MEDITATION -- CERTAIN BENEFITS AND FINAL AIM.

We can be aware of certain cunningness of the mind in lighter meditation. There is also benefit in the form of increasing energy, joy and freshness. Moreover there is also a slow change in our attitude and way of looking at certain things. There is always benefit of increasing faith and self confidence. But the most fundamental aim is to search for atma (spark of the divine) within. For this reason we should continue and not fall back from meditation till the experience of this positive creative force is experienced in our actual field of action in all the aspects. " o mind! If you search you shall find". Meditation is not just for sitting quietly although it does help a lot in making the mind quiet. That is the immediate benefit. When we turn within, the mind shows us the way and make us experience that we are above and separate from the mind. Meditation means search for our inner spark of the divine.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pagaran
Edition 3; Pages 80 - 81.

TWO METHODS OF MEDITATION (ધ્યાન, dhyan)

Both the methods of dhyan need to be done separately and it should not be mixed. Either do one way or the other. Keep attention at heart center; and chitta (ચિત્ત, ધારણા — dharana) in between eyebrows or keep drashti (vision) at the tip of the nose. In both methods attention must be at heart center. With these methods thoughts will diminish substantially.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pagaran
Edition 3; page 221.

FREEDOM FROM PASSION OR ATTACHMENTS (DISPASSION, VAIRAGYA, વૈરાગ્ય)

                                                         HARI ॐ
Karachi,
August 13, 1940.

Dear brother,

We have variety of ideas regarding vairagya. Ordinarily most people understand vairagya as separation from family, not performing ordinary works , etc. But that is not true. If we go deeper in the meaning of vairagya; it means a state where there is absence of attachment or dispassion. Virag and vairagya are two words with the same meaning. We have to perform all the works that belong to us. If we were not clear about aim of our lives, we could have created lots of new bondages. Since we have an ideal and know the purpose of our lives and have decided to follow it for sure; we have to be cognizant of the fact that we need to perform only appropriate works and that also without passion and attachments. It does not mean working without heart in it. Works need to be done without keeping the expectations of certain results in our heart. Moreover we also need to be aware of our limitations and responsibilities for that particular work and also keep doing it as it presents; also not think about it excessively before or after the work. We do this with unwavering mind. What ever work belongs to us, just do it without keeping in mind after it is done. We will get the real joy when we perform every work in this way with understanding and vairagya.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pagaran
Edition 3; Pages 222 - 223.

WHAT IS PRACTICE AND DISPASSION (VAIRAGYA, વૈરાગ્ય) -- IN REFERENCE TO MIND?

It is a difficult task to improve the mind in a hurry. Even in Gita it is mentioned "to control the mind is as difficult as holding on to the wind". Arjun asks Shree Krishna Bhagawan" O! Bhagawan, Please show me the way to control the mind". Shree Krishna replies -- Such mind can be controlled with practice and vairagya. Vairagya means to bring back the mind when it starts taking interest in other things. In my understanding there is a deeper meaning to it. It needs to be trained in such a way so that it does not take interest in other things meaning it should not be attached to anything with passion and try to keep it in that condition or create a habit to always staying above it (meaning mind does what you want it to do and not otherwise). This is possible only if we create a habit of keeping mind engaged in only one activity (regarding Bhagawan). In the beginning it is boring and mind rebels often. Mind will definitely be helpful if we create friendship with it and work with it with love and often correcting and commenting with understanding.

Keep increasing love and faith in Him. We have to always keep faith in Him in any kind of situation.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pagaran
Edition 3; Pages 121 - 122.