The Stream of Thought and Meditation
Swami Swaroopananda
High up above the mountains clouds gather and begin to shower rain upon the mountains. The pure rain that comes from the heavens above forms a pool or a lake which is crystal clear. If you look into it you will see your own reflection. But, unfortunately, the waters at the top of the mountain do not stay in their crystal pool but start trickling down the sides of the mountain in small streams. As these streams of water flow down they begin to meet one another and the stream grows bigger and bigger, gathering to itself soil and tiny pebbles. Rushing down the mountain, meeting other streams, picking up dirt, pebbles and rocks, becoming noisier and noisier it continues, till finally it reaches the plains as a mighty river, flowing at great speed, gushing to waste itself into the salty ocean waters and losing, at last, even its sweetness.
In the same way, the mind in its essential nature is absolutely pure. But just as the water trickles down the mountain, the mind, drawn by the attractions and temptations of sense objects, trickles down from its pure, blissful nature towards transient pleasures. As it moves that little streak of thought becomes a mighty river, large with the quantity of thoughts, muddy in its quality. It will lose itself in the vast ocean of sense objects or subtle sense pleasures. We have to tame this river of the mind and bring it back to its essential source, its essential nature and experience the divinity reflected in it.
The uphill climb may not be as easy as the downhill flow. First of all, it will have to give up all its heavy materials -- the rocks, pebbles and mud. With this excess material eliminated, its quantity is changed and it cannot help but change its quality. When it reaches the top, with all its impurities removed it is crystal clear again and the infinite blue of the Heavens is reflected in its bosom.
In the same manner, we must make a firm decision to lead the mind back to its source, its home, its pure state of calm and peaceful beauty. This must be a conviction. It must be a decision. Once we have given the mind a direction we should slowly and steadily remove all the impurities and excesses of the mind. All spiritual practices are performed to attain this condition of the mind. Meditation is one such practice that purifies the mind.
When beginning on the path of meditation, it is not necessary to stop thinking altogether. The attempt of the seeker should not be to stop the thoughts, but rather, to divinise the thoughts, to change the quality and, to some extent, reduce the quantity of thoughts. At this moment our minds are full of agitations, worries, anxieties and emotions that create turmoil. All these tendencies or emotions that disturb the mind at the seat of meditation must be temporarily put aside.
However, the mind abhors a vacuum. Nature cannot bear a vacuum. If it is left empty, thoughts will barge into the mind. That empty space can attract agitation. Therefore, consciously, with effort, try to evoke in the mind some divine theme or idea which brings about love, devotion and a sense of well - being.
The Vedic Upanishads clearly point out that when you are in the seat of meditation, having made yourself comfortable, and keeping the body steady, you must first think of your Guru (spiritual teacher) and seek his or her guidance. Having received the Guru's blessings, think of that form which brings divinity to your mind. It could be your 'Ishta Devata' ( e. g. Krishna or Rama) - that form which you have been worshipping over the years. It could be a symbol of divinity that you identify with. It could be the form of a person that evokes reverence and devotion in your heart, or it could be any scene from nature that brings a sense of divinity, peace and happiness to your mind. Consciously, try to create that form or scene in front of your inner eye and mentally take your offerings of love to that form of divinity. Use your imagination; visualise that beautiful form. Do not allow anything to disturb your mind. Revel in that form and pray that it may ever remain in your heart and keep enchanting and thrilling you.
Every day invoke the Lord of your heart and place Him consciously on the lotus bed of your heart. Talk to Him. Speak to Him. Express your woes as well as your joys, and begin to feel His presence and His love in your heart.