Ask The Master: 31 Jan 2008

Can everybody learn meditation?

You don't have to learn meditation. You are already a meditator!

Just recall any moment in your life when you have experienced extreme beauty. The sun rising suddenly from behind a mountain, or the first time you hear a lovely piece of music.

At such a moment, suddenly, you become totally still, wordless.

Haven't we all experienced such moments?

At such a moment, in the presence of that beauty, you can't think any more. You are just silent, aware of that beauty that's all.

That moment is meditation.

After a few moments, your inner chatter starts again. Your mind says, That's a beautiful sunrise. Your mind starts comparing the music to other music that you have heard. That means, you have fallen out of meditation.

Meditation is nothing but remaining in that silent, blissful state. You cannot learn this state. You can only experience it.

Be clear: Meditation is not something you do.

You cannot 'do' meditation.

Meditation is the state that flowers when you drop all doing, all action.

Not just physical action. Even thinking is an action. Even contemplation is an action!

Meditation is what remains when you have stripped away all doing, all thinking, all working, all feeling.

Meditation is just being.

Meditation is experiencing the present moment without resistance.

In the same way, Ananda is not the result you achieve through hard work. You cannot attain Ananda! You can only relax into Ananda.

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This excerpt has been taken from the book: "Meditation is for You" -- an introduction to the science and art of meditation

Ask The Master: 30 Jan 2008

What exactly is meditation?

There are so many definitions for meditation.

Different masters have interpreted it according to their own experience, or according to the specific needs of the people they are speaking to.

Meditation is prayer.

Meditation is the process that helps us discover the treasure we have locked up inside ourselves.

Meditation is the technique that helps you connect to the energy of the cosmos.

All of them are right.

And I tell you -- Meditation is just being blissful in the moment! When you are at peace in the present moment, you are already in a state of meditation. You don't need to do anything else.

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This excerpt has been taken from the book: "Meditation is for You" -- an introduction to the science and art of meditation

Ask The Master: 29 Jan 2008

In our normal life, we have never experienced Ananda. We don't even know that 'causeless happiness' is possible! Then how come we all have this yearning for Ananda?

You have the yearning, because it is your true nature!

Let me explain:
In the Taittreya Upanishad there is a beautiful shloka (hymn) which says,

Ethas aatmanaha aakashasya sambhootah
Akaashaat vaayuhu, vayor agnihi
Agner aapaha, aapah prithvihi
Prithviyor oushadah...

This shloka talks about how the whole universe was created from the five major elements -- Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether or Space. Man was also created from these five elements. That is why he always has a deep longing to tune himself to these five elements, to return to his Source. In various ways, he tries to tune himself to these five major energies. Through idol worship, he tries to tune himself to Earth energy. By taking dips in holy rivers, he tries to tune himself to Water energy. He communicates with Fire energy through homas and yagas (fire rituals), and with Air energy through the chanting of mantras. In all these ways,with all these methods, he attunes himself to the elements. But all these are external methods for attunement. Only the subtle, highly refined energy of Aakasha cannot be accessed by external means, it has to be experienced internally. Dhyana or Meditation is the method by which we attune ourselves to Aakasha energy.

When we enter into meditation, we close the circuit. We discover the only missing link between ourselves and our Source. We return to our Source. We feel complete, we feel secure. That is why meditation takes you into the dimension of Ananda or Bliss.

So the longing for Ananda is nothing but the yearning to return to our natural state. And that is why, whether you are aware of it or not, each of us carries this longing for meditation inside ourselves.

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This excerpt has been taken from the book: "Meditation is for You" -- an introduction to the science and art of meditation

Upcoming Event: Pooja Acharya Training at Vedic Temple, LA - Weekends, Jan-Mar, 2008

Event: Pooja Acharya Training
Venue: 9720 Central Av, Montclair, CA 91763
Contact: Vedic Temple, LA, Ph: (909) 625-1400
Prerequisites: None. Open for anyone who is interested in learning rituals / poojas or maintaining a worship space.

Dates: Weekends (Sat-Sun) of Jan 19th, 26th, Feb 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, Mar 1st.
Time: 6:00am to 10:00pm - Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.

A brief note on this training: This is a beautiful hands-on training in all dimensions of the temple.(Temple procedures, To perform guided temple tour, Shrine store Maintenance, Jewelery Maintenance, Deity decoration, To perform Sankalpa, Archana, etc).

Certificates issued by International Vedic Hindu University will be handed out at the completion of the course.