Doing Nothing is Meditation

 

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Doing Nothing is Meditation

The other day Swamiji sent a wonderful audio message explaining meditation in very simple terms. I am sure most of you would have heard it. If not, this is what it says: “My salutations to all pious souls! Today, on the auspicious occasion of Holi we will try to understand what is meditation. I have said this many times even in my discourses that not doing anything itself is meditation. In this manner we see that a leaf keeps flowing along with the flow of the river Ganges. It does not make any efforts of its own, does not try anything by itself, it just remains with the water and in the end it slowly, very slowly merges with the ocean. In this manner, meditation is such a medium with which we have to become one with nature. To become one with nature it is necessary that we do not do anything with our body for some time, don’t do anything with our thoughts, we should not think. Look, nature never thinks, so, we too should not think at all. You introspect and see for how much time you sit in this manner. Examine for yourself and see whether you sit in this manner for at least ten minutes in a day. If you do sit for ten minutes in this manner – that itself is meditation. Meditation is nothing different – becoming one with nature itself is called meditation. So, I think, that which is very simple has been made very difficult by us. Meditation is not difficult, we are difficult. We are so involved in our thoughts, we are so involved with the feeling of doing something, that we also ‘do’ meditation. We do not have to ‘do’ meditation, we have to go into meditation then meditation just happens by itself. Namaskar”.

This message is beautiful in its simplicity. Meditation is a state of no-mind. Meaning we live thoughtless in the moment – that is meditation. For making the mind as calm as the lake’s surface we need to become witnesses – watch our mind all the time. Keep examining and asking ourself during meditation – why have I got this thought, keep trying to find its root. Once you do, you will find out that most thoughts arise either out of desire, fear, expectation, love anger, or some other emotion – and all these emotions are linked to our ego. Once we free ourself from our ego, we will be free of thoughts about the past and the future.

When we are free of our thoughts about the past and the future, we will be truly in the moment – thoughtless and at peace with ourself. Becoming one with ourself is becoming one with nature – it is that oneness which helps us realise that we are nothing but a part of nature, we are nature and nature is us.

Thus, this state of stillness of mind – no-mind – meaning inaction of mind and body, total stillness within and without is meditation. Let us learn to be still both within and without – and attain that state which is called liberation!