OM NAMO BHAGAVATE

QUESTIONS FOR NEW SEEKERS

1. What is meditation?

Meditation is a yogic technique of diving deep to the innermost layers of consciousness known as Self or Soul. It is a process of transform- ation of the inner nature. Meditation brings automatic transformation of man to Divine. It is a natural method of yoga which ensures the union with the Divine that dwells within ourselves.

 

2. Why should one meditate?

Meditation is a tool for controlling the mind by stilling the thought waves. It activates the psychic being within. When the psychic state is activated the vital and mental planes are bound to be neutralized as they are always under the psychic master. The psychic state reflects the psychic being and when it comes to the forefront one experiences calmness and peace. One meditates to come in touch with that Divine within ourselves.

3. What are the different types of meditation?

There are three types of meditation: contemplation, concentration and the natural.

Concentration method - a technique of meditation by which thoughts are brought to one point of attention and are eliminated. Attention is focused only on one object, thought, idea, or sound inwardly.

Contemplation method - a technique of meditation by which thoughts are allowed to move in a circle with the center of thought remaining constant. The circumference of the thought circles goes on expanding until it encompasses the whole universe and the meditator goes to a thoughtless state.

Natural method - a technique of meditation by which the meditator goes to the thoughtless state with the help of the cosmic rhythm, often a monosyllabic sound wave.

 

4. What is a mantra?

A mantra is a rhythm of cosmic sound wave which activates the psychic being within and neutralizes thought waves of other planes.

 

5. How does it work in the human system?

This psychic sound vibration activates the psychic being and automatically brings the inner consciousness to the surface plane. This is how the thought waves are automatically neutralized and the meditator is able to experience the silence immediately.

 

6. What is the human system?

The human system is the frame wherein the being dwells. This frame has four layers in the ascending order of: physical, vital, mental and psychic.

 

7. What are the principal components of the human system and their functions?

In the physical plane the being identifies with the physical world of sensory perception.

In the vital plane the consciousness of the person is mainly under the control of the intellect and reason and all the action drives are from this plane.

The mental plane is composed of the higher mental and the lower mental. In this plane the being is identified with the mental plane of consciousness. The person is guided by memory and reacts impulsively to the sensory world.

In the psychic plane the consciousness is dominated by psychic energy and the person experiences calmness, peace and inner silence. There is harmony and balance in outer behavior.

 

8. What is thought?

Thought is a vibration that originates in the vital plane.

9. What is desire?

A thought that acquires direction, dimension and depth is a desire. When a desire is not fulfilled it may manifest as disease, either in the physical or mental or psychic planes.

10. What are four types of thought?

Four types of thoughts are physical, mental, vital and psychic.

Physical thoughts have their origin in the world of sensory perception. These thoughts mainly relate to the body and the world of senses and their objects of pleasure.

Mental thoughts pertain to the past and memories, having no depth or dimension, and are mainly aimless or disorganized.

Vital thoughts originate from the ego plane, and often have depth, dimension and direction. These are mostly desire prompted thoughts which can be the cause of action.

Psychic thoughts come from the psychic plane, having dimension but no direction or depth, often in the nature of vision and rhythm. A psychic thought, most of the time, takes the meditator to the thoughtless state or deep trance state.

11. What is soul?

Soul is a spark of the Supreme which, when it enters the human frame, becomes clouded. Life is a process of unveiling the Being within. Soul cannot really be defined, but must be experienced or realized. It is the true inner Being that is neither born nor dies.

12. How does one reach the thoughtless state?

One method of reaching the thoughtless state is through the use of a mantra. A mantra is a psychic vibration which activates the psychic forces and neutralizes the mental and vital waves that produce thought. When the thought generating mechanism within the human system is neutralized we automatically experience the Self that is already there. In this method of meditation the person has nothing to do except to remember the rhythm of the Mantra that was given to him by the Master.