Thinking Cap: The mark of an educated mind - Aristotle

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

― Aristotle, Metaphysics

Make Your Mind Powerful With Yoga

Radhika Ravi Ranjan

Our mind can be the solution to our problems or the source of all our problems, says Dr Swami Shankardev Saraswati. It is where all our thoughts arise, where ideas concretise, where we decide whether we are happy or sad. Therefore, harnessing our mind and our thoughts is crucial to our sense of well-being and happiness.

When the mind is silent and peaceful, it becomes very powerful. It can become a receptor of bliss and wisdom, enabling life to become a spontaneous flow and expression of joy and harmony. However, this inner silence cannot arise while there is a continual stream of disturbing thoughts and emotions. All this inner noise has to be removed before one can truly experience the soundless sound of inner silence.

This silence of the mind can be achieved through yoga. The aim of all yoga is to help people unfold their potential and become relaxed, strong and integrated beings. The first step is managing the mind. He says most people come to a yoga class without having worked with their minds.

Indeed, many people find that their mind is their biggest problem, because it is undeveloped and undisciplined. Majority of the people are forever seeking methods to calm and manage their minds. This is not an easy task primarily because the mind is a vast, luminous and creative power.

According to Dr Saraswati, it is because the mind is so powerful that it is difficult to manage. The untrained mind has been likened to a wild horse. Once tamed, it is a great friend; but untamed, it is a wild animal that can turn on us.

An untrained and undisciplined mind is a jumble of chaotic thoughts and feelings that can lead to poor perception, confusion and destructive emotions. A trained and disciplined mind, on the other hand, is a powerful tool that can think clearly, solve creatively and work to realise its desires and dreams.

There are methods in yoga by which people can discipline as well as enlighten their minds. Gradually, they become masters of powerful, happy, compassionate, and heart-centered minds.

Before one controls the mind, one must know the mind. The human mind has two parts - the lower and the higher. The lower mind is connected to the senses and allows us to conduct ourselves in the world. This, therefore, becomes our thinking mind. The higher mind is the subtle mind that links us to our higher consciousness. This, therefore, becomes our intuitive mind.

The lower mind has three main components: a rational, thinking mind, called manas in Sanskrit, a memory bank called chitta, and an ego or sense of individuality called ahamkara. Manas measures sense impressions and stores these in our chitta. The build-up of these impressions creates our ahamkara, our sense of who we are as human personalities.

The higher mind is called buddhi. It is connected to consciousness and has the characteristics of intelligence, intuition, knowledge, faith, generosity, compassion and wisdom. Usually, it is dominated by the louder and more compelling lower mind.

A yoga teacher can impart techniques about how the higher mind or buddhi can regulate the workings of the lower mind.

A monkey mind is precisely that - that which cannot be controlled easily and that which will behave impulsively and rashly, with no logical process. An undeveloped mind has been called the monkey mind for just those reasons. It is dominated by tamas, or darkness, represented by selfish thoughts, worry, insecurity, greed, rage, and petty judgments. Emotions and desires can erupt at any time, compelling one to act and react. When the monkey mind starts jumping around, the buddhi falls asleep.

Yogic and meditative processes help calm down the thoughts and emotions arising in our mind and allow the deeper and subtler intuitive elements to manifest. In yoga, the usual way to achieve our goal is to focus on the centre-point between the eyebrows, also called the third eye or ajna chakra. This is the point that controls both the higher mind as well as the lower mind.

One way to focus on the third eye is to chant Om. The root sound has a magical effect on the meditative process. Begin by sitting in a comfortable posture and emptying your mind of all thoughts. Then, direct attention to the eyebrow centre and visualise a point of light at this place. Now, chant the Om mantra for as long as your breath allows. Then simply sit in silence, noticing your state of deep relaxation and peace.

Another way to focus on the crucial eyebrow centre is to breathe through alternate nostrils, the yog called Pranayam. Inhale through one nostril, exhale through the other. Do the same with the other.

www.speakingtree.in

NirvanaShatkam- The Essense of Vedanta by Shankaracharya

The Atma_shatkam (Devanāgarī: आत्मषट्कम्) is also known as Nirvana Shatkam (Devanāgarī: निर्वाणषट्कम्) and by other variations of these names. It is a śloka in six stanzas written by the great Ādi Śaṅkara (first Shankaracharya) summarizing the basic teachings of Advaita Vedanta, or the Hindu teachings of non-dualism. It was written around 788-820 CE. He mastered the Vedas by the age of 6. This shows he is a re-incarnation, as Vedas take a whole lifetime to master.

When a young boy of eight (Adi Sankara), while wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his Guru, he encountered a sage who asked him, "Who are you?". The boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as "Nirvana Shatakam" or Atma Shatakam".

The sage the boy was talking to was Swami Govindpada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking for. These few verses can be of tremendous value to progress in contemplation practices that lead to Self-Realization.

"Nirvana" is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. "Atma" is the True Self.

The speaker of the poem is nominally Śiva, but it is generally seen as a statement by a knowing person of identity with Śiva or Brahmān. The speaker lists in the earlier verses what he (or Brahmān) is not. He is not body or mind, nor the things that attach them to each other and to the world, including the intellect, the senses, the practices of life, the occurrences of life such as birth and death. In the last verse he says that he permeates the universe, and that he is consciousness, bliss and the soul, and by implication, the Atman and Brahmān.

निर्वाण षटकम् (मूल संस्कृत)	निर्वाण षटकम् (हिंदी भावानुवाद)	NirvanaShatkam (English)
मनोबुद्ध्यहंकारचित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे।न च व्योमभूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः चिदानंदरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥१॥	मैं मन, बुद्धि, अहंकार और स्मृति नहीं हूँ, न मैं कान, जिह्वा, नाक और आँख हूँ। न मैं आकाश, भूमि, तेज और वायु ही हूँ, मैं चैतन्य रूप हूँ, आनंद हूँ, शिव हूँ, शिव हूँ ॥१॥	I am not mind, intellect, ego or repository of memories. I am not ear, tongue, nose or the eyes. I am not space, earth, fire or air. I am of the form of aliveness, eternal bliss, auspiciousness. I am Shiva. ॥1॥
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः न वा सप्तधातुर्न वा पञ्चकोशाः।न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायू चिदानंदरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥	न मैं मुख्य प्राण हूँ और न ही मैं पञ्च प्राणों (प्राण, उदान, अपान, व्यान, समान) में  कोई हूँ, न मैं सप्त धातुओं (त्वचा, मांस, मेद, रक्त, पेशी, अस्थि, मज्जा) में कोई हूँ और न पञ्च कोशों (अन्नमय, मनोमय, प्राणमय, विज्ञानमय, आनंदमय) में से कोई, न मैं वाणी, हाथ, पैर हूँ और न मैं जननेंद्रिय या गुदा हूँ, मैं चैतन्य रूप हूँ, आनंद हूँ, शिव हूँ, शिव हूँ ॥२॥	I am not principal life force (prana) or any of the five pranas (Prana, udana, apana, vyan, saman). I am not any of the seven constituents (skin, flesh, fat, blood, muscle, bone, marrow) of the body or any of the five sheaths (annamaya, manomaya, pranamaya, vigyanmaya, anandmaya). I am not speech, hands, feet, genitals or anus. I am of the form of aliveness, eternal bliss, auspiciousness. I am Shiva. ॥2॥
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभ मोहौ मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः।न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः चिदानंदरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥३॥	न मुझमें राग और द्वेष हैं, न ही लोभ और मोह, न ही मुझमें मद है न ही ईर्ष्या की  भावना, न मुझमें धर्म, अर्थ, काम और मोक्ष ही हैं, मैं चैतन्य रूप हूँ, आनंद हूँ, शिव हूँ, शिव हूँ ॥३॥	I am devoid of aversion, attachment, greed, delusion, pride or jealousy. I am beyond four major goals of life, righteousness, wealth, pleasure or liberation. I am of the form of aliveness, eternal bliss, auspiciousness. I am Shiva. ॥3॥
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखम् न मंत्रो न तीर्थ न वेदा न यज्ञाः।अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता चिदानंदरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥४॥	न मैं पुण्य हूँ, न पाप, न सुख और न दुःख, न मन्त्र, न तीर्थ, न वेद और न यज्ञ, मैं न भोजन हूँ, न खाया जाने वाला हूँ और न खाने वाला हूँ, मैं चैतन्य रूप हूँ, आनंद हूँ, शिव हूँ, शिव हूँ ॥४॥	I am beyond virtues, sins, joy or sorrow. I am beyond mantras, pilgrimage, Vedas or yagyas. I am not food, eatable, or its eater. I am of the form of aliveness, eternal bliss, auspiciousness. I am Shiva. ॥4॥
न मे मृत्युशंका न मे जातिभेदः पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म।न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः चिदानंदरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥	न मुझे मृत्यु का भय है, न मुझमें जाति का कोई भेद है, न मेरा कोई पिता ही है, न कोई माता ही है, न मेरा जन्म हुआ है, न मेरा कोई भाई है, न कोई मित्र, न कोई गुरु ही है और न ही कोई शिष्य,  मैं चैतन्य रूप हूँ, आनंद हूँ, शिव हूँ, शिव हूँ ॥५॥	I have no fear of death or distinction of caste. I have no father or mother. I am unborn. I have no brothers, friends, master or disciples. I am of the form of aliveness, eternal bliss, auspiciousness. I am Shiva. ॥5॥
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपः विभुर्व्याप्य सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम्।सदा मे समत्वं न मुक्तिर्न बन्धः चिदानंदरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥६॥	मैं समस्त संदेहों से परे, बिना किसी आकार वाला, सर्वगत, सर्वव्यापक, सभी इन्द्रियों को व्याप्त करके स्थित हूँ, मैं सदैव समता में स्थित हूँ, न मुझमें मुक्ति है और न बंधन, मैं चैतन्य रूप हूँ, आनंद हूँ, शिव हूँ, शिव हूँ ॥६॥	I am beyond all doubts, formless, all-pervading, everywhere and surround all sense organs. I am always established in equanimity. There is no liberation or bondage in me. I am of the form of aliveness, eternal bliss, auspiciousness. I am Shiva.॥6॥

English Transliteration:

Mano Budhyahankaar Chitani Naaham, Na Cha Shrotra Jihve Na Cha Ghraana netre
Na Cha Vyoma Bhumir Na Tejo Na Vayuh, Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Cha Praana Sanjno Na Vai Pancha Vaayuhu, Na Vaa Sapta Dhaatur Na Va Pancha Koshah
Na Vaak Paani Paadau Na Chopasthapaayuh, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Me Dvesha Raagau Na Me Lobha Mohau, Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya Bhaavah
Na Dharmo Na Chaartho Na Kaamo Na Moksha, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Punyan Na Paapan Na Saukhyan Na Dukham, Na Mantro Na Tirthan Na Vedaah Na Yajnaah
Aham Bhojanan Naiv Bhojyan Na Bhoktaa, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Mrityur Na Shanka Na Me Jaati Bhedah, Pitaa Naiva Me Naiva Maataa Na Janma
Na Bandhur Na Mitram Guru Naiva Shishyah, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham

Aham Nirvikalpo Niraakaara Rupo, Vibhutvaaccha Sarvatra Sarvendriyaanaam
Na Chaa Sangatan Naiva Muktir Na meyah Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham

Compact meaning from geetganga.org :

1) I am not mind, nor intellect, nor ego, nor the reflections of inner self. I am not the five senses. I am beyond that. I am not the ether, nor the earth, nor the fire, nor the wind (i.e. the five elements). I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness. 

2) Neither can I be termed as energy (Praana), nor five types of breath (Vaayu), nor the seven material essences (dhaatu), nor the five coverings (panca-kosha). Neither am I the five instruments of elimination, procreation, motion, grasping, or speaking. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness. 

3) I have no hatred or dislike, nor affiliation or liking, nor greed, nor delusion, nor pride or haughtiness, nor feelings of envy or jealousy. I have no duty (dharma), nor any money, nor any desire (refer: kama), nor even liberation (refer: moksha). I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness. 

4) I have neither virtue (punya), nor vice (paapa). I do not commit sins or good deeds, nor have happiness or sorrow, pain or pleasure. I do not need mantras, holy places, scriptures, rituals or sacrifices (yajna). I am none of the triad of the observer or one who experiences, the process of observing or experiencing, or any object being observed or experienced. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness. 

5) I do not have fear of death, as I do not have death. I have no separation from my true self, no doubt about my existence, nor have I discrimination on the basis of birth. I have no father or mother, nor did I have a birth. I am not the relative, nor the friend, nor the guru, nor the disciple. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness. 

6) I am all pervasive. I am without any attributes, and without any form. I have neither attachment to the world, nor to liberation. I have no wishes for anything because I am everything, everywhere, every time, always in equilibrium. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness. 

Source List:   1. Wikipedia  page
                         2. geetganga.org
                         3. vedicscripturesinc (google site)

Random thoughts- by Ramananda

Work is its own reward. You don't  have  to wait  for things  to HAPPEN. The mundane,  routine , predictable  can transform  into something  magical.

Do not form opinion  about others. As sooner or later you are bound to revise  them.  Live light. King size!

Find what you love or love what you have- Anonymous

Accept  the things  as they are. Face the reality. In the process  if change is necessary, change  yourself. It is very difficult  to change  others.
 
Be self centered. The more you are centered, the less you depend  on outside things  and situations. It is the beginning  of peace and contentment in your life.

Sant Surdas: The great Bhakti poet

Surdas (Sant Kavi Surdas) was a 15th century blind saint, poet and musician, known for his devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Surdas is said to have written and composed a hundred thousand songs in his magnum opus the 'Sur Sagar' (Ocean of Melody), out of which only about 8,000 are extant. He is considered a saint and so also known as Sant Surdas, a name which literally means the "slave of melody". 

Early life 

Surdas was born in 1478 in Runkta near Agra. While some say it is village Sihi, Faridabad, Haryana. He started parsing Lord Krishna since he was young . There is a little disagreement regarding the exact birth date of Surdas, some scholars believe it to be 1478 AD, while others believe it to be 1479 AD. As per the limited authentic life history of Surdas, it is said that he lived in Braj(or Bhraj), near Mathura. Surdas was born blind and because of this, he was neglected by his family. As a result, he left his home at tender age of six. 

Surdas's Guru - Shri Vallabharacharya 

A chance meeting with the saint Vallabharacharya at Gau Ghat by the river Yamuna in his teens transformed his life. Shri Vallabhacharya taught Surdas lessons in Hindu philosophy and meditation and put him in the path of spirituality. Since Surdas could recite the entire Srimad Bhagavatam and was musically inclined, his guru advised him to sing the 'Bhagavad Lila' - devotional lyrical ballads in praise of Lord Krishna and Radha. Surdas lived in Vrindavan with his guru, who initiated him to his own religious order, and later appointed him as the resident singer at Srinath temple in Govardhan. 

Surdas attains fame 

Surdas' lilting music and fine poetry attracted many laurels. As his fame spread far and wide, the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605) became his patron. Surdas spent the last years of his life in Braj, the place of his birth and lived on the donations, which he received in return of his bhajan singing and lecturing on religious topics, until he died in c. 1586. 

Great devotion for lord Krishna

Surdas also attained fame for his purity of devotion towards Lord Krishna. In one incident, Surdas falls into a well and is rescued by Lord Krishna when he calls him for help. Radha asks Krishna why he helped Surdas for which Krishna says its for his devotion. Krishna also warns Radha not to go near him. She however goes near him but Surdas, recognizing the divine sounds, pulls her anklets. Radha tells him who she is but Surdas refuses to return her anklets stating that he cannot believe her as he is blind. Krishna gives Surdas vision and allows him to ask for a boon. Surdas returns the anklets says he has already got what he wanted (the blessings of Krishna) and asks Krishna to make him blind again as he does not want to see anything else in the world after seeing Krishna. Radha is moved by his devotion and Krishna grants his wish by making him blind again thus giving him everlasting fame. 

One of the popular poems by Surdas

अखियाँ हरि दर्शन की प्यासी । 

देखो चाहत कमल नयन को, निस दिन रहत उदासी ॥ 

केसर तिलक मोतिन की माला, वृंदावन के वासी । 

नेहा लगाए त्यागी गये तृण सम, डारि गये गल फाँसी ॥ 

काहु के मन की कोऊ का जाने, लोगन के मन हाँसी । 

सूरदास प्रभु तुम्हरे दरस बिन लेहों करवत कासी ॥ 

Meaning:

Our eyes thirst for a vision of Hari; 

They long to see the lotus-eyed one, 

Grieving for him day and night. 

Wearing a saffron tilak and pearl garland 

And dwelling in Vrindavan, 

He gave us his love, then cast us aside like a blade of grass, 

Throwing a noose around our necks. 

No one knows what is in another's mind, 

There is laughter in people's hearts; 

But Lord of Surdas, without a vision of you 

we would give up our very lives. 

Source: Wikipedia

Swami Vivekananda: Love is the Law of Life

All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.
- Swami Vivekananda

Saranaagathi: Surrender to the Divine -by Swami Sivananda

I came across a good website on Hindu religion and philosophy. http://saranaagathi.wordpress.com is the treasure trove of message of the great spiritual masters. It provides the life and teachings of the saints and sages of india. There is a section on Bhagwad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama, and Govinda Damodara Strotam. A great resource for the spiritual seekeers. This brillant article by Swami Sivananda lucidly explains the concept of Surrender or Saranaagati in the context of the Shastras. 

Saranaagathi means “Surrender Unto the Lord”. Surrender is also called as “आत्मनिवेदन or AtmaNivedana” is the highest form of Bhakti or Devotion, where the Self is surrendered to God in entirety. This Surrender is the culmination of the sadhana of Bhakti and Jnana.

Saranaagathi in its true sense is the ultimate aim of all branches of yoga – Karma, Jnana and Bhakti. In Saranaagathi, the devotee is just like a small child, barely months old, which surrenders itself completely and exclusively to the mother’s care, because the child is innately assured of mother’s caring for it. The child does not depend on its self even for a small work. The devotee also becomes completely child-like, entrusting everything into the hands of God.

In most of our day-to-day lives and actions, we have very little “ Saranaagathi” to the Divine. We act as independent beings, and perform all actions of grown-up adults, with the feeling that we have enough mental and physical capabilities to take care of ourselves. But, there is also a “Surrender” that we do here, but in the reverse direction. We surrender to the world around us. We surrender to our temptations, to our sensual pleasures, relationships, emotions, what to speak of big things, even to the smallest thing like “taste buds”, we surrender ourselves. We bend our inner nature for the outer-world. We take the first step towards “Saranaagathi”, in one Swamiji’s words, only when we bend the outer to the inner.

Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita Himself gives the gist of Saranaagathi or self-surrender in “Moksha Sannyasa Yoga or The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation”. (Chapter – 18, Sloka: 66).

सर्व धर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।

अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ।।

“Abandoning all duties, take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate thee from all sins. Grieve not.”

With the inspiration of our Revered Gurudev Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, we have named this effort of ours on the internet as “Saranaagathi – Surrender to the Divine”. We pray to God and Gurudev to bless us with his Grace in our journey towards “Saranaagathi”.

“Work ceaselessly for the Lord but surrender the fruits of all actions to the Lord. Take the Lord as your sole refuge. Live for Him. Work for Him. Serve Him in all forms. Think of Him only. Meditate on Him alone. See Him everywhere. Worship Him in your heart. Consecrate your life, all your action, feelings and thoughts to the Lord. You will rest in Him. You will attain union with Him. You will attain immortal supreme peace and eternal bliss.”

“True and sincere surrender unto the Lord is the essence of Bhakti (God-love). ‘I am Thine, All is Thine. Thy will be done, my Lord’ – This is the best Saranaagathi Mantra or prayer of self-surrender. Seek His will. Do His will. Surrender to His will. You will become one with the cosmic will.”

http://saranaagathi.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/saranaagathi_to_divine.jpg 

Thinking Cap: Difference between great and eminent man - B.R. Ambedkar

"A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society."     

-B. R. Ambedkar

The Secret of the Buddha’s Smile

by Shen Shi'an 

I think it is time to face yourself again.
Then again, it is always time.

- Stonepeace

One of the most iconic images of Buddhism is surely that of the Buddha sitting silently under a tree, with his eyes half-closed, while beaming the most beautiful, kind and understanding smile ever. So enduring is this depiction of deep peace and composure, that the Buddha, be it in the form of statues or pictures, is the most reproduced image in the world. It is appreciated not only by Buddhists, but by people from various cultural walks of life – to the extent that Buddha images have become home decor must-haves for many!

Yet, as alluring as the Buddha’s smile is, many of us are still puzzled by it, for it presents many a mystery… Why is the Buddha smiling? What is he smiling about? How did he manage to attain the True Happiness that his smile represents? Perhaps most importantly, can we smile a similar smile too? Of course we can! Is that not the deeper reason why we venerate the Buddha – so as to draw inspiration from him, so as to emulate his perfect compassion and wisdom? The good news is that ever since the Buddha smiled his ‘magic’ smile, he shared on how we can too.

The Buddha smiles because he has made peace, not only with himself, but with the rest of the world too. This should not be mistaken as constant abiding in a state of complacent inactivity, for Buddhahood is realised through the active perfection of compassion to benefit all beings, and of the perfection of wisdom to know how to best help them. What the eternally seated Buddha represents is the state of enlightened bliss that the Buddha abides in – even as he does his best, which is whatever is necessary in the moment, to guide beings to the same enlightenment (synonymous with True Happiness).

The secret of the Buddha’s smile lies in the mastery of his mind – through the practice of meditation. The pose we see Buddha images in is usually that of the Buddha in the classic meditation posture. There are many forms of meditation taught today, with just as many varied purposes as techniques, just as in the Buddha’s time. The Buddha himself mastered meditation from the greatest meditation teachers available then – before realising their methods were inadequate for realising enlightenment.

What then, sets the Buddha’s meditation methods aside? The Buddha too taught many forms of meditation, as part of the Noble Eightfold Path to liberation. In this sense, the Buddha never really taught any meditation technique for its own sake, as the long-term goal is always nothing less than perfect enlightenment. Buddhist meditation thus should ideally not be practised merely as a feel-good relaxation exercise, as if one is doing yoga only for fitness. It would be a great pity to shortchange ourselves of meditation’s full benefits! However, it is nevertheless true that what the Buddha taught can still benefit many who do not yet aspire for enlightenment. All in good time?

A good example of a Buddhist meditation method suitable for all, be one Buddhist or not, is the practice of loving-kindness (Metta) meditation, whereby one systematically cultivates thoughts and energy of loving-kindness, first within and for oneself, before it overflows and radiates to the world. Often mistaken as a simple visualisation exercise, when Metta is trained well, transformative waves of loving-kindness can truly be generated, felt and extended. Strong metta is a soothing balm not just for one’s troubled mind, but heals beyond – through loving words and deeds too. With more Metta for all, you will get closer to the Buddha’s magic smile too!

One of the most common misconceptions of meditation is that it is dangerous – which unfortunately keeps some a perpetual distance from attaining the Buddha’s smile. This is a very general misconception indeed… that easily applies to virtually everything else in life. For instance, it is dangerous to drive too, as one might have a fatal crash, just as it is dangerous to swim as one might drown? The truth is, nothing is dangerous if it is learnt properly from a skilful teacher. Just as a masterful driver and swimmer is always safe, likewise is a good meditation practitioner.

Someone remarked to a friend new to meditation that though meditation may bring benefits according to many independent scientific reports, it is dangerous as demons may infiltrate his mind! Though well-meaning, the truth is that meditation, when practised properly, is precisely to learn how to mindfully protect one’s mind from inner demons, which are our spiritual defilements like attachment, aversion and delusion (which cause unhappiness), and outer demons (in terms of any adverse external circumstances). In this sense, it is more dangerous not to meditate!

As meditation always involves mindfulness, when the practitioner is mindful, the person is not only in control, but in control greater than usual. As such, it is not possible to ‘lose one’s mind’ through meditation. In fact, one becomes a better master of one’s mind. That said, there are some who might be less suitable for certain forms of meditation due to mental ailments. Yet, there is always at least one method suitable for everyone. Just as a doctor can prescribe the right medicine for physical ills, a good meditation teacher can likewise prescribe the best method.

Meditation is also not about making the mind blank – as mindfulness is always required. As such, it is not about doing nothing or daydreaming. Once again, with the presence of mindfulness and control, there is no need to worry about being brainwashed! It is only by surrendering mindfulness that brainwashing can happen. In contrast, whenever we live our lives unmindfully, in a state of haze, we are already somewhat ‘brainwashing’ ourselves! Meditation thus reverses this tendency and reconnects us with genuine conscious living.

Another common misconception of meditation is that it is very difficult to practise. Using the driving and swimming examples again, it is almost always challenging at first, for anyone who is new to any skill, to master it. When the going gets a little tough, we should remind ourselves of the immeasurable worth of mastering our minds – that very source of our happiness and unhappiness. The good news is that practice does make perfect. Let us practise diligently then! It is also appropriate to start simpler by learning foundational meditation techniques such as mindfulness of breathing (Anapanasati).

It is worth noting too, that the practice of chanting done well is also a meditative practice, as it too has effects similar to other meditation techniques – in cultivating calmness and clarity of mind. That chanted can include sutras (discourses of the Buddha), mantras (strings of sacred syllables for invoking pure states of mind – such as the mantra of compassion – ‘Om Mani Padme Hung’) and general prayers. The chanting of ‘homage to’ or ‘refuge in’ (Namo) various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is practised too, the most popular of which is ‘Namo Amituofo’ (Amitabha Buddha). The benefits of these practices are tremendous as well.

Contrary to popular belief, meditation is not at all a dull activity. In fact, it is the doorway to the greatest inner adventure ever – to discover and actualise the hidden potentials of the mind. The practice of meditation eventually leads to mastery of both the inner and the outer world, as we increase in fortitude for facing the vicissitudes of life, to be able to remain smiling like the Buddha in the eye of the storm! Through meditation, may we spring to greater life with mindfulness, as we master the smile of the Buddha!

Courtesy: http://thedailyenlightenment.com