Sleep, a true blessing

A good night's sleep is indeed a blessing for our overall well-being. Sleep is a vital process that allows our body and mind to rest, repair, and recharge. Just like switching off a mobile phone after a long day of use, sleep helps us reset and prepare for the challenges of a new day. Here are some reasons why good sleep is essential:

Physical Restoration: During deep sleep, the body goes through a process of physical restoration. Tissues and muscles are repaired, and the body's energy is replenished, allowing us to wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Mental Rejuvenation: Sleep is crucial for cognitive function and mental clarity. It enhances memory consolidation and supports learning processes. Adequate sleep improves focus, concentration, and decision-making abilities.

Emotional Balance: Getting enough rest can significantly impact our mood and emotional well-being. Lack of sleep can make us more irritable, stressed, and anxious. On the other hand, quality sleep can lead to improved emotional regulation and a more positive outlook on life.

Immune Function: Sufficient sleep plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system. During sleep, the body produces and releases cytokines, a type of protein that helps the immune system respond to infections and inflammation.

Hormonal Regulation: Sleep is closely tied to the regulation of hormones in the body, including those that control appetite and hunger. Poor sleep can disrupt these hormones, leading to increased cravings and a higher risk of weight gain.

Heart Health: Adequate sleep is associated with better heart health. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, and other cardiovascular issues.

Cellular Repair: Sleep supports the body's natural processes of cellular repair and maintenance. This is crucial for overall health and longevity.

To ensure you get the most out of your sleep, consider practicing good sleep hygiene:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends.

2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine to signal your body that it's time to wind down.

3. Keep your sleep environment comfortable, dark, and quiet.

4. Avoid caffeine, heavy meals, and electronic devices close to bedtime.

5. Exercise regularly, but not too close to bedtime.

6. Manage stress and anxiety, as they can interfere with sleep.

By prioritizing sleep and establishing healthy sleep habits, you can experience the true benefits of a restful and restorative night's rest. It's essential to listen to your body and make sleep a priority in your daily routine for optimal physical and mental well-being.

The four important factors that influence our mind...

There was a beautiful garden with lots of fruits and flowers on top of a mount. It was very beautiful. The chief gardener would stand on top of this mount and look at the people in the garden and would call out to everybody saying that there were lots of fruits in the garden like mangoes, bananas, and papayas. He would invite them to have some. But when they went there, he would come down the hill and he would change his mind. He would ask them why they had come,
and that they should go away.

Then, he would go up the hill. Sitting there, he would again call out the same invitation. Adding what he would do with all the fruit. That he was there to offer it to everybody. And, if they were happy, he would be happy, too. He would talk philosophically, but the moment he came down,
it was back to square one. He would fight with the people. They thought he was little crazy. He lost all his credibility. Even he, himself, was surprised,
and didn’t understand what was happening to him.

A wise man in the town suggested that the people dig below the hill and see what was there. They dug the place up and they found the throne of
a very well known king called Vikramaditya. He was known for his generosity,  righteousness,
and his high spiritual life. When he died, they could not find anybody else fit enough to sit on his throne because it was such a powerful seat.
So, people finally buried it under that mount, and it is said that the throne had the vibration of positivity and generosity and that was having an impact on the gardener when he went up the hill.

Every place you are in, has a different impact on the mind. Even in your house, you can see that you feel different in different rooms. A place where there there has been singing, chanting and meditation has a different influence on the mind.

So, there are four important factors that influence our mind are

1 Place
2 Time
3 Past Impressions
4 Company or Associations

Time is another factor  – You might have noticed your mind has great influence by time. Ancient people from the vedic tradition have calculated it.
Once every 12 years the jupiter is in the 8th house of your chart, your head goes crazy, not  for the whole year, but few months, people will have a lot of doubts,  nothing would seem to work. Wisdom will  be clouded. And similarly when someone has a lot of obstacles and success does not happen to them easily, it is said that jupiter is on the 8th house. So time has these sort of influences on our mind. Anyone’s behavior cannot be taken out of context – it should be seen with the context of space and time. If your time is good your worst enemy will be friendly, if your time is bad your best friend behaves like an enemy to you. Instead of pointing fingers at anyone the wise people said – kalaya tasmai namaha – I surrender to time! I bow down to time! There are some places where you are not affected by time and you can influence the time and that is meditation, chanting and satsang. When you meditate or chant you impact the time in a positive manner.
You can reduce the negative impacts of time.

The past impressions(sanskaras) have an impact on the mind. Awareness, alertness, knowledge and meditation help erase the past impressions.

Company or Associations – The people and events you are associated with do influence your mind.  In the company of some people things appear very bright and positive. In the company of some other people, the whole world seems like a nasty place and everything seems negative. One is being part of a solution and the other is magnifying the problem. So the company you keep has an impact on your mind.

Shud Sampatti

Since ancient times, it is said that strength of character is very essential. The Shatt Sampatti are the six virtues that contribute towards one’s greatness in character – hence termed as wealth.
In this article, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains each of these six virtues.

1 Shama

Shama means to have that inner tranquillity of the mind. The word Shanti (peace) comes from the word Shama. This is a very important quality.
It is wealth that one should strive to acquire. When the mind is not at peace, your intellect becomes dull and hazy, and you are not able to listen or understand what someone else is saying.
To sharpen the intellect, you first need to calm the mind. Suppose you see someone breaking a rule – if you get angry, you are only making yourself miserable. Instead, keep the mind calm and steady. If need be, educate the other person about their mistake. And if they are not willing to understand, then ignore it and move on. You cannot improve someone else by getting angry at them. This ability to keep a calm mind under any kind of circumstances is Shama.

2 Dama

The second kind of wealth is Dama, which means having a say over your own senses. Many times, when people travel overnight in a luxury bus or airplane to attend to some important work in the morning, there is a movie being played during the journey. Now, though they want to sleep, they continue watching the movie. A moment comes when they say to themselves, “Oh, I have already seen this movie before. It’s the same rubbish. What is there to watch again?” Yet, the eyes say, “No, I want to watch and see what is happening”.
Your eyes do not agree with you. Your intellect says one thing, but your eyes disobey and follow something else. To have Dama means to have a perfect alignment between your mind and your senses.

3 Titiksha

Titiksha means forbearance. It means the ability to endure even that which is not of your liking.
Now, it is not possible that everything will go as per your liking. If you tend to lose your calm and presence of mind when some things do not happen as per your expectations, then that shows a lack of Titiksha. Having Titiksha means to be patient and to have forbearance. To maintain a balance and be able to bear it when undesired situations arise in life – that is a sign of having Titiksha. Suppose someone is very unpleasant to you. If you lack Titiksha, then it rattles your mind and throws you off balance. With Titiksha, you can move on and keep the balance.

4 Shraddha

Shraddha means to adore something that you don’t completely know. You do not fully know it, yet you feel there is something wonderful about it
and have a deep interest to know more about it.
You do not need to have faith in what you already know. Faith is always in something that you do not know, yet you feel a sense of connectivity to that unknown. Without Shraddha, nothing can move in life. Your doctor tells you to take a certain medicine. You take the medicine because you have faith in the doctor. If you do not have faith in the doctor, you will not touch the medicine. So, our life runs on faith. The city’s electricity board gives you electricity having faith
that you will pay the bill at the end of the month.
Putting a foot forward before you get the fruit of the action is called Shraddha.

5 Uparati

Uparati means enjoying anything that you do –
even if it is a small thing. It means to have a sense of enthusiasm in whatever you do. When there is a lack of Uparati, then there is dejectedness – no interest and no enthusiasm.
You do not like doing anything if you lack Uparati.
One who does not have enthusiasm cannot create or invent anything new. Uparati means to do everything wholeheartedly, finding joy and taking total interest in it.

6 Samadhana

Samadhana means contentment. This is also a gift – a true wealth. A person who is content exuberates a certain sense of joy from deep within. He exudes certain positive vibrations that everyone else would love to have. A restless person cannot be an inventor. Newton struggled all his life. But when he felt overwhelmed with desperation, when his brain got so tired of thinking and calculating, he sat down to rest below a tree. When he took a moment of rest,
the apple fell before him and he discovered Gravity. When you look at every invention on this planet with a keen sense of observation, you will find that it has come when people have gotten over their restlessness, desperation, and dejection. It has happened when they arrived at a point of breakdown, and relaxed. In that moment of total relaxation and contentment, creativity came to them. Contentment is not lethargy. Do not confuse contentment with lethargy. Contentment is creativity, and creativity blossoms in us when there is Samadhana. So, these are the six kinds of wealth. Each one is called a wealth because, like any wealth, some of it comes to us easily in life, while others we must make efforts to acquire. Some wealth must be maintained, otherwise it will disappear.

By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Desire alone makes you weak. Nothing else does!

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:~

Whether others pay attention to you or not, pay attention to yourself. It is worthless to pay attention to others; you would be better off
if you turned your attention to yourself. You worry about what others think of you. Drop this attitude.
If you turn your attention inwards, it will become your source of strength. Everywhere you struggle to find strength, which is nothing but your own nature. You yourself are the strength you search for; you are a powerhouse of energy.

Once upon a time a beggar went to see Abraham, the emperor. However, this beggar walked like a king. The gatekeeper stopped him and asked,
“Where are you going?” to which he replied,
“I have come to the pilgrims rest house.” The gatekeeper responded, “This is a palace, not a pilgrims rest house.” The beggar insisted,
“No, take me to the king, the one who stays in this rest house.” He did not listen to anyone, intent on being taken to the emperor. Noticing his bearing,
his manner of walking and the radiance of his face, the king bowed to him, as though compelled. The king wondered who this man could be and questioned him, “Why did you say that you have come to a rest house? You have insulted my palace by turning it into a rest house for pilgrims.” He answered, “I had come here before. Back then, another person was sitting here.” “Yes, you do not lie. It is true that my father sat here.” The man responded, “I came even before that time. Then too another person sat here.” The king said, “Yes, I agree. What you say is correct. He was my grandfather,” and the beggar replied, “Then is this not a pilgrims rest house?

You sit here, believing that all this is yours.
Many people have come and gone. Anybody who comes here stays only for some time. Is it not the same as a rest house? Nobody lives here forever.
The whole earth is a pilgrims resting house, where nobody has stayed forever. For this reason,
I called this palace a pilgrims rest house.”

This knowledge struck the king like a lightning bolt. The moment he heard it, he descended from his throne and prostrated before the beggar. “You have opened my eyes! Take this resting house and look after it. I am going and am leaving it to you.” Saying this, King Abraham left the palace.

You search for strength only after desiring it.
The desire to be strong makes you weak. The more ambition you have, the weaker you become.
When there is fear in the mind, there is no strength. If you have strength, there is no fear.

Desire alone makes you weak.
Nothing else does!
Desire changes you into a beggar.
Come back to your self,
“Svapadam shaktih” -
you become the strength!

HH Sri Sri Ravishankarji

Why does Mr. Ravi Shankar proclaim himself as “Sri Sri”? Does he want others to start calling him that?
My friend forwarded this image, which had Mr. Ravi Shankar signature. The signature says “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar”, which triggered me to ask couple of question to all the followers of Ravi Shankar and of course to Mr. Ravi Shankar himself.

My friend could not give answers to my questions so asking in Quora.

1. Why does he sign himself as “Sri Sri”?  
2. Even if he was awarded the title by Himalayan Sadhus (as it is told by his followers), why is he making the title part of his signature? Why can he be like other leaders who have titles but don’t use themselves, it is only for other to call them by respect.
3. Does anyone know who those Sadhu’s are who gave him the title “Sri Sri”?
4. Why does he have to proclaim himself as “Sri Sri”, is he so insecure or he wants to proclaim himself so that everyone will call him “Sri Sri”?
5. What is the reason for him to meet politicians for publicity or popularity?
6. Why does he have to spend so much money on posters, hoardings and marketing campaigns across various places/ cities? Why can’t they spend the money for the needy instead of popularizing him.
7. Is he beauty soap, FMCG product, why should he be promoted, why should he have politicians and educated followers as unpaid brand ambassadors?
8. If he claims to be helping the society, why can’t he make his followers to start following the process of giving for the society themselves, etc.,


Varun Uniyal, Someone who has known Sri Sri personally

I would take the lead in answering these questions. I am a little surprised by your questions or intelligence or maybe both. Or maybe I am dumb to understand a dumb question. Did you Google the first question? If not then maybe you are living in a cave fitted with wireless blocking copper lining!

Read this my friend, from Sri Sri on why Sri Sri :)
http://srisriravishankar.org/the.../

Now don't strain your intelligence and begin asking why not 1008 Sri Sri. God cannot take that! That answers your questions 1 and 3.

Why use 'Sri Sri' as his signature? Seriously, is that a question? Have you asked yourself that if you use only your first name while making payments through your credit card what will happen? The card company will say - you idiot, who are you! I don't know you, bam reject! Now if Sri Sri signs as Sri or Ravi Shankar, guess what would happen :) that takes care of question 2.

Insecurity - dude! this is getting really serious now. Do you even use a search engine? I would recommend you get a crash course done on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his peace initiatives asap! For instance He walked on a no man's land in Sri Lanka to negotiate peace with LTTE leaders! Have you ever crossed a busy highway like a lion? You know what happens if you do that, right? He's repeatedly done that and secured millions while doing that. Insecurity???!!!
That takes care of question number 4. Ah and yes, braindump on his work, maybe this - Varun Uniyal's answer to Is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a messiah of world peace?

Oh and Popularity and Publicity - well then if you go and meet your local MP for an issue, you are getting populist and you need publicity correct? No wait, you are meeting them just to probably invite them to be friends on facebook or accept candy crush requests!!!
A person who is known over the globe and working 24x7 for the country and more importantly for the world issues, doesn't meet politicians just for getting famous or popular. Isn't that too small and lame for a person of his stature? Think more my friend, think why is he meeting them.  Meditate over it. There goes question 5.

What is wrong on spending money on hoardings and campaigns? And how does it qualify that he is not spending money on the needy? There is no direct relation. Coca Cola is the world's biggest campaigner and they do a lot of work for the needy. The entire Gandhi clan (read pre-ruling Congress party) is probably a bigger advertiser and campaigner and they spend huge, huge amount on the needy, except that they are ones who are needy! The world famous ISIS, bunch of terrorists - millions spent in advertising killings, hate and what not. And spending on needy by them - they make others needy. So what's the issue in advertising good things? Go to The Art of Living and see what they have done and do. A poison being branded, a family of corrupts being branded, terrorists being branded and a Guru being branded. What do you prefer? Intelligent choice eh? Question 6 and 7 answered or hammered down!

Last question - are baba, first of all you think he is doing all the work physically by himself? You think Art of Living Foundation has been branded as the world's largest volunteer based NGO just one fine day out of the blue? 35 years of tiring and thankless work by its teachers, volunteers have made it possible. And if they haven't given to the society then how is it recognized so much all over the world, why does the UN invite Sri Sri to be a keynote speaker. Are they retards? Why do the governments all over the world have given Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader) the first citizen awards then? Are they buffoons? kuch to aisa kaam kiya hoga na bhai!!!

Here's a word of wisdom for you, from the same person you are questioning.

Fools create conflicts in oneself and others. An intelligent person knows how to resolve conflicts in oneself and in the surrounding.

Devotees

Three Kinds of Devotees
The first kind is a devotee who keeps asking, ‘God give me this’, ‘God give me that.’
The second kind is a devotee who is always grateful, ‘Thank you God, you gave me this and you gave me that’; a devotee who is emotional, prayerful and keeps crying out of gratitude.
The third kind is a devotee who always remains joyful, keeps smiling, dancing and singing; a joyful devotee.
All three are different kinds of devotees, and yet all three are supreme. It is not that one is greater than another – that is not so. So there is, a crying devotee, a laughing devotee, and a devotee who keeps asking – which category are you in, you can see that for yourself.
It is possible that a little of all three may be there in you. That also is okay. Then that would be the fourth kind of devotee – one who has a little bit of all the three present.
Now, one who gets lost in fun only, somewhere or the other, he is not able to attain depth, and depth is also needed. That is why saint Kabirdas has said, ‘Kabira hasana door kar, rone se kar preet, bin roye kit paaiye, prem piyara meet.’
The crying which Kabirdas is talking about is a different kind of crying. It is the crying that comes out of praise, out of gratitude and longing. It is not the kind of crying where one feels that this is lacking, that is lacking, this did not happen, that did not happen. He is not referring to that type of crying which is for the worldly matters or maya. He is referring to those who cry out of bliss and devotion. So that is also needed.
But the devotees who are joyful are said to be the knowledgeable ones, because they know that God is right here – he is within me, and he is present this very moment.
Often people think that God is elsewhere; he existed sometime in the past, or will come sometime in the future. They forget that God is right here, right now, present within everyone, present within me – this conviction should be there.
It is for this only that you are doing all these gymnastics, all these exercises. Otherwise what is the point of doing these exercises all day – doing pranayama, asana, kirtan, bhajan, seva – what is the essence of all these? To know that God is inside me, right here and right now.
~Sri Sri

Tourist or pilgrim?

What is the difference between a tourist and a pilgrim?
Both are on a journey. Whereas a tourist is satisfying the senses, a pilgrim is in the quest of the truth. A tourist gets tired and tanned, while a pilgrim sparkles with spirit. Every move a pilgrim makes is with sacredness and gratitude, while a tourist is often preoccupied and unaware. A tourist compares with other experiences and places and hence is not in the present moment. But a pilgrim has a sense of sacredness, so he tends to be in the present moment.

Most people in life are just tourists without even being aware of it. Only a few make their life a pilgrimage. Tourists come, look around, take pictures in their mind, only to come back again. Pilgrims are at home everywhere and are hollow and empty. When you consider life as sacred, nature waits on you.
Are you a tourist or a pilgrim?

Worthiness

Q: How do we increase our eligibility on the spiritual path?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
"The thought that you would like to enhance your worthiness itself makes you move in that direction. When a person starts thinking, ‘I am very worthy’, that is when you should realize that he has some problem.
When complaints start coming up, then worthiness starts reducing. When complaints end; when one’s gaze moves away from worthiness, then simplicity, ease and modesty dawns.
Whenever we feel that we have been blessed with far more than what we deserve, then gratitude wells up in us.
If we start thinking that we are very deserving, then something in us starts becoming small. When we start thinking like this, it is almost as though we are asking for rewards for our efforts. When we think that we do not deserve so much, then we behave like Masters, we don’t need to ask or get anything from anyone."

ആത്മവിധ്യാധികാരി

വിവേകം, വിരക്തി, ശമാദി ഗുണങ്ങള്‍, മുമുക്ഷുത്വം – ഈ യോഗ്യതകള്‍ ഉള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് മാത്രമേ ബ്രഹ്മാന്വേഷണത്തിന് അര്‍ഹതയുള്ളൂ.

സത്തും അസത്തും തമ്മില്‍ - സത്യവും മിഥ്യയും തമ്മില്‍ - നിത്യവും അനിത്യവും തമ്മില്‍ വേര്‍തിരിച്ചരിയുവനുള്ള കഴിവാണ് വിവേകം.

വൈരാഗ്യം വിവേകത്തിന്റെ പൂര്‍ത്തീകരണമത്രേ. നിത്യാനിത്യവസ്തുക്കളെക്കുറിച്ചു ശരിയായി വിവേക വിചാരം ചെയ്തു നിത്യമിന്നത്, അനിത്യമിന്നത് എന്ന് വേര്‍തിരിക്കാന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞാല്‍, അനിത്യ വസ്തുക്കളില്‍ ഇന്ന് നമുക്കുള്ള രാഗത്തെ വെടിയാനുണ്ടോ പ്രയാസം? വിവേകത്തിന്റെ ദൃഢതക്ക് അനുസരിച്ചിരിക്കും വൈരാഗ്യത്തിന്റെ പ്രകടനം. “എന്‍റെ നിഴലല്ല ഞാന്‍” എന്നെനിക്കു ബോദ്ധ്യം വന്നിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍, നിഴലിന്നു സംഭവിക്കുന്ന ദുരിതങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന് മുക്തനാവാന്‍ എനിക്കൊട്ടും പ്രയാസമില്ല. പതിനായിരം മദയാനകള്‍ എന്‍റെ നിഴല്‍ ചവിട്ടിമെതിച്ച്‌കൊണ്ട് കടന്നു പോകുമ്പോഴും, എനിക്ക് സുസ്മേരവദനനായി, സസുഖം നിലകൊള്ളാന്‍കഴിയും. കാരണം, നിഴലിനു അനുഭവിക്കേണ്ടിവരുന്ന അത്യാഹിതങ്ങളൊന്നും എന്നെ ബാധിക്കില്ല എന്നെനിക്കു ബോധ്യമുണ്ട്.

വിഷയങ്ങളെല്ലാം ദോഷദൂഷിതങ്ങളും അനര്‍ത്ഥകാരികളുമാണെന്ന് കണ്ടു, അവയില്‍നിന്ന് വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും പിന്‍വാങ്ങി, സ്വലക്ഷ്യമായ ആത്മതത്വത്തില്‍ തന്നെ നിശ്ചലമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന മനസ്സിന്റെ ശാന്തമായ അവസ്ഥയാണ് “ശമം”. മന:സംയമനം.

മനിക്കുക – ചിന്താതരങ്കങ്ങളെ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുക – എന്നത് മനസ്സിന്റെ സ്വഭാവമാണ്. മറ്റൊന്നും ചെയ്യാനില്ലെങ്കില്‍, ഏതെങ്കിലും വിഷയവസ്തുക്കളില്‍ അത് വ്യപരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കും – വിഷയഗ്രഹണം ചെയ്തുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കും. അതിനാല്‍ ഇന്ദ്രിയവിഷയങ്ങളെക്കാള്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ മഹത്തും, പാവനവും, ദിവ്യവുമായ ഒരാശയത്തില്‍, ഏതെങ്കിലും ഉപായത്തിലൂടെ മനസ്സിനെ ആമഗ്നമാക്കി നിര്‍ത്താന്‍ -  രമ്യതയോടെ വർത്തിപ്പിക്കാൻ - യോഗശാസ്ത്രം അനുശാസിക്കുന്നു.

ജ്ഞാനേന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളെയും, കർമ്മേന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളെയും അവയുടെ വിഷയങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന് നിവർത്തിപ്പിച്ചു, അതാത്ഇന്ദ്രിയഗോളങ്ങളില്‍തന്നെ സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നതിനെ “ദമം” (ഇന്ദ്രിയനിയന്ത്രണം) എന്ന് പറയുന്നു. ശമത്തെക്കാള്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ ബാഹ്യമായ നിലവാരത്തിലുള്ള സംയമനം (അച്ചടക്കം) ആണ് ദമം എന്ന് പറയാം. ചുരുക്കത്തില്‍, ബഹിരിന്ദ്രയങ്ങുളുടെ നിയന്ത്രണമാണ്‌ ദമം. ശമമാകട്ടെ, ലൌകീകവിഷയങ്ങളില്‍ വ്യാപരിക്കാതെ, പരമാത്മചിന്തനത്തില്‍ മുഴുകി പ്രശാന്തമായിരിക്കുന്ന മനസ്സിന്‍റെ സമ്യാവസ്ഥയും.

ശമവും ദമവും വേണ്ടത്ര ആര്‍ജിച്ചുകഴിഞ്ഞാല്‍ “ഉപരതി” (തന്നില്‍ത്തന്നെ വര്‍ത്തിക്കല്‍ - രമിക്കല്‍) സ്വയമേവ വന്നു ചേരും. ബാഹ്യവിഷയങ്ങളില്‍ (വിഷയങ്ങളുടെ ഭാവത്തിലും അഭാവത്തിലും – അഥവാ, അവയുടെ അനുകൂലമോ പ്രതികൂലമോ ആയ നില്പിലും) സ്വാധീനിക്കപ്പെടാതെ – ബാധിക്കപ്പെടാതെ – അവയെ ആശ്രയിക്കാതെ നില്‍ക്കുന്ന മനസ്സിന്റെ അവസ്ഥയാണ് ഉപരതി – ഏകാഗ്രത.

പ്രതികാരം (പ്രതിവിധി) ചെയ്യാന്‍ വെപ്രാളപ്പെടാതെയും, ചിന്തയോ വിലാപമോ കൂടാതേയും വന്നുചേരുന്ന ദുക്കങ്ങളെയെല്ലാം സഹിക്കാനുള്ള കഴിവാണ് തിതിക്ഷാ. ജീവിതമൂല്യങ്ങളുടെ മഹനീയതയെകുറിച്ചും, ലക്ഷ്യത്തിന്റെ പറമോത്ക്രിഷ്ടതയെക്കുറിച്ചും, ബുദ്ധിക്കു പൂര്‍ണബോധ്യം വന്നു കഴിഞ്ഞാല്‍, അത് നേടാനുള്ള ശ്രമത്തില്‍, സകല പ്രതിബന്ധങ്ങളേയും വിഷമതകളേയും മനസ്സു സസന്തോഷം നേരിടും. ഈ മാര്‍ഗത്തില്‍ വന്നുചേരാവുന്ന എല്ലാ വെല്ലുവിളികളേയും ഉന്മേഷത്തോടെ നേരിടാനും, എല്ലാ വിഘ്നങ്ങളേയും ക്ഷമയോടെ, മൌനമായി, മുറുമുറുപ്പില്ലാതെ സഹിച്ചു നിസ്സാരഭാവത്തില്‍ തള്ളിക്കളയാനുള്ള കഴിവാണ് തിതിക്ഷ.

വേദാന്തവാക്യങ്ങളുടെയും ഗുരുപദേശങ്ങളുടെയും പൊരുള്‍ ശരിയാംവണ്ണം ബോധിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുന്നത്‌ യാതോന്നുകൊണ്ടാണോ, ആ യോഗ്യതയെ ജ്ഞാനികള്‍ “ശ്രദ്ധാ” എന്ന് പറയുന്നു. അതുണ്ടെങ്കിലെ ആത്മദര്‍ശനം സാധ്യമാകൂ.

എല്ലായ്പോഴും, എല്ലാ പ്രകാരത്തിലും ബുദ്ധിയെ ശുദ്ധബ്രഹ്മത്തില്‍ ഉറപ്പിച്ചു നിര്‍ത്തലാണ് – നിരന്തര ബ്രഹ്മവിചാരത്താല്‍ ബുദ്ധി പൂര്‍ണമായും നിശ്ചലതയെ  പ്രാപിക്കുന്ന അവസ്ഥയാണ് – സമാധാനം. കെട്ടുറപ്പുള്ള അസ്ഥിവാരത്തില്‍ പടുത്തുയര്‍ത്തിയ വിവേകയുക്തമായ ബുദ്ധിയും, വൈരാഗ്യസംപന്നമായ മനസ്സും പരമോല്‍ത്ക്രിഷ്ടമായ ഭാവനകളില്‍ നിര്‍വ്രിതമായിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഉണ്ടായിതീരുന്ന ആന്തരീകമായ പ്രശാന്തിയാണ് “സമാധാനം.

സ്വസ്വരൂപജ്ഞാനം നേടുന്നതിലൂടെ, അഹങ്കാരം തൊട്ടു ദേഹം വരെയുള്ള ഉപാധികളിലെ, അജ്ഞാന കല്പിതങ്ങളായ ബന്ധനങ്ങളില്‍നിന്നു മോചനം നേടാനുള്ള തീവ്രേച്ചയാണ് “മുമുക്ഷുത്വം. സ്വസ്വരൂപബോധം ഇല്ലാത്തതിനാല്‍ (അജ്നാനത്താല്‍) എന്നെക്കുറിച്ച് പല തെറ്റിദ്ധാരണകളും (അന്യതാജ്ഞാനം) എന്‍റെ മനസ്സില്‍ ഉണ്ടായിത്തീരുന്നു. ശരീര-മനോ-ബുദ്ധ്യോപാധികളില്‍ അഭിമാനിച്ചു അവയുമായി താതാത്മ്യം പ്രാപിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അവ ഞാനാണ് എന്ന പ്രതീതി ജനിക്കുന്നു. ഇത് തന്നെ അഹങ്കാരം. നമ്മുടെ സര്‍വബന്ധനങ്ങൾക്കും പരിമിതികള്‍ക്കും കാരണം ഈ അഹങ്കാരമത്രേ. ബന്ധനങ്ങള്‍ ഒന്നുംതന്നെ ആത്മാവിന്നു ബാധകമല്ല. താന്‍ നിത്യ ശുദ്ധ ബുദ്ധ മുക്ത സച്ചിതാനന്ദ സ്വരൂപമാണ് എന്നറിയായ്കയാല്‍, അതില്‍നിന്ന് ഭിന്നമായ എന്തൊക്കെയോ ആണ് ഞാനെന്നു തെറ്റിദ്ധരിക്കാനിടയാകുന്നു. ഈ മിഥ്യാഭിമാനിയാണ് ജനി-മൃതി-ബന്ധന-ദുഖങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ കാരണമായ “ജീവന്‍”. സച്ചിതാനന്ദമാണ്  എന്‍റെ യഥാര്‍ത്ഥ സ്വരൂപം എന്നറിഞ്ഞു അതായിതീരുന്നതോടെ, സര്‍വ്വ ബന്ധനങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നും മനുഷ്യന്‍ മുക്തനാവുന്നു. ഇതാണ് പരിണാമത്തിന്റെ പരമകാഷ്ഠ – ജീവിത യാത്രയുടെ അന്തിമലക്ഷ്യം. നിത്യനിരന്തരമായി, ശ്രദ്ധാപൂര്‍വ്വം, ആജീവനാന്തം അനുഷ്ടിക്കുന്ന ധന്യജീവിതത്തിന്റെ ഫലമായാണ് പറയപ്പെട്ട ജന്മസാഫല്യം സാധ്യമായിതീരുന്നത്.സത്യമായ ബ്രഹ്മത്തെ സാക്ഷാത്കരിക്കുന്നതിനുവേണ്ടി ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഓരോ നിമിഷവും ബോധപൂര്‍വം വിനിയോഗിക്കുന്നതില്‍ ദത്തശ്രദ്ധനായ ധന്യാത്മാവാണ് മുമുക്ഷു.    

Meditation

Here is a list of the most common myths about meditation, hoping that any confusion that you might have is cleared.

#1 Meditation is Concentration

Meditation is actually de-concentration. Concentration is a benefit of meditation. Concentration requires effort and meditation is absolute relaxation of the mind. Meditation is letting go, and when that happens, you are in a state of deep rest. When the mind is relaxed, we can concentrate better.

#2 Meditation, A Religious Practice

Yoga and meditation are ancient practices that transcend all religions. For meditation, there is no bar on any religion. In fact, meditation has the ability to bring religions, nations and faiths together. Just like the sun shines for everyone, and the wind blows for everyone, meditation benefits everyone. “We encourage people from all backgrounds, religions and cultural traditions to come together and meditate in a spirit of celebration,” says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

#3 Sit In The Lotus Posture To Meditate

The Patanjali yoga sutras are perhaps one of the most scientific and detailed study that man has produced dealing with the nature of the mind. “Sthirasukhamasanam,’’ a yoga sutra by Patanjali explains that while meditating it is more important to be comfortable and steady. This helps us to have a deeper experience in meditation. You can sit cross-legged, on a chair, in a sofa – it is fine. Yet when you start your meditation it is good to maintain a posture where the spine is erect and head, neck and shoulders are relaxed.

#4 Meditation Is For Old People

Meditation is universal and adds value to lives of people of all age groups. One can start mediating at the age of eight or nine. Just   a shower keeps the body clean, meditation is like the shower for the mind.

“After practicing meditation, I do not get as angry as before,” shares Sandra, a middle school student. “Just a few minutes of meditation keeps me calm all day,” shares 19-year-old Karan, another young mediator. “Meditation gives me the zeal and enthusiasm to spread positivity around me,” shares a 25-year-old.

#5 Meditation Is Like Hypnotizing Yourself

Meditation is an antidote for hypnosis. In hypnotism, the person is not aware of what he or she is going through. Meditation is complete awareness of each and every moment. Hypnotism takes the person through the same impressions that are in his mind. Meditation frees us from these impressions so that our consciousness is fresh and clear. Hypnotism increase metabolic activity, meditation reduces it. “Those who practice pranayama and meditation regularly cannot be hypnotized easily,” says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

#6 Meditation Is Thought Control

Thoughts do not come to us by invitation. We become aware of them only after they have arrived! Thoughts are like clouds in the sky. They come and go on their own. Trying to control thoughts involves effort and the key to a relaxed mind is effortlessness. In meditation, we do not crave for good thoughts nor are we averse to bad thoughts. We simply witness and eventually transcend thoughts and move into that deep inner silent space.

#7 Meditation Is A Way Of Running Away From Problems

On the contrary, meditation empowers you to face problems with a smile. Skills develop in us to handle situations in a pleasant and constructive manner through yoga and meditation. We develop the ability to accept situations as they are and take conscious action instead of brooding over the past or worrying about the future. Meditation nurtures inner strength and self-esteem. It acts like an umbrella during rainy days. Challenges will arise, but we can still move ahead with confidence.

#8 You Have To Meditate For Hours To Go Deep

You do not have to sit for hours to have a deeper experience in meditation. The connection with that deep inner core of your being, your source can happen in just a fraction of a moment. Just a 20-minute session of Sahaj Samadhi meditation every morning and evening is sufficient to take you on this beautiful inward journey. As you practice your meditation every day, the quality of your meditation will improve gradually.

#9 If You Meditate, You Will Become A Sanyasi (Monk or Recluse)

You do not have to give up material life to meditate or progress on the spiritual path. In fact, the quality of your enjoyment improves greatly as you meditate. With a relaxed and peaceful mind, you are able to live happily and make others in your family and surroundings happy too.

#10 You Can Only Meditate At Certain Times, Facing Certain Directions

Anytime is a good time for meditation and all directions are good for meditation. The only thing to keep in mind is that your stomach should not be full; else you may doze off instead of meditating. However, it is a good practice to meditate during sunrise and sunset (morning and evening) as it can keep you calm and energetic throughout the day.

~From Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's wisdom talks