The first thing you must know is that meditation is about consciousness. There are three modes of consciousness. I will discuss the first in this email and the remainder in the following emails. Consciousness is the first-person experience of your life. You are in the driver's seat. You are the seer behind your eyes and the listener within your ears. Obvious, right?

The first aspect of consciousness is called jagrat. Jagrat is waking consciousness. You are awake right now. That is all it is. Observe the fact that you are awake. Big deal? It is a huge deal. It's because of jagrat that life is as meaningful to you as it is. If you weren't there, within yourself, for all the moments of your life none of this would matter. If you can't appreciate your consciousness deeply you are not ready to meditate seriously and that is fine. Not all of us have to meditate. Meditation is for those of us that want to meditate. You can live a fulfilling, healthy, and happy life without ever meditating. If you want to meditate however you need to start appreciating the fact that you are conscious. Keep it simple and within your mind instead of running through errands or intentions simply repeat, "I am conscious." After some time it will hit you. I am conscious!

Jagrat, waking consciousness, is expressed through your senses. The entire universe rushes into you through the five doors of the senses. The yogis named the senses The Organs of Wisdom because it is wise to appreciate the beauty of life as living color, sound, touch, flavor, and scent. This is the heart of art. Art is a fundamental pillar of what it means to be human. To meditate on jagrat focus on the sensory experience. This means you must focus on your environment. Jagrat or waking consciousness moves outwardly like a star radiating light into space.

Let's say your playing relaxing music while you meditate. To meditate on jagrat means you need to focus on the music because jagrat is experienced through the senses. First, you will fixate on the music. There will be mental commentary. "I like this song. I love this part of the song," for example. Then perhaps there will be moments where you are simply listening without commentary. That is good! The less chatter the less separated you are from the experience. Experience is life itself. Get close to it. The trick is you have to start picking up on the fact that you are conscious of it all. Whether you are commenting or simply listening you are awake and as long as you are not sleeping your consciousness has remained unaffected. It is not the song. The song is a sound which is the experience of one of the five senses. It is the fact that you are awake to the sound. Again, it will hit you. "I am conscious!"

I don't know if you've ever sat and appreciated the fact that you are conscious. I imagine more often than not what you appreciate is the sensory experience but not the consciousness that awakens you to the experience. Jagrat is a most delicate dimension. Meditation is a delicate thing to do. It is, as so many have said, something like a flower blooming. Delicate.

To practice. Sit down for some period of time (be consistent) and focus on the fact that you are awake to a sensory experience. If there is anxiety, displeasure, boredom, or aggravation that is fine. Hopefully, there are waves of satisfaction, pleasure, excitement, and peace. If you are only looking for the sweet things you have not understood the lesson, yet. A yogi is happy to be conscious. As long as they are awake to the senses they are in bliss. Find that bliss by meditating on jagrat. "I am conscious. I am conscious. My god, I am conscious!"


Comment