Question:

When I was chanting my mantra, I heard Akathkatha. I saw Shiva in front of my eyes. My consciousness was not in my body. I had that experience for two hours. I felt lightweight and had little fear. My concentration was again trying to go up in my head. I heard some people do not come back to their bodies because of ecstasy. Is this the correct way to meditate on Consciousness? 

Answer:

Manufacturing mental images is not true meditation. Seeing images in the mind is not Samadhi, my dear. 

On the paths of Advaita Vedanta and Buddha, true meditation is Self-inquiry leading to the revelation of Nothingness and Nobodyness. That is completely devoid of images, thoughts, feelings, sensations, experiences, objects, etc. 

Why? Because Samadhi is the only way to answer the question ‘Who am I?’ 

And the reality of the ‘I’ is that it is non-existent as an individual entity. Somebodyness is a mere illusion. Somethingness is a transient mental picture. The true ‘I’ is devoid of all images, even devoid of the sense of I-ness. Getting that answer from within is essential, and that approach to one’s true nature is Samadhi or Meditation. Swapna Nidra Gnyana Sadhana is a natural and spontaneous Samadhi that reveals that answer daily. But some of us need Samadhi sittings to develop self-conviction in our direct seeing.

Once you truly SEE it will be clear that Shiva is a name for Consciousness, it is a mere symbolism created for the purpose of communication between the spiritual teacher and disciple. Shiva cannot be seen, heard, smelled, tasted, touched, thought, sensed, or felt. That infinite field of Nothingness that knows the objective illusions appear and disappear is the true YOU. You are Shiva. You cannot perceive yourself just like the eyes cannot see themselves.

Please know that there will arise definite resistances that you will face from past religious and spiritual conditioning while attempting to move from Imaginative meditation to Self-Inquiry. Bearing this Maaya attack in mind as a potential blocker for attaining deeper levels of Self-Realization will always keep you alert.

Keep walking the path. I am right by the earnest spiritual seeker who is genuinely looking for the answer to the question ’ Who am I?’ instead of seeking merely mental relaxation that comes from imagination and the belief that ‘I am the body-mind person’. 

Here are some helpful resources to enable your Self-Inquiry and Swapna Nidra Gnyana Sadhana journey:

To understand what is Self-Inquiry, refer to the free Self-Exploration playlist:
Gnyana Sangha website – https://gnyanasangha.com/courses/enrolled/1333945
YouTube playlist – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPRIVqnzBZ5UcWxcW7HSAIlDfHUlw4jzo

To understand more about Swapna Nidra Gnyana Sadhana refer to:
Amazon India – http://tinyurl.com/SNG-Book-Amazon
Amazon USA – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQT1L9GL

Keep chugging!

#AdvaitaVedanta #Non-Duality #Buddha #Swapna Nidra Gnyana Sadhana