Ananda Ananda State • 41

Welcome to this audio meditation where we will be using the practice of mindfulness breathing meditation and simultaneously exploring concepts such as viveka,

Vairagya,

And abhyasa.

Firstly,

It's important to understand that mindfulness of breathing is not just about inhaling and exhaling air,

It's more of a way of internal self-observation,

Allowing us to see the deeper aspects of our existence.

It's about nurturing within ourselves the ability to be the observer,

Which we can then embody at any moment in our lives.

We live in a world where we strive for eternal happiness,

Eternal love,

And perpetual bliss,

But this is all illusion.

This meditation teaches us that true happiness lies within us,

Not beyond our consciousness.

Breathing is the most powerful tool for calming and achieving true inner harmony,

By being aware of our breath,

Allowing it to happen as it is,

Without distortion or alteration,

But simply observing the process,

The mind sharpens,

The mind calms.

Try to carefully and calmly observe your breathing.

Just notice the light touch of air on the skin under your nostrils.

Notice the subtle sensations that are happening there.

What do you feel?

It could be a pulsating,

Tingling,

Nagging sensation,

Or just cold,

Or warm,

Whatever.

Just be aware of it.

Now I can feel the warmth,

I'll watch how long it lasts,

Or now there's a pulsation,

I'll watch how long it lasts.

Keep observing,

Keep developing awareness without being distracted by any thoughts.

Just you and the breath,

Just inhaling and exhaling.

Muji,

A modern day spiritual teacher,

Often speaks about the illusion of the personal self and the discovery of true happiness within.

He says,

You need nothing to be happy,

You need something to be sad.

Muji's words point to the realization that happiness is our natural state,

Which is clouded only by our attachments and desires for external things.

He advocates for a life of simplicity and inner discovery,

Where happiness is not contingent on external circumstances,

But is recognized as inherent to our true nature.

We exist in a realm where we constantly seek unending joy,

Everlasting affection and continuous happiness.

However,

These pursuits are deceptive.

This meditation practice reveals that genuine contentment is found within us,

Not outside our awareness.

The act of breathing is a potent method for soothing ourselves and attaining authentic inner peace.

By paying attention to our breath,

Letting it flow naturally,

Without trying to change or control it,

But merely watching it unfold,

Our minds become more focused and tranquil.

Now,

Gently and peacefully,

Pay attention to your breath.

Observe the faint sensation of air beneath your nostrils.

Feel the gentle movements occurring there,

What sensations arise.

It might be a throbbing,

A tickle,

A persistent feeling,

Or simply the sensation of coolness or warmth.

Whatever it is,

Just be conscious of it and stay present with it.

Now I sense warmth,

I'll see how long this sensation stays.

Or now there's a throbbing,

I'll see how long this sensation persists.

Continue to watch.

Maintain your awareness without letting your thoughts pull you away.

Just you and your breathing,

Simply inhaling and exhaling.

Let's explore deeper into the principles of viveka,

Vairagya,

And abhyasa,

Which are essential for spiritual evolution.

Viveka is the discernment of life's purpose,

A profound comprehension of its objectives and duties.

Vairagya is the condition of being detached from desires and misconceptions,

A release from earthly ties.

Abhyasa is the practice of consistent discipline,

A relentless pursuit of spiritual advancement and self-betterment.

When we incorporate these attributes into our lives,

As we practice mindful breathing,

We experience ananda,

A state of internal joy,

Balance,

And serenity.

This condition is not dependent on external factors or material wealth.

It springs from deep within our consciousness.

As the adage suggests,

Eternal happiness is not found externally,

It is a state that arises from within us.

Initially,

We must address the mind's internal impurities.

Seeing it outside is a fallacy,

A cause of pain and discontent.

In this universe,

There is no absolute.

Everything we perceive is transient and relative.

Searching for the absolute in the relative is avidya,

Ignorance,

A grave mistake that leads to suffering and sickness in humans.

Our attachments to illusions and mirages are doomed to fail because,

In truth,

People become attached to nothingness,

To constructs,

Fantasies,

Mirages,

And deceptions that are not real.

Our self-perception is what counts,

Not how others perceive us.

Do you believe you are devoted to your partner?

In truth,

You are devoted to a mirage,

To the image of that person you've constructed in your mind.

Like soap bubbles.

What do we truly know about them?

Nothing.

What are you devoted to?

You are devoted to the image of that person you've crafted in your mind.

And eventually,

These images will shatter,

Because they don't align with reality.

We embed our deepest,

Most pleasant expectations into a crystal necklace that we place on a person,

And as soon as the crystal necklace breaks,

We gather the pieces to reassemble it,

Only for it to break again into even smaller pieces,

And we naively try to fix it.

Fix.

Fix.

Fix.

And life continues to reveal the truth to us.

If we don't accept it,

We may face disappointment.

There will come a time when a person confronts reality,

Where the image in their mind and the actual person align.

This will lead to disillusionment,

Because the image is often more appealing than the reality.

Life always uncovers the truth.

That is its nature.

Therefore,

Anything that doesn't match reality will be dismantled.

This can include not just perceptions of people,

But also ideas,

Beliefs,

Or life stances.

Anything that doesn't reflect reality will be discarded.

And if a person resists this,

They will inevitably face ailments.

If they continue to resist,

And fail to accept reality as it is,

They will ultimately perish.

As stated in the Bhagavad Gita,

A person should strive to have their inner world mirror their external world.

Meditation fosters mental clarity,

Helps us shed illusions,

And reveals the true nature of things.

Meditation enables us to identify these deceptions,

Let go of attachments,

And achieve inner equilibrium.

The aim of meditation is to purify the mind,

To reach a state of inner enlightenment and self-realization through self-love.

To love oneself is to truly understand oneself,

And to keep oneself in constant thought.

Remember yourself,

And stay mindful of your existence in every fleeting instant.

The human mind,

A hub of ceaseless activity,

Processes an astonishing seven thousand thoughts each day.

Amidst the commotion,

Time stretches and bends,

Accommodating all but the most crucial,

Self-affection.

For to love oneself is to be present in the moment,

Where life reveals its true nature.

Many linger in the shadows of past regrets,

Or the faint hopes of the future,

Yet they overlook the vivid unfolding of life right before them.

Karma,

The weave of our actions and their outcomes,

Creates its complex designs only in the present.

Those who dwell on the past or long for the future find themselves lost,

Belonging neither here nor there.

The future is an unreachable horizon,

The past a diminishing illusion.

Caught in the maze of what was and what might be,

They neglect the fullness of the present.

Self-love,

A radiant state of awareness,

Shines forth only in the embrace of the present.

Therefore,

Being in tune with oneself in each moment is the simplest yet most profound way to self-love.

For no one,

Throughout all of time,

Can cherish you more than you can cherish yourself.

Beyond this world,

There is nothing.

Everything we see is relative and temporary.

Trying to find the absolute in the relative is avidya,

Ignorance,

The most serious sin that brings suffering and illness to humans.

All our attachments to illusions and mirages eventually crumble because,

In reality,

People become attached to emptiness,

To images,

Fantasies,

Mirages,

And illusions because they are not reality.

It matters how we see ourselves,

Not how others see us.

Do you think you are attached to your partner?

In reality,

You are attached to an illusion,

To the image of that person created in your mind.

Illusions,

Like soap bubbles.

What do you know about them?

Nothing.

What are you attached to?

You are attached to the image of that person you created in your mind,

And sooner or later these images will be shattered because they do not correspond to reality.

We lay our most intimate,

Only the most pleasant expectations into a crystal necklace that we put on a person,

And as soon as the crystal necklace cracks,

We collect it again,

It cracks again into even more pieces,

And we naively glue it back together,

Glue,

Glue,

Glue.

And life continues to show us reality.

If we do not accept it,

We may encounter disappointment.

Ultimately,

There will come a moment when a person encounters reality where the image formed in his mind and the actual personality are leveled.

This will lead to disappointment because the image is often better than reality.

Life always reveals the truth,

Such is its nature.

Therefore,

If something does not match reality,

It will be destroyed.

This can be not only the image of people,

But also ideas,

Concepts,

Or life positions.

Everything that does not correspond to reality will be eliminated.

And if a person resists this,

Then he will inevitably encounter diseases.

If he continues to resist and does not accept reality as it really is,

Then,

In the end,

He will simply perish.

As it is said in the Bhagavad Gita,

A person should strive for his inner world to reflect his external world.

Meditation helps develop clarity of mind,

Helps rid us of illusion,

And shows how everything is really arranged.

Meditation helps us recognize these illusions,

Overcome attachments,

And attain inner harmony.

The goal of meditation is to develop the purity of the mind,

To achieve inner enlightenment and realization.

To love oneself is to truly know oneself and to hold oneself in constant remembrance.

Keep yourself in mind and remain conscious of your being in every fleeting moment.

The human mind,

A whirlwind of activity,

Entertains a staggering 70,

000 thoughts per day.

Amidst the hustle,

Time bends and sways,

Accommodating everything but the paramount.

Self-love.

For to love oneself is to dwell in the present moment,

Where existence unfolds its true essence.

Many dwell in the echoes of yesterday's regrets or the whispers of tomorrow's hopes,

Yet they miss the vibrant tapestry of life unraveling before them.

Karma,

The fabric of our actions and their consequences,

Weaves its intricate patterns only in the present.

Those who cling to the past or yearn for the future find themselves adrift,

Neither here nor there.

The future remains a distant shore,

The past but a fading mirage.

Lost in the labyrinth of what was and what could be,

They forsake the richness of the here and now.

Love,

A luminous state of consciousness,

Illuminates only in the present's embrace.

Thus,

To be attuned to oneself in each passing moment is the simplest yet most profound path to self-love.

For no one,

In all of eternity,

Can love you more than you can love yourself.