What is meditation?

People have defined it in various ways for almost 5,000 years. But I will explain it in a very simple manner: meditation is a way to unite the body, mind, and soul. It is also known as Dhyana or Yoga.

Why did I not have any positive results doing meditation in many ways for a long time?

In answer to this I would ask you another question. If you have a good understanding and have studied the various rules and principles of meditation from many sources, can you practice it in many ways altogether?

Perhaps you can. But it is certain that you will not achieve its true purpose. The benefit will be limited to the fact that you, like others, will continue to describe it with different definitions, interpretations, and methods. And if someone asks you how long you have been practicing it and what benefits you have gained from it, it will be very sad to tell the truth that you have gained nothing or you have to tell a futile lie that you have gained many things.

This is because it is not possible to reach the soul adapting various paths simultaneously. Moreover, it’s important to note that the more you engage yourself with logical reasoning, the more your concentration will be compromised. You will only need one path to proceed. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said, "As many opinions, so many paths." That is correct. However, you must choose one opinion and one path. Only then will you achieve success.

Meditation comes in various forms, so which one is good?

In my opinion, Mantra meditation is the best. It is also known as Transcendental Meditation in English. Its unique feature is that anyone can start it at any age and achieve definite results. However, it is not advisable to pressurize young children to practice it. But if you become proficient in it, then those around you will also benefit when you meditate.

Which Mantra should I recite?

A mantra can be any. It can be meaningful or without any specific meaning, and if it has a meaning, it should be a positive one. However, a mantra should always be simple and concise. It can be derived from religious scriptures or can be something of your own creation. For example:

"Om Namah Shivaya"

"Allah hu Akbar"

"Ma-ra-na-tha – means “Come Lord Jesus”

"सरबत दा भला(sarbat da bhala) " means “May everyone be blessed”

If it is from your own creation then it can be:

In Bangla “আমি শুদ্ধ”(aami shuddha) means “I am pure”.

In Hindi “मैं शुद्ध हूँ” (mai shuddh hun) means “I am pure”.

In English “I am pure” …………etc.

But always remember that in mantras or prayers, there should never be any negative words. For example, "Free me from fault." Here, the word "fault" is negative, and the more it is repeated, the more one will only see ‘faults’ in all directions—whether it’s in oneself or in others. Both are unfortunate.

Why just in meditation? In life too, always avoid the negative words.

How do I meditate?

If you want to go deep within and if you have a little ‘atheism’ within you, then it is good to do it under the guidance of an experienced person.

Here, ‘atheism’ refers to intellectual scepticism as well.

And if you are an extreme ‘theist’, then you can meditate alone in any calm and secluded place any time you choose.

Here, ‘theist’ means having no logical reasoning within you. For example, "There is my deity or some divine power within my mobile phone" - meaning that regardless of what anyone says, I believe it to be true. If you have such beliefs then you are an extreme ‘theist’.

Now let me tell you how to do it.

Sit comfortably and straighten your posture. Take a few moments to slow down your breath, inhaling and exhaling gently. Try to make the duration of inhalation and exhalation equal. Maybe you can do it in one minute. Then, repeat the mantra only during exhalation, not during inhalation.

Even without any mantra, if you simply focus your mind on the breath, it can still be a good form of meditation.

How long should I meditate?

Initially, you can start with two minutes and gradually increase it up to 30 minutes or more. I have seen many who have already achieved results and now meditate for over an hour twice daily. However, if you meditate for just a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes in the evening, you will be able to understand the benefits yourself.

After this, I will explain what benefits you can gain from meditation. Keep practicing meditation with the intention of calming yourself and bringing positive changes within until that point. May everything be auspicious.