MEDITATION DONE OUT OF LOVE

 
On August 22nd, Baba eased the school curriculum for one month and ordered the mandali to let the boys come to him whenever they wished. During this period, Baba was surrounded by the children wherever he went. Many of the boys would wake up at midnight and sit in meditation. At the same time, they would observe the routine during school hours, study, meals and games without feeling tired. Baba indicated that this was a good sign and he was pleased with their enthusiasm. A complete change in the Prem Ashram was noticed and the play of wine began again.

The Master started paying particular attention to a boy named Bhiwa, often calling him to be near him, and patting and kissing him. One day at one-thirty, Baba gathered all the Prem Ashram boys and asked whether they were having any problems meditating at night and early in the morning. Many replied that they were not, but Bhiwa began shedding tears and did not answer. Baba questioned him. After hesitating, Bhiwa answered, "While meditating, I don't see your physical form. Many thoughts assail me."

Baba consoled him with an explanation about the mind:

The mind is a terrible thing; it may be called a curse. Its business is to think and think — the more so when we do not wish to think of a particular person or thing. For instance, when you sit down for meditation or concentration on the Guru or Beloved God, other worldly thoughts of a thousand and one kinds, of which ordinarily you would not have dreamed, are sure to rush into your mind. Thoughts always creep in with their continuous onslaughts, for it is the business of the mind to think, think and think.

But the real thinker and meditator is he who would not pay attention to these thoughts and would go on meditating on the image of his worship, even amidst the strongest attacks. This intervention of other ideas is not a sin, or a defect, or even a mistake of the sadhak — aspirant. These thoughts do and will come as long as that terrible mind is there. The sadhak has only to persist strenuously to drive away these as much as he can and think of the Beloved — God. He should not give up meditation or feel disturbed or disappointed by these attacks.

You need not worry or cry that you cannot love when you cannot meditate due to other thoughts disturbing you. For don't you get up from your sweet sound sleep at midnight with the idea of doing meditation? That is half the work done — sacrificing your sweet sleep for meditation of your own accord without any compulsion. Do you not try to sit down for hours until morning to meditate on me when others are in sound sleep? This is three-fourths of the work done. Now, only one-fourth is left; that is, thinking of only one thing. And try to do that.

If you are successful, all right; if not, don't worry. Three-fourths of the work has been done by your waking up and trying to sit for hours in meditation. It is no fault of yours if you do not get the image before your eyes. Persevere and persist in your efforts. Do not be discouraged and give up the effort. Do not try to throw away the sitar because it is hard to tune. Try to adjust and tune each string persistently, with the firm intent of making the instrument work. Similarly, try to catch outside thoughts by the ear and throw them out.

Suppose there are innumerable mosquitoes swarming around and some start biting you at night. What would you do to get rid of this annoyance? Would you just sit there and cry? No! You would at once get a mosquito net. You would resort to a remedy and it eventually would have the desired effect. Even though the mosquitoes would come in hordes at first, you would not feel disturbed, for they would almost all be outside the curtain, though a few might have come inside the net.

Likewise, deal with all these thoughts. They, like mosquitoes, are sure to come and annoy you, but you have to put up a curtain of thoughts about me, by letting my divine image be present before your mind's eye. Meditate on me so that the other thoughts automatically stop pestering your mind. Let the mosquito net of meditation on me save you from being bitten by your thoughts.

To bring my image before your mind's eye, think of me in my various physical activities — going here and there, discoursing, giving darshan, kissing and embracing the boys, reclining on my seat, listening to records, et cetera. And while you will thus see me in my activities, an image will surely come before your eyes. No sooner than you get this scene, let it not escape, but have a firm hold on it in your mind and concentrate on it with all your affection. Thus your meditation on my various activities will lead you to a concentration on my form, and you will then sit for hours concentrating on it.

Remember what I explained, call to me and keep me in mind, and then meditate on my movements, gestures, facial expressions and activities, whatever you remember. If thoughts interrupt, let them. Do not pay any heed.

I will teach some of the selected boys and a few of the mandali the methods of meditation. It should be done quite aloof from everyone. Meditation should not be a troublesome burden or boring. It should give joy and be continued.

Baba demonstrated three sitting postures and made a revealing remark, "When I was Jesus, I showed these methods to a thief." He did not explain anything else in regard to Jesus.

Continuing, Baba stressed the importance of awakening early in the morning, between 4 and 6 A.M., for meditation and then quoted this saying:

During the first part of the night, most people are awake.

During the second part of the night, before midnight, merrymakers and gluttons are awake.

During the third part of the night, after midnight, thieves are awake.

During the fourth part of the night before dawn, yogis are awake.

When one of the boys asked for an explanation of how a yogi meditates, Baba commented briefly on the difference between the yogic form of meditation and what he had explained to Bhiwa:

There is a great difference between a yogi's meditation and sincere meditation on Infinite, Impersonal God or the Guru, Infinite God in person. A yogi's meditation ends in samadhi, while meditation done out of love ends in union. A yogi's meditation ends where love's activity begins.