Value: Meditation - November 2025

Second Week: Meditative mind

A mind prepared for meditation should have limited or no worries. This doesn’t mean it is free from the complexities of worldly life, but rather that it is eager to explore the depths of inner silence, thereby spending less time in brooding. It is willing to let go of all mundane concerns to attain the inner tranquility and stillness that are natural to the Self, the divine presence within.

Eliminate mental hang-ups

The past is gone, and the future is yet to come. Neither has any reality in the present moment. However, accepting this truth can be challenging for us. If you are eager to practice meditation, you should set aside both the past and the future without hesitation. Just as you distance yourself from the world when you go to sleep, do the same here.

 

When you wake up from a deep sleep, what do you feel accomplished? Nothing, except for a good rest for your body and mind. Meditation is similar; there is no external achievement you will feel after practicing it. Like sleep, it requires minimal effort, exertion, and free of anxiety.

 

Just like the body and mind need rest in sleep, the soul also needs rest. It has been on a journey for a long time, gathering both pleasant and unpleasant experiences through various bodies and lifetimes. It finds rest in meditation, where all attachments to past experiences are set aside. After an exhausting road trip, when you arrive home and look at your travel map, you may be surprised by how far and wide you have traveled. In the same way, you will gain awareness of your soul's journey upon awakening from deep meditation. Thereafter, the mental preoccupations with life's trivialities will no longer occupy your mind.

Golden rule - Silence

Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji once shared a story: There was a devotee who went to the temple every day to pray. One day, he realized, “Each day I talk to God through my prayers, but I never listen to Him. Today, I will try to hear what He has to say.” So, he decided to remain silent. However, his mind kept chattering. He thought, “I still cannot hear Him; perhaps I need to quiet my mind.” When he finally succeeded in calming his thoughts, he entered a state of deep meditation. After this experience, he no longer visited the temple. When asked why, he replied, “I have found the Lord within me. Whether I worship Him internally or externally makes no difference.” This is the highest form of devotion, where one reaches the depths of meditation through sincere practice. Silence can be understood in two ways: when you do not speak, that is silence; when there are no thoughts, that is stillness. Outer silence has two aspects: the first is your choice to remain silent, and the second is observing the silence that already exists when there is no sound. Both forms are beneficial for meditation. This is why Bhagavan Krishna advised Arjuna to choose a place of solitude for meditation or to meditate at a time when the world has not yet awakened. Schedule time each day to practice silence. Commit to this practice diligently for a few weeks until it feels natural. Gradually work on silencing your thoughts during this time as well. Observe your thoughts without engaging with them.