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Concentration in its simplest form is known to us by the name of
attention. When the diverging [pathways] of the mental energy which
moves the whole system in different directions are centred into a
focus and when the concentrated energy is forced through one channel,
it strengthens the mind.
If any other thought or idea arises in mind, you must not let your
attention be distracted by it, nor let it wander in any other
direction. After practising for a few days you will notice that you
have acquired some power of controlling your attention and of
directing it towards one object. When you have fully attained this
control over your power of voluntary attention, you will be able to
concentrate your whole mind on any object, whether external or
internal, concrete or abstract, material or spiritual.
At the time of perfect concentration you will notice that the rhythm
of respiration will change, and that it will gradually become slower
and slower, perhaps it will almost cease for the time being. The
motion of the lungs has a very intimate relation to the activity of
the mind. If we control the activity of mind we can also control the
motion of the lungs, and conversely, if the motion of the lungs is
controlled the mind also comes more easily under control.
It is a well-known fact that one can easily feel pain in any part of
the body by strongly fixing [one's] attention there. By an analogous
process one can get rid of pain in the body.
No one can give you that power. It is one of the natural powers of
the human mind.
Concentration leads to meditation. Meditation means the continuous
or unbroken flow of one current of thought towards a fixed ideal.
After gaining control over the mind through the practice of
concentration, if we can compel the thought-current to flow in one
direction for a certain length of time we have attained to the power
of meditation. In this state, the mind is not distracted by external
noise or by any disagreeable modification of the chitta.
The objects of meditation will vary with the individual ideals of the
persons who practise it. For spiritual unfoldment, the ideal of the
unity of the Atman or individual spirit, with the Brahman or
universal Spirit, will be one of the best subjects upon which to
meditate. Such ideas as "I am spirit beyond body and senses and
above mind," or "I am one with the universal Spirit," or "I and my
Father are one," will be of great help to those who wish to quickly
reach the highest goal of all religions. First repeat it orally,
then mentally. Concentrate your mind on the true meaning and
meditate upon it.
Let the same current of thought flow without any break or
distraction, then only will it be real meditation. If your mind be
distracted by any other thought or idea or by external disturbance,
firmly bring your attention back again to the chosen ideal. If any
evil thought arises in the mind, overcome it by arousing a good
thought. If envy or jealousy arises, the feeling of friendliness
should be used to counteract it. The feeling of love should be
cultivated to conquer hatred; and forgiveness should be practised to
overcome the feeling of revenge. In this way you will conquer all
evil and injurious thoughts by their opposites.
After regularly practising meditation for half an hour each day, you
will notice, after a month, that your whole nature has been changed,
and that your mind has become peaceful.
Those who have never tried meditation will find it very difficult at
first, because the long-standing habit of permitting irregular
activity in the mind will baffle all the attempts of the beginner.
Various thoughts and ideas which you have never cherished consciously
will spontaneously arise from the subconscious plane and will show
what tremendous strength they have. The beginner has to slowly and
cautiously subdue these obstructive thoughts. [They] must not pay
any attention to them. [They] must labour hard to prevent [their]
mind from being distracted from the train of thought [they have]
decided to follow. Various disturbing elements will arise, will play
for a short while on the conscious plane, and if not noticed will
then disappear. But if, on the contrary, [one] should pay a little
attention to them, they will become stronger, and take the form of
impulse, and force [one's] whole mind in some other direction.
Therefore, instead of following those unbidden thoughts and ideas,
[one] should hold to the ideal.
No sage, whether a Buddha or a Christ, no saint, whether of the past
or of the present, has ever found peace without practising
meditation. It is the road which leads to the attainment of perfect
tranquillity of mind. We are spending the whole of our valuable
lives in making money, in eating, drinking, and doing such things as
bring a little comfort to the body or a little pleasure to the mind.
But we do not think for a moment what a valuable opportunity we are
losing. We seek food for [the] body, but we never seek the food for
the soul. So feed your souls with the eternal Truth that manifests
itself to the purified soul, with that nectar and bliss which can be
obtained only through the practice of meditation.
Make meditation a part of the daily routine of your life. Seek the
company of some disinterested lover of mankind, follow [their]
instructions as closely as possible. Keeping this ideal before your
mind, march onward through the path of meditation fighting the
enemies of wavering attention and unruly mind like a brave soldier,
like a true hero, and stop not until the goal is reached; ultimately
you will be the conqueror of the universe, and the kingdom of God
will be yours.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Abhedananda, volume 1