, or
washing clothes. Make concentration a habit. As an aid to improve studies,
while reading a book place your finger on the sentence being read and if you
are alone, read it aloud. This means involving, along with mind, your eyes,
ears, tongue and finger. With four senses thus occupied, it will be easy to
focus the mind on whatever your read. While listening to a lecture, make notes.
This will make you more focused throughout the lecture.
Question:
Will meditation help us to reach our goals other than spiritual goals?
Answer:
Yes. Meditation improves concentration, which helps in achieving material
goals. However, this is a very mean use of a lofty and noble technique.
Question:
Yoga and meditation, it is said, bring relaxation. How are they related to
spiritual life or to God?
Answer: It is unfortunate that now-a-days Yoga and meditation are
being done for relaxation or for improvement of the concentration only and not
for God realization. But the tradition of sanatana dharma considers them
as the most important means for God realization and spiritual development.
Relaxation and better concentration are only its by-products.
Spiritual
life, or God-centred life, essentially means having:
a) A
spiritual goal of life,
b) Considering
God or Soul as the essential truths of existence, much more real than
matter,
c) Regarding oneself as a spiritual
entity and not merely a body-mind complex, and
d) Following
a definite path to attain spiritual goal.
Yoga believes in all these, and meditation as a
powerful means to attain the goal of yoga, which is experiencing our real Self,
God himself.