What is Meditation?

Boardies, this is rather lengthy but I wanted to share it with you. luv Luv ~R

One of the fundamental teachings of most spiritual practices is to experience the Infinite within oneself. We give expression to the unique Dharma (spiritual nature) of human life by focusing our awareness on the inner self - on the reflection of the Supreme. This process is the practice of meditation.Many people think that meditation is like some instant product, just addwater (or just sit down) and the process works magically, dropping themeditator into a thoughtless world of pure bliss, stillness and shininglights. Not only do people think this, but they suppose they are doing something wrong or that their mantra is defective when the instant stillness doesn't happen in the first week, and consequently many people discontinue the practice simply because they do not know what to expect.So what does happen in the first weeks of meditation? In some respects itdepends on each person's mental characteristics that have been built up inthe past. But, "The mind is like a mad monkey stung by a scorpion", saidthe great yogi Ramakrishna, and all of us who start meditation and tryconcentrating on a mantra know there is some difficulty when commencing.Especially in the beginning, the mind is unruly. As you sit down so manythoughts arise in your mind. You get your mantra going and then you driftoff thinking of something else. Sounds and noise from without may sidetrackyour internal concentration, your body won't stay still, and you finallyget up thinking that nothing has happened.But it has. By constantly bringing your mind back to the mantra you arebuilding your capacity to hold your mind steady in the future. Much as anathlete in training, the body acquires great physical strength and stamina,so too, the struggling meditator is developing mental strength and thecapacity to concentrate. It is concentration which we are practicing in the beginning stages and it is only after a time that one will come to the stage when you can truly fix your mind on the object of concentration, and holdit there ... then a person will be performing meditation with clarity.Another puzzling experience for the new meditator is that the mind mayappear even unsteadier after commencing meditation. More thoughts thanusual may come to the mind. And this is often taken to mean that theprocess is not being done correctly. Here, just the opposite is true. Thefunction of the mantra is to internally work upon our minds by clearing out all the distortions and impressions which our past actions (karma) andthoughts have registered upon our subconscious. Thus, the repetition of the mantra acts to revive memories and thoughts of what has come before. It'slike cleaning house; in the middle of the process the house arrangement may look odd - different to when you started, but by persevering, and notquitting in the middle, we are better off. Cleanliness and clarity is gained.
The same is true for the mind; as we continue to meditate, our mind will get clearer and clearer.Meditation is the effort to control and develop the mind; to realize one'strue nature. It is the means by which we can realize our full potential onall levels of existence, physical, mental and spiritual.The tool we use to control and elevate the mind is called 'mantra'. Mantrais a Sanskrit word, which literally means, "that which liberates the mind"; it is the means by which one's personal or individual vibration is broughtinto harmonious resonance with the Cosmic vibration. Yes, it does involvesuch a lofty and inspiring outlook! Were it not so, the goal would be more limited. But the goal of meditation is the Unlimited. It is one's trueSelf. The most significant difference between a Mantra and an ordinary word or sound is that a Mantra has been injected with spiritual force, and it is this force, which gives it its elevating power. All this has to do with the subtle science of inner acoustics and various aspects of mind and theresonating and uplifting influence of sound and ideation. You learn itthrough experience by practicing meditation - it is not mere intellectualknowledge learnt from books.
Such a mantra comes from a fully realised spiritual preceptor - a Guru - who knows this intuitional science. As we are all different individuals, so too the technique is different - hence mantras will differ from person toperson. Ananda Marga teachers’ known as Acaryas ("one who teaches byexample") give personal instruction in the science of meditation andmantra, but to begin with, a person can meditate with a general mantra.Meditation is a very direct means of understanding and realizing oneself -the inner self, where that essence of Humanity must lie. It can't bedetermined by intellectual capacities alone, for here too there is muchscope for conflict and argument. In order to be truly mentally free, allthese bondages will have to be shed. Through meditation, the layers ofinsecurities, weaknesses and ignorance are peeled away, revealing theunadulterated, clear thinking and peaceful self.The deeper the meditation, the more real is the awareness that the humanmind is in fact not bound by narrowness and selfishness. It is this expanded mentality, which inspires the inner courage necessary to oppose negativityfrom within and also from the environment. One's search for inner peace and fulfillment goes hand in hand with a dynamic and meaningful commitment tolife.