Meditate for Inner Peace
WHY AND HOW TO MEDITATE
by Baba Hariji
I bow to that stillness within you in the form of that peace.
The ashram of my teacher in India has a leprosy hospital where everyone participates in doing seva (selfless service) taking care of the wounds of lepers. Being of service is an integral part of any spiritual practice. When I asked my teacher about the nature of my services in the West, he replied, “The leprosy of the West is “restlessness”, it is very contagious. Create a place where people can come to experience stillness and peace.”
Stillness is the mother from which everything is born. What a wonderful feeling it is when we take a moment to sit quiet and detach ourselves from all kinds of activities and worries. While just sitting, we evoke the feeling that everything is settling down, like sand particles settle in a glass of water. Life is like water, clean and pure and all the busyness is like sand. Just imagine for a moment, our busy life is like that water mixed with sand in a glass that is shaken in so many different ways. When we prepare ourselves to drink it, it looks so murky, so unpalatable. If we put it down and let the entire sand settle to the bottom, the water becomes palatable, looks clear and inviting. Thirsty, we pick it up and drink it, without a second thought. We quench our thirst with it.
Moving in so many different directions, being pulled and pushed in so many different ways, loaded with countless expectations and responsibilities, life begins to feel unpalatable. Although having everything, we are unable to enjoy it. That is why it is so important to find a little time to settle down so we can enjoy this great gift of life.
How tired we get just by walking a few miles on our feet! With our mind we are constantly moving. We are moving with it while sitting, walking, talking, working or even resting. With a constantly engaged mind, we are in motion while awake or sleep. Just imagine how tiring it must be to be in constant motion. Just as we need a little rest after a long walk, our mind needs a little rest after all the busyness. This resting of the mind is called meditation.
Meditation is nothing but giving a rest to our mind so it remains alert, fresh and clear. When we have a clear mind, we begin to appreciate all the gifts that we are already given. We begin to appreciate our spouse, our children, our home and friends thus we begin to see beauty all around us. When our mind is clear it also brings about good health and attitude.
Meditation has nothing to do with religion; it is a science of nurturing our mind and saving it from unnecessary explosion. Meditation has been practiced by the evolved beings of all different traditions.
Learning the art of meditation is not a mystery. With a few hints from a person who has practiced meditation one can begin it at one’s own home and reap the benefits.
There was once a student who wanted to know about the ocean. The teacher told the student to walk in a straight line in the direction of his nose. He assured him that one day he would reach the ocean. With these few instructions, avoiding distractions, and by continuing to walk in a straight line, one day he reached the ocean. He had never seen the ocean and wanted to know what it tasted like. He put his finger in, brought it to his mouth, and in that very instance he knew the taste of the entire ocean.
Baba Hariji is the founder of the Sonoma Ashram and resides in Sonoma. He teaches the art of meditation to individuals as well as trains teachers of meditation as a self less service to the community. For information please call the Sonoma Ashram at (707) 996-8915.
