Different Stages of Meditation
1. Curiosity.
The first stage of meditation is learning about what it involves. Some people may have preconceived notions of what meditation is; for example, people may associate meditation with sitting in various yoga postures. However, meditation is primarily the art of silencing the mind and discovering our inner self. Whatever books we read about meditation, it will share this common theme of going beyond the mind and raising our consciousness. However, no matter how much we read and talk about meditation, it is only when we practise meditation that we discover its real meaning.
2. Relaxation.
When we first attempt to meditate we need to learn how to be still and relax the body and mind. Some people may actually find it quite hard to sit perfectly still for 20-30 minutes. However, this is essential to meditation. If we cannot keep the body still, we cannot hope to still the mind. After relaxing the body we can then seek to improve our mental relaxation. We are usually used to carrying around a burden of worries and anxieties; we find it difficult to relax. However, the preliminary stage of meditation is to let go of these tension; we learn to forget the past and future and just focus on the present moment.
3. Concentration
Nearly all beginners to meditation find that when they try to meditate, they become aware of how busy the mind is. Therefore, the most important thing, to learn and practise, is how to silence the mind. To do this we need to learn the art of concentration. This means to focus on one thing at a time. When we can develop the capacity to focus our awareness on one thing at a time, it means that we will be able to make progress in meditation.
4. Detached from Thoughts.
It is difficult to detach ourselves completely from our thoughts. However, there is an intermediary stage where we become aware of our thoughts, but they feel very distant. It is like we are aware of thoughts in the background. However, because we don't give them priority, they feel separated from our consciousness. They are like fish in the sea, which swim past, but don't really disturb us. When our thoughts appear external and separate, it becomes much easier to enter a state of real meditation
5. Silent Meditation
Real silent meditation occurs when we can stop any thought entering. When we meditate in real inner silence we will unmistakably feel an expansion of our consciousness. What actually happens is that when we stop the mind we can become aware of the consciousness of our own soul. It is meditation that enables us to experience the divine qualities of peace and joy in abundant measure. These aspects are part of everyone's nature; but, it is meditation that makes them accessible.
“When you meditate, what you actually do is to enter into a calm or still, silent mind. We have to be fully aware of the arrival and attack of thoughts. That is to say, we shall not allow any thought, divine or undivine, good or bad, to enter into our mind. Our mind should be absolutely silent.”
- Sri Chinmoy [1]
6. Samadhi.
When our aspiration is intense and our mind completely clear, it is possible to experience very high states of meditation known as samadhi. To explain what is meant by samadhi is really an impossible task. By their very nature, these states of consciousness are far beyond the domain of the intellectual mind. Words can never explain or describe concepts of infinity and immortality. To gain an insight into samadhi it is best to read the writings of a realised spiritual Master, who has actually experienced them.
"When we meditate, we try to expand ourselves, like a bird spreading its wings. We try to expand our finite consciousness and enter into the Universal Consciousness where there is no fear, jealousy or doubt but only joy, peace and divine power."
- Sri Chinmoy
[1] What Is Meditation?... Excerpt from Earth's Cry Meets Heaven's Smile, Part 1 by Sri Chinmoy.
[2] Meditation: Glimpsing the Infinite
The first stage of meditation is learning about what it involves. Some people may have preconceived notions of what meditation is; for example, people may associate meditation with sitting in various yoga postures. However, meditation is primarily the art of silencing the mind and discovering our inner self. Whatever books we read about meditation, it will share this common theme of going beyond the mind and raising our consciousness. However, no matter how much we read and talk about meditation, it is only when we practise meditation that we discover its real meaning.
2. Relaxation.
When we first attempt to meditate we need to learn how to be still and relax the body and mind. Some people may actually find it quite hard to sit perfectly still for 20-30 minutes. However, this is essential to meditation. If we cannot keep the body still, we cannot hope to still the mind. After relaxing the body we can then seek to improve our mental relaxation. We are usually used to carrying around a burden of worries and anxieties; we find it difficult to relax. However, the preliminary stage of meditation is to let go of these tension; we learn to forget the past and future and just focus on the present moment.
3. Concentration
Nearly all beginners to meditation find that when they try to meditate, they become aware of how busy the mind is. Therefore, the most important thing, to learn and practise, is how to silence the mind. To do this we need to learn the art of concentration. This means to focus on one thing at a time. When we can develop the capacity to focus our awareness on one thing at a time, it means that we will be able to make progress in meditation.
4. Detached from Thoughts.
It is difficult to detach ourselves completely from our thoughts. However, there is an intermediary stage where we become aware of our thoughts, but they feel very distant. It is like we are aware of thoughts in the background. However, because we don't give them priority, they feel separated from our consciousness. They are like fish in the sea, which swim past, but don't really disturb us. When our thoughts appear external and separate, it becomes much easier to enter a state of real meditation
5. Silent Meditation
Real silent meditation occurs when we can stop any thought entering. When we meditate in real inner silence we will unmistakably feel an expansion of our consciousness. What actually happens is that when we stop the mind we can become aware of the consciousness of our own soul. It is meditation that enables us to experience the divine qualities of peace and joy in abundant measure. These aspects are part of everyone's nature; but, it is meditation that makes them accessible.
“When you meditate, what you actually do is to enter into a calm or still, silent mind. We have to be fully aware of the arrival and attack of thoughts. That is to say, we shall not allow any thought, divine or undivine, good or bad, to enter into our mind. Our mind should be absolutely silent.”
- Sri Chinmoy [1]
6. Samadhi.
When our aspiration is intense and our mind completely clear, it is possible to experience very high states of meditation known as samadhi. To explain what is meant by samadhi is really an impossible task. By their very nature, these states of consciousness are far beyond the domain of the intellectual mind. Words can never explain or describe concepts of infinity and immortality. To gain an insight into samadhi it is best to read the writings of a realised spiritual Master, who has actually experienced them.
"When we meditate, we try to expand ourselves, like a bird spreading its wings. We try to expand our finite consciousness and enter into the Universal Consciousness where there is no fear, jealousy or doubt but only joy, peace and divine power."
- Sri Chinmoy
[1] What Is Meditation?... Excerpt from Earth's Cry Meets Heaven's Smile, Part 1 by Sri Chinmoy.
[2] Meditation: Glimpsing the Infinite
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