MeditationMeditation

Class 3

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If there is an instructor If there is an instructor teaching the class, you teaching the class, you might like to review by might like to review by quickly re-running last quickly re-running last

week’s slide show and/or week’s slide show and/or discussing any questions discussing any questions that might have come up that might have come up

during the week.during the week.

If you are alone, and have If you are alone, and have some questions, you might some questions, you might

like to e-mail us your like to e-mail us your questions so that together so that together we may find the answers.we may find the answers.

Further discussion of Further discussion of Meditation:Meditation:

Meditation is a process Meditation is a process whereby we can come to whereby we can come to know ourselves (to know know ourselves (to know

self is to know God).self is to know God).

In Sanskrit the word for In Sanskrit the word for meditation is “sadhana,” which meditation is “sadhana,” which

means “Struggle.” So it is a means “Struggle.” So it is a process of struggling to know process of struggling to know the self, the relationship of the the self, the relationship of the

self with the universe, and self with the universe, and overcoming those forces overcoming those forces

which are in our way toward which are in our way toward the goal to be(come) Divine.the goal to be(come) Divine.

We can look at our patterns, We can look at our patterns, our bad habits, and break our bad habits, and break

them.them.

Quietness is to become Quietness is to become observant of the external observant of the external

world, so to see its plays and world, so to see its plays and faults with an objective mind. faults with an objective mind.

It helps the aspirant to be more It helps the aspirant to be more able to achieve the truth about able to achieve the truth about Maya (illusion of the external Maya (illusion of the external

world).world).

We can be aware to the end We can be aware to the end of decisions. (Go through a of decisions. (Go through a situation in your meditation, situation in your meditation, and see the end result and and see the end result and

how your actions affect you how your actions affect you and others, before making a and others, before making a

decision.)decision.)

We can face our fears and We can face our fears and indecision.indecision.

Deeds become more evident Deeds become more evident to us, as we shine light in to us, as we shine light in

dark.dark.

Meditation can illuminate Meditation can illuminate your consciousness, if you your consciousness, if you can realize God’s guiding can realize God’s guiding

Hand, His Grace.Hand, His Grace.

It can help form a vision, or It can help form a vision, or an ideal (where there is no an ideal (where there is no

vision, man will perish.)vision, man will perish.)

Factors that may help the Factors that may help the meditation process:meditation process:

a. Right Ideationa. Right Ideation

Meditation alone, without having a Meditation alone, without having a worthy ideal to work for, will not worthy ideal to work for, will not

only be unhelpful but will actually only be unhelpful but will actually be harmful in the long run, because be harmful in the long run, because the energy and power obtained by the energy and power obtained by meditation will be directed toward meditation will be directed toward

false egoistical gain and will create false egoistical gain and will create bad samskaras (sins) which will bad samskaras (sins) which will

throw the person further into throw the person further into ignorance (illusion). ignorance (illusion).

In this regard, the Words of God are In this regard, the Words of God are most helpful.most helpful.

b. Dietb. Dietc. Cleanlinessc. Cleanlinessd. Right environmentd. Right environmente. Not immediately after e. Not immediately after eating. eating.f. Constancyf. Constancyg. The Sabbathg. The Sabbathh. Seven factors to h. Seven factors to

promote well promote well being:being:

1. Fresh air1. Fresh air2. Pure water2. Pure water3. Good food3. Good food4. Innercise and exercise4. Innercise and exercise5. Sunshine5. Sunshine6. Rest6. Rest7. Concentration and the 7. Concentration and the

use of the power of use of the power of thethe mind. mind.

Silence, fasting, a good Silence, fasting, a good environment, purification, a environment, purification, a healthy body, etc, all help in healthy body, etc, all help in having a strong calm mind.having a strong calm mind.

Meditation no, no’s:Meditation no, no’s:

1. Meditation is not 1. Meditation is not escapism, but an all-out and escapism, but an all-out and in struggle to overcome all in struggle to overcome all

kinds of evil (tamasic) kinds of evil (tamasic) influences.influences.

2. We do not use meditation 2. We do not use meditation to build a false ego (an “I to build a false ego (an “I

am better than you” am better than you” mentality).mentality).

3. Meditation should never 3. Meditation should never be used to escape be used to escape

responsibility.responsibility.

4. Or escape inter-personal 4. Or escape inter-personal relationships with others.relationships with others.

5. Meditation should not be 5. Meditation should not be used to practice separatism.used to practice separatism.

6. To have experiences or 6. To have experiences or gain powers (siddhis) is not gain powers (siddhis) is not the goal of meditation, the the goal of meditation, the

goal is to “…be(come) goal is to “…be(come) Divine.” If experiences Divine.” If experiences

come, that is OK, but you come, that is OK, but you progress even with a progress even with a struggling meditation.struggling meditation.

Again, “sadhana” means Again, “sadhana” means “struggle.” If you had an “struggle.” If you had an experience, that is your experience, that is your

experience.experience.

There are stories told by There are stories told by Gurus in India to bring Gurus in India to bring

home the point that home the point that meditation is not to gain meditation is not to gain

powers, etc.powers, etc.

Many such stories can be Many such stories can be found on our website. Go found on our website. Go to the to the literature section, and , and

then to the Discourses then to the Discourses (Satsangs). (Satsangs).

Using special words of Using special words of power (mantras) will help to power (mantras) will help to

activate the chakras activate the chakras (psychic centers) and bring (psychic centers) and bring

energies from the lower energies from the lower chakras to the higher ones. chakras to the higher ones.

Wouldn’t it be nice to Wouldn’t it be nice to expand this result to our expand this result to our

whole day?whole day?

Are there any questions?Are there any questions?Again, if you have an Again, if you have an

instructor, ask him/her. If instructor, ask him/her. If not, e-mail your questions not, e-mail your questions to: to: question@maitreya.org

Do you remember the Do you remember the Universal Mantra and Universal Mantra and

Meditation Processes?Meditation Processes?

If you do, then begin your If you do, then begin your mantra meditation. mantra meditation.

If you need to be refreshed, If you need to be refreshed, bring up Class 2 and go bring up Class 2 and go

through the process using through the process using the slides in that Class. the slides in that Class.

To Class 4