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The
Simplest Meditation
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There is a story that goes like
this:
Once upon a time,
a student went to a great sage to
ask about the meaning of life and how to attain the direct experience of
the Highest.
He asked his
question, but the sage gave no answer. He
just sat there.
Again, the student asked about how to
find and fulfill the Purpose of life. Again, the sage just sat
there.
The student tried different words, and
appealed with great emotion. The sage just sat there, as before.
Finally, the student became frustrated,
and blurted out, in an angry tone, "Why don't you answer
me!"
The sage smiled, and said, "I have
been answering you, but you were not listening. The answer you are looking
for is to be found only in Silence."
To sit in stillness and silence for even
a few minutes each day is a very useful thing to do.
May you find that silence which leads to
Silence.
Swami Jnaneshvara
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Is the Path of Self-Realization
Simple or Complex?
Two contradictory messages: There
are two seemingly contradictory messages about the inner journey that spiritual aspirants hear
from the books and teachers:
Message #1: "This is
very complex." There are many theories, words, and concepts to learn;
this will take a very, very long time. There are many practices with
body, breath, and mind, not to mention the challenge of dealing with
this hectic external world and all of those other people. It might
take many more lifetimes to make any real progress.
Message #2: "This is
really pretty simple." You can do it in a moment. Truth (or whatever
you want to call it) is your true nature, and therefore easy to
find. All you have to do is be still, go within, and you will find
that eternal bliss, which is at the center of your being. It takes
no time at all; just sit down, let go, and surrender to the inner
light, love, or divinity.
Three choice of attitudes:
Faced with this confusion, each of us has a choice of how to approach
our spiritual life and travel the inner journey, with the choices being
something like this:
Choice #1: "It's easy, and I
don't need to do anything at all."
Not only is it easy, I don't
need to put any effort into this at all. My enlightenment is up to
God or guru, and there's nothing I need to do about it. He or She
will give me the realization of higher Truth or Self in Her or His
own time. The only thing I need to do, if anything, is to sit
quietly, whether this is called meditation, contemplation, or
prayer. Beyond that, I should just learn to live in this world
without asking any deep questions or seeking anything more than
comes on its own--it's not up to me.
Choice #2: "It's hard, and I
can't do it."
The material is inherently difficult to understand,
and almost impossible to do. Those teachers, intellectuals, and gurus
who say it is hard must be right. After all, they have large
organizations, many publications, many programs, and many followers.
I will follow them, and just believe what they say. I'm not really
able or worthy to have direct experience myself, but I will praise
these teachers. I will spend my time studying
and practicing with the fantasy of Self-realization at some future
time that may never come. It doesn't matter anyway because, as some people say, it's
all about the journey, and there really is no destination.
Choice #3: "It's easy, but my
mind needs clearing."
No, I will not accept that this is
difficult. All of the great ones of all of the traditions have
declared with one voice that this Truth, this Self, is here and now,
at hand. That is what I want--period! God and guru may be there to
help and guide, but
I need to do my part. Yes, I will learn my way
through the apparent complexity, and I will do the practices. But I
will not buy into the false belief that it is truly hard or complex.
It only appears that the instructions are complex because of the
clouding of this mind. Nor will I just sit around and do nothing,
complaining about my current state, while hopelessly hoping that
help will come. I will clear this clouded mind by learning
and doing the practices, so that the
inner Light may come shining through.
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A
Very Important Question:
Which
will I choose?
Hint: Choice #3 is the
best choice! ;)
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This site is devoted to
presenting the ancient Self-Realization path of
the Tradition of the Himalayan masters
in simple, understandable and beneficial ways, while not compromising
quality or depth. The goal of our sadhana or practices is the highest
Joy that comes from the Realization in direct experience of the
center of consciousness, the Self, the Atman or Purusha, which is
one and the same with the Absolute Reality.
This Self-Realization comes through Yoga meditation of the Yoga
Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta, and the
intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the three of which
complement one another like fingers on a hand.
We employ the classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti
Yoga, as well as Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha,
and Tantra Yoga. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer
finally converge into a unified force directed towards the final
stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu, leading to the
Absolute.
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