DHYAN ( MEDITATION, ધ્યાન ), WHOSE, WHY AND HOW. ( 5 )

Conversations with Pujya Shree Mota on dhyan
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Q:  Is it possible to enter into dhyan while doing japa? What should we do at that time? What is after dhyan? Please explain all these to us.

Shree Mota:  Yes, it is feasible to enter into dhyan while doing japa. But do not give much importance to continuing japa at that time. Japa will help you to enter in dhyan. Just as a small scarf that you wear flies away naturally with the gust of wind, japa will fade away once you get engrossed into dhyan. You may not be aware when japa stops and you need not pay any attention to that. Your attention is to be directed  to experience inner consciousness and that is achieved only when you get completely absorbed into dhyan. And again do not have any expectations. Just experience whatever happens with happiness. The feeling of whirling around ( ઘૂમરી ) that you experience after finishing dhyan, needs to be used to increase and deepen the spirit of japa in your heart. This is the profit and must be used to increase the capital. Whenever you are not in dhyan, stick to japa. Moreover, you should have increased love and affection in japa, especially pronouncing Hari when you recite Hari Om as japa.


Q:  How do we get rid of recurrent thought in dhyan?

Shree Mota:  You can do this either by making a note of the thought or by finishing the work thus removing the cause of the thought.


Q:  Can you shed some light on " blankness or thoughtlessness " that happen during dhyan?

Shree Mota:  Blankness is a condition that can be experienced in dhyan and also by restraining and training of the mind. If you experience this kind of blankness and then enter into dhyan, it (dhyan) is always of excellent quality.


Q:  When we sit in dhyan for a longer period of time, body or back hurts. Can we change the position of the body?

Shree Mota:  Do not keep changing the position of the body during the period of dhyan. If you do not feel well, rest and then sit in dhyan. You can also do it while lying down with legs crossed or by touching big toes with legs in straight position. No matter what you do, it needs to be done with some definite plan.


Pujya Shree Mota
Shree Mota ni dhyan avastha and dhyan
Edition 2; page 29-30.

DHYAN ( MEDITATION, ધ્યાન ), WHOSE, WHY AND HOW.( 4 )

Conversations with Pujya Shree Mota on dhyan
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Q :  Mota ! What is the main purpose of dhyan?

Shree Mota :  Dhyan is done to find inner being ( soul ), to be introspective, to develop spirit of surrender, to develop blankness or quietude of the mind  and to be one with divine consciousness.


Q : How do we actually start dhyan?

Shree Mota :  Quiet ( calm and clear ) the mind first, be attentive and if you wish, do japa for a short period of time and then start the dhyan. Do not change the process of dhyan frequently.
Concentrate on your heart centre and at the same time observe the mind in the area between the eyebrows or focus your mental vision on the tip of your nose. In both cases concentration has to on heart center. Thoughts will be less with this.


Q :  Where is the place to concentrate on heart center ? Do you mean physical heart ?

Shree Mota :  No. Not on your physical heart. The heart center is in the middle of chest where there is a slight depression. That area is a part of subtle heart and concentrate on that area.


Q :  Is it objectionable to have good and happy thoughts during dhyan?

Shree Mota :  It is not proper to have good or bad thoughts during dhyan. The aim here is to develop spirit of concentration. When dhyan is done with concentration, then deep absorption in dhyan develops. It leads to keen interest in dhyan and then it reaches its ultimate depth and stabilizes there. This stability will not be dull but full of vitality.


Q :  What should be done if we get half-sleepy or sleepy during dhyan?

Shree Mota :  Splash some water on your face. Immerse your eyes in clean water. Sit in dhyan after that.


Q :  Does breathing gets slower during dhyan?

Shree Mota :  Yes. Breathing does get slower naturally and in the end it becomes imperceptible.


Q :  Can prayer be done during dhyan?

Shree Mota :  Time for dhyan is only for dhyan. We must stick to the spirit of any tool that we practice. Do not mix one with other.


Q :  When will we know our mistakes?

Shree Mota :  One who tries,  gets to know one's mistakes right away. Only grace of God can correct these mistakes appropriately.
                                              ( continued )


Pujya Shree Mota
Shree Mota ni dhyan avastha and dhyan
Edition 2: page 28-29.

DHYAN ( MEDITATION, ધ્યાન ), WHOSE, WHY AND HOW. ( 3 )

Dhyan on God with form ( સાકાર ) is easier ---
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It is harder to comprehend formless ( નિરાકાર ) nature of God as long as we are in ordinary human existence. To comprehend God with form is easier. For this reason we should constantly be aware of our goal and ideal that we aspire for in this life. After that try to merge ( be one with ) with satguru's heart by keeping your whole attention focused on it , with knowledge, love and devotion. Prayer is also a kind of dhyan on formless nature of God.


Sleepiness ( half-sleep, તંદ્રા ) and concentration in dhyan ---
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Some people get sleepy and then sleep while in dhyan. This is a sign of lethargy and inertia. One becomes fresh and energetic, if dhyan is done with concentration and in lively manner. Body also has a feeling of lightness. Mind stops being indecisive for a time being, due to the strong effect of concentration that is produced by dhyan. As soon as sleepiness is produced during dhyan, we should shake off this sleepiness by being alert and conscious internally. This is a dangerous obstacle in dhyan. One can be aware of being in sleep but this half-sleep produces illusion and sadhak has a feeling of being in deep dhyan. Concentration during dhyan produces tremendous joyous feeling and freshness. Such characteristics differentiate concentration during dhyan from half-sleep.


True dhyan ---
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Number of hours is not a true measure of dhyan or any other tool that you may practice. The true measure is lively expression of aspiration in daily activities of life from practice of such tools. The other measures are increasing aspiration for the God and love for satguru. Our aim and importance should always be towards increasing these true measures and that itself is true dhyan. If our natural tendencies ( વૃત્તિ ) are always virtuous and focused towards God, then you may not need to sit in that kind of dhyan.

Tools like japa, vrat, rituals, dhyan, true knowledge and devotion are used to turn our natural tendencies and aspiration towards God. So please do not mention number of hours as a guide to your progress. To take this further, our whole life should be an expression of the spirit of prayer. At that time prayer is not mere words. Life becomes a continuos prayer of thought, speech and behavior just like the process of breathing, then dhyan or samadhi becomes effortless.
                                   ( continued )


Pujya Shree Mota
Shree mota ni dhyan avastha and dhyan
Edition 2; pages 25-27.
                                      

DHYAN ( MEDITATION, ધ્યાન ), WHOSE, WHY AND HOW. ( 2 )

Benefits of dhyan —
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To be concentrated and centered is one benefit of dhyan. It also leads to peace, stability, equanimity and joyous feeling. People sit down for dhyan for 30-40 minutes and think that is the end point. But this is not appropriate. To maintain a kind of continuity in dhyan, we must express the result of dhyan in our daily lives. More over if we express the spirit of aspiration ( that arise from dhyan ) in our lives with awareness, it also helps to maintain the continuity of dhyan. To experience "nothingness with highest aspiration" requires continuous good hearted practice for long period of time.


Haphazard action will not suffice —
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It does not help if we use a tool for sadhana for certain amount of time and then act in haphazard fashion for rest of the time. This kind of behavior produces a serious defect in aspiration. If this is happening then  there is no possibility of engrossing  in dhyan at all.

When in dhyan maintain the spirit of remembrance ( સ્મરણ ભાવના ) as long as it lasts. Let it go if you get engrossed ( લીનતા ) in dhyan. It is very necessary to be aware of the aspirations in your heart at this time even if you get engrossed in dhyan.


Good use of emotions ---
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It is natural to have the occasional emotional urge to write a poem in dhyan. If this happens then you should make full use of this emotion and use this emotion to increase your concentration on your heart. If you have the urge to write a poem, do not leave dhyan and start writing a poem. You may write this poem after finishing dhyan if you remember it, but never during dhyan.


Engrossing in dhyan ---
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We can become oblivious of our selves and our surroundings in dhyan but if we can not maintain the equanimity ( તટસ્થતા ) at that time, then we get stuck in the same emotions and thoughts that prevailed at that time. This prevents further progress.

To get engrossed in dhyan our heart needs to be simple,worry free and without any opposing qualities. To achieve this we must continue to train various tendencies of the mind in our daily lives with true knowledge.
                                                       ( continued )



Pujya Shree Mota
Shri Mota ni dhyan avastha and dhyan
Edition 2; pages 22-23.