have not completely dedicated our entire existence to God. When we can silence the mind, we will be able to satisfy and manifest God.
Another way to meditate is to free the heart. At the present moment the heart is full of emotional turmoil and problems caused by the impure vital that has enveloped it. The heart is a vessel. At the moment, this vessel is full of the undivine, which limits and binds us. If we can free this heart-vessel, then there will be someone who will fill it with divine peace, light and bliss, which will free us. When we free our heart from ignorance, the Wisdom-Light of God will come and fill it.
Q If a person does not believe in God, can he meditate?
A If a person does not believe in God, he can meditate, however, he may not achieve anything. Meditation is the path leading to God. If you don't believe in God, then naturally you won't go down that path.
Q Is meditation also the ultimate reality?
A It can be said that for a beginner, meditation is the highest reality. But when the seeker reaches a higher level, he knows that meditation only leads to the highest reality. If someone has lived for many years in ignorance, never prayed or meditated in his life even for a minute, for him meditation is naturally the highest reality that his consciousness can reach. But having practiced meditation for several years now, he knows that meditation itself is not the ultimate reality. The ultimate reality is something one achieves or becomes by following the path of meditation.
Q Does the object of meditation change as one develops spiritually and achieves realization?
A After attaining Realization, there is no need to meditate in the way a seeker meditates. When one has attained realization, which means oneness with the Supreme, his meditation becomes permanent. When a seeker has realized God, he does not meditate to reach or go beyond anything. He meditates to bring peace, light and bliss to humanity or to awaken the consciousness of others.
Chapter 2
First of all, the most important thing: how to start
From a spiritual point of view, every seeker is a beginner. The moment you want to constantly and continuously improve, that is the moment you become an eternal beginner.
Where do I begin ?
From a spiritual point of view, every seeker is a beginner. A beginner is one who has an inner urge to grow into something more and more divine, more and more illuminating, more and more manifesting. The moment you want to constantly and continuously improve, the moment you want to transcend yourself and step into the ever transcendent Beyond, that moment you become an eternal beginner.
If you are taking the very first steps, then you can start by reading a few spiritual books or sacred books. They will give you inspiration. You should read the books of spiritual Masters in whom you have unlimited faith. There are Teachers who have reached the highest consciousness, and by reading their books, you will definitely get inspiration. It is better not to read books written by professors, scientists and followers who are still on the road and have not attained enlightenment. Only those who have realized Truth will have the ability to offer Truth. Otherwise, we are like a blind man being led by a blind man.
It is also good to associate with people who have been meditating for some time. They may not be able to teach you, but they will be able to inspire you. Even if you just sit next to them when they meditate, realizing that your inner being will receive some of the meditative power from them. You are not stealing anything; it's just that your inner being gets help from them without your outer knowledge.
In the beginning, you should not even think about meditation. Just try to set aside a certain time during which try to remain calm and silent, and feel that these five minutes belong to your inner being and no one else. Regularity is especially important. All you need is regular practice at the same time.
There is only one thing to learn every day: how to be truly happy.
Some basic tricks
For a beginner, it is better to start with concentration. Otherwise, the moment you try to calm and free your mind, millions of vain thoughts will enter you and you will not be able to meditate even for a second. If you concentrate, then at this time you put a barrier to those unnecessary thoughts that are trying to penetrate you. So in the beginning just practice concentration for a few minutes. Then, after a few weeks or months, you can try meditation.
When you start meditating, always try to feel like a child. In childhood, the human mind is not yet developed. At the age of twelve or thirteen, the mind begins to function at the level of the intellect. But before that, the child is the very heart. The child feels that he knows nothing. He has no preconceived notions about meditation and spiritual life. He wants to study everything directly.
First feel that you are a child, and then try to feel that you are in a flowering garden. This blooming garden is your heart. The child can play in the garden for hours. He goes from flower to flower, but does not leave the garden, because he rejoices in the beauty and fragrance of each flower. Feel that there is a garden inside you and you can stay in it as long as you like. In this way one can learn to meditate in the heart.
If you can stay in the heart, you will begin to feel an inner cry. This inner prayer, which is aspiration, is the secret of meditation. When an adult prays, his prayer is usually insincere. But when a child asks, even if he only asks for candy, he is very sincere. At this time, candy is the whole world for him. If you give him a hundred dollar bill, he won't will be satisfied; all he wants is candy. When a child calls, immediately his father or mother comes to him. If you can ask deep within for peace, light and truth, and if that is the only thing that will satisfy you, then God, your eternal Father and eternal Mother, will surely come and help you.
You should always try to feel that you are helpless, like a child. As soon as you feel helpless, someone will come to help you. If a child is lost on the street and starts crying, some kind-hearted person will show him where his house is. Feel that you are lost on the street and the storm is raging around. Doubt, fear, anxiety, restlessness, insecurity and other undivine forces come crashing down on you. But if you cry sincerely, someone will come to save you and show you the way to the home that is your heart. And who is he? Это Бог, ваш Inner Pilot.
Early in the morning, invite God, your Friend, your true Friend, your only Friend, to accompany you throughout the day.
Inner Pilot
God may or may not have a form. But while meditating, it is better to think of the Supreme as a human being. A beginner should always meditate on God as a person. Otherwise, if you try to imagine God in his impersonal aspect, you will be confused by his immensity. So start with the personal God, and then you can move on to the impersonal God.
Today you may be a beginner in the spiritual life, but do not feel that you will always be a beginner. Once upon a time, everyone was a beginner. If you practice concentration and meditation regularly, if you are truly sincere in your spiritual quest, then you will definitely make progress. The main thing is not to lose heart. Divine realization does not come suddenly. If you meditate regularly and devotedly, if you can cry out to God like a child crying for its mother, then you won't have to run towards the goal. No, the goal itself will come and stand right in front of you and call you its own, absolutely its own.
EXERCISES
1. Simplicity, sincerity, purity.
For the seeker who wants to start the spiritual life, simplicity, sincerity, purity and certainty are of paramount importance. It is simplicity that gives you peace of mind. It is sincerity that makes you feel that you are from God and God is always for you. It is your pure heart that gives you will feel that in every moment of your life God is growing, sparkling and manifesting Himself within you. It is confidence that will make you feel that meditation is definitely what you need. There are several meditation exercises that a beginner can refer to.
Without straining, mentally repeat the word "simplicity" to yourself seven times and focus on the top of your head. Then repeat the word "sincerity" seven times inside your heart to yourself and with your soul and concentrate on the heart. Then silently say the word "purity" seven times without straining, directing your inner gaze to the navel or the area around the navel and concentrate on it. Please do it silently and with all your heart. Then focus your attention on the third eye, which is between and slightly above the eyebrows, and silently repeat the word "confidence" seven times. Then place your hand on the top of your head and say three times: "I am simple-hearted, I am simple-hearted, I am simple-hearted." Then put your hand on your heart and say