The pearly gates to Heaven – my own Blissful Infinite Self – Are either not seen or are firmly shut. The intellectual knowledge, constant repetition or faith that ‘i am Infinite Bliss’ does not remove the delusion, tensions and sorrows of my life. How can I come to live a stress-free life a- life of total fulfillment and bliss?
Meditation is prescribed as a balm to remove all the stress and strain of life. It is in fashion these days and every other person claims to be practising or propounding some new and original technique. It is therefore important to understand what the Scriptures and Realised Masters say about meditation. The Guru, Sage Yajnavalkya, teaches his disciple, his own wife, Maitreyi. He instructs, "The Self should be realised. For that, one should listen, reflect and meditate (atma va are drastavyah srotavyah mantavyah nididhyasitavyah – Brhadaranyaka Upanisad 2.4)." Even though the Truth, the Self, is self-evident, we are unable to realise the same due to gross obstacles like dullness of the intellect and objects (visayasakti) etc. there also exist subtler obstacles like non-comprehension of the existence or the nature of the Self or unavailability of the right means (pramana asambhavana), doubts regarding the Self (samsaya or prameya asambhavana ) or a habit, accumulated from innumerable lives, of identifying with the not-self like the body (viparita bhavana ).
Thereafter the Knowledge is deeply and independently reflected upon (manana), until the seeker gains doubtless Knowledge that ‘I am the Infinite Truth’. Even after this doubtless Knowledge, we still live on with the notion ‘I am the body’, as against our Knowledge ‘I am the Infinite Self’. To remove this obstacle one should practise nididhyasana or meditation. It should be noted that without sravanam and mananam, nididhyasanam or meditation may not be very effective. It is difficult for a mind riddled with doubts to enquire deeply or gain firm abidance in the Self.
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