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The Daily
Meditator: May 2005
Meditation
is Dynamic Awareness
Dear
Meditator,
Recently at
the doctor's office, I met an elderly woman who had a "partner
dog" to help her walk. Her dog, she told me, had also learned
to help her if she falls. The dog, a male Norwegian Elkhound, does
this by crouching down to form a ladder with its body, so she can
climb up. When the woman was called to see the doctor, it was a
joy to see how conscious and caring the Elkhound was as he accompanied
the woman down the hall. The Elkhound's dignity and selflessness
were quite inspiring.
After the woman left, I thought about the similarity between the
trained dog and a mind disciplined by meditation. The woman said
Norwegian Elkhounds are friendly and intelligent, yet fairly independent,
like all Artic dogs. Without discipline, they can be uncontrollable
and domineering, which she's seen among untrained Elkhounds.
Yogananda's guru told his disciples, "Learn to behave."
He meant they should act appropriately when they were with other
people. But it also means that our mind should behave, for the mind
is the instigator behind our actions. There is no better way to
train the mind to behave than to meditate. When thoughts and impulses
pull us outward, the practice of concentrating on our technique
brings us back to our center.
An unruly mind
occupies itself with many little amusements, while a calm, disciplined
mind experiences larger and nobler realities. The Elkhound's caring
and calm demeanor was a beautiful testament to the value of discipline
and self-sacrifice. Our lives, too, grow beautiful as we calm, by
meditation, our restless nature.
In this month's
Daily Meditator, the two featured articles are "Meditation
Is Dynamic Awareness" and "True versus False Visions."
Both are excerpted from Swami Kriyananda's book, Awaken to Superconsciousness.
In meditation it is important to relax upward, not downward.
Both articles explain why it is essential to meditate with dynamic
energy and awareness.
In this issue:
May your meditations
and love for God bring you the joy you are seeking!
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In Divine Friendship,
Bharat Cornell
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Ananda Meditation
Ministry
14618 Tyler Foote Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
530-478-7561 ext 7014
meditation@ananda.org
www.learn-meditation.org
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