Scientific Meditation

Scientific Meditation

The wisdom and knowledge, presented by Vedanta, is to a large extent obtained via deep meditation. The theory can be verified by anyone who practices meditation techniques regularly, properly and sufficiently. Thus, Vedanta is prone to be called a science and meditation a scientific tool. To meditate means to utilize certain mental techniques in order to still the noises of the mind which act as a veil that hides the Self. There is nothing esoteric about meditation - one just find a few (unobscure) techniques, takes up the practicing and proceeds one step at a time. However, in order to yield reliable results, the chosen techniques must be practiced regularly and systematically for an extended period of time.

Below is a little beginners technique that may be practiced on a chair or on the floor in a meditation pose. Do not try to accomplish all the steps at once. Practice step 1 for some days. When you feel ready, include step 2 and do the two steps in sequence for some days. Then include step 3 and so forth. Always start by step 1 and do not rush things, all four steps are of equal importance. In the beginning, 5 minutes a day will be fine - but 15 minutes will be better.

1. Straighten your back and close your eyes. Come to rest. When you feel ready - start listening to your surroundings. Hear everything around you, all sounds in all directions, all at the same time. Not just one sound but all the sounds. Perceive everything with the same interest - a car in the street, a bird singing, the clock's ticking, the neighbor's TV. - Nothing is emphasized, nothing is pushed aside. - Just listen ... Just listen ... Just listen.
2. When the mind is satisfied with experiencing the surroundings it forgets to listen. What makes it forget? - Be aware of whatever comes to your mind. Do not interfere. Let it wander wherever it wishes, freely. Thoughts - emotions - moods - body - itching. Do not will yourself to experience anything specific. Do not analyze your thoughts, do not be pleased or angry about them. - Let your mind be free, let it decide what to experience. Relax completely and give yourself to this experience. - Then, while you sit this way, realize - I am the one who experiences all this, all around me, in my body and in my thoughts ... I am not these thoughts and emotions but the one who experiences them ... Thoughts and emotions come and go - come and go ... Behind it all, I am the one who experiences ... I am the resting-in-itself experiencing awareness.
3. When you can witness and let go of thoughts and feelings, then proceed to this step: - Choose one specific thought or emotion that you need to come to terms with. Introduce a subject to the mind and let the mind do the rest. Think it through systematically, stay with this one thought or emotion. - Any subject will do - think through your day, a place you have been, an event, an intellectual problem, a research problem will be just fine. - Watch how the mind treats the subject. - Do not interfere, do not judge, just let it happen. - Keep the subject for a while ... Then, abruptly stop! ... Hold the mind free of all thoughts ... No thinking ... No thinking ... No thinking.
4. The moment you discover that you are engaged in a thought - let go of it, gently. - Be open to whatever thought or emotion that may surface, accept it - then drop it and ask yourself: - Am I the thoughts? ... Am I the emotions? ... Am I the body? ... What am I? ... Who am I? - Accept any experience, let it show itself - then drop it and return to: - Who am I? ... What am I? ... Who am I? - Go on experiencing yourself - not your body, not your thoughts, not your emotions, but you. - Who are you?

This meditation constitutes the first four steps of a classical, seven step technique called Inner Silence from the tantric tradition. Its general idea is to take advantage of the mind's natural way of working and - very gently - lead it in the right direction. Although simple and straightforward, even advanced yogis find great comfort in it. If you like it, use it as long as you please. You will be pretty well off, even if it becomes the only meditation you ever take up. If you want to try out more advanced techniques, avoid those that promise you instant bliss and avoid those that look obscure to you. - It is not the techniques that make things happen - it is the mind.

Not all meditation techniques are entitled to be called scientific. Many techniques attempt to subdue the mind by means of a ceaseless repetition of certain syllables. While this kind of technique might lead to ultimate unification, it certainly does not lead to much understanding of how the mind works nor the details of its activities.