Antarmukhi

WHY IS MEDITATION REQUIRED? ======================= According to Hindu spiritual thoughts, in this creation, every creature is experiencing the results of its own deeds and every creature as per the deeds of its earlier birth is taking the present birth. The soul in the creature is revolving in the cycle of births and deaths. He is becoming the cause of good deeds or bad deeds. This soul should, at some point of time, get out of this cycle of pleasures, pains, happiness, sorrow, suffering, fears, again good deeds and again bad deeds. Such strong desire to get out of this cycle will take shape in every creature at some point of time and at some stage in this cycle of births and deaths. In every birth, instead of taking some life form, experiencing the pleasures and pains, fears, suffering, and instead of experiencing the results of good deeds and bad deeds, a desire to reach a state emanates, a state of existing in all living and nonliving, being one with the 'Chetana' which is spread across this universe, which cannot be bound by results of good deeds and bad deeds and to reach a state which cannot be described in qualities, characteristics or in any manner. Such a desire is aspiration for liberation and such Chetana which is spread across this universe is the Supreme soul or the Universal Consciousness. To reach this state, we should establish a link between us and God. Such link is established through practice of meditation. After sometime, when nature takes back our physical body from us, with this link established through practice of meditation, let us deliver our soul to the Supreme Soul. Let us become one with the Supreme Soul. This is the desire for liberation. Such a state which we will achieve is the Supreme state of Oneness. Hence meditation is required.   THIS IS FOR WHOM? ================= Feeling of an individual to reach such state of liberation or a state of Oneness is beyond the boundaries of religion, caste and creed. This is beyond one's possessions, wealth, high positions in society and any other status. It is not related to level of education of an individual, because all these are related to this birth or this life. Scholarly knowledge is related to this birth or life. Spiritual knowledge is related to a state that is beyond births. Spiritual knowledge is that one which takes us to the state of Oneness or liberation. A state which is called by Hindus as liberation or the state of Oneness is called Kingdom of God by some other religion. Some other religions are calling this state with some other name. Such men of divine knowledge who are aspiring the above state are in all religions. Such men of divine knowledge are in the rich. They are in the poor. They are in literates and illiterates. Men of such divine knowledge are in the people whom we term then as civilized. Such men of divine knowledge are in uncivilized people also. They are in palaces and forests. Such men of divine knowledge are everywhere in this world. Hence meditation is meant for those who are aspiring the divine knowledge and thereby the state of liberation or the state of Oneness. Meditation is meant for such individuals only.     WHAT HAPPENS IF AN INDIVIDUAL TURNS 'ANTARMUKH'? ========================================= Mind gets stability. Mind attains the state of peace. Mind does not think sideways Because an individual knows the aim of his life, quality in his discretion and perception will improve. For getting out of the cycle of good deeds, bad deeds, pleasures, pains, fears, sufferings first the individual identifies his duties. He will try to discharge his duties with great skill corresponding to his age, i.e., adolescence, youth and old age, because if one does not perform one’s duties well, will it not mean, a bad deed? Will it not lead to other bad deeds? In fact not performing duties properly is a bad deed. A student's aim will be only acquiring knowledge. Man or woman after having formed a family of his or her own, will discharge his or her domestic responsibilities well, because if duties or responsibilities are not discharged properly, would not they remain as bondages or rather bad deeds? Would not one again have to necessarily complete these unfinished deeds? In society also, the individuals whose aim is association of God, will discharge their duties and responsibilities in such a fashion and with such a skill and intelligence that they should not again wriggle or struggle to get out of these bondages.  These persons enjoy all the comforts that come to them during the course of discharging their duties. With the same mind they accept all the discomforts and sorrows. These persons stand like a rock in times of adversity. They are not moved by any criticisms. They will not be afraid of difficulties. They will not be inflated by flattery. They do not feel happy on getting recognitions, because the recognitions they want are not related to this world. The recognition they expect is from the Supreme Soul to be eligible to join Him. When the persons are getting such recognitions from the Supreme Soul and they are reaching the state which is beyond time, cycle of births and deaths, and characteristics, why should they run for some recognition which are related to and bound by the time, and recognitions connected to this birth? Similarly, when an individual himself is going to become the Supreme Soul who is containing all the identities within Himself, why should the individual run for the worldly identities? The individual who becomes 'Antarmukh' will be astonished and feels happy on seeing his reflection within himself and the belief, that his personality made and identified by his family and society is true, will vanish. He will establish the truth in himself that his personality is divine which is beyond time, births and character.