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AGEAC presents
The Science of Meditation
In order to introduce the subject of this interview,
tell us: What is meditation?
Well, meditation is something really
very inherent to Gnosis and to the world of transcendental
mysticism. Meditation can be defined as science,
as an art or as a discipline, and even as a technique.
We can define meditation as a Science
because it is a science,
it has some scientific parameters that can be verified.
It can be called an art because one has to be
an artist in the subject of relaxation
and in the silence of mind.
It can be called a technique because one has to
learn the technique of meditation,
and there are technicians and no technicians in meditation.
And it also can be conceived as a discipline
because, in order to become an athlete of meditation,
an esoteric discipline is required.
Then we can define meditation as a discipline.
So we can talk about this subject from these four aspects.
As a meditation technique,
it requires to know some steps.
As science, it must be studied in relation to its objectives.
As a discipline, it is part of the Path of the
Yogi and of the Path of the Gnostic Fakir.
Therefore, on this basis we can say that
meditation is, to a great extent, the essence
of the true inner work.
Without meditation it is impossible to make a serious study
on our psychological work,
speaking in Gnostic terms.
Without meditation we cannot calibrate
our progress towards the Being.
This is what I can say
to begin with this subject.
Although the question may seem very obvious,
in order to begin with this matter of meditation,
we want to ask you: What is meditation for?
What are the objectives of meditation?
What’s the purpose? What’s the reason?
Yes, well, there are several objectives.
Firstly, we have to say that, above all,
the mystic submerges himself into meditation
searching for peace, for mental quietness.
This is the first objective.
When somebody has already reached the permanent inner peace,
then he can use the meditation
as a means of investigation.
And when he is even more expert in the subject
of meditation, then we can say
that meditation is the path to Enlightenment,
or to the conquest of that which is called
the “Enlightening Void” in the Oriental World.
And are there steps? Are there levels of meditation?
Well, there are five steps in meditation, or four.
Four or five.
The first one is called “Asana” in Sanskrit,
and it is equivalent to the body posture
that we adopt for the meditation.
It is important to clarify this,
because in the Western World
some pre-concepts have been formed in our minds
by reading Yoga's manuals or
by listening to this or that guru, and in truth,
we are not obligated to meditate in the famous
body posture called the Lotus Position.
The President of contemporary Gnosis,
our Venerable Master Samael Aun Weor,
emphasized that the only important thing is to relax the body.
I dare to say, without pride nor arrogance,
that I can meditate even on a tree
if I find the way to relax my spinal column
and do not be bothered by any muscle; and anybody
could meditate so, too.
There is a position called “Flaming Star”:
lying in bed, legs and arms open to the right and left.
There is a position called “Corpse Posture”:
lying down, hands and arms alongside the trunk,
then the person seems a corpse.
Another one is the position of the Aztec “Chac Mool”.
Therefore, the topic of the Asana or body posture
is not something dogmatic; the really important
thing is to relax the tensions of the body.
The second step of a meditation is called “Dharana”;
this term means relaxation of muscles and nerves.
Then, the mystic, after taking a comfortable position,
and with the help of concentration,
has to make sure that all his muscles
and nerves are relaxed,
during what we call a travel that we do
along the body with our mind.
We observe each part of the body with the mind
and we relax it.
The third part –or third phase– is called
“Pratyahara”. In Sanskrit it means
“concentration of the mind”
In this part, which is, so to speak,
the part that defines the triumph or failure of a meditation,
many people does not get to cross
this door because in the state
of Pratyahara one has to be very patient
to discard all the illusory thoughts
that come to the mind, memories, desires, …
and this cannot be made overnight.
So, this is Pratyahara.
Then, the fourth phase or fourth step is called “Diana”,
which means “calm and contemplation”.
This is the phase which appears as a result of having
discarded all the multiple thoughts that
are always fighting within our psyche,
chatting and babbling.
In reaching this point, the mystic enters a state of silence
and mental quietness. The mind is quiet and silent inside
and outside, upwards, downwards, and sidewards.
This is called “Dhyana” or “contemplation”.
And then the last part, the last phase, comes:
the break-in of the Void, that is to say, the Ecstasy or Samadhi.
All of this, even though I am speaking about it quickly,
it has levels and levels.
One reaches degrees of body relaxation,
degrees of mental relaxation, because I already said,
and I repeat it again, the mind cannot become
quiet overnight, or from a day to another.
Likewise, there are degrees of contemplation.
In the beginning the contemplation lasts for a short time.
Later on it can last half an hour, more time, etc.
And the same for the ecstasy. We begin with a short ecstasy,
small ones, later on they get longer,
and for this reason there are levels and levels of Samadhi.
There exist the Samadhi, the Nirvikalpa Samadhi and afterwards the
Maha Samadhi, the Great Samadhi.
Not all mystic is able to enter into meditation
and quickly reach the Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
Perhaps he may reach, after years of hard work,
the Samadhi, years of hard work.
I am speaking slowly and clearly,
without adding anything to what our Patriarch,
the Master Samael told us.
I am just a spokesman of his words.
The Interview was taken in early February 2010
In Barcelona, Spain.
We thank everyone who helped with the editing and translation process of this video.
http://www.ageac.org/en/ageac_en http://samael.org/idiomas/ingles/home_2.htm
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