Dhyan Yoga ; Pujya Gurudev

The practical aspect of Dhyan Yoga

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Let us all begin with the collective chanting of the Gayatri Mantra,

 "Om Bhur Buvah Swah, Tatsaviturvarenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat ||"

Brothers and Sisters, I am giving you a special training of dhyana (meditation) together with Gayatri upasana. There are two modes of upasana (worship)  those of the name and the form (of God). There could be no devotional practice without Gods name and form. 

These two are supposed to be the universal modes of worship. Look at any religion, you will find the use of Gods name and/or form in their modes of worship. Mohammedans recite the name of Allah on tasabiha; Christian Priests chant Gods name with the help of a rosary; the Arya Samajis meditate upon divine form as sunlight; the yogis of Nada Yoga concentrate upon the sublime sounds of the Omnipresent. In any case, the support of meditation (with Divine name or form) is essential for true worship. 

This is why I stress on you to practice meditation along with the japa of the Gayatri Mantra. Mental concentration on some gross object  e.g. an idol, or a picture of a deity, is most convenient for the majority of people; because, the human mind, in general, is not so developed that it could be focused for a stretch of time without any visible or perceptible symbol. However, with sincere practice, one begins to realize the presence of God in his inner self and learns to meditate upon it, without any external symbol. What is the meaning of dhyana yoga? Well, let us try to understand it. As you all might know, our life has two facets. One is the external, which is most familiar to us. 

The holes in our ears open externally; our eyes also open up externally and keep watching what is happening in the outside world. We can see the things outside but we dont even get a glimpse of what is there inside us. Is there nothing? No my friends! The real substance, the essence is all inside us. 
They might be manifested externally but the basic elements of life lie deep within. Where is our life force? It is not outside; it is inside. And what about the intellect through which we earn wealth and gain respect? That also is not external, but, an internal potential.

We dont see introvertly and often keep wondering why God has befuddled mankind by giving us instruments of perception of the external things and events but no fine-tuned instrument of knowledge of the inner world. We never notice the immense treasure of talents, virtues and divinity, hidden inside our own self. What is easily seen by us is  my child, my material property, my this, my that, and what not! But we cant see our future; 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma