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It is essential to practice formless meditation (emptiness) in order to fully restrain the mind. Without this practice it will not be possible to stay in the realm of Pure Consciousness (Atman).
There are various sequential stages of dhyāna (meditation). First, there is the meditation of physical form, either of Sat Guru or any representation of the Divine. Next, there is meditation on the formless subtle form (bindu). The focus on bindu (infinitesimally small point) is followed by the meditation on sound. Finally there is meditation beyond any sound or form, the subtlest unqualified form of the Divine. These are the increasingly subtler stages of meditation. In this way we undertake sequential steps to accomplish complete focus leading to the Ultimate realization (samadhi).
When we sit and begin meditation we meditate on the physical form. Why? Just as a child begins writing with big letters and then gradually smaller and finer letters, we also accomplish the preliminary stages of mediation on the physical or material forms and sounds before we are able to proceed to the more subtle forms of meditation. Persistent practice brings success in the objective.
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