The following is a short extract from the book “CONCENTRATION AND MEDITATION” by Sri Swami Sivananda.
“Truth is Brahman. Truth is Atman. Truth is quite pure and simple. You cannot realise the Truth without reflection and meditation. Be silent. Know thyself. Know That. Melt the mind in That.
Without the help of meditation you cannot attain knowledge of the Self. Without its aid you cannot grow into the Divine state. Without it you cannot liberate yourself from the trammels of the mind and attain Immortality. If you do not practice meditation, the supreme splendour and fadeless glories of Atman will remain hidden from you. Tear the veils that cover the soul by practising regular meditation. Rend asunder the five sheaths that screen the Atman by constant meditation and then attain the final beatitude of life.
The fire of meditation annihilates all foulness due to vice. Then suddenly comes Knowledge or Divine Wisdom which directly leads to Mukti or final emancipation.
There are many valuable types of training of the mind, which are essential to mental culture, for instance, the training of memory, cultivation of reflection, discrimination, Vichara or enquiry of “Who am I”. The practice of meditation itself is a potent clarifier of the memory. The practice of memory-culture powerfully helps the attainment of meditation.
Meditation is a powerful tonic. It is a mental and nervine tonic as well. The holy vibrations penetrate all the cells of the body and cure the diseases of the body. Those who meditate save Doctors bills. The powerful, soothing waves that arise during meditation exercise a benign influence of the mind, nerves, organs and cells of the body. The Divine energy freely flows like a Taila-Dhara (flow of oil from one vessel to another) from the feet of the Lord to the different systems of the Sadhaka (aspirant).
If you can mediate for half an hour you will be able to engage yourself with peace and spiritual strength in the battle of life for one week through the force of this meditation. Such is the beneficial result of meditation. As you have to move with different minds of peculiar nature in you daily life, get the strength and peace from meditation and you will have no trouble and worry then.
A Yogi who meditates regularly has a magnetic and charming personality. Those who come in contact with him/her are much influenced by his/her sweet voice, powerful speech, lustrous eyes, brilliant complexion, strong, healthy body, good behavior, virtuous quality and Divine nature. Just as a grain of salt dropped in a basin of water dissolves and becomes distributed throughout the whole water, just as the sweet fragrance of jasmine pervades the air, so also the spiritual aura becomes infiltrated into the minds of others. People draw joy, peace and strength from him/her. They are inspired by his/her speech and get elevation of mind by mere contact with him/her.
Meditation opens the door of the mind to intuitive knowledge and many powers.”
