Thought 21: Think twice before you try these meditations!

[Quick links]

 

Many modern Gurus propagate different techniques which they either call as ‘mindfulness meditation’ or ‘insight meditation’. They make tall claims about what these can really achieve. But actually, these are rehashing of well-known Buddhist meditative techniques. So, it is important to know about these Buddhist meditation techniques, that have a long history and are still being practiced among the Buddhists.

Thought 20: Guided Meditation

[Quick links]

 

Nowadays one keeps coming across YouTube videos on ‘Guided Meditation’. Sitting face to face with a ‘live’ Guru and going through a session of guided meditation has become a thing of the past. It is time for running a ‘Meditation ap’ on your mobile phone, totally in the comfort of your cozy home. Of course, nothing comes free. Instead of paying a hefty fee to a Guru, you end up paying subscription fee to the ap maker 😉

 

Am I also talking about one such guided meditation? 

Thought 19: The predicament of a confused actor 😉

[Quick links]

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the heavy and philosophically intense previous episode, let me start this episode with a light and hilarious story.

Thought 18: Does God have a form?

[Quick links]

 

 

 

 

 

Once someone asked Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Guru of Swami Vivekananda, the question “Is God Saakaara – with form, or is he Niraakaar – without form?”. 

Ramakrishna had spent most of his life worshipping God in a feminine form of Goddess Kaali. Even during meditation, he could see none other than the figure of Kaali. How could he have answered this question, other than by saying “Of course God has a form!”.

But Ramakrishna was supposed to be a realized person. How did he actually answer this question?

Thought 17: This world is not an illusion

[Quick links]

 

The Advaita of Sankara says that “only the God exists and this world is just an illusion – or Mythya, - Brahma Satya, Jagat mythya”. 

And many modern Swamis like the one I was referring to in the previous episode, keep repeating this view. This in spite of the fact that many later Indian philosophers, who succeeded Sankara, strongly refuted this concept of mythya as put forth by Sankara. They did not agree that this world is an illusion.