Sunday, March 14, 2021

Triangle in meditation

When I closed my eyes for meditation for the first time, I saw only darkness- a vast ocean. I continued my practice for a few months; a tiny dot started appearing in between that darkness. The size, colour and stability of that dot changed for the next few months. Then, it became brighter, wider and steady, with a distinct recognisable colour. It was just an elemental light representing a particular element out of five elements Prithvi – Earth, Agni –Fire, Vayu –Wind, Akasa –Sky, Apas/ Jal –Water. The appearance of light confirmed my progress in concentration but for further advancement, the dazzling dot had to be ignored.

I continued my practice for years and years and one day I saw a triangle in meditation. SwamiSivananda says, “One whose food is moderate, whose anger has been controlled, who has given up all love for society, who has subdued his passions, who has overcome all pairs (heat and cold etc.) who has given up his egoism, who does not bless anyone nor take anything from others – such a man during meditation obtains it (the triangle) in the face.”

 Actually, this happens in the lockdown. Due to COVID 19 spread, I was confined to my home. I had no other option then to meditate. With restaurant and hotel closed, I was left with no other option then to eat healthy and nutritive home cooked food. I hardly get any business calls in a day so my anger was in check. It was useless to get angry at a virus because it was of no use to shout at someone who could not hear you. There was no reason to lose temper therefore, I could maintain my calmness and silence with ease. I could not meet relatives and friends to shower my love on them as I was confined to my home and I did not have much liking for chatting on mobile so I was in a sort of solitude. There were not pairs like friends and enemies but only one thing to protect everyone from that deadly virus. ‘Vasudev Kutumbkam’ was my dominant thought at that time as virus could affect anybody and everybody. I was praying for the society under Om Swamiji’s guidance. His words helped me to shed ‘I’ and to think about ‘US’. Beside all this, I was attending many online Sivananda Yoga classes – Open Class, Kids Yoga, Advance Yoga, 108 Surya Namaskar Class, Backward Bending, Forward Bending, Chakra Opener, Mandala Meditation. I even attended Yoga for Seniors because it was free.   

 In such a difficult situation, Nature forced me rather blessed me with a vision of triangle in meditation!

Friday, March 12, 2021

My little effort to improve my command on English

 Once in my early twenties, I decided to improve my English by reading a book. I brought ‘The Discovery of India’ from library and started reading it with Oxford Dictionary beside me to check the meaning of difficult words. I had hardly read one paragraph then my brother peeked into my room. He was shocked to see me reading a book. He said, “Didi, in holidays are you reading a book?”

I replied, “Yes. To improve my command on English.”

“Which book?”

“The Discovery of India”

रहने दो दीदी, नेहरू कब्र में से उठ कर आ जायेगा।" (Nehru will come out of his grave in surprise!)