Sai Meditation

8/14/2019 Sai Meditation

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MEDITATION AS EXPLAINED BYBHAGWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

Sathya Sai Baba on Meditation

1- Sitting posture & seat - 2 Kundalini power - 3 mind - 4 Role of Love in

meditation: A B

5 Jyoti Meditation - 6 Lord Sai Baba on Meditation

Sai Jyoti animation photo right click

and save to the disk.

Have a lamp with a bright steady flame or a candle before you. Sit in the Padmasanaposture or any other comfortable asana in front of the flame. Look at the flame steadily.

Then closing your eyes, try to feel the flame inside you, between your eye brows. From

there let it descend down into the lotus of your heart, in the centre of the chest, illuminingthe path.

When it enters the heart, imagine that the petals of the lotus bud open out, one by one,

bathing every thought, feeling, emotion and impulse in the light and so removing darknessthere. There is no space now for darkness to take refuge. It has to flee before the flame.

Imagine that the light becomes wider, bigger and brighter. Let it pervade the limbs; now

these limbs can never more deal in dark, suspicious and wicked activities. These havebecome instruments of light and love.

Let the light reach up to the tongue and falsehood, slander and spite vanish from it. Let it

rise up to the eyes and the ears and destroy all the dark desires therein. Let your head besurcharged with light and all the wicked thoughts flee there from, for these are the denizens

of darkness. Imagine that light in you more and more intensely and it will become so. Let itshine all around you and let it spread from you in ever widening circles, taking in your loved


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ones, your kith and kin, your friends and companions, your enemies and rivals, strangers,all living beings, the entire world.

Stay on in that thrill of witnessing light. If you are adoring God in any form, now try tovisualise that form in the all pervasive light, for light is God and God is light.

"Just like a child yearns for its mother's bosom; a lost calf for its mother in a herd; and awidow cries for her lost husband in a corner, you too must aspire for the proximity of Saiand reap joy therefrom."

"A root pest would eat away the roots of a tree and a white ant would eat away the tree

itself. Similarly, a man of evil nature would bring about the ruin of a virtuous one. Listen! Oson of Bharat."

The power of spirituality is inexplicable and infinite. The institute or individual that cannotobtain this becomes virile.

The power of spirituality can transform an animal into man and man to a divine being. Thepaths of spirituality have sprung up to lead man from human state to that of divine. Man

tries to understand everything.

He has been trying to acquire many types of learning. However, he has not yet made an

effort to find out his real nature. All learning is naught if it can not help one to realise one'sown nature. Knowledge without practical aspect is akin to a lamp in a blind man's hand.

Just as, Narada had skill in 64 types of learning/sciences - 4 Vedas, 6 Sastras, 20 Upangas,

Painting, Sculpture, Dance, Music, Literature etc. None could surpass Narada in singing. Inspite of such accomplishments Narada could not overcome restlessness.

Narada had mastered Gaja Karna and Gokarna which could not be mastered by anyone inthe world. Seeking a solution for his restlessness, Narada came to Sanat Kumara. He

expressed his restlessness. Sanat Kumara asked Narada about his qualifications.

Narada explained that he had learnt everything. Sanat Kumara asked Narada if he hadknown about his own self. "That alone I have not learnt" said Narada. Sanat Kumara then

pointed out that to be the reason for his restlessness.

Today man desires to know about everything that goes on in the world. From the momenthe gets up, he desires to know the news from all quarters of the world and does not pay

heed to the nuisance coming from within.

If he were to understand the principle within him, he could understand the world better. In

Andhra region, there is a proverb, "win over the self and win over the village." Unless onesaves oneself, one cannot save others.


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Philosophy and learning can get you food but not liberation. "Therefore, Narada, when youdesire to know yourself, you have to awaken a dormant factor within you" said Sanat

Kumara. Narasimha Murthy stated that sleep played a chief role in Ramayana. Even in theRamayana of life, sleep is very important.

Every person has to awaken the Kundalini that is asleep within one. Kundalini, Sanat

Kumara taught, should be led in a proper path towards the goal to fulfil one's life. In theBharat's Yoga Shastras, it has been mentioned that there are 7 types of lotuses in the spinal

column helping people to take to right path.

They are known as Naadi Mandalas/Chakras. (Nerve centres / disks) Kundalini power starts

at Muladhara disk at the beginning of the spinal column.

This nerve centre is situated at the place of excretion of faecal matter. It has 4 petals.

Swadhishtana is situated in the urinary excretory point. It has 6 petals. Manipuraka -Naabhi/Navel point has 6 petals.

From there to Anahata near heart with 16 petals. Thence to Visuddha the power travelsnear throat - From there it comes to Agneya situated between the brows. It has two petals.

From there it goes to Sahasrara which is situated on the crown of the head. It has 1000

petals.

Muladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipurakam, Anahata, Agneya, Visuddha and Sahasrara are the

seven Chakras. Each is at a higher plane than the other. Behind these chakras, on eitherside of spinal column Ida and Pingala nerves keep throbbing.

In the centre of spinal column there is a nerve by the name Sushumna. All these performtheir duties in the prescribed manner.

How does one awaken the Kundalini power? All have believed it to be in the form of adormant serpent near the Muladhara Chakra.

Snakes of the world are considered poisonous. The serpent (Kundalini) dormant in man isthat of worldly desires. These desires become poison.

Worldly snakes eat frogs, rats etc. Kundalini serpent consumes only the life principle ofman. To awaken this serpent, one has to control the intake of this life principle.

When we hold breath through Yogic practices, the Kundalini power does not get food nearMuladhara Chakra. In search of food, it becomes active and continues to come up.

During meditation when we deny the food, it travels upwards from Muladhara toManipuraka, Swadhishtana and comes to throat. Even near the throat food is not available

for it. Then it reaches Agneya. Unable to find food even from there, it merges intoSahasrara. Therefore, to awaken the life principle or consciousness from Muladhara and let

it merge in Sahasrara has been described as 'liberation' by Vedanta.

Dhyana, now-a-days, both in India and abroad has taken various forms. They believe it to

be concentration. But both are different. Right from dawn to dusk whatever activities we

perform, they are done with concentration. To walk, to eat, to read a book, to write a letter- all need concentration.

Concentration is natural for man. Why should are spend/waste time for such concentration

by sitting separately. But one has to question the source from which one derivesconcentration. We have held a book in hand. We can see with our eyes. What has been seen

is sent for enquiry to the intelligence/Buddhi. After the enquiry, mind begins torecollect/reflect upon it.


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It is an 'Indriya' (instrument/sense) that held a book. Again it is another indriya that sawthe matter. It is yet again another indriya that reflected over the matter. It is due to the

collective effort of all the indriyas that we are able to perceive the matter.

Therefore, concentration is below senses. It is meaningless to call concentration which is

below senses as meditation. Meditation is beyond senses. There is a border betweenconcentration which is below senses and meditation which is beyond senses known as

contemplation.

Contemplation is said to be the second stage of intelligence. Intelligence is said to be the

essence of Satwa. It can be best illustrated with an example to make it clear to you.

There is a rose plant. It has leaves, thorns and rose flowers. Concentration helps you toidentify as to where the thorns are and where the rose flower is. In concentration, we have

only rose as the objective, without touching the thorns we have to pluck the flower. "Love isflower; lust is thorn." There is no rose without thorns but we have to pluck the flower

without touching the thorns. For what purpose is this cutting of rose? To cut the love(flower) away from worldly desires (thorns) is contemplation.

Concentration is identifying the various locations of the thorns and flowers by looking at the

tree/plant. To offer the flower so cut, to the Lord is meditation.

In our body likened to that of a rose plant, we have pure love in the form of rose. It ispermeated with fragrance/good smell of virtues. But right under this are the thorns of

worldly desires. True meditation is to identify the thorns of worldly desires from selfless loveand offer that selfless love to the Lord.

From ancient days, meditation has been considered as the highest goal in Bharat. Todaymeditation is done as though it were a panacea akin to saridon which removes headache.

Meditation that comes so easily cannot be termed as such.

People such as Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and Tumbura considered

meditation to be the process of sending the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara. Duringmeditation, one should not join worldly desires and must reach only selfless love as the

goal.The method/posture of meditation is also very important. In the beginning, we must sit in

Padmasana. Spinal column should not bend to any side. Some people bend the neck and sit.This is very dangerous. If Kundalini power were to get locked there, where many nerves are

present, it would damage the person and cause paralysis.

There are many who have damaged their heads/senses by wrongly adhering to Kundalini.

One should not bend backwards either. One should be so straight that if a nail were to bedriven down from Sahasrara, it should appear as though the whole body were wrapped

around the nail. Not only that, one should loosen the garment that is around the waist priorto sitting for meditation. If the garment is tightly wound round the waist, it might, to an

extent, obstruct the Kundalini.

Usually people who practise Kundalini yoga are single garmented. So, waist should not be

tightly bound. Vision should be centred at the tip of the nose. If one were to sit formeditation with open eyes, all those who pass by would cause disturbance to the mind. If

eyes are totally closed, the goddess of sleep would envelop us.

Therefore, we should have half closed eyes posture. Some believe the tip of the nose to be

between the eye brows. No! It is forehead; It is the end of nose. i.e., Tip of the nose thathas to be concentrated upon.

Lord Krishna has also described the same."Kasturi Tilakam Lalaata(1) Phalake Vaksha(2) Sthale Kausthubam


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Naasagre(3) Navamouktikam..."1) Refers to the eye of wisdom. 2) Lord Krishna adorned his chest with the plaque of

happiness 3) He kept his vision fixed on the tip of his nose. Such a Krishna had twobracelets on His hand. One bracelet signifies -

"Save the righteous and punish the wicked"The second bracelet signifies -

"One who constantly relies on me, I shall take care of all his needs".God wears bracelets for fulfilling vows. So, Lord Krishna's vision was on the tip of His nosei.e., always meditative.

We may have to observe certain physical activities. Mind is very much wavering. Knowing

fully well that something is wrong, it would like to do it. We know well that to hear bad

things is not good and yet we do it.

We should teach it a lesson."O ears! Why do you go after listening to the tales of all and sundry? When the Lord's name

is chanted, why don't you pay heed?"

You should teach the ears to listen to tales that would give happiness to all and such factsthat would gloria the Lord.

"You go and see films, which do you no good, again and again. But you do not wish to

contemplate on the Lord even for a moment. O eyes! Pay heed."

In this manner, you must teach senses lessons and control them. When mind begins to

wander hither and thither, one must engage it. If mind does not have anything to do, it

would roam the whole world. "By the time truth begins to wear sandals, untruth would goaround the world and come."

Similarly mind, if no work is assigned, would go round the world. So, before sitting for

meditation, one must assign some work to the mind. What type of work? It has been a

known fact that mind is a mad monkey. To make a monkey busy while he performs otherfeats, the street performer would plant a stick in the ground and ask the monkey to

repeatedly go up and down the stick.

Similarly we must assign the job of a watchman to the mind near that part of foreheadwhere eyebrows join. By constant practice, we can make the mind stay in one place. As oneconstantly breaths 'Soham', the breath gets controlled.

This is the great power of Yoga. There is no separate effort that one needs to make to

arouse Kundalini. When all the vital air remains outside, in search of food, Kundalini wouldrise. Some base 'lamp' as the point of concentration. This elucidates the principle of 'Unity

in diversity' and 'Many in One'. This cannot be understood by all very easily and does not

confer bliss very easily.

We should construe three types of pictures - imaginary, mental or one based on feeling andactualisation.

Example for the first one - you have seen Swami. If you close your eyes and begin to

visualise Swami's hair and robe, then you would have picture created by imagination or

'Uha'. This picture goes away in a moment. It appears as though it has been seen but goesaway the moment you begin to visualise further.

The second type of picturisation - 'Bhava' is not like this. It takes some time. You canpicturise Swami from feet upwards - feet, gown, inside robe, hands, neck, eyes, nose,

mouth, ears and crown of hair. Like this by the time you picturise, half-an-hour would haveelapsed.


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If you continuously go about doing this - picturising Swami from foot to head and vice versa- it would lead to Sakshatkara i.e. actual manifestation. Upon practising in this manner you

would realise that you are able to see the form for a fraction at least before it fades away.So, this is not the goal. One should not go by imagination. One should go by feeling. One

should go on painting each limb. One eye on one side and another eye on the other side-You should not think thus. Is this eye parallel to the other? - In this fashion, one must

minutely paint the picture. In the process, mind would become totally engaged."Knower of the Brahman becomes Brahman".

If you were to melt silver and pour it into the mould of Lord Krishna, the feet, hands, eyes,mouth and even hair would be that of silver. Similarly, when one concentrates and paints

the mind with the form, the mind would also be transformed into the form.

When you question as to where the mind is, you would get the answer - in Swami's feet, in

Swami's hair, in Swami's eyes etc. i.e., mind is totally immersed in Swami's form.Therefore, meditation is that which would transform mind into the form and not vice versa.

When we sit for Meditation our body should not be in contact with anyone else's body. When

one works with electricity, one would done some sort of insulation (wood/cloth) to insureagainst shock. Similarly, meditation also is a kind of power. It also would give a shock if two

bodies touch. In every body, there is current.

The current goes/gets lost through nails, hair, eyes and speech. In the olden days people

allowed nails and hair to grow because they did not want the current to be wasted. It is dueto that current that hair and nails grow and eyes and other organs function. What is the

reason for Munis to observe silence? They realised that current gets wasted through words

and hence observed silence.

Not understanding this we begin to conclude that in the forest the saints did not have anyfacilities to trim their hair and nails and hence they were unkempt. They were making

efforts to convert the current in the body into Divine Power and hence their appearance.

One should not have contact with another in more than necessary manner.

Attachment with an object or a person might grow into a deeper relationship. They lead to

certain desires. As the desires get fulfilled, ego would begin to sprout. If the desires do notfind fruition, anger would develop. Therefore desires have ill-effects, either way.

When the desires become many, man's sense of intelligence dwindles. This causes loss of

control over the speech and unwarranted words would emanate from the person, criticisingand hurting others. That would lead to abusing others. The act of abusing is a fuel to the

fire of sin. Therefore, the root cause for sin is relationship.

So, excess of contact should not be had in the first place.

In Rishikesh there was a choultry by the name 'Kali Kamliwala'. It was a tradition in thosedays to feed all those who came there. One Sannyasi got a wheat bread and since he could

not find any place, went to the river Ganga and sitting on a rock, began to partake of the

same.

In this manner, he spent some years using the rock as his dining place. As it happened, arelation developed between him and the rock. On a particular day by the time he could

procure alms, it became later than usual. Meanwhile some other Sannyasi got his alms andsat at that rock to have his meal.

The older Sannyasi got his wheat bread and came to the rock. He began to have anargument - "Ai! This is my rock; you go somewhere else." They both began to have a duel.

At that place, there was a saint by the name Satchidanandam. He came and enquired of thequarrelling Sannyasins as to the reason for their fight. When he became aware of the


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reason, he admonished them saying - "You have left behind your wives, children, parents,relatives and shaved your head and swore to lead a life of mendicancy.

Now due to your attachment, you have developed anger between yourselves." Similarly,you have all come here leaving behind many things for education and Swami. Why develop

unnecessary contacts? Maintain a relation akin to "Hello! Hello; How are you? Good-bye!Good-bye."

There is another incident that took place at Rishikesh.

One person went from Mysore state and became a Sannyasin at Rishikesh. About 6 kms

from Rishikesh is a famous cave known as 'Vasishta's cave'. Purushottamananda used to dopenance there. It was near Ganges and the air was cool and serene and the area was dense

with shade bestowing trees.

That Sannyasi (one who came from Mysore) used to meditate under the tree and live by

eating whatever bread was given to him. One day, a tourist bus came from Karnataka state.They also came to see 'Vasishta cave' and later were sitting under a tree talking.

The Sannyasin who was meditating, heard them speak in Kannada. A little attachmenttowards the language sprouted in him. He left meditation and began to converse with them

in Kannada. They told him that they came from Bangalore District. "Which village do you

come from?" asked the Sannyasin who was influenced by the attachment to his own street.

They said that they were in the street of Rama's temple. Affected by the attachment to hishouse, he asked them as to what was their house number. They said that their house

number was 11. He asked the troupe if they knew his father who was in the housenumbered 12. Body attachment prevailed. They said that his father passed away 3 months

previously. The Sannyasin began to weep.

Why should the Sannyasin leave his meditation in the first place and enquire of the touristsvarious details? This attachment caused all the sorrow. It is only when you leave all

responsibilities can your meditation progress. Sometimes the varied nature of Natureattracts. One should never succumb to the temptations.

To arouse Kundalini and sit in meditation is very difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No

meditation can surpass/equal this.We want to prepare Sambar. We got fresh vegetables from Bangalore in the morning. We

got fresh tamarind, white, spotless salt and impeccable Dal also was procured. The cook isan exceptionally skilled one. We have made Sambar. But when it was served, it turned out

to be poison. Reason? None of the ingredients were faulty nor was the cook. The vessel in

which it was cooked was not clean!

Similarly, we do meditation, Bhajans - in fact we even swing during Bhajans but we are far

away from obtaining peace. This is because we do not have the unsullied love in our hearts.

Many wonder as to why they have not obtained peace in spite of doing meditation andBhajans etc. It is because they have not cleaned their hearts with pure love.

Another example. There is a mango tree. Hundreds of ripe and unripe mangos are present.You water it and put manure also. All of a sudden, one fine morning, the tree looks dried-

up, what is the reason? Have you not given water and manure? What is the reason for a

tree which was resplendently green the previous day to look lack-lustre the very next day?The roots have been eaten away by the pests! Similarly, we may be doing meditation,

chanting rosary and attending Bhajans externally; but wicked qualities might be gnawing at


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the heart.

Therefore, send away wicked qualities; fill yourself with virtues; and develop love.Meditation is not something of a pose given for a photographer. It is not for others. It is for

one's own self. There are certain cautions that are to be observed in this regard.

One should be seated on a plank at least 1/2 inch above the ground. On top of this, skin ofan animal - preferably a docile and pure - satvic animal - deer is to be spread. In order to

prevent the deer hair causing irritation, a thin cloth is advised to be spread over it. All theseto be done so as not to cause any disturbance to our meditation. If kundalini were to really

begin rising, the earth would pull it downward.

To avoid this and to avoid any shock, this plank is put. In this manner the ancients have

experienced and expressed it to us.Instead of going for meditation and spoiling your mind, it is better you create the form you

are interested in, put that picture in front of you and observe carefully.

While observing deeply, close your eyes. Now, begin to paint the form that you have seen,

in your mind's eye. Then your mind would be totally enveloped in the form. Gradually even

when you open your eyes, you begin to see the form everywhere. That is manifestation -Sakshatkara.

This does not happen if you were to do it once in a while. You should daily do this both

morning, evening and at all other times also. Then you begin to see the form spreadingitself in all limbs and all bodies.

Most importantly, youth's mind is most wavering. During the day the youth must spendtime reading class books and assimilating them.

The reason being that mind will not enter unnecessary avenues when it has a lot of work todo. We must attach ourselves to work so as to deprive mind from associating itself with

outside world. Both morning and evening let the mind be immersed in Dhyana/Meditation inthe aforesaid manner. Meditation is a path of obtaining sanctity. It is a process of obtaining

unity; a path of experiencing divinity.

Your mind must merge in the Lord just as a river merges into the ocean. Then mind as such

does not exist. Then you become beyond mind. The river has a form, name and taste beforemerging into the ocean. After merging, it loses all such identities.

This has been conveyed by Ramadas in a song form:"There is a fortress of seven boundaries. In the fort there is a garden - one of worldly

desires. If you want to find the path through the garden, sing the name of the Lord Rama.The whole Kingdom will be filled with light."

The boundaries referred to are the seven nerve-centres/chakras. This song was heard byLord Rama. He replied:

"The essence is like oil. The Truth is like wick. When the light fades away, neither the oil nor

the wick follow it. They stay there itself."

Then Ramadas got a doubt "The support is the tree and the grip is another branch of the

tree. If the basis/support is left in the hope of relying on the strength of the branch and thebranch also breaks then salvation is imminent."

Here, the basis is the worldly desires and the branch which would break is the society in

which you live. If you leave the desires and if the world/society shuns you, you are bound toattain salvation. You need the society as long as you have not understood the true reality.

Therefore, one needs firewood only as long as the cooking is being done. One does not need


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firewood after the food has been cooked.

Veda, Shastra, Purana, Itihasa etc. are essential only as long as one has not understoodoneself. After one has realised oneself, all these become unnecessary. Hence, it is not

possible to renounce/detach oneself from the society unless one has realised oneself. Youhave to realise yourself by living in the world. Some creatures like caterpillar, crawling from

one leaf to another. In the process, it catches the leaf it would like to go to and then releasethe leaf it has been on. It does not leave the base before catching/obtaining the support.

Similarly, we should leave world after obtaining divinity and not before. Otherwise, wewould have lost both the worlds.

Do not be carried away by the term Meditation. It is not something that one does by sitting

for a couple minutes or hours. It should be always at all places (the contemplation on theLord). It should not pertain only to Mandir/meditation room. Wherever one goes, be it

market or classes, one should be totally absorbed. We should be totally sacred in our

feelings.

This is possible only through the path of love. Speak lovingly to all people. Even such aspeech should be in moderation. This is because mind begins to change as words become

many.

One sage came from the Himalayas and declared that he had conquered anger. He met hisfriends and told them that he was totally at peace and that he had no anger in him at all.

One came and asked him - "Sir! Have you conquered anger?" "Yes! I have controlled" came

the guarded reply. That person reiterated, "Sir! You of all the people! Have you reallyconquered anger?" "Yes, it is true" came the gruff reply. "What sir! It is really impossible to

believe. How could you conquer anger?" Asked the man for the third time. "Ai! Can't you

understand when I have said so?" Came the hot reply. "Sir! When this is the case, howcould you have conquered anger?", asked the man for the fourth time. "Are you out of your

senses? I told you that I have conquered". So, while saying that he had conquered anger,due to repetition of words, he lost control over anger. If words were not expressed, anger

might cooled down. But as he expressed them, anger grew. Due to lack of patience, angeremanates. There is no other remedy for anger. Only cultivation of patience is the answer.

Today man is bent upon conquering/vanquishing/controlling anger. This is wrong. He must

inculcate patience. Then anger will automatically subside. If darkness has to be expelled,light has to be brought. Similarly, to expel anger, patience has to be fostered. So, make

efforts to develop patience.

Patience or sanctity can be attained only through love. There is nothing that cannot be

attained with love. One can attain all with love.

Everything is dedicated/subordinate to love. Hence it is said LOVE IS GOD; LIVE IN LOVE. If

the concept of love is perfectly understood, it in itself becomes Meditation. Meditate on love.

But the love should be selfless. It should be dedicated to the Lord. Any kind of love onceoffered to Lord becomes sanctified.

We have made sweet pongal at home. We call it sweet pongal and eat it. The same sweetpongal once it is offered to the Lord in a temple, we call it 'prasadam' / blessed food. The

moment you offer it to the Lord, it becomes prasadam. All defects - defects of theingredients, cooking and the vessel would get removed after such an offering.


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For the sweet pongal made at home, there may not be cleanliness of the vessel, ingredientsor the cooking process itself. In order to remove all defects from the food cooked - we do

not know wherefrom the vegetables have come; may be they were stolen; may be theintention of the seller was not good. We assemble all food items and pray to Lord that

everything be blessed. Then it all becomes prasadam and all defects run away from thesame.

There is a small clause in meditation. All cannot do the same type of meditation. Meditation

changes from person to person depending on their state of evolution/capacity. All doing onetype of meditation is not proper. Each has his own form to worship and the way he goes

about it may also differ.

Some worship God as Mother of the Universe; some consider Him as Father of the Universe

while others consider God to be their friend. There are those who worship God asMaster/husband. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Gauranga are examples of this nature.

Jayadeva and Gauranga had not done any meditation. They felt no need for meditation as

they could see God everywhere.

There is a small anecdote. This happened to many great men in all the yugas. Gaurangada

entered a small village called Nava Dweepa. He could not find a place to live. If he were to

go the streets to do bhajan, mischievous boys would throw stones at him. They troubledhim in numerous ways. To avoid all this, he entered the temple of Lord Eshwara. Keeping

his legs on top of the Lingam - image of Lord Shiva, he lay down to sleep.

In the morning the chief priest arrived. Considering him to be a mad man, the priest beat

him. "O fool! How dare you put your feet on top of the Lord's image? Could you not find anyother place to keep your feet?", asked the priest. Then Chaitanya replied - "Sir! Please show

me the place where Eshwara does not exist and I shall gladly place my feet on that spot."

Saying that he would show him, the priest dragged Chaitanya by the feet and dropped himaside.

Due to his merit, even there the image of the Lord appeared. The pujari dragged him all

over the mandir, wherever Chaitanya's feet fell, Eshwara's image was seen to emerge. Thenthe pujari realised his folly. God pervades the universe. How then can anyone define a placeto be devoid or filled with God? For a true aspirant God's insignia are seen everywhere.

Since God pervades the creation, there is nothing that is unsacred. But there is bound to be

a change in the way we utilise the same. Therefore, we can make some changes in thesociety, house and people with whom we deal. Then alone can we obtain peace of mind. It

is not meditation if one were to close one's eyes/sit in lotus posture/sit without movements.

The most important factor for meditation is to fill the heart with love. That love is verily God

Himself. Along with this love you must also sit in the lotus posture and in the mannerdescribed earlier to awaken the kundalini power and thus give more meaning to your lives.

You may go anywhere and do anything. But your heart must be filled with pure love.

Gaurangada, Tukaram, Nammalwar etc., have lived in this manner. If purity of heart isone's property, one can question the Lord's ways as a rightful gesture. After a lot of merit,

we have acquired the birth of a human being. If we do not make good use of it, it would be

a sheer waste.

Gems in the ocean are not easily available. With a great difficulty if one were to dive deep

and brave the attack of sharks, one could manage to obtain rare pearls hidden in the womb

of the ocean. The pearl that is got after such a strenuous effort, if one were to lose it, one


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would not get it back however much one may pine."Sway! Lord Krishna! I have obtained with great difficulty the pearl of Krishna from the deep

ocean of samsara. Please shower your grace that I may not lose it", prayed Meera. Sinceher prayer was such, Lord Krishna also granted her that wish.

She loved and pined for Krishna so much that her anguish at the separation from the Lordturned into penance and she merged into the Lord. Every human who would like to turn the

energy in him to divinity must participate in prayers. Prayer for mind is as essential as foodis for body. Good food strengthens the body. Stale food brings about ill-health. Similarly, if

we participate in prayers, our heart becomes pure. If, on the other hand, one were toparticipate with pomposity, ego and show, it would be like the bad food harming the mind.

Therefore youth must travel from slumber and inactivity to penance. Whatever we may do,

we must do with determination. One should not stop meditation after having begun, in aspan of 2 days. Whole life should be transformed into meditation.

We have come essentially for that purpose. We must discharge our duties. Along with this

knowledge we must seek worldly education also. One must accept the basis of the worldly

education. I have told many a time. I am repeating, observe the message carefully.

There are many metals in the earth - Iron, steel etc. As they are deep inside earth, due to

heat, they are available in the form of liquid. Due to this heat even iron would be in a liquid

state. This we call as Chemistry.

As we gradually come to the surface, the materials solidify as the temperature decreasesand we call it as Physics. As dust and other particles join this, plants begin to sprout in it.

The study of these plants is called Botany. Insects and birds come from everywhere to these

plants.

The study of these birds and insects is called Zoology.What is the basis for Zoology? Botany? The foundation of Botany is Physics which in turn is

based on Chemistry. So, for Chemistry also there must be some foundation. Isn't it? There

is water in this tumbler. For the water to stay, there must be a container in the first place. Ifthere is no vessel, how can liquid stay put? Therefore the source of sciences - Chemistry

has its foundation in divinity.Therefore, all the sciences have stemmed from the root of Divinity. So, for all subjects

Divinity is the primal basis. If we were to catch the vessel, Divinity, all the contents,subjects, would easily become ours. Today we are ready to catch the creation and

investigate but have not ever thought of investigating the nature of the creator. Even thosethat harm us become friendly in the presence of the Lord.

Serpent adorns the neck of Lord Shiva. Since it is around the neck of the Lord, we bow

down to it also. Same serpent if seen in the bazaar would die due to the blows receivedfrom us. Though it is a poisonous snake, since it adorns the neck of the Lord, it becomes

worthy of worship.

Once Lord Vishnu sent Garuda to Eshwara with a message. Eshwara's body is very peculiar.His body is smeared with vibhuti/ash. He has moon as his crown jewel and serpents as his

other ornaments. To such Shiva when Garuda flew and landed, the breeze created by his

wings disturbed the sacred ash of the Lord which fell into the eyes of the snake adorning Hisneck. The serpent, in anger, hissed at Garuda. Garuda replied, "O snake! Since you adorn

the Lord's neck you are saved. Had you been in the bazaar/market place, I would havesnatched you with my feet and torn you to shreds. Since you are in the proximity of the

Lord you have earned the right to be forgiven."


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Similarly, since you are enjoying Swami's proximity, people praise you. The moment youleave Swami and go, people do not care a fig for you. Wherever you go, you must absorb

whatever has been taught here and keeping the discipline as your shadow and Swami inyour heart must create peace around you. Once in a while to recharge your batteries, you

can come to Swami. In this way, you can enjoy Swami's Love and Grace.

Jyoti Meditation

"As regards the technique of meditation, different teachers and trainers give different formsof advice. But I shall give you now the most universal and the most effective form. This is

the very first step in spiritual discipline. At first, set a few minutes every day for meditation,and extend the time as you feel the bliss that you get.

"Let it be in the hours before dawn. This is preferable because the body is refreshed aftersleep, and the dealings of daytime will not yet have impinged on you. Have a lamp or a

candle before you with an open, steady, and straight flame. Sit in front of the candle in thelotus posture or any other comfortable sitting position. Look on the flame steadily for some

time, and closing your eyes try to feel the flame inside you between your eyebrows. Let itslide down into the lotus of your heart, illuminating the path. When it enters the heart,

imagine that the petals of the lotus open out by one, bathing every thought, feeling, andemotion in the light and so removing darkness from them. There is no space for darkness to

hide. The light of the flame becomes wider and brighter. Let it pervade your limbs. Now

those limbs can never indulge in dark, suspicious, and wicked activities; they have becomeinstruments of light and love. As the light reaches up to the tongue, falsehood vanishes

from it. Let it rise up to the eyes and the ears and destroy all the dark desires that infest

them and which lead you to perverse sights and childish conversation. Let your head besurcharged with light and all wicked thoughts will flee there from. Imagine that the light is

in you more and more intensely. Let it shine all around you and let it spread from you inever widening circles, taking in your loved ones, your kith and kin, your friends and

companions, your enemies and rivals, strangers, all living beings, the entire world.

"Since the light illumines all the senses every day so deeply and so systematically, a time

will soon come when you can no more relish dark and evil sights, yearn for dark and sinistertales, crave for base, harmful, deadening toxic food and drink, handle dirty demeaning

things, approach places of ill-fame and injury, or frame evil designs against anyone at anytime. Stay on in that thrill of witnessing the light everywhere. If you are adoring God in any

form now, try to visualize that form in the all-pervasive light. For Light is God; God is Light.

"Practice this meditation as I have advised regularly every day. At other times repeat the

name of God (any Name fragrant with any of His many Majesties), always taking care to beconscious of His might, mercy, and munificence."

- Sri Sathya Sai BabaSathya Sai Speaks, Volume X, Page 348-350, Shivarathri, 1979

Jyothi Meditation

Based on Bhagavan's step-by-step directions.


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Jyothi (flame) Meditation is the foremost spiritual discipline geared towards gaining inner

peace.

1) We should have a fixed time and place every day where we sit for meditation either in

the morning and/or evening.

2) We should sit on a thin mattress for this exercise. The sitting pose or asana should becomfortable both for our mind and body.

3) We should then chant Omkar, the Universal Mantra glorified as 'Nada Brahma' at least 3

times but preferably 21 times. The mind under the influence of this divine sound slowlyloses momentum and becomes more and more tranquil and steady.

4) The next step is to put the breath in rhythm. The easiest and the most effortless methodis to watch the breath, thereby the process becomes normal, that is, longer and calmer.

When we inhale, the breath sounds 'So' and when we exhale, it sounds 'Humm' whichmeans 'He' i.e. "God" and 'I' respectively or "God am I".

5) Accordingly, synchronizing with these two breaths, imagine that the flame 'Jyot' is withinus. Feel that the light of the flame is in our heart, right in the centre of the Lotus. Gently

move the light to other parts of your body -- the stomach, the limbs, the eyes, the ears andthe tongue. Feel that the entire body is illumined thereby. Rejoice that the light is the light

of love; it removes hatred; it dispels darkness and doubt; it reveals that all are Divine.

6) As the light fills the eyes, you must feel that they have been purified. They shall no

longer seek to look upon evil sights. When the light lights the tongue with love, decide thatthere is no more scope for uttering harsh words. Similarly, once the radiance of the divine

light bathes the arms, they can no longer delight in performing harmful deeds while the feetcan no longer move into polluting areas and places.

7) Now visualize the light as surrounding our physical body and spreading far out to familymembers, neighbours and even those whom we do not like. Every object is enveloped in

that divine effulgence. Isavaasyam Idam Sarvam. All this is illumined by God. This is thestage of bliss.

8) In this manner, the ONE flame on which we concentrate can cleanse our mind and bodyand spread its light and radiance to include our entire environment.

9) Finally, take the Jyot on to the figure of our Ishta Devta or the Deity of you choice and/orfix our vision on the Jyot, and commence meditation or silent sitting for a few minutes,

followed by Japa of our chosen Mantra with the full understanding of its meaning and firmfaith in its power and benefits. It should be inter-woven with our breathing process of

inhaling and exhaling.

Exercise on Jyoti Meditation. Instructions compiled from Sri

Sathya Sai Discourses1. Let us close the eyes and chant Omkar (OM) 3 times

To make the mind become tranquil and steady.

2. Keeping the eyes closed, let us put the breath in rhythm

To make it normal and calmer.

In our mind (mentally) repeat "SOHUM'. (1-2 mins.)

As we inhale mentally repeat "SO"


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As we exhale mentally repeat "HUM". (1-2 mins.)

3. Let us mentally bathe the senses in the light

Look at the Jyoti, imagine that the flame is ablaze in the

Lotus of our heart. Having the beautiful feeling of LOVE.

Take the flame to the different parts of the body.

"Let not my eyes see evil

"Let not my ears hear evil or bad

"Let my tongue speak only sweet words

"Let my hands do only right things

"Let my legs be always moving towards places for good actions

and good work."

Now, bring the flame up the legs slowly, strengthening; up through

the stomach, cleansing; through to the eyes, taking away all the

darkness and out of the body through the head, purify us.4. Open the eyes and look at the Jyoti. (2-3 mins.)

5. Now imagine the figure, of the form of your choice (Baba), for worshipping in the Jyoti.(2-3mins.)

6. Effortlessly repeat OM SAI RAM or your personal mantra. (2-3 mins.)

It should be natural and without tension. Relax.

7. Slowly close the eyes and meditate for a few minutes. (15-20 mins.)

8. Keep the eyes closed, stop repeating the mantra, or having the flame and formconsciously. (2-3 mins.)

9. End meditation. Softly and slowly.

Om Asato Ma Sadgamaya

Lead me from untruth to truth

Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya

Lead me from darkness to light

Mrutyor Ma Amrutamgamaya

Lead me from death to immorality

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Peace Peace Peace

Lord Sai Baba on Meditation We always have enough time to talk, visit cinemas etc. There is certainly time formeditation. The power is from God (referring to the feeling of strength after meditation).

Early morning is best. Mind is quiet and there is not the pressure of responsibilities. Thereis difficulty during the day. People are around, and there is work. If meditation is attempted,

even work may suffer.


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Real meditation is getting absorbed in God as the only thought, the only goal. God only,only God. Think God, breathe God, love God. Concenration means, when all senses and

desires fall away and there is only God. In between concentration and meditation, like aseparation between the two, is contemplation. Concentration to contemplation, then

meditation. As long as one thinks "I am meditating" that is the mind and not meditation. Aslong as one knows he is meditating, he is not meditating. In absorption in God, one puts

aside every form and merges into God. In that process the mind naturally stops.

Meditation for its proper practice, should be at the same place, at the same time. In that

way, it surely will be successful. If one is away from home in travel, in his mind he can go

to the accustomed place no matter where he is. Truth is in every place at all times. Whenaway from Swami, by remembering Him doing this or that, the battery is "recharged". That

also is genuine meditation. Meditation is constant inner inquiry as to who am I, what is true,what is ego action, what is loving and what is harsh. Meditation is thinking on spiritual

principles, searching out the application to oneself of what Baba says, and the like.

For the one who has completely surrendered to God and whose heart is filled with love forGod, these 'college courses' (referring to Hatha Yoga etc) are not needed and have no

meaning and are quite unnecessary.

The Atma is everywhere, but for the purpose of sitting in meditation, the life principle canbe considered as being 10 inches above the navel and at the centre of the chest. An inch in

this measurement is the width of the thumb at the first joint.

Without concentration nothing can be done. And we use that concentration through-outthe day. Why is that same concentration so difficult to come in spiritual matters? Because

the mind is outward turned, and by desire the mind clings to object. But the mind can betrained to concentrate inwardly, and the heart can be cultured to grow with love for God.

How? By sadhana. The best sadhana is that every act through the day be done as worshipof God.

A fence is placed around a young tree to protect it. The same precautions must beobserved in meditation. People think it is all right to meditate in any place. There are

currents, there is will power. There is a strong current passing into the earth. Because ofthis, the earth exerts a strong attraction. In meditation it is advisable to insulate oneself

from such currents. For this reason, meditators sit on a plank and cover their shoulders witha woollen shawl. Once the person has grown strong in his meditation, he may sit anywhere

and not suffer for it.

The light is first moved into the heart which is conceived as a lotus, the petals of which

will open. The Jyothi is then moved to other body parts. There is no particular sequence.But important is the final body station, which is the head. There the light becomes a crown

enshrining and covering the head. The light is then moved outside, from the particular tothe universal. Move the light into relatives, friends, enemies, trees, animals, birds until the

entire world and all its forms are seen to have the same light at their centre as has beenfound to be within oneself.

The idea of moving the light into the universal phase, the idea of universality is that the

same divine light is present in everyone and everywhere. To impress this universality on themind, we do the spreading of the light outside one's own body.

One should understand that what comes about in meditation as one moves deeply into it,

is not the thinking of the light, but the forgetting of the body and thereby the direct


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experience that the body is not onself. This is the stage of contemplation when the body istotally forgotten. It cannot be forced. It comes about by itself and is the stage that naturally

follows correct concentration.

Seeing the light and moving the light here and there is to give work to the mind, to keepthe mind occupied in the right direction so that the mind will not be thinking of this and that

and thus interfering with the process of becoming more and more quiet. Spreading the lightinto its unviersal phase, sending the light into every other body, and when one is soconcentrated in it that he is no longer conscious of his body, is the stage of contemplation.

As contemplation deepens, the stage of meditation comes about of its own volition. It

cannot be forced.

If the meditator remains conscious of himself and that he is engaged in meditation, thenhe is not meditating but is still in the preliminary stage, at the beginning of concentration.

There are three stages: concentration, contemplation and meditation. When

contemplation deepens it moves naturally into meditation. Meditation is entirely above thesenses. In the state of meditation, the meditator, the object of his meditation and the

process of meditation have fallen away, and there is only one, and that One is God. All that

may change has fallen away and Tat Twam Asi, That Thou Art, is the state that exists.

As one gradually returns to this customary and habitual state of consciousness, the Jyothi

is again placed in the heart and kept lighted there thoughout the day.

The three stages, concentration which is below the senses, meditation which is entirelyabove the senses and contemplation which lies between and is partially within the senses

and partially above the senses, which is on the border of each, this is the experience ingenuine meditation whether the object taken be form or light.

There is no essential difference. If the devotee has a form of God to which he is

particularly devoted, he may merge that form into the Jyothi, and that form is most

attractive to him and is the object of his concentration and is seen to be within the lightwherever it is seen. Or, the concentration may be just on the form of God, for God is

universal in every form.

Again, the object chosen is just a device to allow one to sink deely into quietness and toallow the body, which is non-self, to fall away out of consciousness. Anything concrete, such

as light, form or sound may be chosen as the object of concentration. It is possible to just

move directly into the stage of meditation.

Meditation as described by Swami is the royal road, the easy path. For meditation to beeffective there must be steady practice with no hurry and no worry. With steady practice,

the person will become quiet and the state of meditation will naturally come about. To thinkotherwise is weakness. Success is assured. Call upon God, He will help you. He will respond

and He himself will be your guru. He will guide you. He will always be at your side. ThinkGod, see God, hear God, eat God, drink God, love God. That is the easy path, the royal road

to your goal of breaking ignorance and the realization of your true nature. Which is one withGod.

Light a lamp or a candle. Gaze straight ahead at the flame. Then take the candle flame,

the Jyothi, into the heart and see it in the midst of the petals of the heart. Watch the petalsof the heart unfold and see the light illumine the heart. Bad feelings cannot remain. Then

move the flame to the hands and they can no longer do dark deeds. In turn move the flame


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in like fashion to the eyes and ears so they may henceforth take in only bright and puresensations. Then move the light outward and into your friends, relatives and enemies, and

then into animals, birds and other objects so that all are illumined by the same light. Christsaid, "All are one, be alike to everyone."

To sit straight is important. Between the 9th and 12th vertebrae is the life-force. If the

spine is injured at this point, paralysis occurs. If the body is in straight position, as if it werewound around a straight pole, the life force may rise up through the straight body and givethe quality of intense concentration of the mind.

Moreover, just as a ligthning rod attached to the roof of a building attracts ligthning, inlike fashion a perfectly straight body provides a conductor, so to speak, for divine power to

enter the temple of your body and give you the strength to accomplish your task and reachyour goal. As another example, the divine power is always here, just as radio signals are

here. But to hear the radio music there must be an antenna. Further, if the tuning device isnot properly adjusted, there will be some sound but no music. In like fashion, the divine

power, which is always present, may flow into you if the meditation is correct and the bodystraight.

First you are in the light. Then the light is in you. Finally, you are the light and the light iseverywhere. Enjoy for a while, then bring the light back to the heart and hold it there for allthe day. The form of God may also be included. Krishna, Rama, Jesus, Sai, as you wish. The

form of God selected may be seen in the centre of the flame wherever it is carried, and thenyou are with God everywhere.

The stomach is four parts: 1/4 part air, 1/4 part food, and 1/2 part water. Too much food

results in dullness of the mind. Food in moderation does not result in sickness. Too muchmilk is bad. It is rajasic.

The type of food you eat, that kind of thought will come to your mind. If you have satwic

food, there will be satwic effect. Fruit and milk everything that is cool and not hot like

strong onions. Meat gives the blood its effect, like passion and similar qualities. Dirtythoughts come with fish. Although fish is always in water, it has a bad smell.

If you are keen on spiritual life, eating meat is not worth while; but if you are keen on

worldly life, it is all right. There is another spiritual reason. When you kill an animal you giveit suffering, pain, harm. God is in every creature, so how can you give such pain?

Sometimes when someone beats a dog he cries, he feels so much pain. How much more

pain then in killing. Animals did not come tor the purpose of supplying food to humanbeings. They came to work out their own life in the world. When a human being is dead, the

foxes and other animals may eat, but we have not come to provide food for those that eatthe human body; we have not come for that purpose. Similarly, man eats the animal, but

the animal has not come to provide man with food. But, we have taken to eating meat as ahabit.

In Dwapara Yuga, before Kali Yuga, 5680 years back, milk came into favor. Eleven

thousand years is the full length of the Kali Yuga. (ie 3712 BC to 7288 AD). The world isalso turning round like a fan. Even if the Kali Yuga stops, it still has a few more revolutions

to go before the final ending. (speech dated 1968) There are four Yugas. The sequence iscircular, and when the last is finished, the whole cycle starts all over again. Kali Yuga still

has 5,320 years before ending. (AD 7288. Year now is 1997, another 5,291 years to go!!)


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(Extracted from: Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by Dr. John Hislop,pages 145-156, 22. Conversation recorded in 1968)

Sai Meditation

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