Self Awareness Through Meditation

Author(s): Ranjitsingh Kumat
Publisher: Ranjitsingh Kumat

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SELF AWARENESS THROUGH MEDITATION
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man who appeared happy. When he was asked to give his shirt for the King, the man replied, “if he had the shirt, he would hardly have been happy. The secret of his happiness lay in the fact that he did not possess anything." One who becomes free from desires, becomes happy beyond measure. One who rises above cravings and aversion and immerses himself in the feeling of 'Veetaraga Bhava' (the feeling of being above all hatred and attraction) is the real aspirant or 'Saadhaka”.
A mind fully concentrated and focused is most powerful. This power can be used in negative as well as positive manner. However, the negative use leads to shrinking of power and the positive use leads to its expansion and development. When the power of concentrated mind is used in a negative manner, the personality of the user is destroyed and he gets entangled in the bondages created by himself. On the other hand positive use leads to elation, ecstasy and euphoria. Anything done with awareness leads to freedom and the opposite leads to bondage. Use of mind's power for spiritual development leads to direct contact with God as has been observed by revered Yashovijayji:
With the eradication of the darkness of ignorance Dawns the new light of wisdom or Gnan, Realizing God, residing in our own soul.
God is within our Soul. No sooner the screen of defilements is removed, we can realize Him within us. Just as shine increases with the increase in the purity of Gold, similarly with the removal of defilements from our mind we realize our own Self and thus attain the Godhood. Just as concentrated light in the form of laser beam pierces the hard iron block, sharpness of mind attained through meditation helps in dissolving the defilements, bringing the new light of wisdom enabling us to realize God within us. This point, narrated in the Achaaraanga Sutta, has been brought out very clearly by Shri Kumat in this book. A person, not aware of his self looks outward and who attaches himself to material objects, is called ignorant. On the other hand, person fully aware of his self looks inward and can be called an awakened person. Former, being distracted suffers, and the latter, being withdrawn from worldly attractions, is happy and delighted
It is impossible to describe one's experience of meditation. In April 1970, I represented the Jain Sect, for the first time, in the II Spiritual Summit Conference held in Geneva and after my statement was over, the audience gave me standing ovation. Influenced by my statement on Jainism in this Conference, Swami Hansanand of France (formerly Dr. Gilbert) took me