Meditation is the process by which we take our attention away from the world outside and focus within ourselves, writes Sant Rajinder Singh
There is a lot of turmoil in the world right now. Television, newspapers, magazines, blogs, the internet, smartphones, tablets, and all other devices, are buzzing with breaking news about the catastrophe that we are dealing with today. It’s hard to go through any social media without hearing of the suffering that people are undergoing around the world.
News that worries us
The news seems to be filled with the tragedies being faced by the world. We are continually hearing of existing and impending financial and economic calamity. The stock markets have crashed. The very thought of health danger to us and our close ones is causing immense worry and anxiety.
A lot of us have started believing that life brings nothing but sorrows. People facing these challenges accuse life of bringing only suffering. Is that all life is but a series of disasters strung together? Is there any cure for the sorrows of life?
Breaking News that’s good
There is a place of safety where you can find refuge from the sorrows of life. There is a life raft to make it safely through the stormy seas of life. You can sail away from the sorrows of life to attain the happiness that is your birthright. There is a place you can go to relax far away from the sadness and suffering. You can renew your spirits and come in contact with a place free from sorrows.
Where can you find that place free of sorrows? That place free of sorrows is within you. It is a place where you can connect with the peace of your soul. You can find relief from the sufferings of life. You can find the peace within you by sitting in meditation.
In meditation, you have a period of time during which you are not bombarded with news of the sorrows of the world. It is a concentrated time when you can focus on your soul, on the spiritual treasures within. Immersed within, you are filled with peace and joys.
Meditation can help pass though the difficult times
In meditation, you can experience calm and bliss. You realise that within you is a place where there is no pain and suffering. Meditation can help you awaken to the realisation that your existence is more than the outer world in which your body and mind undergo suffering. You have a spiritual side which is connected to the peace and happiness within you.
When you emerge from meditation, you see the world in a different light. You know that the outer sorrows of life are temporary. They will pass. When you see for yourself that there is a place of peace and joy within, you are strengthened with fortitude to pass through the difficult times knowing that happiness is accessible to you within.
Through meditation you can find relief from the sorrows of life. While the wheel of life keeps spinning, you can take some moments to jump off the wheel to enjoy relief during the time you meditate. You can enjoy a few minutes, a half hour, or an hour or two, free from breaking news of the world’s sufferings. You will get a boost to help you soar above the realm of suffering, in order to experience realms free of pain and sorrow.
Meditation can also help us deal with anxiety and fear
These are stressful and confusing times for many of us. Fear and anxiety can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in people. Daily life is disrupted completely for everyone across the globe. People are feeling uncertain about what could happen in the coming weeks. Feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and fear are very common today. People are worried about their own health and the health of their loved ones. How can we deal with all our fears under the current circumstances?
We need to learn that our empowered soul is the one who is really facing our challenges. If we connect with our empowered soul, we will overcome all fears and gain a lasting sense of peace and security. Our empowered soul, being one with God, is there for us. It is there to help us through the challenges of life. We just need to sit in silence and experience our empowered soul.
Let’s spread positivity
Meditation is the process by which we take our attention away from the world outside and focus it within ourselves. In doing so, we defocus from the turmoil of our surroundings and connect with our soul which is a part of God, source of all love and all joy. We cannot put an end to life’s challenges. We have no control over the outer universe. There is a lot happening in the world currently that might not be within our control. But there is something that is within our control. Amidst the uncertainty and ambiguity, we can control our attitude. What we can do is face these challenges with a sense of fearlessness so that we are not incapacitated by fear and despair. What we can do is take a break from constantly reading, watching or listening to news stories, including social media and spend time in meditation and experiencing our empowered soul. This is the time for us to be positive, and to spread positivity around us.
The upliftment we receive in meditation stays with us throughout the day. This may not change the outer suffering of the world, but we are able to spend some time daily in a place of joy and positivity that we can spread to others. Our own spirits are lifted and we can then make others feel good. When we realise there is a place free of sorrows within, we can help others to access that place too. We see life from a different angle.
This too shall pass
Through meditation we will also realise that all things are transient in life. This knowledge can help us maintain a sense of balance when we face the highs and lows of life. We can stay at an even keel through the storms and sunny days of life by finding a calm center. We can reach this still point through meditation.
So let us not forget that the current situation that we are facing is temporary. We will get through this. If we sit in silence and remember God daily, we will not be troubled by this temporary phase of life. We will find a still center, filled with peace and balance, which will provide us with permanent happiness despite the outer variations of life.
The writer is a spiritual leader