Meditative Monday

Hari OM

For the month of August, let us explore aspects of meditation inspired by quotes from Gurudev.

When beginning meditation, the majority of us attempt it alone - or in a casual group, perhaps. Not so many take up philosophy to go with it. The Mindfulness movement, generated by the Buddhistic approach to meditative activity, has been responsible for increasing understanding of the purpose and practice of medication although now rather commercialised (as the west so often tends to do with eastern culture - the original appropriation). 

Prior to Mindfulness, there was a strong following for the Transcendentalism generated by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; he had developed further the meditative form used by the Rsis and handed down through the centuries from sadhu to sadhu.

Both these systems hold much validity - and they do have philosophy behind them if the seekers search it out. 

What is pointed out by Gurudev's statement here, though, is that to truly gain value from one's meditative practice, it helps a great deal to investigate the whys and wherefores of our mental makeup and the best way to do this is to engage in the study of the philosophy and culture that brought forth the practice in the first place. I know that, after twenty years of hit and miss meditative practice, it was the discovery of Advaita which made all the difference for yours truly!