The Advantages of Exploring
Meditation Journeys
If you are interested in meditation, delving into
the meditation journeys of others can be both enlightening and inspiring.
Understanding these journeys provides a glimpse into the diverse experiences
and outcomes that meditation can yield, revealing not only the personal
transformations but also the universal aspects that many practitioners share.
Meditation is a practice with a rich history and a
wide array of techniques, from mindfulness and focused attention to
loving-kindness transcendental meditation any my own derived way which I call
as Key to Meditation and I have written a detailed article on the same there is also a video that describes it up to some extent. Each
person's path in meditation is unique, influenced by their personality, goals,
and the methods they choose. This individuality makes every meditation journey
fascinating to explore. When you hear about someone's experiences, it often
highlights the personal challenges they faced, the milestones they achieved,
and the profound changes that meditation brought into their lives.
One of the most compelling reasons to learn about
others' meditation journeys is to understand the outcomes they have
experienced. Meditation has been scientifically proven to offer numerous
benefits, including reduced stress, improved concentration, enhanced emotional
health, and increased self-awareness. By hearing about these benefits from real
people, you can see how meditation translates into tangible improvements in
daily life. For instance, someone might share how meditation helped them manage
anxiety, leading to a more peaceful and centered state of mind. Another person
might describe how mindfulness meditation improved their focus and productivity
at work.
Common experiences in meditation can also provide
a sense of community and shared understanding. While each journey is unique,
many practitioners report similar milestones and challenges. For example,
beginners often struggle with a restless mind, finding it difficult to sit
still and focus. This is a universal experience, and knowing that others have
faced and overcome this challenge can be incredibly reassuring. Over time, as
practitioners continue their meditation practice, they often describe moments
of profound clarity, inner peace, and a deep sense of connection to the present
moment. These shared experiences can validate your own practice and encourage
you to persevere through the difficulties.
Moreover, understanding the meditation journeys of
others can offer practical insights and tips. Experienced meditators often
share strategies that help them deepen their practice, such as establishing a
regular routine, creating a dedicated meditation space, or integrating
mindfulness into daily activities. Learning from their successes and mistakes
can guide you on your own path, helping you to navigate the complexities of
meditation with greater ease and confidence.
In addition to the personal benefits, exploring
meditation journeys can also reveal broader themes about the nature of the mind
and human experience. Meditation often leads to profound realizations about the
nature of thoughts, emotions, and consciousness. By comparing experiences with
other meditators, you can gain a richer understanding of these philosophical
and spiritual insights. This can deepen your appreciation of meditation as not
just a practice but as a transformative journey of self-discovery and personal
growth.
Ultimately, learning about the meditation journeys
of others enriches your own practice. It provides inspiration, practical
guidance, and a sense of connection to a larger community of seekers. Whether
you are a beginner or an experienced meditator, these stories can illuminate
your path, helping you to understand that the challenges you face and the
breakthroughs you achieve are part of a shared human experience. By exploring
the diverse and rich tapestry of meditation journeys, you can find motivation
and support to continue your own practice, discovering the profound benefits
that meditation can bring to your life.
My Journey and Experiences with Meditation
I would like to share my own meditation journey,
which has been truly wonderful and transformative. My journey began when I was
just 12 years old. During this time, I not only practiced meditation but also
delved into a branch of tantra. When I mention tantra, please do not conjure
images of a young child surrounded by human skulls. Tantra encompasses a wide
range of practices, including yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises), and mudras
(hand gestures), all of which are integral parts of tantra. However, the focus
here is not on my tantra practices—I'll elaborate on those experiences in
another write-up.
The initial phase of my meditation journey felt
akin to scaling a steep, rocky mountain. My thoughts were like mischievous
birds, constantly flitting around and creating a cacophony of noise, making it
seem nearly impossible to calm my mind. This stage was particularly
challenging, as my mind was restless and unfocused. Despite these difficulties,
I persevered, meditating consistently for around eighteen months.
Throughout this period, there were moments when I
felt I was making progress, although the initial stages were slow. The first
eighteen months were crucial for building a solid foundation for my meditation
practice. During this time, I learned two essential skills that greatly aided
my journey.
The first skill was the ability to sit in a
meditative posture for prolonged periods. This was no small feat, as
maintaining a steady and comfortable posture is vital for effective meditation.
It required patience, discipline, and physical endurance, which gradually
improved with practice.
The second skill was the practice of ‘Nadi Shodhan
Pranayama’also known as alternate nostril breathing. This breathing technique
was instrumental in balancing my Ida (Left) and Pingala (Right) Nadis, which
are the two main energy channels in the body according to yogic tradition.
Practicing pranayama for about ninety minutes daily helped to regulate my
breath and calm my nervous system, creating a more conducive state for
meditation.
As my practice progressed, the benefits of these
foundational skills became evident. The ability to sit still for extended
periods allowed me to delve deeper into my meditative states, while the
pranayama practice helped to stabilize my mind and energy levels. These early
experiences were crucial in overcoming the initial turbulence of meditation.
Over time, the once-chaotic thoughts began to
settle, and moments of clarity and peace started to emerge. The mischievous
birds in my mind gradually quieted down, replaced by a sense of calm and focus.
This transformation was not immediate, but it was steady and rewarding.
Reflecting on my journey, I realize that the
initial struggles were an essential part of the process. They taught me
resilience, patience, and the importance of disciplined practice. These early
lessons have had a lasting impact on my meditation practice, shaping it into a
powerful tool for personal growth and self-discovery.
If you are beginning your meditation journey or
have already started and are seeking guidance on how to progress, this article
can serve as a powerful source of motivation. Meditation requires a different
kind of dedication compared to other activities. While it's relatively easy to
encourage someone to engage in a new hobby or task, it is quite challenging to
inspire someone to sit still and do nothing for extended periods. Therefore, I
want to share my genuine emotions and experiences to motivate others on this
path.
The motivation for meditation primarily comes from
within. It is essential to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for this
long journey, which can be quite tough in the beginning but immensely rewarding
in the long run. Many people spend significant portions of their lives playing
video games or engaging in idle gossip. Meditation, however, is a different
kind of "game"—one that helps you understand your true identity and
the deeper workings of your mind. The nature of our modern, fast-paced world
often pulls us away from this practice, making it even more challenging to
maintain consistency.
Initially, the practice of meditation can feel
counterintuitive. You might find it incredibly difficult to sit quietly for
even a short period, with each minute stretching out endlessly. This is a
common experience for beginners, and it underscores the importance of
perseverance and patience. When you sit down to meditate for just fifteen
minutes, those minutes can feel like hours, as your mind resists the stillness
and quiet.
If you are starting or continuing your meditation
practice, remember that the early struggles are part of the process. Embrace
the journey with patience and dedication, knowing that the challenges you face
will ultimately lead to a more profound understanding of yourself and the world
around you. Let my experiences inspire you to stay committed to your practice,
as the fruits of meditation are well worth the effort.
After nearly eighteen months, I felt a bit
confused. Even though I wasn't discouraged, this time had made me eager to move
forward. I kept questioning my meditation teacher, but he always told me to sit
and meditate. One day, he said I was now ready to go further in my meditation
journey. I was a bit surprised because I had been working hard for eighteen
months, and now I had to start something new. Out of curiosity, I asked him why
I had to start when I had already begun eighteen months ago and should be progressing.
My teacher smiled and told me that the time I spent was not for meditating but
for preparing myself for meditation
Then he told me about a technique. I have already
explained this technique in a write-up on this blog, and I call it the Key to
Meditation. I can guarantee that if you practice it with dedication, you will
succeed in meditation. No one can hold your hand and take you on the meditation
journey; you have to do the work yourself. Even your meditation teacher can
only guide you from time to time. Developing patience is something you must do
on your own.
Due to my consistent practice, I began applying
the technique he taught me. Within just 30 days, I achieved a profound state of
meditation. This initial phase of meditation begins when your thoughts start to
calm down, allowing you to feel completely disconnected from the external
world. This stage persisted for quite some time, and soon, I began visualizing
a mesmerizing display of lights. The journey starts with a deep blue light,
which acts as a gateway. Entering this gateway reveals another light, brighter
and less blue, and passing through each subsequent light brings you closer to a
pure white light. These lights function as sequential gateways, with each one
opening to the next, although sometimes you are sent back to the first gate.
Undeterred, I continued my practice diligently, and eventually, I reached a
state of bliss. This state of bliss was a profound and transformative
experience, bringing a sense of peace and fulfillment that I had never known
before.
In this profound state, I realized that I am more
than just my body. There are two aspects to my being: the observer, which is my
true essence, and the external body, which is merely a temporary form. This
understanding brought me a sense of peace and fulfillment.
Realizing our immortal nature, where only our
outward appearance changes over time, is truly uplifting. I continued to bask
in this newfound understanding, feeling joyful and serene. Interestingly, the
long meditation sessions felt shorter this time. What used to feel like hours
now seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. It was as if time flowed differently
during meditation, leaving me feeling both puzzled and exhilarated by the
experience.
I always recommend everyone
to at least reach this level because if you haven’t achieved this stage in your
life, you have essentially wasted it. No matter how powerful you are, you must
understand that you will ultimately leave this life as a beggar, possessing
nothing—not even the body made of the five elements. This departure will lead
to a state of complete darkness, one that is unending and suffocating, leaving
you without direction or help. Right now, you have the opportunity of a
lifetime with a wonderful, healthy body.
You have invested in this
body, but it is crucial to remember that it is a temporary gift from Mother
Earth, and you will eventually have to return it. Mother Earth is incredibly
generous; she will take back exactly what you borrowed from her, without any
interest. Despite her generosity and her desire for you to progress, you may
spend your entire life merely enjoying the body you borrowed, only to leave it
empty-handed in the end.
This perspective serves as a
reminder to use our physical existence wisely, striving for spiritual growth
and deeper understanding, rather than merely indulging in temporary pleasures.
By doing so, we can avoid the ultimate emptiness and instead, find fulfillment
and purpose.
After almost a year of enjoying meditation, I
started experiencing a strange sensation—I felt like I was leaving my body and floating
around. Concerned, I shared this with my meditation teacher. He advised me not
to intentionally leave my body and instructed me to return to my body whenever
this sensation arose. He suggested taking a break from meditation for a day or
two before resuming practice.
Having an out-of-body experience was not something
I could control. When it happened, it was tempting to indulge in the sensation,
and my logical thinking seemed to fade away. During these experiences, there
were no thoughts, only instincts guiding me. It was important to remember not
to wander but to return to my body as soon as possible. These experiences occur
at any time sometimes during sleep, because your subtle body gained strength
and instead of only one element Aether it is now capable of accumulating fire
elements with it and can sustain without this body. This is the reason your
subtle body starts enjoying this journey without your physical body, but need
to understand that there are many such beings like you and few are negative
beings so it's better not to take a risk of coming out of your body at this
time. Once you become experienced and can handle any situation then you can try
this new perspective of meditation journey.
After continuous practice, I
experienced something unusual, not during meditation, but while I was watching
the trees from my house one morning. I saw entities moving in the air and on
the ground. They resembled humans but were different. Some of them noticed me
observing them, yet they didn't react. They emitted a unique aura and seemed
ethereal. When I shared this experience with my meditation teacher, he was
pleased. He advised me to continue observing but not to try to interact with
them. He explained that they were benevolent souls who had left their bodies
and reassured me that they couldn't harm me. Meditation, he said, strengthens
the soul, making such entities and even negative ones harmless. However, he
cautioned me to move forward and gain more experience before delving deeper
into these encounters, to avoid potential trouble at this early stage.
The real world has so much
more to offer than what meets the eye, and a person leading a superficial life
will never understand its depth. Many believe that life is about indulging in
the biggest and tastiest cakes it has to offer, but they are mistaken. Life is
much more than just acquiring wealth and seeking artificial pleasures. It
encompasses profound experiences, spiritual growth, and a deeper understanding
of existence that transcends materialistic pursuits. By embracing this broader
perspective, we can uncover the true essence of life and find lasting
fulfillment beyond temporary indulgences.
Beyond all
experiences
I continued meditating, and
after these experiences, I encountered something beyond all previous
experiences, something that defies explanation within the confines of human
language. It felt like a world beyond all worldly understanding, a realm where
all dimensions converge and simultaneously cease to exist. Even calling it an
experience is a misnomer, constrained by the limitations of human linguistics.
These encounters are also products of illusion, yet this is not merely an
illusion but something that transcends Maya (the illusion of the physical
world). This state can be realized, but it cannot be adequately described.
It is a profound realization
that lies beyond the scope of ordinary perception and understanding. This realm
exists beyond the tangible and the intangible, a place where the boundaries of
existence blur and dissolve. It is a state of pure awareness, where the
limitations of the physical and the metaphysical merge into a singularity of
being. In this state, the dualities of existence—light and dark, pleasure and
pain, self and other—fade away, leaving a pure, unadulterated consciousness
that simply is.
This realization brings a
deep sense of peace and understanding that transcends all worldly experiences
and knowledge. It is an ultimate truth that can be known but not explained,
felt but not described, a journey to the core of existence itself.
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