Disciple: Once a great man said that a God who is pleased when we pray and displeased when we don’t, doesn’t exist.
Guru (laughing): Many great men have said this.
Disciple: I feel that people are often being misguided. I think meditation is needed more than prayer. If only a few plants flower, would we praise the gardener (religion)?
Guru: There is no God as such, who pleases when you pray and not when you don’t. We don’t have any such Gods (smiling). But does that mean you should not pray? When you pray, do upasana, meditate, sing bhajans and kirtans, etc. you attain Chittha-shuddhi (purity of mind). And when your mind becomes pure, your self-consciousness grows, naturally enabling you to feel Eeswara-anugraha (immortal bliss). This is how we perceive God. So, prayer is mandatory.
There are people who think dhyana (meditation) is everything. Sitting in Padmasana and closing your eyes is not meditation. Meditation is not something that you should do; it's that which should come to you by nature, on your spiritual journey. That’s why we say meditation cannot be taught. Meditation (dhyana) is that what you attain as you progress from the upasanas [primary phase], with a steady mind and consciousness. Concentration is the most important part of your journey towards dhyana.
Meditation is not something to be taught or learnt. It should be attained. Evidently, there is no point in asking the public to meditate. They may close their eyes and sit for hours, but of what use? What will they meditate upon? So, we ask them to pray. We ask them to pray, sing kirtans, do pujas, etc.
Guru (laughing): Many great men have said this.
Disciple: I feel that people are often being misguided. I think meditation is needed more than prayer. If only a few plants flower, would we praise the gardener (religion)?
Guru: There is no God as such, who pleases when you pray and not when you don’t. We don’t have any such Gods (smiling). But does that mean you should not pray? When you pray, do upasana, meditate, sing bhajans and kirtans, etc. you attain Chittha-shuddhi (purity of mind). And when your mind becomes pure, your self-consciousness grows, naturally enabling you to feel Eeswara-anugraha (immortal bliss). This is how we perceive God. So, prayer is mandatory.
There are people who think dhyana (meditation) is everything. Sitting in Padmasana and closing your eyes is not meditation. Meditation is not something that you should do; it's that which should come to you by nature, on your spiritual journey. That’s why we say meditation cannot be taught. Meditation (dhyana) is that what you attain as you progress from the upasanas [primary phase], with a steady mind and consciousness. Concentration is the most important part of your journey towards dhyana.
In essence, we need both prayers and meditation, but know that both are at different levels of your consciousness. You can progress to meditation only through prayers, not vice versa. Beginning with meditation is fruitless.
Namaste!
Hari Om!
ॐ Chidanandam ॐ
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