Why Meditation?

Why Meditation?

Before we embark on any sustained practice like Yoga, we must understand why we are doing it. What motivates us? What is the goal? How shall we achieve it?

The common dictionary meaning for the word Meditation or Yoga is to engage in mental exercise for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness. However, for those of us who are ready to follow the Agastya Yoga Siddhanta (AYS), we need a deeper understanding.

In Vazhipaadu Sage Agastya says,

“It is a time when people are in search of meditation after going through much trouble and suffering. While there are many who are available to teach meditation, there are differences in the way they teach it. No matter who teaches meditation or with what method, the foundation of all types of meditation is the one developed by Maharishi Patanjali.

Changes have been made in the way of practicing the different steps given by him. Some have their students sit in meditation straightaway, give them a mantra, and ask them to chant it. If we observe it closely, there are very few who have progressed with this method of teaching meditation.                               

Knowledge must be the foundation of all types of meditation. It is easy for one who has understood knowledge to take up meditation. So,
let us explore what type of knowledge is the foundation for meditation?

Those who desire wisdom must first understand themselves. Who am I? Where have I come from? Why was I born? What are my duties? What is soul? What is the mind? What is the body? What is the relationship between these three?

Once a person has understood this, they must understand what meditation is, and how to meditate. Importantly, they must understand why they are meditating. I have already given explanations for the questions posed above.”

As Sage Agastya says in the last sentence there, Vazhipaadu contains the knowledge that he is talking about and that is why I reiterate over and over again, that one must read Vazhipaadu to understand AYS.

So, this then is the foundation of AYS as laid down by the greatest of Rishis – Sage Agastya. In reading Vazhipaadu, we have understood what creation is, why were we created, what is the purpose of our life, what is karma, and how we can end all this suffering. This is imperative for all Yoga practitioners, no matter what method one follows.

Now, we are going into the next phase. Of making conscious, concerted effort to go beyond the world as we perceive through our senses. We are trying to reconnect to the inner world. We are trying to turn away from the external.

At the very basic, this involves regulating breath, and maintaining a correct posture, and sitting for longer periods of time. In the modern world, this is perhaps the most difficult step.

We are so used to being bombarded by stimuli from the external world, that sitting quietly itself becomes a challenge. So, the first step then in understanding the goal, is having that determination to accomplish it. Just as an athlete trains to run a marathon, just as student studies to pass an exam, we are now training and taking the greatest test known to mankind. The test of knowing your ‘self.’

As Sage Agastya says,

“Mere imparting of the knowledge of the world and the art of living is far inferior compared to the knowledge that shows the path to attaining Parabrahman.” This is exactly what we are going to do. We are taking that knowledge given by Sage Agastya in Vazhipaadu and applying it in our lives.

Becoming conscious of our life, moment by moment, we are changing ourselves. Changing the way we think, changing how we react to situations, understanding fully well, that the onus of having a good future is squarely on our own shoulders!

As he says, “Righteousness is the evidence of wisdom. The speech, action, and thoughts of one who is wise, should be like that of a lotus that is untouched by dirt.”

Yet, we know that it is not achieved easily! Every day is a struggle, as we begin to know our own selves. When we acknowledge that some of our behavior may be wrong. And we try to correct ourselves. Yet, if you look closely, your path of Self Realization begins at this level! At the very basic, day to day interactions and behavior!

We also know it is unrealistic to wait for the day when we are perfect in our daily life, when we have accomplished the fine art of walking on the razor edge path of righteousness carefully, to embark on meditation practices. Everything goes hand in hand. As you progress in your meditation, so does your lifestyle improve. So does your ‘knowing’ improve.

Sage Agastya says in Vazhipaadu, “It is important to include meditation as part of one’s daily activities. We eat to help nurture our body; meditation will help sustain health in our growing physical bodies as well.

To sharpen the mind, intellect is essential. Meditation is that which will help harness the mind. It also helps control emotions.

If we can include meditation in our worship to gain benediction  of God during worship, it will help us understand who we are. When we reach a higher state in meditation, we can understand our soul.

Method to gain health

It is usual to employ exercise or yoga asana postures to maintain health. Because of this body and mind work in tandem. We must learn the different postures from your Guru. When we do these postures, the elements work in conjunction. The Chakras that are not visible to our eyes get cleansed. It is through the Chakras that cosmic energy enters the body and promotes health. This helps man get rid of diseases.

Control of the mind

It is natural to compare the mind to the monkey that jumps around on the trees. The monkey never remains in one place. The human mind is also like that. It is constantly thinking of things that are unnecessary and weighing viable solutions; or ruminating on events that have already passed. Thinking about all these things, it is constantly affected by these thoughts.

In meditation, breathing techniques, withdrawal of senses and concentration help the mind to focus. They also help in clearing the mind of unnecessary thoughts.

Controlling emotion

Emotions are brought under control during meditation when we use breathing techniques, undergo withdrawal of senses, and reach the stage of concentration. The do’s and don’ts in life, as delineated by Patanjali, helps us in walking on the right path in our life.

Understanding that we are the Soul

When learning meditation, we progress in stages to reach the stage of intense concentration (samadhi). When we withdraw our senses from the outside world, the waves of emotion in our heart is removed and we understand ‘self.’ As we progress in meditation, we understand that we are souls. Along with meditation, we must gain knowledge as well as walk on the path of righteousness, and that will lead us to the path of liberation.”