Meditation

Meditation is a supreme blessing and the best path for humankind. The path of meditation is similar to the process of obtaining nectar from the churning of the ocean. During this process, water impurities are extracted first, then precious gems and stones and finally nectar is obtained. Consider your body as an ocean, breathing as churn. During meditation first weaknesses are eliminated, then gradually higher state of samadhi is attained and with the Sat Guru's blessing, the devotee keeps on advancing

Desires and temptations are a hindrance to this path. One needs to be free of them. Make the same effort the farmer makes to get his harvest. He plants the seed in the right weather and waters it, removes the weeds and makes sure plants are getting the proper space and nutrients.

Often, people think short term concentration on an object is meditation, but that is just first stage known as Dharna (Concentration). When a devotee reaches higher stages of meditation, his advancement is not hindered by materialistic obstacles rather he keeps on advancing towards his supreme goal.

It is human nature that one only begins to liking an object by first seeing it or by hearing about its qualities. The more we learn about it or the more we see it, the desire to obtain it increases. The same principle is applicable to our internal journey. The more we hear or read about the supreme power -God, the desire to achieve perfection becomes stronger. This desire and sanskara can accumulate over the lives.

The first step to obtain godliness through our spiritual journey is through the practice of internal or external Satsang. (An example of an external satsang is going to your place of worship or reading spiritual literature)

Like without connection and proper cabling electricity cannot flow, similarly disciples should be prepared to start this journey with accumulated devotion, trust, love and Shri Satguru Dev Ji?s blessings. Past life karma and sanskara are various innate potentials of the human system that affect the spiritual journey. Further, when a disciple comes in contact with a spiritual master (Satguru) and requests for Guru mantra, spiritual master bless him with a power mantra based on disciple?s experiences with past life karma and beliefs . During meditation one should then use this mantra, and with each breadth speak this mantra in mind not by mouth. The mantra vibrations resonate with the vibrations in the universe. Disciples should practice daily as it is food of soul with faith in guru that he is supreme GOD. With daily practice the vibrations becomes stronger.

Shri Satguru also gives his own energy through the form of the mantra or can pass it in the form of words, oblation (Prasad, - gracious gift like flower or any edible), touch, or sight. Depending upon dedication or desire of the disciple the satguru himself strengthens them to help them complete the spiritual journey and make use of precious human life along the way. As the disciple?s love and devotion increases it leads to a union/alignment of mind and prana. With satguru?s blessings the disciple?s trust and devotion increase and state of bhastrika pranayama is attained during meditation. At this state all five of the vital forces of air ?prana from the heart, apana from the buttocks, samana from the naval, udana from the throat and the overall vyana force- align and work like a mill and creating tremendous energy. This energy penetrates in sushmana nadi and unlocks the kundalini ? the serpent power. The disciples? body may even jump like a frog uniformly without interrupting his concentration. During this stage there is feeling of self, object (or god) of concentration, and the power mantra. During the bhastrika pranayam stage of the meditation desciples gets the knowledge of good and bad but takes divine thoughts and qualities and throws away negative ideas. This is beginning of internal journey and this stage depends upon the disciple?s dedication, karma etc and could advance with sri satguru dev jis blessings.

With increased dedication towards the spiritual teacher, disciples get blessings from their teacher and progress to advanced stages of meditation. During the next stage, ?Contemplation? the devotee is immersed in the object and has feeling of him. This is followed by Samadhi (Self Realization) which merges consciousness with the object of meditation. During this stage the disciple is immersed in supreme joy and is not bothered by touch, smell, or other distractions and could not be harmed by any force as the ultimate power is providing protection.