nn 1,2

1.1.2 inspirational, 1.4.8 spir. in practice

Today, I would like to speak upon the topic of meditation and the deeper significance of spiritual practice.

Meditation is not for any other purpose but to gain understanding, insight and direct experience, of one's essential nature. This is the purpose of all meditational practices be they tantric, be they zen, or be they contemplative as done in some Christian and Buddhist traditions. So, meditation may take many forms, but the purpose of meditation is one. If the purpose of meditation is other than this, then it should be called by some other name. If one engages in meditational practice in order to increase one's financial success, to gain a particular ability or to acquire a certain skill, then this is not meditation upon the Great. It is a kind of mental exercise to develop certain abilities and skills, to change certain mental functions, to achieve certain desires or successes in the world. This is not meditation, this is something else.

Now, if one is to learn meditation, whatever the particular skill one is exercising, the focus of that meditation must be ideation upon the Great. Whether it be called God, essential nature, Parama Purus'a, Cosmic Consciousness, or any other name, the name is not so significant as the concept. Ideation must be on that which is most essential, that which is at the very essence of one's existence. It may be called the Self, it may be called the Paramatman, it may be called Parama Purus'a, it may be called Purushottama, it may be called Buddha nature, it may be called Christ Consciousness, Essential Intelligence, many other names it may be called. But it is that essence which must be the focus of true meditational practice. Knowledge, the direct experience of that essence, must be the goal of meditation.

Now, one may begin a meditational practice with the desire to attain certain abilities or to resolve certain conflicts. To reduce stress or to acquire peace of mind are some common reasons why a person may begin meditational practice. They are good and well and in the beginning they may suffice. But a time will come when a sadhaka (meditator) must forgo such desires and look deeply within themselves to their essential being, to that which lies quiescent within them. In that most essential experience they may gain knowledge of that Infinite Consciousness which underlies all expressed existence. By knowing the one within, knowledge of the nature and experience of all expression comes to a person. Knowledge of places far away will be known to a person who has knowledge of the One within. Knowledge of many things will come to them. So, if a person wants to become knowledgeable, they must go deep within. Then they will have greater knowledge than if they had studied 1000 books, for all knowledge lies within.

Like the drop of water, the individual is a self contained entity. But when the drop of water is poured into the sea, it disperses into the sea and becomes as the sea itself. Now, the same is true of the individual personality. At first, it is like the drop, self contained. But then, as it is pointed with some impetus towards the ocean of Infinite Consciousness, it falls like the drop pulled by gravity. It is pulled by the force of Cosmic attraction into the ocean of Infinite Consciousness and there, the sense of individual existence becomes lost and the drop of water becomes simply a part and parcel of the Infinite Ocean of Divine Consciousness. There is no separate existence. You may call this ocean of consciousness Christ Consciousness, Buddha Nature, you may call it Parama Purus'a, you may call it Essential Intelligence. Whatever you call it, it is the same. You may call it God. There is only one God, one Divine Expression manifesting in multifarious forms within the expressed universe.

It is one without a second, one without a third, one without any other. All are contained within the One. All are a part and parcel of the one Infinite Consciousness. You are one part, you are within that Infinite Consciousness. All that you see is within that consciousness, all that you know is contained within the one divine flow of manifest expression and it is one essential nature that exists in all of these multifarious forms and colors.

So, do not think you are alone because you are never alone. Never are you without shelter because that Divine Entity is always with you. He is so close to you that there can be no one closer, there can be no one so intimately involved with you as that Divine Being. He is closer than close, He is just next to your I feeling, "I exist, I am. But who am I that exists? What is my essential nature?". That essential nature is Divine. That essential nature is Parama Purus'a, Buddha, Christ Consciousness. It lies right next to your sense of existence, your sense of self, "I exist, I am myself existing". Who is the self who is existing, who is it? Who is existing as the self? What is existing as the self? It is that Infinite Consciousness, that Self of all selves that is existing within yourself. So, you don't be discouraged, you don't ever think "I am nothing, I am hopeless, I am helpless in this world" because it is not the case.

That which is more exquisite than words can express exists within your own I feeling, within your own sense of existence. That divine flow of infinite love, infinite compassion, infinite divinity lies within you. He is closer than your closest thoughts, than your most intimate feelings, He is closer still than that. But you must look within yourself, you must take the tool of intelligence which you have been given, turn that intelligence away from external objects and focus it upon your essential nature, upon yourself through the practice of meditation. Meditation means ideation upon the Supreme, not ideation upon worldly objects and external experience.

So, some time is taken through meditation to take the mind away from day to day experience and bring it to the threshold of the Infinite. Through meditation the potential vision of the Divine may be opened within you. For that Divine Consciousness, that Infinite Love, that absolute compassion, more exquisite than words can express, is yours. It is very near to you.

Oh human beings, turn yourself about and look within to that greatness which you have. You are not lost and helpless, you are great and you are ever guided, ever protected. You are never alone that Infinite Being is always with you wherever you may go, whatever you may do. He is always with you. Only, you must turn yourself around, and look at Him. He is looking at you. He is looking at you every day, every moment of every day, but you are not looking at Him, you are looking outside of yourself. You are looking for this joy, that joy, this fulfillment, that fulfillment. You are immersed in the play of material existence and you are not looking at Him so you think He does not exist because you do not see Him. But you do not see Him because you are not looking. If you look, you will see, He is there with you.

So, you take a moment and look within to that Divine expression, that most gracious and compassionate Being who has infinite love for you. And despite you looking away for so many years, looking away, looking away, engrossed in the colors of this world, still He has remained faithful to you. Still He has stayed with you, looking to you always, helping you here and there, guiding you. Though you are not looking, you are paying no attention, still He is doing. And so, when you look to Him, He is very delighted, very happy that you should finally notice Him and He says, "My boy, my girl, I am so happy you have noticed I am here with you. Now you please come to me, I am wanting you". Like this, He draws the small beings to Himself so that they may melt their small existence into the vast ocean of His cosmic love.