This is part two of the adventures in Advaita Vedanta... will you travel with me a while?


Meditative Monday

Hari OM


Gurudev was a shining example of the meditative personality and the dynamism that can arise from its application. Here are his words on the matter of 'reason for meditation.'

The Lord sends you disturbance so that you can discriminate between
consciousness and thoughts, even in that experience of disturbance. With every disturbance, the Lord is sending you a reason for meditation. The art of practicing harmony is to be applied in the din of the marketplace while we are sweating with exertion upon the narrow path of adversities.

 

 

7 comments:

  1. I would be glad if you could explain that reason, because I didn't fully get it -- the meaning of disturbance, consciousness and thoughts in this context.

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    1. Hari OM
      So glad you asked! The aim of all seekers is to remain, as much as possible, in a meditative state. Most, though, have still to transact in life. Here, Gurudev is indicating that the trials we may face, or even just the day-to-day processing of life that we must deal with, can often prevent us from paying correct attention to our spiritual condition. Hence they become disturbances to our meditation.

      If we have been applying our viveka and vairagya sufficiently well, even as those bumps in the road of life look to upend us, we can separate the happenings from our reactions. We must enter our observer self (sakshi - witness/consciousness) so that we can watch what is going on as if a movie on a screen. This gives us the distance to also note our reactions (ie. the thoughts generated in response) and to correct them if they grow loose and angry. We have all had times when we have done or said something as a pure reaction - leaving a regret or wish to rewind the tape. If we can step back within ourselves, we can control those thoughts, bring in the Higher Self we know ourselves to be.

      I am sure you know of those who seem unperturbed even in disaster, just taking things in their stride, whilst others around are in great distress, panicked, useless? These are the ones who can intellectually understand that the body is simply to be ridden through the rough. Consciousness is untouchable, free of all disturbance. The seeker's task is to remember his or her meditative self in that moment of need. In this way, we 'practice harmony in the marketplace.'

      Has this helped? Pranaams, YAM xx

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    2. Thanks a lot, Yamini. Now I understood what is meant by disturbance.
      And, I am happy that I can very well relate to this, I believe in this, and I do try my best to practise this spiritual path in my daily life.

      A number of such lessons I have learnt from my own life experiences and also from my father, who was a great influence on me as well as on the many students whom he taught chemistry.

      Over a period of time, I have been able to inculcate (though not to any great perfection) some practices like patience, equanimity, being non-judgemental (as far as possible), not reacting on the spur of the moment, being sensitive and considerate to people; being respectful and kind irrespective of who they are etc. My father used to say, there is God in every living being.

      These have had a lot of positive impacts on me; though sometimes I am a bit disappointed some people see them as weaknesses. But that is okay. I have learnt to live with that.

      Thank you so much for these invaluable detailed explainers.

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    3. Hari OM
      Thanks in return and blessings to you - in this response we learn a little more of the person behind the 'avatar' and that is a joy! Yxx

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  2. Dear Yamini,

    As always, thank you for the clarity of your wise words.

    I'd like to thank Pradeep for asking his question. Your response to his question was like a revision of sorts for me.

    The 'movie' analogy helps me to keep 'sthira' in tricky situations.

    The funny thing is that it's the tiniest thing that ticks me off (usually the tone of a loved one) and yet, I'm able to be 'useful' when the big knocks try to knock me down (like an unexpected health diagnosis etc.)

    The work to "bring in the Higher Self we know ourselves to be' is a continuous one and sometimes non-linear (even circular, I feel).

    Thank you.

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    1. Hari OM
      Ah yes, those little needles from family can be like papercuts - a lot more hurtful than they have a need to be! However, it is particularly useful to think about Gurudev's observation when these times arise. The reason they affect us so deeply is generally that we are either, a) conscience-pricked due to some truth in the 'needle' or, b) feel that the one needling ought to know us better and we are feeling disappointed in them. Either way, when these disturbances arise, we must draw back, take that deep breath mother always told us about (!) and enter our meditative selves before responding - or turning the other cheek.

      Trust me, even as an advanced practitioner, I know how hard this is when in the moment of the thing!!! Yxx

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    2. This is going into my notebook. I'd like to refer to your words when I'm facing the 'needle' next. Thank you. Thank you. xx

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