Dr Harish Chandra's article in Vedoday2050 May 2011
Vedoday2050
May 2011
Volume III, Number 4, May 2011
Upasana: Let Us Begin from Today
Last month we discussed the importance of sitting in meditation twice a day around the time of sunrise and sunset or at about 6 am and 6 pm in non-tropical countries. This is the singular act that distinguishes us from all other species. These are some moments when we want to be connected to the Infinite Spirit of God and therewith be disconnected from the world. Our instruments of body and mind are connected with the world almost the whole day and that is their purpose. However, these instruments are obstacles when we intend to connect to God. Therefore, meditation is to be connected to God, which requires us to be disconnected from the world.
That is to say, we are in meditation when our mind is void of any worldly event, person, thought, etc. – manah nirvishayam dhyanam (mind is void of any object that is amenable to the sense organs). The classical approach to sit for meditation is to recite the Gayatri mantra and then bring ones mind to a quiet and blank state of meditation.
The procedure should be:
1. Sit cross-legged in Siddhasana, Padmasana or Sukhasana or in any cross-legged manner that should be comfortable and unwavering.
2. Regulate breathing cycles – breathe out deeply followed by deep breathe in – for about 3-4 minutes.
3. Recite the Gayatri mantra a few times, about 3-5 times – Om bhurbhuvah svah. Tat savitur-varenyam bhargo devasya dhi mahi. Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. The recitation should be in a melodious manner. [Meaning – Oh Supreme Lord! You are Existent and you bring us into existence with survival instinct that we want to exist. You are away from pain and pass on the instinct to us that we want to get away from pain. You are blissful and you alone can grant us a blissful life. It is your Bhargah (the inner light of knowledge, brighter than sun) that is the Most Desirable for us and we should behold it in our intellect to be able to discriminate between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, virtue and vice, etc. May we always be guided by the true conscience within us.] Its recitation is a vehicle that carries you to the lap of God. Try to recite it in a melodious manner with body, mind and soul fully submerged into it. As you recite it, be mindful of its meaning. And, now as the recitation ends…
4. Attempt to be with God and that means to disconnect from the world. The objective is to make mind void of any worldly event/ thought/ person. This is the most challenging part and one should be in this phase for at least 5-10 minutes. If a blank and still state of mind is achieved for mere 15-20 seconds during this phase even then it’s a good start. During this phase try to observe a sky-like space in your forehead with your eyes closed. Try to discern the colour of the sky. If any thought appears in the mind domain then chant the sound of ‘Om’ a few times to dispel the thought away from the mind.
Step 4 is the most challenging and that is the core of meditation – the recitation of the Gayatri mantra is the means and not the end. Henceforth, we will add one mantra every month that would precede the Gayatri japa – Japa is a Sanskrit term for recitation with body, mind and spirit. The purpose of reciting the mantras would be to take us into meditative mood in an efficient manner. As I said last month, anybody interested in ‘becoming a better person’ and ‘making the world better’ MUST begin this kind of Upasana. This can truly bring Vedodaya – back to the glory of the Vedic world. There is absolutely no other way to bring universal peace in this world. This is the true test if one is truly a child of God. If one succeeds in meditation then the answer is yes, otherwise the plain answer is no. Imagine a new world when everybody is a child of God then they would live like members of one small family – Aryah Ishvara-Putrah – an Arya is one who is a child of God. This journey to a new world begins from YOU. It begins TODAY.
- Harish Chandra
B. Tech. (IIT Kanpur)
Ph. D. (Princeton, USA)
Vedoday2050 News
Dr Harish Chandra begins new sessions (the first module of 10 sessions) on Science of Yoga: Patanjali Meditation this month at several locations in the UK:
I. 188 Inkerman Street, Nechells, Birmingham B7 4SA, 07877 302 761
I.1 Every Wed Evening, 7 to 8:30pm from May 18, 2011
I.2 Every Sat Afternoon, 3 to 4:30pm from May 14, 2011
II. Ford Street, Pleck, Walsall, WS2 9BW, 0121 357 8957
Every Tue Evening, 7 to 8:30pm from May 24, 2011
III. Liverpool Yoga Centre, 37 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9EA, 07737 844 495
Every Fri Evening, 6 to 7:30pm from May 20, 2011
IV. 69A Argyle Road, West Ealing, London W13 0LY, 07908 494 895
Every Mon Evening, 6:30 to 8pm from June 13, 2011
V. Leicester High School for Girls, 454 London Road, Leicester LE2 2PP, 07789 170 059
Every Sun morning, 8:45 to 10:00am from May 29, 2011