Conclusiones

1

2. Hardwar 15. Nainital

9. Uttarakasi (via Tehri) 16. Bangalore

4

0

(Himalayas) 19. Pandharpur

0

8

9

10. Nasik Musiri, S. 1

11. Varanasi 24. Tirupathi Hills

19. Brlndaban (Mathura) 2S. Papanasam

13. Srinagar (Kashmir) (Tinnevelly

104

CONCENTRATION AND MEDITATION

Any place or village on the banks of the Ganga, Jumna, Cauveri, Godavari, Krishna, Tamraparni, will suit you for meditation. You can select any place which has an even climate.

Of all the places, Rishikesh is the : best place in the world. The .spiritual vibration are soul-elevat­ ing. The scenery is highly charming. It is a beauty- spot.

Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Simla, Ooty, Kodaikanal, p.nil all hill-stations are cool places. They have a beautiful scenery also.: But they are Rajasic centres. They have no elevating· spiritual vibrations. People

go there for enjoyment and taint the atmosphere. Hence they are not suitable for meditation.

You must have some conveniences also such as library, medical aid; a railway station, in the begin­ ning. You must be able to get some fruits and milk. Otherwise it is difficult to continue your Sadhana in one pace for a long time. When you are advanced in Sadhana, when you go above body-consciousness, you can remain in any place.

Solitude and intense meditation are two impor­ tant requisites for Self-realisation. The banks of the Ganga or Narmada, Himalayan scenery, lovely flower gardens, sacred temples—these are the places which elevate the mind in concentration and meditation. Have recourse to them.

A solitary place,, spiritual vibratory conditions as at Uttarakasi, Rishikesh, Badri Narayan, a good place and temperate, climate—these conditions are indispensably requisite for concentration of mind.

PRELIMINARIES FOR MEDITATION 105

7. Cave-Life for Meditation

Cave-life is extremely good. The ancient Rishis and seers of India lived in the caves of Himalayas and did rigorous Tapascharya. The temperature is quite even in caves. Caves are very cooling. The heat of scorching summer cannot penetrate inside the cave. It is quite warm in winter. All external sounds are shut out in a cave. You can have very beautiful, uninterrupted meditation. There is soli­ tude in caves. The spiritual currents are elevating. There is no mundane atmosphere there, because mo­ dern civilisation has not penetrated there. Such are the advantages of cave-life.

There is the beautiful Vasishtha Guha in the Himalayas, which is fourteen miles away from Rishi- kesh. Maharshi Vasishtha did Tapas here; Hence the name “ Vasishthaguha.” Guha means a cave. You can get milk from the neighbouring villages. Bamrughi Guha, near Tehri, Himalayas, is another good cave. There are caves near Nilakanth hills six miles from Rishikesh.

Cave-life is not suitable for aspirants who have modern education and delicate constitution, and who iv ro timid. It is meant for aspirants who have a strong sturdy frame, who are fearless and who have Intense power of endurance. Those who have some Divya Siddhis can live there. Those who have a good knowledge of Butis of Himalayan herbs, who have strengthened the body by means of special Kayakalpa, who have a body which is proof against bites of poisonous insects or creatures by taking a course of Nimi Kalpa or purified nux vomica, those

who have Mantra-Siddhi, who have control over wild animals, who can bear heat and cold, hunger and thirst, those who have lost all attractions for the world, sense-objects, work of any kind, who can medi­ tate for a long time, who have internal dispassion, can remain in a cave.

Some young raw aspirants with weak body and indifferent health, in whom a ray of Viveka and dis­ passion has recently dawned through study of some religious books, through some mishap or some diffi­ culties in life, run to the Himalayan caves without any previous preparation or bodily and mental disci­ pline. Just as the mercury in the thermometer runs to 106 degrees in high fevers, so also juvenile bubbl­ ing emotion runs to 112 degrees to the crown of the head. It cools down quickly. They find it difficult to pull on there and leave the place in a few days. For some, cave-life is not suitable. They develop some sort of skin-diseases and pale-bloodedness ow­ ing to lack of ventilation.

Artificial caves like Kaivalya-Guha, Ananda Kutir, with good ventilation can be built under­ neath the ground in any solitary place, even in your own compound or village. . Two walls with a hollow in the middle and pipes to bring in cool air and take away hot air, will keep the cave quite cool. A ll real aspirants who remain in the world should build one for their meditation. They will be immensely bene­ fited.

There is another disadvantage in cave-life. He who lives in the cave for a long time becomes Tama- sic. He is unable to do any kind of work. He cannot mix with people. He is terribly afraid of a multitude

PRELIMINARIES FOR . MEDITATION 107

of people. His mind gets distracted soon if he is in the company of a few persons, if he hears a little noise. This is not balanced life. This is one-sided development. He who dwells in the cave must be able to keep his balance, even when he comes to a busy town. This is the sign of his spiritual growth.

The real snug, well-furnished, marvellous, awe­ inspiring cave is in your heart. It is the Hridaya- Guha of the Upanishads, wherein Dattatreya, San­ kara, and Yajnavalkya dwelt in days of yore. Even now, modern Rishis and sages abide there, with­ drawing the outgoing senses and mind. They drink the nectar of Immortality there, and remain ever- biissful.

May you all dwell in this mysterious, magnificent cave in the heart alone in communion with your In­ ner Self, the secondless Brahman or the Absolute, the Goal, the Sole Refuge of all!!!

8. Preparation for Meditation

Keep the head, neck and back in one straight line. Read the 11th and 13th Slokas of chapter V I Of Gita, wherein a description of the Asana is given. Spread a four-folded blanket and over this spread i piece of soft, white cloth. This will do nicely. I f you can get a good tiger-skin or deer-skin, it is all the more better. A tiger-skin has got its own advan­ tages. It generates electricity in the body quickly and does not allow leakage of electric current from the body. It is full of magnetism.

Face East or North. A spiritual neophyte should observe this rule. In facing North he is in

communion with the Rishis of the Himalayas and he ‘is mysteriously benefited by their currents.

9. How to Meditate

Habitual meditation and habitual silence are great assets for you in the spiritual path. Meditation gives a lot of spiritual strength, peace, new vigour and vitality. I f a meditator gets irritated very often, it shows he is not having good, uninterrupted medi­ tation. There is something wrong with his Sadhana and contemplation.

You will have to meditate with a calm mind. Then only you will enter into Samadhi quickly. I f you control the Indriyas and if you become desireless you will have a calm mind. Keen longing for libera­ tion and thoughts of God will destroy all desires. He who has a calm mind, is an Emperor of emperors, the Shah of Shahs. The state of one who has a calm mind is indescribable.

In meditation and concentration you will have to train the mind in a variety of ways. Then only the gross mind will become subtle (Sukshma).

Whatever you meditate on in silence should be manifested ift daily life. You should keep up poise and harmony in action* You will be ever peaceful. Then only you will enjoy the real fruit of medita­ tion.