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What Can You Expect from Meditation
– Br. Shankara
Dec. 2nd, 2018
December is a month for study of Raja Yoga, a spiritual path often called the yoga of meditation. As a raja yogi, you use ancient, proven spiritual techniques to quiet your mind and gain control of your attention.
Regular daily practice of Raja Yoga increases your ability to concentrate, and may lead to meditation. This can unite you with the Divine Presence, the source of your being, and liberate you from the cycle of rebirth and death.
Sri Ramakrishna said: “It is (God’s) will that we should run about a little. Then it is great fun. God has created the world in play, as it were. This is called Mahamaya, the Great Illusion. Therefore one must take refuge in the Divine Mother, the Cosmic Power Itself. It is She who has bound us with the shackles of illusion. The realization of God is possible only when those shackles are (broken).”
The Master continued: (Therefore) “One must propitiate the Divine Mother, the Primal Energy, in order to obtain God’s grace. God Himself is Mahamaya, who deludes the world with Her illusion and conjures up the magic of creation, preservation, and destruction. She has spread this veil of ignorance before our eyes.
We can go into the inner chamber only when She lets us pass through the door. Living outside, we see only outer objects, but not that Eternal Being, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute …
“(She) alone is the root of the universe. That Primal Energy has two aspects: vidyā and avidyā. Avidyā deludes. Avidyā conjures up ‘(lust and greed)’, which casts the spell (of worldly desires).
Vidyā begets devotion, kindness, wisdom, and love, which lead one to God …” — from the Gospel of Sri RK, Chapter 4, ADVICE TO HOUSEHOLDERS, August 13, 1882
How does all this relate to Sunday’s topic? The practice of meditation erodes the power of Avidyā’s delusion, and helps awaken you from its spell. Meditation also — spontaneously and automatically — offers you the Vidyā that begets devotion, kindness, wisdom, and love, which lead you to God.
Note: There is silent meditation in the Chapel from 10:30-11am, before each Sunday’s talk. After the talk, devotees and friends meet in the Monastery from noon to 1:30pm, for tea, coffee, snacks and a continuation of our spiritual fellowship. Spiritual talks and classes are open to the public and free of charge.
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