What is meditation?

MEDITATION

The continuation of twelve concentrations or twelve Dharanas on any object or on the appearance of your Deity or Guru with closed eyes in Trukuti is called Dhyana or MEDITATION. You chant mantras while meditating. Twelve concentrations equal 144 seconds. (2 minutes and 24 seconds).

There are two types of meditation :

a. SUGUNA Meditation - Meditation on god or Goddess or Guru with form.
b. NIRGUNA Meditation - Meditation without any form.

Meditation acts a bridge to establish a connection between the individual soul (Jivatma) and the supreme soul (Paramathma).
MEDITATION derived from the latin word "Meditari" which means "to heal". Meditation means act of healing.

Meditation is the flow of continuous thought on one idea to get one pointedness of mind

Concentration, Meditation and Samadhi are Internal Sadhanas

OBSTACLES TO MEDITATION

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  Lust
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  Anger
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  Greed
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  Jealousy
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  Hatred
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  Laziness
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  Doubt
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  Lethargy
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  Physical And Mental Illness
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  Bad Friendship

SINGING DEVOTIONAL SONGS / CHANTING MANTRAS DURING MEDITATION

There are three types of singing of holy songs or chanting of mantras (repetition of mantras) namely VERBAL, SEMI-VERBAL and MENTAL.

Verbal - Singing of songs or repetition of mantras several times so that other devotees and disciples can hear is called Verbal.

Semi Verbal - In this type, others cannot hear what you are singing or chanting. Movements of lips are seen.

Mental - Close the eyes and fix the mind at Trikuti (Trikuti is the space or point between the two eyebrows). Gazing at Trikuti is called Bhrumadhya Drishti. Then sing devotional songs or repeat mantras several times mentally is called Mental.This is the best type.

RAJA YOGI
A Raja Yogi practises the following daily in the morning and evening. A Raja Yogi slowly ascends the yogic ladder along the eight steps namely Yama., Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara,Dharana, Dhyana or Meditation and finally Samadhi. He purifies himself by the practice of Yama and Niyama. He practises Pranayama to purify his nadis (Nadi purification) and mind and Pratyahara, Dharana and Dhyana. Finally he attains Samadhi.