Yogis Dada Paravidyanada (Dada P), of the international Ananda Marga, left, and Dada Sugatananda, demonstrate the blissful meditative state. - Carlington Wilmot
THE ART of meditating might not be as simple as you think. Dada Paravidyanada (Dada P) of the international Ananda Marga --Path of Bliss-- movement states that though many people have different concepts of meditation, true meditation is taught by a master.
It is also that state where the mind is capable of reaching a condition of bliss oneness with the cosmic mind. In this state, thought is as focused and as powerful as a laser beam.
So, just closing the eyes and thinking does not amount to meditation.
When you have mastered the skills of meditation fear, sadness and all negative thought can be dissolved as the mind becomes one with the Supreme Being.
The power of thought in this state will also have the ability to transform your life.
"As you think, so you become," claims Dada P. "Your positive thoughts will create the external beauty of your life."
Much of human potential goes to waste because of the widespread inability to control thought. So meditation facilitates the reaching of this potential.
Dada P, who Outlook met at the Creiffe Road office of the Ananda Marga in Kingston, told us that the physical benefits of meditation are numerous.
Because meditation relaxes twice as much as sleep, those who are able to achieve this state every day will sleep less. Meditation also increases physical energy, reduces high blood pressure and prevents diseases which are caused by stress.
The practice of meditation is also said to reduce one's biological age by 10 years, so that practitioners will always be told this by those who meet them.
The mental benefits of the practice are also numerous. Meditation, Dada P claims, reduces depression, irritability, hostility, stress and anxiety.
The practice increases alertness, sociability, joy in life, self-confidence and clarity of thought.
Dada P. "If your vibes are similar to another person's you will like them. If not you will feel aversion. You have your own personal rhythm and you need to marry this with the supreme being. The mantra will help to do this."
The wavelengths of the brain will change in rhythm as the mantra accomplishes this, going through the stages of alpha, theta, beta and finally delta where concentration is deepest and brain waves are between one to four cycles per second (down from 13-24 cycles per second during normal consciousness as measured by the electrocardiogram machine).
Beta is the normal state of mind. In alpha, as meditation progresses, the mind achieves serenity, alertness increases, as does internal wellness and a feeling of well-being.
In theta, there is deep meditation, creative inspiration and para-psychological phenomena such as telepathy.
The mantra concentrates the mind like a laser and those who can achieve the delta frequency will discover tremendous power.
Transferred
At this level, the mind is transferred into its object of ideation and can make affirmations of wealth, popularity and success. The mantra, however, should not be abused and used for selfish purposes. In the real of ideation, the identity changes as we realise that we are one with the infinite or cosmic consciousness. "You begin to see with the big eye," states Dada P. This state is known as "Samadhi" which is a Sanskrit word meaning merger with the cosmic consciousness.
To arrive at this level of meditation, one has to first train with a master and then practise week after week, year after year until the merger occurs. People say, Dada P reflect, that the beginning is hard because they have such difficulty in concentrating. But "practice makes perfect" is his assurance.
In the meantime, those who are interested will be glad to know that half meditations will produce significant physical benefits. When progress is being made, one will notice "lightness of body, internal vibrations as well as music and internal light."
If you cannot do as much as one hour each day, you can do half an hour in the morning and the same time at night. Yogis who aspire to the highest levels meditate for many hours each day. Dada P says that he has been meditating for 40 years and not a single day has been missed.
- Outlook Team
