What is Sahaja Yoga Meditation?
The word "Meditation" in Sanskrit is dhyana, which is sometimes translated as "concentration". In China, the same word was transformed into "chan", and in Japan - "zen".
To begin with, let us note an important circumstance: modern generally accepted ideas about meditation do not express the essence of those processes that arise in the body and psyche of a person meditating according to the Sahaja Yoga method. For example, in Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary and in the encyclopedia "Cyril & Methodius" the term "meditation" is interpreted as follows:
Meditation is a state of deep mental concentration on one thing, detachment from everything else; an action that leads to such a state. In general, deep thoughts, concentration on something. -- Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary.
Meditation - (from Latin meditatio - reflection), a mental action, the purpose of which is to bring the human psyche into a state of depth and concentration; accompanied by physical relaxation, the absence of emotional manifestations, detachment from external objects. -- Encyclopedia "Cyril & Methodius"
The point is that mental action, thinking, is not really meditation and such activities should perhaps be called by some other name. Meditation in Sahaja Yoga is the complete absence of thoughts with full consciousness. Meditation is a state of consciousness that we spontaneously enter into as soon as the Kundalini passes through the Sahasrara Chakra. This is an important event on the subtle plane. This is Yoga, union with the Divine and the initial stage of a completely new awareness. It is this awareness that we must maintain. However, this is not always easy with our restless, distracted attention. Our attention, Chitta, is easily distracted and tends to return to old familiar objects. And then we may doubt whether we have really touched a new awareness or whether it is just a dream. These are not dreams, however, it is necessary to strengthen our attention and establish it in a new place, in the Sahasrara chakra (the area 0-10 cm above the fontanelle bone, the top of the head).
The concepts of time or finite space are not applicable to the boundless spheres of the Universe. Such categories are relative, relativity and are formed by human figurative consciousness. The concept of God as the Absolute indivisible reality is the concept of the present. Consequently, God is knowable through an eternal, momentary moment. In the same way, it is impossible to know the Supreme through our brain, which is very limited in its capabilities. Thoughts are generated by the brain and are the result of the brain's vital activity. Thoughts are a variable factor, and everything impermanent, transient cannot be eternal. They are like alternating waves, like a fast-moving carousel, plunging us into the circulation of the illusions of the World. Through the brain and our attention, we are attracted to the fleshly, material, mental, emotional sphere. Happiness and sorrow, losses and gains, successes, achievements and failures, despair are the facets of the same coin. And only the Spirit is the true freedom in us, the true independence, the inexhaustible light, the peaceful joy.
Meditation in Sahaja Yoga is not a form of self-hypnosis, trance, loss of consciousness or anything like that. During such meditation it is impossible to see visions, light, listen to voices and other phenomena that distract from reality. During meditation, a Sahaja Yogi is fully aware of himself (his location, general condition, etc.). If a meditator is asked a question or request at such a moment, he will be able to respond adequately without any delay to the transition from a meditative state to a normal one (for example, if a phone rings, a meditating Sahaja Yogi will immediately respond, pick up the receiver and freely begin a conversation). During such meditations (which, it should be noted, become possible only after receiving Self-Realization), a Sahaja Yogi silently observes the work of the Kundalini energy, which rises along the spinal column, filling the chakras with vibrations (beneficial energy). This observation is enchanting and evokes a joy vaguely reminiscent of that which one might experience when looking at a great work of art or at the beauty of mountains and clouds.