Meditation Concept and Process

Manaeeya Eknathji Ranade, the force behind the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on the Sripad Shila at kanyakumari and the founder of the Vivekananda Kendra–a Spiritually Oriented Service Mission, while launching the organization, had declared that Yoga will be the core of Vivekananda Kendra. He has made this concept crystal clear through his talks, writings and lectures thereafter. In pursuance of its objective– Man-making and Nation-building –Vivekananda Kendra has been organising a number of Yoga-based programmers– Residential Yoga Shiksha Shibirs and Adhyatma Shibirs at Kanyakumari and Yoga Satras, Yoga Vargas, Personality Development Camps, etc. at its branch centres throughout the country.

The day-to-day life of an average Indian is based on the principles of Yoga. Yoga being our way of life, it has been embedded in our daily routine. So much so, it took the form of daily chores and rituals. Some sort of physical exercise like Surya Namaskars–before or after bath. Thereafter, the ritual of Sandhya Vandana, worshipping the family deity and or one’s Ishta Devata through pooja process invariably involving Pranayama and Dhyana i.e. meditation. The effect of Macaulcyan Education and disturbing of the daily routine by a speedy life style in the past century has taken the English educated people in particular away from this well-laid built-in yogic discipline. In recent times people have re-invented this time-tested life style to combat the ill effects of the “life style disorders” emanating from the speedy life style. Now yoga has came to be known as the panacea for all the ills and is therefore being commercially exploited by the ‘experts’.

Vivekananda Kendra, through its yoga-based activities, seeks to re-establish the Yoga Way of Life in a non-commercial, non-jargoned and un-faddish way. Our normal life should be re-entrenched on principles of Yoga without glamorising the efficacy of Asanas, Pranayama and Dhyana i.e. meditation. Various meditation programmes are part of this dynamics for the past so many years.

There was a consistent demand for a hand-book on meditation, as a supplement to our other publications like Yoga, Pranayama and Surya Namaskar. This book, Meditation– Concept and Process, a hand-book on meditation, should fulfil this demand. The types of Dhyana used in the Kendra’s Dhyana Vargas are based on traditional practices retold in simplified modern vocabulary.

I am grateful to Late Sri R. Gopalakrishnan, Vanaprasthi Karyakarta of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari and Sri K.P. Shivakumar, former Asst. Editor of Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan Trust, Chennai. They have carefully gone through the manuscript and enriched it by suggestions. Shri shivakumarji has taken special efforts by applying his editing skill to ensure the effective and correct usage of English.

May the Yogeshwara guide us all to do His work and strengthen us all, so that the ancient wisdom of Bharat can show the light of guidance to the rest of mankind and all of us can pray with conviction:

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramaya Sarve Bhadrani Pasyantu, Ma Kaschid Dukha Bhag Bhavet Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi: Narayana Smriti