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The Science of Meditation
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philosophy of behaviourism which dominates the horizon of psychology is positively responsible for this lapse. The objection sometimes raised by psychoanalysts that meditation is tantamount to suppression is misunderstanding. On the contrary, the mind is made acquainted with 'self". As a matter of fact, the process of meditation resembles the analytical method of free-association. Watching one's thoughts leads to intimate knowledge of the mind, and to a progressive awakening of what remains generally unperceived. Simultaneously, the mental activity is slowed down. The more the conscious layers are exposed to the light of discrimination, the more the chances of diving down into the recesses of unconscious. Therefore, it is meditation which leads to the unfolding of the layers of the unconscious.
But this will be a myopic view of the function of meditation, if the higher functions of meditation are not considered. According to Patajali's Yoga Sastra, concentration is the process of stengthening 'I-consciousness'. This is known as Dharma with intense concentration, progressing from stage to stage, the doors of meditation automatically open. Meditation is the transcendence and dissolution of 'I-consciousness'. Meditation is not self-hypnosis. It is that fourth state of consciousness which scientists have recorded on EEG with subjects under deep meditation. Yogis, in scientific studies on meditation, report increase in efficiency, creativity, bliss, and control over many psychological abnormalities. However, there is no empirical study for studying the effect of meditation on integration of personality. Also, there is not much well-investigated literature on the nature, attributes, and correlates of the fourth state of consciousness, the breeding ground for spiritual development. But whatever scanty literature is available, reveals unmistakably that meditation leads to a personality full of love, compassion, ecstacy, rhythm and balance (Gopi Krishan, 1971).
Effects of meditation are both preventive or prophelectic (as it increases the resilence power) and is curative.
The system of meditation which will produce the power of concentrating the mind of anything is indispensable. The ancient Hindus have prized meditation as Valueless. Meditation, which is a non-cerebral movement of human consciousness is harmony with the rhythm of life, within, without, and around, that 'seedless trance' of Patanjili, that 'Choiceless Awareness' of Krishnamurti, that 'Disinterested Objectively' of Jung, that 'Ataraxia of James, that 'Creative Intelligence' by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and that 'Moments of Illumination' by Pal Brunton, has been eulogized in 'Chhandogya Upanishad' thus:
"Meditation, assuredly is more than thought. The earth meditates, as it were. The atmosphere meditates, as it were. The heaven meditates, as it were. The waters meditates, as it were. The mountains meditate, as it were. God and men meditate,
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