Meditation is not Escapism

 

Photo Credit: Illuminations Dubai

Meditation is not Escapism

I know several people who give meditation and spirituality as an excuse for not fulfilling their material world obligations. This is nothing but escapism. I have heard so many people say that Swamiji says this, so this is how it applies to me! One thing should be as clear as daylight is that the mind of a weak person interprets what is said to suit the person concerned – that does not mean it is correct.

Our mind makes the interpretation as a representative of our ego and the issue is twisted in a way to suit the goal or objective of the so-called meditator. As part of our life, we have to fulfill our family and work responsibilities – there are no excuses that can justify avoiding those. If one does so, then one is just creating new karma for himself/herself.

Dropping all responsibilities is not good. Those responsibilities have to be fulfilled — fulfilled with great joy. One’s wife, children, parents, our old father, our old mother, need us. That is where God has put us — into a certain responsibility. We need to fulfill it.

One should be against all those escapists who escape from the world and become twenty-four-hours-day meditators. Such people should be made to understand what is beneficial for them. One hour of meditation is enough. Meditation is such a powerful thing that one hour out of twenty-four hours is enough. It will illuminate one’s whole life.

And the test of whether our meditation is succeeding or not is in life. When we meditate and we go to a shop we will know whether we are succeeding in our meditation or not. Are we still as greedy in the shop as we used to be before? Do we still get angry when somebody says something against us? Can people still manage to push our buttons as easily as before? In the marketplace, we face the test of whether meditation has benefited us or not.

The reaction of people whom we meet after a long time is a sure-fire indication of any positive change. Usually, people end up saying there is an air of serenity around you, or your face glows – what cream are you using?  When people feel your quietude when they are in your aura, realise that a positive change has taken place. If not, then a lot of work still needs to be done. Running away from issues is not going to help at all.

If we just meditate and do nothing else that is like preparing and preparing and never going for the examination. That is not right. The test has to be there every day — one hour meditation, twenty-three hours test. And only then one will grow strong.