Ask The Master: 22 Oct 2007

Q. What are the benefits of meditation in today’s society? At any time and age, what does every human being need in life?


Strength and well-being of the body, mind and spirit. The strength of the body (sharirbal) keeps us free of physical diseases and helps the body maintain itself in such a way that we can carry on our day-to-day activities without any problem. The strength of the mind (manobal) keeps our minds calm and balanced and helps us live life fully and joyfully. The strength of the spirit (atmabal) takes us beyond both of these. With atmabal, there arises a sense of compassion, a spirit of tyaag (sacrifice), of service to society. While the other two are necessary only for the continuation and well-being of the individual, atmabal is essential for the continuation and well-being of society and humanity.

With only bodily strength, a man can become a thug, a rowdy, a nuisance in society. If he possesses bodily and mental strength without the strength of spirit, he becomes cunning, dangerous. He could become a criminal, a menace to society. Only when man combines all three strengths does he flower as a complete individual. He becomes an asset to the society in which he lives, and to the world.

The single master key that can unlock all these strengths is meditation. It is now well known that meditation can work wonders for the body. Through meditation, one can cure diseases like low or high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension and a whole range of ailments. Many have experienced these benefits for all kinds of pains; even intellectuals agree on this matter.

Meditation helps you cleanse your chakras. Have you all heard about the chakras? In our body, there are seven subtle energy centers which control our physical, mental and emotional activities. When all these chakras are functioning harmoniously, only then do you experience a sense of physical well-being. Meditation works on your chakras; it helps cleanse the chakras, to make them function harmoniously, to keep your body and mind free of disease.

On the mental level, meditation can free the mind from depression. It can help us acquire greater mental clarity, and be a guide to us to live our lives more completely and with a sense of fulfillment, both individually and as a part of the family and society. Meditation helps us make fuller use of our time and energy, so naturally we get increased material comfort also.

In the same way, meditation helps bring out our atmashakti (strength of the soul) and creates a deep sense of peace. When bliss flowers inside us, we naturally want to spread it in society. If we ourselves are miserable, how can we be of any use to society? So meditation is the one route that gives us all these three strengths.

Meditation benefits us on the physical, mental and spiritual planes. It enhances family life and social life, and ultimately leads us to spiritual life. This is the wisdom gathered by the great enlightened masters over the centuries.

______________________
This excerpt has been taken from the book: Uncommon Answers to Common Questions