Dialogue with the Lord During Meditation

Let the Sadhaka retire to a solitary place and take his seat in a Yogic posture like the Swastika, Siddha or the Lotus, on a seat made either of the holy Kusa grass or of wool, keeping his spine erect and without feeling any inconvenience. Let him then withdraw his senses from their respective objects and renouncing all worldly thoughts make the mind totally void of impressions. Thereafter let him invoke the Lord, the Deity of his heart, in a pure state of mind, free of sloth and full of dispassion. He should know that when the Lord will appear before him during meditation, the mind will be full of joy, peace and light and although his eyes may remain closed he will, as if, see the whole universe lighted up by a supernatural light. Where there is peace there will be no distraction, and where the light of knowledge shines there will be no sleep or sloth. He should firmly believe that when God is invoked and prayers are offered to Him, the Lord appears before the devotee during meditation. There should be no difficulty in meditation on the form of one’s favourite Deity. If it is said that one can meditate upon only an object already perceived but it is not possible to meditate on an entirely unknown object; correct but meditation on a Divine form is possible by reading the description of a form in the scriptures or hearing the same from the lips of saints, or selecting a picture of the Deity which appeals to one’s heart. Therefore, the Sadhaka should invoke the Deity by closing his eyes. If such invocation fails to bring the Lord, let him loudly chand His names and virtues, offer Him prayers and hymns and go on repeating the invocation with full faith and love in a voice choked with emotion.