[Advaita-l] Meditation: eyes open or eyes closes or either (Sanju Nath)

[Kalivaradhan krishnamurthy]

HariH OM!

I have been following the discussions on this topic which is very good for
beginners to Meditation.

I found two references in the internet which are quite revealing and
informative:

1.  The Mahabharata Book 12: Santi Parva SECTION CXCVI of Shanti Parva
Mahabharata

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12b023.htm

"Sitting on kusa grass, with kusa in hand, and binding his coronal locks
with kusa, he should surround himself with kusa and have kusa for robes.
Bowing unto all earthly concerns, he should take leave of them and never
think of them. Assuming equability by the aid of his mind, he should fix
his mind on the mind itself. Reciting the highly beneficial composition
(viz., the Gayatri), he meditates with the aid of his intellect on Brahma
alone. Afterwards he leaves off even that, being then absorbed in
concentrated contemplation. 4 In consequence of his dependence on the
strength of the Gayatri which he recites, this concentrated contemplation
will come of itself. By penances he attains to purity of soul, and
self-restraint, and cessation of aversion and desire. Freed from attachment
and delusion, above the influence of all pairs of opposites (such as heat
and cold, joy and sorrow, etc.), he never grieves and never suffers himself
to be drawn towards worldly objects. He does not regard himself as the
actor nor as the enjoyer or sufferer of the consequences of his acts. He
never, through selfishness, fixes his mind on anything. Without being
employed in the acquisition of wealth, he abstains also from disregarding
or insulting others, but not from work. The work in which he is employed is
that of meditation; he is devoted to meditation, and seeks meditation
unalterably. By meditation he succeeds in bringing about concentrated
contemplation, and then gradually leaves off meditation itself. In that
state he enjoys the felicity which attaches to the abandonment of all
things. Having thoroughly mastered the principle of desire he casts off his
life-breaths and then enters into the Brahmic body."

2.  Guide to Meditation - SAGUNA AND NIRGUNA FORMS OF MEDITATION

http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection&section_id=934

SOME USEFUL HINTS :


In meditation, do not strain the eyes. Do not strain the brain. Do not
struggle or wrestle with the mind. It is a serious mistake. Many neophytes
commit this grave error. That is the reason why they get easily tired soon.
They get headache and they have to get up very often to pass urine during
the course of meditation owing to the irritation set up in the micturition
centre in the spinal cord.

Make no violent effort to control the mind. Do not wrestle with it with
force. It is a mistake to do so. But, rather allow it for a while and let
it run and exhaust its efforts. The mind will jump now like an untrained
monkey first. Gradually, it will slow down. Then you can fix the mind on
your Lakshya either on a concrete form or on an abstract idea.

Both these sites offer very useful hints on Meditation techniques

-- 
Kalivaradhan

*" आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः " ( ऋग्वेद १.८९ )*

*"Let Noble thoughts reach us from all directions! "*