Insights on Yogic Meditation through Modern Science

The demands of modern life have become manifold. We have different roles to play in our personal, professional and social lives, all vying for our time and energy. Inevitably, the limited supply of these precious resources runs out, and the relentless grind leads to physical and mental fatigue, often culminating in chronic diseases, burnout, stress, anxiety, depression etc. That is one of the main reasons why the corporate world is increasingly paying more attention to the mental and spiritual wellness of employees. To help them recharge and rejuvenate, Corporations encourage employees to take time off or make use of mental health benefits like therapy sessions, wellness apps etc. 

Going on vacation 2-4 times a year, or using a wellness app for a few days, is not sufficient to detoxify the mind of the impurities that it accumulates on an everyday basis throughout the year.  We need something more, something that can “recharge and rejuvenate” us every morning, not unlike how we recharge our smartphones and laptops. Something that can give us the energy boost needed to successfully carry out all our responsibilities, without the constant feeling of burnout or stress. This everyday power-tool is meditation. 

But before entering the world of meditation, it is important to understand the ‘why’ and the ‘how’.

Why Meditation?

If we take a moment to reflect upon this creation, we will realize how perfectly it is operating without any fuss. The Sun never gets late for its daily morning appointment with the Earth.  A tiny seed grows into a beautiful flowering plant without getting impatient or doubting the process. Animals don’t get stressed about having to find food or shelter.  Everything in nature exudes peace and balance. That is, everything except the human mind, which is generally the exact opposite – a fusion of chaos and extremes. Why that is so can be understood in terms of energy.

Modern Science has revealed that the Universe is made up of energy fields – energy vibrating at different frequencies. 

• The Cosmos is in a state of absolute harmony and coherence. The crests and troughs of cosmic energy vibrations are completely balanced.
• The human body and its various organs are also in harmony with the cosmic vibrations. The most obvious indicator is the fact that most of our body functions are on divine autopilot – happening flawlessly without any need for our intervention. This harmony can occasionally be disrupted due to illness, but is restored through the body’s healing property.
• The vibrations of the  human mind, though, are haphazard and not aligned with the cosmic energy field.

This haphazardness is the reason why we are plagued by feelings of constant stress, anxiety, discontentment, inner-emptiness, lack of creativity, dullness and a negative outlook towards life.  To counter these feelings, we run towards things, people and situations. But they can only provide temporary relief, not true fulfillment. The human mind can feel fulfilled only when it is in harmony with its source – the Cosmic Energy.  

Meditation is the process of attaining that harmony…

The ‘How’ – What do the Scriptures Say?

The oldest archaeological and written evidence point to the origin of meditation in India, somewhere between 5000 to 500 BCE. Our Yogis and Sages practiced many different forms of meditation. From ancient saints like Lord Mahavir, Lord Buddha, Saint Patanjali, to more recent spiritual Masters like Shirmad Rajchandra, Swami Vivekananda, Paramhansa Yogananda – all have emphasized the importance of meditation on the spiritual path. And yet, if we read the scriptures or books that contain the teachings of these Saints, any mention of an exact meditation technique is only conspicuous by its absence. Despite its indisputable significance, why did the wise ones not address the most crucial question regarding meditation – how should we meditate?

An Ever Evolving Process 

The techniques of meditation need to evolve with the changing times. The world we live in is not the same as the one Lord Mahavir or Lord Buddha lived in. Just as the modes of transport and tools that were relevant in the Bronze Age are now confined to History textbooks, meditation techniques from bygone eras won’t be effective today. The pace of life has shifted, our minds have become more complicated, and the average human attention span has reduced. Our Saints were wise enough to predict this. And so they passed on the role of discovering and teaching relevant techniques to the Enlightened Masters of each era.

Yogic Meditation

Fast forward to the present, and we see that meditation has become somewhat of a trend, partly due to an increasingly high number of studies confirming its physical and mental benefits. There are different types of meditation techniques being taught and practiced.

A meditation technique that can truly align you with the Cosmic Energy can only come from an Enlightened Living Master, or a Sadguru, who has access to the ancient wisdom of our Yogis not through scriptures, but through their own inner experiences. They adapt this wisdom to the time and space of their existence, and devise new Yogic techniques of meditation. 

A Yogic technique is any meditation practice that combines the following core ingredients: 

1) Breath: Breath is the focal point of attention used in many meditation techniques to bring awareness to the present moment. 

2) Sound: The Cosmos started with the Big Bang, and sound was the first form in which the formless Dark Energy manifested itself. Thus, to align the mind with the Cosmic Energy, natural sounds like binaural beats become important elements of any Yogic meditation.

3) Chakras and Kendras:  Chakras and kendras are the main energy points in the human body where energy is stored in concentrated form. Energy is flowing in every cell of the body, but these points act as knots where we can experience the energies more prominently. 

4) Method: This is the step by step process of the meditation practice, that ties all the other ingredients together.

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