Meditation

There are many varieties of meditations offered on the market today, but do they really fulfill the spiritual needs of the practitioner? We find that alot of techniques work at silencing the mind and attaining consequent peace, but is that the spiritual perfection of meditation or just a preliminary stage?

Actually in astanga yoga there are steps to balance the life airs(prana) through breathing exercises called pranayama. As the subtle life airs have an intimate connection with the mind, when they become balanced then the mind quietens and can become focused, just as sunlight may be focused through a lens to intensify its properties to burn. Focusing on the flame of a candle is another technique often used to still the mind.

However all this practice is still within the realms of the material energy and as of yet not spiritual.

Once the mind is one-pointed, or having only one object, say the breath, then it has to be applied to spiritual focus. Traditionally Mantra was used to transport the mind beyond the material. Mantra means to deliver the mind. Being a repetition of sacred sounds, mantra gives great power in meditation. Mantra is not some chanting that is man-made but is actually sacred vibrations from the realm of pure consciousness. As all things around us are atomically vibrating, then also our consciousness has a specific frequency to which it naturally resonates. This is the level of pure consciousness or enlightenment, and is directly achieved through the chanting of mantra. Chanting of mantra may be performed in deep concentration during the quiet hours of the morning, or even on the bus at rush hour after work. Mantra may be chanted individually or musically as a group. Mantra is always accessible. Mantra gives one access to the true spiritual focus.

In sacred literature from India they recommend chanting the Maha-mantra (Maha-great) for quickly obtaining perfection in meditation, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. 

Hare means the energy of spiritual love, Krishna, the most beautiful, and Rama means the reservoir of unlimited joy. That is wonderful as it is these priceless things that everyone is looking for. All we have to do is chant and hear the sweet spiritual vibration.

When compared to other types of meditation, mantra seems much easier and more practical. Where in other practices one would have to empty the mind and ignore the senses, in mantra we fill the mind and engage the senses all in spiritual activities of chanting. Let the mantra fill the mind, the ears hear, the eyes may read, the hands may count on beads, all the senses can be engaged in meditation, which is much easier in today's busy world. All the same benefits of peace and freedom from stress can be obtained as well as much more due to contact with pure spiritual energy. Please chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and observe the unlimited treasure available.

For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy. Bhagavad Gita 6.6

Hare Krishna