11-24-15 Post: Meditation 

Question/comment: What is meditation and what is it good for?

Response: This may seem like a clear cut topic but many people may have a different opinion from mine. Please, explore different opinions from many different sources. By meditation you can find out for yourself what meditation is about and what the benefits are.

To answer the first part of the question, according to my understanding the process we call meditation has four stages. First comes learning to concentrate. It is very difficult for many people to focus on any thing for even a few seconds without becoming distracted. So learning to focus for a sustained period takes practice. Here I might look at a rose or a candle flame. Every time my mind wanders, I bring it back to the object in front of me. 

The second stage of meditation is meditation itself. With an object or concept as the focal point my thoughts are directed on aspects of that thing. For this stage I might begin to think about a rose and all it’s qualities. Rose is a flower that is often red. Red, red lipstick. Ups. Back to rose. Red petals of the rose. They are soft; I like to touch soft things. Ups. Back to rose. The soft petals of the rose repel water. I remember seeing water beads on a rose petal. I had an aunt Rose. Ups. Back to rose. Rose petals smell of a fragrance only roses can give off. I wonder what the cellular process is that creates the rose’s scent? I wonder what chemicals are involved in the rose scent. Ups back to rose. Some roses have thorns. Ouch. Blood. Ups. Back to rose. Some roses grown in hot houses don’t have a very strong smell. I’ve heard that florists spray flowers with artificial scents because commercially grown flowers don’t have much scent. Ups. Back to rose.

The third stage is contemplation where the mind ceases to think about the object or concept yet remains focused on it. This process allows insight to dawn in awareness. It is a more direct knowing without thought. It is more experiential. This is when a person can experience Samadhi which is both a kind of seeing beyond the norm and a very ecstatic feeling at the same time.

The fourth stage is Turiya. Turiya encompasses all other stages and moves beyond them to unselfconscious observation of being. Observation is of one’s own consciousness as the observer and all else all at the same time. The limitations of time and space are seen in perspective and known to be useful conceptual tools that don’t really exist. The really tricky part of this state of awareness is to retain it while functioning in every day life.

When viewed from an aspect of brain wave frequencies we can note that our normal frenetic waking state of what has been called “the monkey mind” emits the Beta brain wave frequency. When we concentrate we begin to produce Alpha brain waves which are the same ones we produce when we are in the creative process or relaxing or day dreaming. In the meditation phase we emit Theta brain waves which are the same that we produce while dreaming in REM sleep. The difference is that we are doing it in full consciousness.

In Turiya, as I understand it, we produce all the brain waves at the same time and to the same strength or volume with full awareness. So in Turiya we produce Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta all at once. We might say at this point we have a fully functioning mind as opposed to a mind that is usually partially functioning at any given time. 

To answer the second part of the question, every person who practices the process of meditation probably does it for their own individual reasons. Examples could be that some people use meditation to relax. Some use it to learn to focus their attention. Some use it to reach Samadhi. Others use it because they are seeking enlightenment. Some people may be seeking their own true nature, and so on. 

Regardless of the initial reason for taking up the practice of meditation and what ever the stage of expertise a person reaches in their practice, meditation is a worth while activity. There are no down sides to the effort as far as I can tell. The discipline gained from practicing meditation can be put to good use in every aspect of life and the increased mental abilities gained by a person can only be a benefit.

It is very important to stay in the moment with meditation. At any stage of meditation focus on you and your current experiences and abilities. Be grateful for the practice its pleasures and its benefits. Any comparison you might make to what you experienced in the past, what you hope to experience in the future or how skillful someone else appears to be as a meditator will distract you and might discourage you from continuing your effort. Enjoy each session as an individual experience.