MEHER BABA
	ON
	MEDITATION

I shall discuss and describe the various methods of different Yogas and other practices that lead to Self-realization. But before I do that, I must let you know about meditation, as it is invariably connected more or less and in one way or the other with almost all the Yoga practices and practical efforts towards the realization of Truth.

What is meditation? Generally the word is used to express particular mental efforts and exercises in connection with religious and spiritual ideas, but it is taken recourse to by many a person in the everyday life of the world. Before doing anything, one has to think about it; in other words one has to meditate on the intended action. The thinking or meditation may, in worldly life, last for hours together, or only for a fraction of a minute, but it has to be taken consciously or subconsciously, intentionally or unintentionally, before anything can be done or brought about.

Now just consider that if thinking or meditation is necessary in achieving gross results, how necessary it must be in reaching the spiritual subtleties that lead to Self-Realization. But for the latter purpose the thinking is to be organized on the principle of Truth which is oneness, in contrast with the universe which is apparently based on manifoldness. Thinking is supposed by worldly people to be the process that leads only to manifestation of external force which is displayed in a gross action. But such is not the case. just as even a random thought can manifest force in the shape of bodily action, meditation or deep and properly organized thinking produces a force of its own which is very useful and helpful to a spiritual aspirant. The manifestation of such force produced through deep and methodical thinking may not become evident immediately or in a short time in every case, but meditation is bound to bear fruit in the long run.

There are many methods of spiritual meditation. The following six are the most important:

1) For those who are inclined to think of the impersonal aspect of the Almighty, i.e. Impersonal God, it is advisable to retire into solitude and, taking a comfortable seat, begin to contemplate on Him thus: "God is one. God is infinite. God is everywhere. God is beyond everything." Then they should bring the immeasurable space, commonly known as the sky, to their mind's eye and begin to concentrate on the idea of the Impersonal God across this imaginary background of the blank and unlimited sky for as long a time as possible.

2) One should sit for meditation in the same way as shown in the first example; but the line of thought in this method must be as follows: "God is true. All else is false. This world and all that is seen and perceived is a dream, a mirage. an unreal phenomenon. God

© 1977 by Adi K. Irani