Mind, Meditation and Transformation

From time immemorial mankind has been looking for practical ways to change. Most of us know what it is that we want to change in ourselves. But knowing what it is that we want to change, why is it that we are not able to change in ways that promote personal growth? It is because of our habits and tendencies that we remain what we are. We are distracted by our outward orientation towards life. Our liking for some and dislikes for others shape our behavior and soon we are unable to exercise the necessary will to do what we must.

How to make positive changes in behavior? Anything that we do in life starts initially as thought and action follows as we think about ways to execute it. Thought is thus the forerunner of all action. By proper utilization of thought one can effect changes in behavior. We need to bring discipline in the ways in which we think. What is the source of thought? It is believed that mind is. What is mind? Mind is the intangible entity that we identify the individual with ultimately. If one were to then try to identify the source of the mind, there appears a void in material science. One has to perforce resort to the existence of something, which governs all these without being limited by them. This is what the spiritualists call the soul. How to bring this entity to act in a balanced way so that the effect may translate into our doing what we must? This is where a practical system such as Sahaj Marg can help. It is a practice to bring balance into our lives.

Our everyday life is so full of distractions that we are not even tuned to the soul's existence, leave alone training it to become perfect. We have to first get tuned to its presence. Meditation is the process by which one becomes in tune with this core being within. It is nothing but the training of the mind to become focussed, so that the object of meditation is revealed. We use it in our everyday life all the time. We think again and again about things that we want to achieve and in due course find that it is revealed. In meditation, as we focus on this soul, its nature is revealed and we find that it is connected to the infinite source. When this connection is a matter of personal experience, we are no longer able to restrict ourselves to our limited selves for we are now personally aware of the inter-connection or, in other words, we have universal consciousness. Possessing this, we automatically will be different and more in tune with what we ought. Thus transformation occurs without external pressures.

Meditation thus reveals to us our true nature. With proper guidance, we are able to avoid the pitfalls of the journey without difficulty. This is why a master is essential. In fact, masters are agents of change who come specifically to make this transformation possible in a speedy way.