What is Meditation ? - Osho Rajneesh - This is quite an interesting topic which made me to read the review written by the MSian Abishek. But he had not added much of information about Meditation although he has presented the books of Osho which provide basic details on Meditation.
In these increasingly pressurized environment which ultimately results in tension, stress, high blood pressure, loss of / disturbed sleep etc. Added to the hectic work pressures are the hormonal changes in women, which is also highly responsible for stress. Of late, globally people have started realizing the value of Yoga, Meditation etc. which result in:
Reducing Stress
Relaxed state of mind thus improving the mental ability
Improved creativity, attentiveness
More ambitious life
Sparing a few moments every day in Meditation certainly result in improving relationships. In fact it was my own experience too, to initiate quarrels due to my incessant & hectic working throughout the day without a break. I had also been getting very tired frequently and was found to have lost all my extrovertness. As per the saying ?A friend in need is a friend indeed?- my very close friend was responsible enough to pin-point my state-of-self. Finally, she also suggested that I read the valuable books of Osho Rajneesh which provide all the basic information about different types of Mediation. Although I was just wondering that I wouldn?t have time to spare for this extra work, I also thought of just giving it a try.
I thought of procuring a book of Osho to initially know some basic information about meditation. My God, I still remember how moved and attracted I was towards the wonderful presentation of the contemplation. Since I thought of giving information to my dearest MSians too on meditation, I now give below some extracts which I think would certainly be useful to my friends (pls. underline the point that given below are only the extracts from books of Osho and not my own imaginary stuff) :
Become the Clarity of the Cloudless Sky (Osho: Excerpted from The Book of Secrets)
?If you meditate on open unclouded sky, suddenly you will feel that the mind is disappearing, the mind is dropping away. There will be gaps. Suddenly you will become aware that it is as if the clear sky has entered in you also. There will be intervals. For a time being, thoughts will cease ― as if the traffic has ceased and there is no one moving. In the beginning it will be only for moments, but even those moments are transforming. By and by the mind will slow down, bigger gaps will appear. For minutes together there will be no thought, no cloud.
To meditate on the sky is beautiful. Just lie down so you forget the earth; just lie down on your back on any lonely beach, on any ground, and just look at the sky. But a clear sky will be helpful ― unclouded, endless. And just looking, staring at the sky, feel the clarity of it ― the uncloudedness, the boundless expanse ― and then enter that clarity, become one with it. Feel as if you have become the sky, the space’’.
My next step was to purchase Osho?s ?The Cyprus in the Courtyard, #23? ? though the book seems to be little costly, but it is certainly worth the stuff it contains. Oh God, this books contains very simple ways which even a child could perform as part of its routine. Having been fascinated by the simplest steps involved, I practised it and greatly observed a change in me in a matter of just 20 days. I give below an extract from this book too, which I am sure would interest you all too:
?Once you understand a problem directly, it is already on the way to being solved. Now you have to do two or three things.
When: Every morning
Step 1: Shifting Your Weight
Stand with your feet just six to eight inches apart, and close your eyes. Then put your whole weight on the right foot, as if you are standing only on the right; the left is unburdened. Feel it ? and then shift to the left foot. Do this four or five times ? feeling this shift of energy ? and feel how it feels. Then try to be just in the middle, neither on the left nor the right, or on both. Just in the middle ? no emphasis, fifty-fifty. That fifty-fifty feeling will give you more rootedness in the earth.
Step 2: Run and Breathe!
If you are near the sea, every morning go to the beach and run on the sand. If you are near the sea, run anywhere barefoot ? no shoes on, just on the naked earth so there is a contact between your feet and the earth. Within a few weeks you will start feeling a great energy and strength in your legs.
Also, start taking deeper breaths. With shallow breathing one starts feeling uprooted. The breath must go to the very root of your being, and the root is your sex center ? so then there is a continuous massage of the sex center by the breathing. Then you feel rooted.
Otherwise if your breathing is shallow and never goes to the sex center there is a gap ? which makes you feel confused, uncertain, not knowing who you are, where you are going, just drifting. Then you will become lusterless, no life!!
For the very beginners, Osho gives the following easiest methods of meditation, which has been globally approved to be most effective :
?1. Watching the Breath
Breath-watching is a method that can be done anywhere, at any time, even if you have only a few minutes available. You can simply watch the rise and fall of your chest or belly as the breath comes in and goes out, or try this version?.
Step 1: Watch the In Breath
Close your eyes and start watching your breath. First, the inhalation, from where it enters your nostrils, right down into your lungs.
Step 2: Watch the Gap That Follows
At the end of the inhalation there is gap, before the exhalation starts. It is of immense value. Watch that gap.
Step 3: Watch the Out Breath
Now watch the exhalation.
Step 4: Watch the Gap That Follows
At the end of the exhalation there is a second gap: watch that gap. Do these four steps for two to three times ? just watching the breathing cycle, not changing it in anyway, just watching the natural rhythm.
Step 5: Counting In Breaths
Now start counting: Inhalation ? count 1 (don?t count the exhalation), inhalation ? 2, and so on, up to 10. Then count from 10 back to 1. Sometimes you may forget to watch the breath or you may count beyond 10. Then start again, at 1.
?These two things have to be remembered: watching, and particularly the gaps at the top and the bottom. The experience of that gap is you, your innermost core, your being. And second: go on counting, but not more than up to 10; and come back again to 1; and only count the inhalation.
These things help awareness. You have to be aware, otherwise you will start counting the exhalation, or you will go over 10.
If you enjoy this meditation, continue it. It is of immense value.?
For my dear friends who are interested in MEDITATION, I am sure the above stuff would have been of some real good help. Since our topic under consideration is, ?WHAT IS MEDITATION ? OSHO RAJNEESH?, I have provided some useful & practically possible extracts from the valuable books of Osho. MSian Abishek has furnished the names of many books of Osho in this regard and that could be tried as well for a more better understanding. Do try for best results and provide me with your feedbacks. Ur comments (whether good or bad) are most welcome.
Mrs. Jayalakshmi Shyam