Meditation: Purpose and Practice
Purpose
Hidden beneath the surface of the many impressions upon the mind that are left by our senses is an aspect of our Self that is vast and expansive. Meditation is a method to bring our conscious awareness towards a direct experience of this Self. Until this experience, our concept of self is dictated by a series of conditioned responses that include the various degrees of social conditioning, cultural conditioning and prejudices that are built from these mental constructs. Add to that our attraction to the pleasant sensations and inherent avoidance of the unpleasant sensations and it is easy to understand that the identity most associate themselves with is little more than a collection of memories, experiences and beliefs that are born of the interaction between our conditioned mind and how we associate with the various sensations.
With meditation a person goes beyond the impressions, beyond the sensations, to experience the self in a completely different way. Along the way the person begins to have experiences that are outside of the normal methods. Instead of all information coming from outside through the various senses, the person begins to receive information from within. Eventually the identification begins to move away from the outwardly conditioned mental states towards an inner awareness.
Hidden beneath the surface of the many impressions upon the mind that are left by our senses is an aspect of our Self that is vast and expansive. Meditation is a method to bring our conscious awareness towards a direct experience of this Self. Until this experience, our concept of self is dictated by a series of conditioned responses that include the various degrees of social conditioning, cultural conditioning and prejudices that are built from these mental constructs. Add to that our attraction to the pleasant sensations and inherent avoidance of the unpleasant sensations and it is easy to understand that the identity most associate themselves with is little more than a collection of memories, experiences and beliefs that are born of the interaction between our conditioned mind and how we associate with the various sensations.
With meditation a person goes beyond the impressions, beyond the sensations, to experience the self in a completely different way. Along the way the person begins to have experiences that are outside of the normal methods. Instead of all information coming from outside through the various senses, the person begins to receive information from within. Eventually the identification begins to move away from the outwardly conditioned mental states towards an inner awareness.
"Wisdom springs from meditation; without meditation wisdom wanes. Having known these two paths of progress and decline, let a man so conduct himself that his wisdom may increase."
- Dhammapada
- Dhammapada
Practice
While there are many different forms of meditative practices, the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali describes 8 primary practices that are progressive stages towards Liberation.
While there are many different forms of meditative practices, the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali describes 8 primary practices that are progressive stages towards Liberation.
Yama
Traditionally there are 5 yamas that appear on the surface as a guide to behaviors that would be productive of a spiritual life. However it is not a list of do's and don'ts, rather a practice in self awareness. By embodying these qualities one is able to develop the self control necessary to consistently follow any given path to completion. The 5 traditional yamas are:
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Niyama
While most of the practices of yama are directed towards how we relate to, and are in control of, our activities and impulses; Niyama is more of a practice of an internal nature. With niyama we are seeking to cultivate an internal state most conducive to our inner development towards spiritual awareness. The 5 niyamas are:
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Asana
Asana simply means "posture", and according to Pantanjali, an "Asana is that which is firm and easy". When it comes to meditation, the seated postures are most commonly used. It is important to maintain the spine erect (perhaps hinted at by "posture" as well).
In the beginning it will feel as though the muscles are holding the body upright, but in time the body relaxes and it begins to feel like the muscles are like clothing that is draped over the frame like a hanger. The goal is to give you a posture that you can retain while the mind is completely absorbed within. |
Pranayama
Literally meaning "breath control", pranayama is a variety of breathing methods that aid in the mind body connection, as well as vitalizes the body by activating channels (nadi) that carry vital energy (prana). The science of pranayama uses methods that slow and prolong the breath, speed the breath, retain the breath and others to create various effects.
Today we know scientifically that regulating the breath through the nose has powerful effects on mental health, memory and can be used to stimulate or sedate the nervous system in specific ways. |
Pratyahara
Pratyahara is generally considered as a withdrawal of and from the senses. It is the beginning of what can be considered proper meditation. While in the beginning pratyahara includes practices that are designed to induce a certain level of sensory deprivation, it culminates during meditation as the awareness withdraws itself inwards. At this stage it is important to observe the mind like a witness. In time, even if only for a moment, the mind will become still and quiet.
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Dharana
Literally meaning "concentration", it is the focusing of the mind on a single point or object. While pratyahara is a general observation of the mind as it draws inwards, dharana fixates the awareness to observe nothing but the object of meditation. At this stage there are only two things that should exist in the mind; the object of meditation and the mind of the one who is meditating. The fact that it is called "concentration" indicates that it often takes effort to maintain this state.
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Dhyana
Success in dharana leads to dhyana. While dharana means concentration, dhyana literally means meditation and marks a major milestone towards gnosis. After the mind has been focused on its object of meditation during dharana long enough, the thing being meditated on begins to reveal its hidden nature.
Also a separate awareness begins to emerge that is able to observe both the object of meditation as well as the mind meditating. It is the first real experience of the higher self. |
Samadhi
Meaning "absorption, union, trance", it is the goal of yogic meditation. When meditation is directed towards an object, the awareness and the nature of the object being meditated on merge to become one. The result is complete gnosis, an experience of revelation in rapture. This meditative process and experience can be directed towards an object like a symbol, a question, an image etc but can also be directed towards one's innermost self. Meditating on nature of humanity as a whole was the focus of Siddhartha Gautama. His meditation on the nature of humanity and its suffering led to the Self realization that was the basis of Buddhism.
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