Yoga
The Vedanta tradition has prescribed four primary spiritual disciplines or yogas to guide the individual towards self-realization. Among these, the practice of Yoga holds a special place, serving as a comprehensive framework for attaining inner peace, balance, and the highest state of consciousness.
Technique of Meditation
The details of the technique of meditation, including the procedural steps, will be covered in a separate subsection. This section will focus on the broader principles and philosophy underlying the practice of meditation.
Principle of Meditation
The fundamental principle underlying the practice of meditation is: As you think, so you become. Conscious thought is a powerful force that shapes our reality. By directing your thoughts and mental focus towards the ultimate truth of your being, you can gradually transform yourself and attain the state of self-realization.
Through sustained meditation, you train your mind to transcend its habitual patterns of thinking and perceiving the world. As the mind becomes increasingly calm, focused, and introverted, it sheds the layers of ego, desires, and conditioning that veil your true self. This process allows you to directly experience the underlying unity and blissful nature of your own being.
The principle of meditation can be understood through the analogy of a potter's wheel. Just as the potter's persistent, focused effort shapes the clay into a beautiful vessel, your constant, mindful attention shapes your consciousness and leads you to the supreme reality within.
The Symbol ß Om
The sacred sound vibration of Om, or ß, is considered the most potent symbol and mantra in the Vedantic tradition. This primal sound is believed to represent the very essence of the supreme reality, the ultimate ground of being.
The three syllables of Om - A, U, and M - are said to correspond to the three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. The silence between the syllables symbolizes the fourth state, the transcendental pure consciousness that underlies all manifest phenomena.
During meditation, the practitioner focuses on chanting or mentally repeating the Om mantra, allowing the mind to become progressively more absorbed in the subtle vibration and silence. This practice quiets the restless mind and gradually leads the individual to the direct experience of the absolute reality.
Procedural Details
Step 1: Preparing the Mind and Body
Before engaging in meditation, it is crucial to prepare the mind and body to create the optimal conditions for the practice. This involves:
- Choosing a quiet, peaceful environment
- Adopting a comfortable, stable posture
- Regulating the breath through the practice of pranayama
Step 2: Chanting the Mantra
With the mind and body prepared, the practitioner begins the meditation by chanting the Om mantra, either aloud or silently. The focus is on maintaining a steady, continuous flow of the mantra, while the intellect remains aware and vigilant.
Step 3: Transcending the Mind
As the chanting of the mantra becomes more internalized and subtle, the mind gradually becomes quieter and more focused. Eventually, the mantra dissolves into complete silence, signaling the transcendence of the mind and the direct experience of the pure, undifferentiated consciousness.
Step 4: Abiding in the Self
In the depths of this silence, the practitioner directly realizes their true nature as the supreme self, the absolute reality. This state of self-realization is the ultimate goal of the spiritual journey, where the individual merges with the infinite, eternal, and blissful source of all existence.
Self-Realisation
The culmination of the spiritual path is the state of self-realization, where the individual directly experiences the supreme reality within. This is the ultimate goal of the Vedantic tradition, the realization of one's true nature as the absolute, eternal, and blissful consciousness.
Through the dedicated practice of meditation, the seeker transcends the limitations of the ego, the mind, and the senses, and abides in the pure, undifferentiated awareness that is the foundation of their being. In this state of enlightenment, the individual recognizes the unity of the self and the supreme reality, and experiences the profound peace, joy, and freedom that comes with this understanding.
Four Spiritual Disciplines
The Vedanta tradition prescribes four primary spiritual disciplines, or yogas, to guide the individual towards self-realization. These are:
- Bhakti Yoga - The Path of Devotion
- Gnana Yoga - The Path of Knowledge
- Karma Yoga - The Path of Action
- Hatha Yoga - The Path of Compulsion
Each of these paths is designed to suit the unique temperament and inclination of the individual, allowing them to navigate the spiritual journey in a way that is most aligned with their natural disposition. By following the appropriate discipline, the seeker can gradually purify the mind, overcome their desires and attachments, and ultimately attain the state of self-realization.