complied & edited by Swami Anand Neelambar
The word Taoshobuddha comes from three words, ‘tao,’ ‘sho,’ and ‘Buddha’. The word Tao was coined by the Chinese master, Lau Tzu. It means, that which is and cannot be put into words. It is unknown and unknowable. It can only be experienced and not expressed in words. Its magnanimity cannot be condensed into finiteness. The word Sho implies, that which is vast like the sky and deep like an ocean and carries within its womb a treasure. It also means one on whom the existence showers its blessings. And lastly the word Buddha, implies the Enlightened One; one who has arrived home. Thus, Taoshobuddha implies one who is existential, on whom the existence showers its blessings and one who has arrived home. The Enlightened One!
TAOSHOBUDDHA Edited and Compiled by
Swami Anand Neelamber
S ter ling P aper bac ks terling Paper aperbac backs
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Meditation: The way to self-realization Š 2008, Taoshobuddha ISBN 978-81-207-3889-8
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Meditation is just to be! Not doing anything! No action! No thought! No emotions! Just you are! And it is sheer delight! Neither the ancient techniques of meditation nor the Modern scientific biofeedback techniques can ever lead to meditativeness. Meditation is an understanding, an experience of oneness – both inner and outer. It springs forth from the deepest core of your being. An evolution! Just as no doctor can give you health, so too no master can give you meditation. Both meditation and health belong to the fourth dimension. A dimension beyond the known! A master can only help you in removing the obstacles so that meditation happens! When you are one, suddenly you see this oneness outside. All barriers vanish. There is no ‘i’, no ‘thou’. There is only god or truth or samadhi or whatever you may call this. You may even call this nirvana. Zen calls this sonoma or konomama. This is pure ishness. Also this is suchness or what buddha calls thathata. One simply is. One is not doing anything. No thinking. No one is feeling anything. This ishness is the ultimate experience of bliss! Beyond this there is nothing! This is eternal search. You have arrived home. This is meditation! Though meditation begins in the mind, it is not real meditation. Begin with the mind. One day you will attain meditation. When the mind ceases, you are beyond it; Only then real meditation begins. Even to go beyond the mind you have to use the mind itself. However, use the mind negatively. You will certainly attain meditation.
DEEP WITHIN YOU IS THE BUDDHA! These methods do not belong to any religion. Just as the Theory of relativity is not Jewish because Albert Einstein conceived it, so radio and television are not Christian. And no one says why are you using electricity, because it is Christian and a Christian mind conceived it. Science does not belong to any religion, race, caste, or creed! Just because these techniques were developed by a Hindu mind, does this mean these techniques are Hindu? But you cannot change the ‘wisdom’ of human stupidity. So think through it.
CONTENTS Preface Introduction
ix xix SECTION ONE: MEDITATION
What is Meditation? Awakening – The Key to Meditation Meditation and Explosion Mindfulness and Meditation SECTION TWO: HOW
TO
3 43 54 65 MEDITATE?
The Process of Discipline and Learning The Flow of Life Initiation to a Master Path to Desirelessness Understanding Soul Life Force and Seven Bodies Obstacles in the Path of Meditation Maya or Illusion – The Impending Force in Meditation Choosing the Place of Meditation Self-reliance and Dependence in Meditation
75 86 92 101 111 120 134 140 150 159
SECTION THREE: MEDITATION TECHNIQUES Vipashyana Meditation Techniques An Experiment in Silence & Seclusion
169 183
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Tratak Meditation Techniques Mirror Gazing Techniques Mantra Meditation Conscious Entry into Sleep Wordless Communion with Existence Conscious Death Visualization Techniques Dynamic Meditation Kundalini Meditation Nadabrahma Meditation Devavani Meditation Gourishankar Meditation Sufi Whirling Meditation Gibberish Meditation Mystic Rose Meditation No-mind Meditation Meditation Techniques from Vigyan Bhairav Tantra 112 Meditation Techniques Meditation Techniques for Children Meditation for Modern Man SECTION FOUR: WHY
IS
190 193 198 205 207 209 212 217 225 227 230 232 234 236 238 242 244 254 256 260
MEDITATION NECESSARY?
Why is Meditation Necessary? Meditation – A Release and the Cure Meditation – A Principle of Contact Meditation and Kundalini Meditation and Opening of Sahasrar Tao of Meditation Meditation and Sufism Meditation and Healing
269 281 293 306 316 321 332 339
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PREFACE
B
efore I begin to say anything, let me clarify certain things from the very beginning. I am not interested in any metaphysical questions. It does not matter who created this world or if God is or is not? You are! This is most important to me. You can be transformed. This is meaningful. It neither matters what was the relationship between Jesus and Mary Madeline nor why did Rama put Sita to the fire test or why did Rama abandon Sita? Answers to these questions cannot transform you or give you the taste of Enlightenment. A Buddha is never concerned with such questions. He works with you and on you alone. These methods do not belong to any religion. Just as the Theory of Relativity is not Jewish because Albert Einstein conceived it, so radio and television are not Christian because a Christian mind conceived this. And no one asks, why are you using electricity because it is Christian? A Christian mind conceived it. Science does not belong to any religion, race, caste, or creed! Just because these techniques were developed by a Hindu mind, does this mean these techniques are Hindu? But you cannot change the ‘wisdom’ of human stupidity. So think through it. Many years ago in deep silence, a flowering happened. The beauty and the fragrance of this flower were not going to last forever. Whatever happens to the flower is momentary;
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bees gather around the flower and begin to experience its beauty, fragrance, aliveness, presence, and its fragility. This is the experience in the end, of all those who are thirsty of something emanating from deep within the flowering of the Being; and the flower continues to share its presence, its being, its silence, and its wholeness. Those who are near such flowering, begin to experience their own inner flowering. This is the Secret of the Golden Flower of a Zen master, Lu Tzu. Such is the milieu. Out of this flowering, a commune is born. A Buddhafield! Commune refers to a deep union between Meditation and Love. An oasis in the desert of the world! In such an environment of deep lovingness, one grows in awareness, understanding, and meditation. This is the trinity of the Hindu mystical existential sound, AUM. The word Commune was first coined by Buddha. He referred to commune as Sangha. It implies a place where initiates have dropped their individual egos and are no more functioning as individual islands or personalities. Communication between heads was replaced by the communion of hearts! Whenever so many hearts open, many flowers blossom! Fragrance is released. This fragrance that surrounds a Buddha is the fragrance or the energy of the Being. We may call this as Buddhafield. If someone has attained this flowering, a commune is bound to happen. No one can prevent this. All those who are thirsty, will start moving towards the flowering of this Buddha. Just like, when a flower blossoms, the magnetic pull of the fragrance attracts many bees – only bees! No dog will ever be attracted to this magnetic pull of a flower. A Buddha and a commune exist only for those who have the sensitivity, the perception, the availability, the search, and the openness. Many will pass but will go on missing the Buddha and the commune. When many individuals with openness and a deep search within,
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are completely dissolved and merged into one another, what is created there is a Buddhafield, a Sangha. Individuals with complex diverse potentials gather around the Buddha. Everyone works wholeheartedly in his or her own way without any dictatorship or leadership. Through the Buddha or the Enlightened one, Godliness starts overflowing and consciousness creates a commune or Buddhafield. The present book is the outcome of such a happening. Many years ago, the work started as talks aired on radio, here in Trinidad and within the commune. In fact, the entire country became the Buddhafield. Many listened to these talks. Now it was felt necessary to bring all these talks in the form of a concise publication; hence, this book. The need for meditation was felt worldwide. Thus, the Buddhafield is now being extended to the entire world. Just as, for the body to survive breathing is essential, so too for the soul to evolve, meditation is essential! Meditation is the breathing of the soul. Then what is the difference between breathing and meditation? Do the two differ from one another? There is a subtle relationship between the two. Naturally, as an individual you breathe unconsciously. When you learn to breathe consciously, it becomes meditation. Buddha introduced Anapana Sati Yoga Meditation. It is also called Vipashyana Meditation. This was introduced to create an inner sun of awareness. In this meditation, one needs to become aware of breathing and by doing so the unconsciousness begins to vanish. By doing this, one develops witnessing. Therefore, breathing is used as a tool to create witnessing. With witnessing, one comes to know that the body and the being are separate. Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, which is almost 5000 years old, is a treatise on Meditation. It is Shiva who narrates these techniques of Meditation to His Consort, Devi. There is a specific approach in Tantra. Shiva uses this to narrate one hundred and twelve
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techniques of meditation. In fact, no technique of meditation lies outside these one hundred and twelve techniques. Most of these techniques use breathing as an essential technique to attain consciousness of meditative state. The entire overflow is spontaneous. It is the poetry of the being that has sprung from the inner depths of a Buddha! It is a spoken message; no way a written one. Blended with compassion, it flows like a river that is taking you on a voyage to merge with the Infinite. This will bring the ultimate transformation of the consciousness in you! A delight within! Each word and each sentence is a musical composition. Also it has its own soul, mind, and body. This trinity together creates an energy field. This is the energy field of a Buddha. Once you consider each word and each sentence as a living organism and the very being of Buddhahood and feel life pulsating through these, you are in tune with the energy field of a Buddha. How can one read and absorb the message and energy contained in these overflows? Every gem of wisdom and knowledge, each practice and each sentence contained in this book is an energy field. This acts as a message. Such messages have tremendous healing and energy of blissfulness. This can balance the matter inside the cells and the energy that surrounds the cells. So you have to maintain a particular posture while decoding the message contained herein. When you want to decode the message, sit down with your back straight, bring your tongue close to your palate but not touching it, contract your anus a little, and lastly bring your lower abdomen in; maintain this posture while reading the book. Why am I emphasizing a specific posture? This posture is a meditative posture. This posture helps us to boost energy, healing, and thus rejuvenation.
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Every word, every sentence is impregnated with energy. When you maintain this posture, your cells will be in a state of inner peace, full of awareness and relaxation. Whatever part of the book you maybe reading, your cells will be open to receive both healing and rejuvenation simultaneously. Read slowly. Comprehend, digest, and absorb the message. As you do so, your soul will get connected to the very soul of each word. Remember, the soul carries within it the energy of love, light, healing, blessing, and service. Therefore, reading in this meditative way, will not only unfold the inner secrets of this message but will also transform every aspect of your life. Meditation brings the Conservation of Energy. Thus, conservation of energy is an important aspect of Meditation. This is the law of Physics. It explains that energy can neither be destroyed nor lost. Definitely it can be transformed. Just as baser metals are transformed into precious gems, so too meditation transforms the baser nature into the sublime one. From the quagmire of senses, meditation takes you to a different realm of being. Look at the clouds. Clouds carry within their womb the water of the oceans. As the waters from the oceans transform into water vapor, these vapors represent one form of energy. When these vapors rise, clouds are formed. This is followed by the energy from the heavens that descend in the form of rain. This is another form of energy. When clouds are full of water vapor, rain pours. These are all different forms of energy. Thus, energy is conserved. Because of rain and wind a stone is eroded. The stone gets smaller and smaller in size. When a stone is struck at the same point for hundreds of years by dripping water, a hole will form in the stone and eventually, go through the stone. And then the part of the stone that got eroded away will form a hole. This is the part which has transformed into another form of
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cosmic energy. So too when a person dies and is cremated, the energy is absorbed by Mother Earth and thus transforms into another form of energy. Meditation brings a form of energy that transforms the soul, mind, and body. I was intending for the book on Meditation: The Way to Self-realization. But what can I do. There is a direct connection between meditation and healing. In fact, meditation is inner healing. Meditation creates harmony within, through healing your emotions and all which creates disturbance within. Meditation takes you to the realm of bliss beyond reason and all that is mental. Therefore it can be said, it is in reality a journey from medication to meditation. What is the necessity of meditation? Five thousand years ago, The Yellow Emperor’s Canon, the ancient authoritative text on traditional Chinese medicine, stated, “If Chi flows, one is healthy; if not, one is sick”. Chi refers to vital energy. All these are part of the cosmos. Every one and every thing in the cosmos radiates energy or chi. That is why I call various forms of chi or energy as Cosmic or Existential energy. Then there are countless universes. And there are countless energies or chi of these countless universes. These universes can thus be divided as yang universes. These constitute the physical worlds. Then there are yin universes. These constitute the spiritual worlds. The unknown and the unknowable creates both yang and yin universes. Together, the two radiate Divine Energy or Chi. Divine is one. Universe is one. There is only one chi or energy – the Cosmic Energy! When the strategy of this text was planned, there was a format to follow. However, as time flowed on, many new dimensions and talks were included. I did not want to include any talks on the healing aspects. But then I realized, meditation is in itself a healing process. Healing of the soul! But the soul is not separate from the mind and the body. Healing at three different planes! Because of this, I had to include a section on
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healing as well as vital energy, or life force, or Êlan vita, or Orgone, or Prana as in tai chi and chi gong. Traditional Chinese medicine mentions at least fifty different forms of energy, for example, heart chi, liver chi, kidney chi, yin chi, wei chi, etc. Usually we are unaware of these forms of chi. It is said that it takes five years of hard work to understand this. However, for the purpose of this text, I will speak of only one form of chi or energy and that is the Cosmic Energy or Prana or the existential cosmic sound vibration, Aum. When this energy radiates through the heart, it is heart chi, and the energy radiating through the immune system represents the chi of the immune system. When the energy radiates through the cells, it is cell energy. The energy radiating through the body and the blood vessels is wei chi. You can call the energy radiating through the tree as tree chi. So too, there are ocean chi, star chi, etc. In this book, I have attempted to speak all that could be spoken at this level. Yet still, there are many dimensions, which are not only beyond human comprehension but they cannot be revealed. These are more intricate techniques that are given by a master to his disciple. These cannot be put in any book form. However, I have attempted to speak of the Sufi path in relation to meditation. Sufism is the path of love, as it developed in the deserts of the Middle East. And Zen is the path of Meditation that developed in Japan. Buddha’s technique of Jati Smaran – the path of going into past lives, has intentionally been omitted because of the possible dangers it presents if practised without an Enlightened master. It is very easy to be entertained, but that is not the purpose of the Sufis. Then you will miss the essence. These stories are reflections of the beyond. They try to state, that which cannot be said; and they try to express, that which is inexpressible. They are not about ordinary life. These belong to the center of
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your being. They are beautiful devices. If you simply pay attention, if you meditate on the story! Then parallel to the story, something else will start revealing itself in your being. The story is on one plane, but the revelation happens on another plane. The two planes are parallel to one another. Unless you start tasting that parallel revelation, remember you have missed the essence. It is easy to miss the essence. You do not need any intelligence to miss the essence. However, to feel the essence and then flow with it, will certainly require even greater intelligence. And, in fact, something beyond intelligence! So pull yourself together and become integrated in the moment. Do not read. Instead, listen as totally as possible; just become your ears. Be there. Something of immense value is being imparted in this overflow. In the beginning, trust is a feeling; in its final flowering, it is being. I cannot say anymore. Still much is left to say. This is my essence, my being, my presence; feel it and then allow it within you. Let it work at your inner center. Trust is the essence along the path that leads to inner flowering. And you can trust only if you are ready to go into insecurity. And ready to sail your boat without any map into the unknown! Trust means immense courage. And only a courageous person can be religious, because only a courageous person can say Yes. So when you trust, your unconsciousness starts revealing many things to you. It reveals itself only to the trusting mind, trusting being, and trusting consciousness. Religion is the fragrance of this trust, impeccable and absolute. When the planning for this book began, a certain format was chosen. As time flowed on, many new dimensions were added and edited. Now that the work is ready for final consummation, I felt the need for certain chapters to be
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elaborated. All this lies outside the present format. Chapters like Meditation Techniques, Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, Sufi Path and Parables, Healing and Meditation require a separate overflow each. This will be undertaken next, after I finish some other works like Sufi Path and Parables. Each of these topics will be elaborated in times to come and will therefore, appear as separate works. Quite often people ask me, “Who is your master?” I have always answered this question in silence. Now the time has come to reveal, for the benefit of the listeners. Master and disciple is an existential game. From the side of a master it is a game. He knows the entire existence is Enlightened. In fact, we are all floating in an existential placenta, the Enlightenment. Enlightenment is your very nature. It is like the flowers and the buds. Each bud has the potentiality to blossom into a flower. Until this happens, the bud considers itself separate from the flower. This is an existential game. The moment a disciple attains this flowering, he is aware of the game. Thus, dissolves the master-disciple relationship. What remains then is a silent communion between the two. The two are at the same plane performing the role in the evolution of human consciousness. Their techniques and methods may differ but the ultimate outcome is the same. There remains friendliness between the two. All the masters of the past and those who are waiting as yet to manifest, are my friends. The entire existence is my friend – the masters of the yesteryears and those who are to come later, the plants, the rivers, the planets, the stars, the moon, and the sun have all helped in one way or the other in the process of evolution. I bow down to these. Yet still, certain names need mention. I abstain for now… Although, I have left the acknowledgements to be done by Swami Anand, yet still certain persons I must acknowledge. I
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am thankful to Gita, my wife; Dr Sargam, my daughter; and Vivek, my son for their contributions in making this available to you. During my stay in India, I received an abundance of love and care from my parents, brother Awdhesh, his family and little children – Gauri and Nandini and so many others, knowingly or unknowingly. These need special mention. I am also thankful to the editor Sonia Saini for giving valuable suggestions for the improvement of the book. AUM… I bow down to those who have no enemies. I bow down to those who have explored inner space. I bow down to all those who have explored inner world – And are capable of transferring this to others! I bow down to all mystics of this universe. This five-fold salutation and its remembrance destroys all negativities And it is most auspicious of all that is auspicious.
TAOSHOBUDDHA
email: taoshobuddha@gmail.com
I have made myself available on my website. For queries you can log on to: www.taoshobuddhameditations.com
xix
INTRODUCTION
I
initially came into religious life through my ajaa – Grandfather from my father’s side (this is how we call our grandfather here in Trinidad). He was a pujari, a Hindu priest who engaged in occult Hindu practices. During my late teen years, I spent time studying the works of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo. In my ‘search for the miraculous’ I was drawn to Taoshobuddha, who initiated me into the realm of Mystic Masters. It was this encounter, which led to the beginning of the real sojourn into meditation. This work is an effort to compile the overflows of Taoshobuddha into a blueprint for Meditation; though, there cannot be a blueprint for that which cannot be taught! This humble offering is just a gesture to encourage the seeker to take the plunge into the unknown and the unknowable! The risk is great and you will lose everything! But you will only lose that which you do not possess and that which is really yours will be uncovered. The journey into meditation is a sojourn into self-discovery. I hope this compilation of overflows from Taoshobuddha seduce you to go beyond yourself into the ocean of infinity and explore the fathomless depths of your inner Being! These overflows contain the gist of Meditation and How to let go into a meditative state of awareness. The Why of Meditation
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is very important, as it is not much understood by common humanity. This compilation seeks to make available the essence of a life of meditation and its importance in today’s chaotic world. Reading the book is just a small percent of what the authors intend it to be. The main focus is to engage into any of the techniques discussed and attain awareness. Remember, this is just a menu. You cannot satisfy your hunger by reading the menu. You have to eat the food and let it work within – thus, your thirst into Meditation begins. How long, how long shall you lay in slumber? Awake! Awake! Oh immortal being! The dawn of new awakening peeps o’er the horizon And the darkness takes to flight! Many names need mentioning who have helped tremendously in the publication of this overflow. In this regard the staff at Radio Shakti, Program Director - Roshan Sookram; Gregory Prescott - Simply E and Farook Baksh - DJ Mamoo. Also various sponsors here in Trinidad & Tobago. I must mention in particular Oma’s Pooja Bhandar in Penal, and Shaffie Mohammed Florists at Piarco International Airport right here in Trinidad, West Indies, the country of Cricket. I also pay my regards and thanks to the publishers who undertook to make this overflow available to all of you and to Mr. Manjeet Saluja, who helped me out in its final editing. I wish to also thank Swami Dharambodh, a sculpturist in Trinidad, for creating the beautiful sculpture of the Laughing Buddha, which now adorns the Ishtara Center of Dr C.Harry Ramnarine, an expert in alternate medicine, who is blending medicine and meditation as the complete science of healing. with love and awareness! Swami Anand Neelambar