When I was in junior school, they told us this story from Mahabharata repeatedly. It was a nice to hear a good story, but it was awful to hear misinterpretation of it.

The story goes like this…

Once upon a time, Dronacharya (royal mentor of princes of that time) was teaching them archery. He asked the princes to aim at the eye of a bird sitting on tree.

Then he asked one of them, “What do you see?”

“I see tree, leaves, bird and sky.” He replied. Dronacharya was disappointed. Then he went to Arjuna (famous hero of Mahabharata) and asked him the same question.

Arjuna said, “I see the eye.”

“Don’t you see the tree, leaves, birds and sky?” asked Dronacharya.

“No. I see the eye.” replied Arjuna.

The Screwy Conclusion

The conclusion they made out of this story was ‘importance of concentration’ and ever since I can remember, elders have tried to ‘help’ the younger generation to concentrate on one thing. You will often find them crowing that their generation did one thing at a time and that multitasking is a bad thing.

the Generation Gap

But I want to declare / proclaim / remind you that the world is not getting worse, the world is getting better. It is not possible to regress. Generations today have much more capacity of contemplate data then any generation before. And when they want us to sit and do one thing – it never works out.

That is why our generation condemns so many of old ways as ‘boring’ because we need to have that much going on in our minds or we will feel bored.

This helps us to be more creative and precise in focus. This doesn’t diminish focus but enhances focus because now we can focus in much more detailed way.

The Real Moral of Story

The meaning of the story is not ability to focus. It is ability of choice. You can choose what to focus on and you will not see evidence of any other in your life.

You can choose to focus on problem rather than solution. You can choose to feel hopeful rather then fearful and the difference between two is difference between the prince who’s name I do not remember and Arjuna – the hero.

F*** Concentration

Pardon my language but this is what younger generation wants to say. We do not want to concentrate – we want to focus. Concentration and focus are quiet different things. Concentration is like forcing yourself on a point. Focus is like expanding a point to eternity.

The first one is to be ****** and the second one is series of meditation and contemplation and joyous growth.

Yours is not to concentrate on thoughts for you cannot control them. Yours is o choose the feeling in which you focus your ‘self’ for that will choose the average direction of your thought and life.

Photo Credit: Traditional archery at Japanfest by johntrainor, on Flickr

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I don’t know about you, but I have those days when I wake up and my mood isn’t just the best. I can be really annoyed or angry. No matter who says what, those are the worst days to be. And anything positive is just annoying.

I just had a day like that last week, and the first thing came to my mind was, “Dang! This is going to be bad day. Nothing is going to work out, I just know it.”

Thanks to the years of meditation, along came this spiritual insight. “Since anything is not going to work out, why bother even trying and being more frustrated then ever? Why not just figure out what’s bothering me?”

When you’ve been meditation for a while, ideas and insights like this just pop-up. You have practiced those good feeling state of being so much that nothing else will ever do.

So I sat down in meditation. Which wasn’t easy at all because when everything is bugging you, so does meditation but I was determined to get well so I continued anyways. I was using my favourite ease and flow processes.

To my amazement, I was bugged in meditation too! It wasn’t just working out. But I was determined, so I started again ‘ease and flow’… ‘ease and flow’ and then another though about a friend who is so buggy came to my mind and there I went out of meditation.

But anyways, I was determined to meditate. So I crawled back to meditation and this time it was bliss. It was so good to be back in my state of being that I so much like.

So What?

Why I am telling you this story, and most of those who being to read have left already. But the reason I am telling you this is to share with you want an important lesson I learned from this.

Often when stubborn problems come to our life, we just want to fight and struggle against it. But that never ever works. Fighting against the problem never brings in the solution it’s the Law (of Attraction).

Only way to solve any problem is to be in the right state of mind and then look at it. Meditation is one of the best tools to get into that state of no-mind. It is likely that as you focus on problem after meditation it will drag you back to emotional state where you were. But use your will power and determination, not to fight against anything; but to be your best no matter what.

Meditate.

Photo Credit: AAAARRRGGGHHH by Evil Erin, on Flickr

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Look around yourself, how much stuff is there? How much of it are you using regularly? You have to admit – not much! Most of the stuff is either kept with invisible tag of ‘someday’ or it is there just to represent your success.

But think again, that ‘someday’ never came and even if it comes – will you really have access to all this? No! And does this stuff really tell how successful are you? No!

Don’t Clean Your Room

Now, this is not one of those posts which tell you to go and clean your closets or clean your room. Far from it! I am not one of those people who will call you to action – I am no one to do that. You are authority in your life and you have enough wits to judge on your own.

I just want to share a new insight with you. I was one of those preteens who always yearned to get a personal room. And when I got it – I filled it up to the top with things that represent me. And as I did that – my mind too filled up with stuff till top – there was no room for anything more. But I was too filled to realize that back then.

Later, in craze of getting a new computer (I love technology) I cleaned up to make room for it and that made a lot of difference in my mindset and just few days ago – during meditation – I realized how much what is around me is affected by my state of mind and vice versa.

Why Teens Have Messy Room

You know why teens have messy room and no matter how hard they try they can’t get it right? Because that is state of their minds too! And poor parents keep trying to get them clean up where if they could direct them to inner guidance; they’d sort out their mind and room too.

So I decided, a week ago, to pick up 10 items time-to-time during a day and ask myself ‘Do I need it? How long has it been since I’ve used it? What does this mean and represent in my life?’ and I saw how many things I was harbouring which didn’t represent where I wanted to be and so they kept activating old negative thoughts in my subconscious mind and the Law of Attraction kept delivering me more thoughts, things and circumstances like it.

I took time to change those thoughts and feel better about those subjects. And then it was so easy, no it was so joyous to let go of those things. And now my room is emerging super neat and so is my mind and life.

Why You Yearn for a Holiday

Now I see why people are desperate to go on holidays, they don’t want to be away from what they love – but what they have. That’s why one feels refreshed with new place and new things – they don’t have a bad thought attached to it.

I’ve also started to spend 5 min each night writing rampages of appreciation to people and things that I love in my life. I write about you a lot. Because you keep this dream together – you keep meditation rocking.

Meditate.

Photo Credit: clean room by gabrielsaldana, on Flickr

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It’s story time folks! Last time I shared with you a story which told us why we must throw it away (read to know what the ‘it’ is). This time I have another Zen Story for you.

Zen stories, in first reading, seem logic less but as you let go of logic and meditate – the meaning draws upon you.

Real Meaning of Power

Power is not ability to make other person do what you want. Power is ability to what you want yourself. Can you have a million dollars? Can you keep the sleep away? Can you attain enlightenment? That’s what I am talking about. That’s the real power. This story is the secret to the greatest power that every human seeks.

The Zen Story of Personal Power

Once a man went to a Zen master and said to him, “O, great Zen master I want to be your disciple but there is another Zen master I know and he performs miracles! He places a canvas on one  side of river and goes to the other side of river and paints a painting on the canvas! Do you perform miracles too?”

The Zen master looked at him and answered, “I too perform miracles. I sleep when I want, I eat when I want, I drink when I want…”

The Meaning

Before I share the meaning with you. Just close your eyes for a moment and let go of logic. Let faint memory of this story be in your mind without disturbing you. Let it be there, maybe the meaning will come.

You relaxed? Did it you get the meaning? If yes, great! Here is a way to cross check it and if not then worry not and read on.

How many of us sleep because we want to sleep and not because it is night and it is time to sleep? How many of us eat because we are hungry and not because it’s lunch time? That’s powerlessness – no that’s not self discipline but sheer powerlessness.

“I too perform miracles. I sleep when I want, I eat when I want, I drink when I want…”

Don’t believe me? Let me comment more… How many of you go to work when you want? Wake up when you want? And take a vacation when you want and not just because it is summer? That’s powerlessness.

The Zen master pointed out the enormous value of personal power. Try practicing it – it takes real power –it’s life transforming.

How to Attain Personal Power

Meditation can give the personal power you are seeking. So start meditating. Now.

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Thought I’ve mentioned this one time and again. In fact, I used it as base for other meditation techniques I developed on my own. But here it is, in it’s full glory and simplicity and some more insights on practice. Though a bit of confession before we proceed, Zazen is too astonishing and deep a practice to be explained in words – only experience can best describe it.

What is Zazen?

In brief: The practice of meditation in Zen. Usually it’s called ‘doing nothing’. It unites the body, mind and soul and you experience oneness with yourself and all that is.

What are it’s benefits?

This is the worst questions which aspiring mediators ask, trying to look for ‘benefits’ everywhere. But yet it’s got to be answered – the best of best benefit that you’ll experience is ‘satisfaction’ or ‘contentment’ and ‘knowingness’.

Rest of best is far beyond notions of ‘benefits’. I’d rather call them ‘life transformation’ or ‘miracles’.

Who can practice? When? Where?

Same answer for all meditations: doesn’t matter.

How to Practice Zazen:

1. The Mindset: I know it’s hard, so make no effort to leave worries and tension behind. Meditation’ll let it out.
2. The Posture: You can sit in ‘lotus pose’ or ‘half lotus pose’ or simply on a chair. Keep your back straight.
3. Eyes: Open or close – doesn’t matter. If you have hard time of letting go of thoughts with open eyes then close them. Though, traditionally – eyes half open.
4. Now inhale and let your belly swell out as you do so count ‘1’.
5. Exhale and let your belly go in as you do so count ‘2’.
6. Keep on going like this till 10 and start again at one.
7. Your focus should be blurred on breathe. Don’t try and focus to hard – just be easy about it.
8. When you find yourself tangling with a thought just acknowledge it and let go of it.
9. Continue meditating as long as you want to.

Zazen is Goal (The Story)

Many might ask ‘where are we headed in all this? Where is it leading to? What’s the goal?’. Especially the people who were educated from outside ask these questions and there is nothing bad about it. In fact, being curious is good.

The answer is – the practice is the goal. What you are doing is all we are headed for. It is called ‘art of doing nothing’ for some reason. Experience is and you will get your answers.

Here is a small story for you to explain what I am trying to say:

Once a monk was practicing Zazen and his master came to him. Seeing him practicing since hours he went up to him and asked him, “My great disciple, what are you trying to achieve with such great practice of Zazen?’

Delighted disciple answered, ‘I shall attain enlightenment, master.’

Hearing this, the master took a large black stone and started rubbing it.

Seeing this the disciple asked, ‘What are you doing, master?’

Master said, ‘I will turn this stone into a mirror – I am polishing it.’

Disciple said, ‘O great master, no matter how much or how long you polish it – it can’t turn into a mirror.’

Master replied, ‘If you can attain enlightenment through Zazen, then why can’t I make a stone into a mirror.’

Meaning

I know, it’s one of those Zen Stories that doesn’t make sense at first reading. So here is the meaning for you:

Zazen is not way to make stone into mirror i,e. It is not a way to attain enlightenment – it is enlightenment.

If you practice Zazen for 30 min, you are a Buddha for 30 min.

It is all you need. Zazen is your true state of being – fulfilled, rewarded, joyous, appreciative and at centre of existence. That’s you!

Experience the delight of such wonderful knowing, just go for it. Now is the best time… what better time is there to be all that you wanted to be? What better time there would be to be a Buddha then now? Come joint the oneness.

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Zen stories are most compelling and thought provoking and also most meaningless at first sight! If you try hard to guess the meaning, you’ll never get it but when you relax and let go (Zen practice) the meaning draws upon you. So here is a Zen story for you to enjoy and meditate upon.

The Story

Zen debates are known to be meaningless because often people can’t understand the deep meaning of it. Once an aspiring disciple went to Zen master and said, “I’ve come with nothing, what can I expect?” The Zen master replied, “Throw it away.”

He was shocked at Zen master’s reply, it didn’t made any sense at all. So he repeated his question. “I said I’ve come with nothing. So what can I throw?”

Zen master replied, “Then go and carry it with you.” This was even more absurd.

So what does this story mean? Don’t try hard – meditate. Remember, meditation is not concentration – but letting go and observing the true self. Go ahead give it a try then come back and look for the meaning.

Meaning

So here is what it meant. When the aspiring disciple went to master and claimed that he carries nothing – he was full of opinion, ego and prejudice. He thought he was equipped enough to know that he is empty –which wasn’t true for the empty one doesn’t claim to be so.

In such state, one cannot receive the pure and new. When we are full of notions and prejudices about life, we cannot see the light of wisdom and in ego we say, “Oh! I know all. I know it won’t work. I know he is bad. I know…”

So the Zen master said “Throw it away.” He readily accepted him as his disciple and gave him first lesson for without which he could learn no more. He asked him to throw away all is thoughts on what he is and what not.

But poor disciple, still full of ego thought the master was hard of hearing and never accepted his masters command and so what could he possibly learn. Full of prejudice about his master too he asked him again and finally the master replied “Then go and carry it with you.”

What master meant that he should go and carry all his clouded wisdom and untrue thoughts with him for rest of his life.

Conclusion

We all are receiving guidance from divine, from that what we call God, universe or source energy but till we throw away the notions we have formed about life no matter how true they seem, we will not learn.

Let’s be empty and share the joy of this wonderful insight and story in comments.

Photo Credit: smoke lotus by linh.ngân, on Flickr

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Recently I talked about keeping a meditation journal, so I decided to go through some of my old journals, you know just for fun. I was reading it lightly and I stumbled upon a long forgotten story which was so influential that it changed my thinking about power, strength and non-violence forever. I thought I’d share it with you:

I am no where near him but this reminds me of Buddha – he walked to Angulimaal (one who killed people and kept their fingers) he said ‘Stop!’ and Buddha replied, ‘I’ve stopped, when will you?’ and he repented for his sins and changed for good.

This story never made any sense – how can a sentence (so simple like that) can change people? But now I know – it can and it has. It has changed me more than anyone else and that made a huge difference.

Well I am not sure how will you react to this but you can be hones. I’ve edited much part of it and changed the language a bit as I often use words from Urdu and Sanskrit in my diary.

The changed that took place was magic of many things, including meditation.

What is your Story

It’s your time now, what’s your story? Have you noticed anything? Do you stop in middle of useless conversation and realize you’d prefer to be quiet? Have you ever surprised yourself by feeling unexpected peace? Have you ever spoken some words that amazed you? Share your story with us here. Do mail me.

Photo Credit: Marco Gomes cabelo curto by Marco Gomes, on Flickr

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This weekend I received a call form my friend, she was sounding very worried. She told me that one of her cousin was into drugs and was recently hospitalized. She wanted me to visit him and motivate him to see his life with new perspective.

I was about to say in shock and surprise, “What the..! What do you think am I? A saint?” but this urge went away as swiftly as it came. I herd myself saying, “Alright! I’ll try.”

One could tell my looks and the mess around that he wasn’t very sound. Anyways, I sat down and we began talking. He was very resistant and seemed too arrogant. But I knew that behind these hard protective layers were some wounds which were not healing easily.

That day I learned a lot from him, really a lot. And today I want to share it with you, my fellow meditators.

I Don’t Give A Damn

That’s what he shouted. He said that he knew who I was and he didn’t need any psychiatrist. I told him that I was just a high school student. Then we started talking. He told me that he started taking drugs because he couldn’t bear to be bothered about life’s hardships anymore. He couldn’t keep up with all the troubles of being this and that, facing this and that he said he was tired and taking drugs gave him a break.

My immediate reaction was, “Are you gone nuts? Drugs?! Try meditation instead, you can have the same break and it won’t make a mess out of it.” But just before I could utter these words something in me restrained me and I was calm again, just listening.

It Feels Wonderful

He continued, he said that he started feeling wonderful under drugs’ affect. So he started talking more often to the extent where when was doped all the time. It was just pure addiction. He felt like so light and absolutely ‘wonderful’. He knew he was killing himself but at least he was enjoying it.

I was furious. I wanted to shout, “You fool! You have the power to feel wonderful 24×7 without those drugs. You have that power now. Meditate, Read, Travel these things would make you feel wonderful and won’t leave you rotten like drugs do. They won’t kill you either.” But again, persistent feeling of peace covered my mind. I choose to listen more.

Life is Absurd, People Hateful

He told me about his past, he resented being born in a dysfunctional family of people who were themselves so hurt and kept on hurting others. It was like he had no other choice but to either hurt or get hurt. Betrayal, fights, violence was common as television. He stated cutting himself and even attempted suicide a number of times. Tears were flowing down his cheeks like a raging river released form a dam.

I felt relieved with him, at last he trusts me, at last the feelings are flowing out. I could have said that “You have power to choose, you can change your life no matter where you are. You have that power in present.” But I knew that at moments like this, such words have no meaning.

Why?

Then he asked me why was it that he had to face all this? Was no one could understand him? WHY? He shouted at top of his voice, hit himself and started crying even more. For a moment I was shocked and horrified but I knew this was just his feelings coming out, he was releasing it all.

All this time I spoke nothing, I kept sitting and my sense of gratitude and love grew inside me. I was meditating on this wonderful human who was practicing his power of control. Like a child who falls while trying to walk and then get’s up again.

Soon his crying got less and less. He was asleep.

Can We Be Friends?

I got up and went back home. I told my friend that his cousin will be alright. Later I received a call from him and he thanked me for listening to him. He told me that there was no one in his 20 years of life who listened to him without judgement. He asked me if we could friends. I said, “Sure!”

He was a bit surprised as if he wasn’t expecting that. He asked, “Won’t you ask me to promise me to leave drugs or anything?” “No”, I said, “My friendship is unconditional.” I was amazed at my reply.

A brief meditation with this person changed me so much. From a person who gave instant answers I was becoming and realizing the true meaning of listening. He taught me patience, unconditional love, and above all – true meaning of oneness.

We are good friends now and he haven’t taken any drug since than. His health is recovering fast. He even meditated (again).

He taught me that when two people meditate together, knowingly or unknowingly, wonderful things happen and both end up being more than what they were earlier. That’s the power of co-creation.

Once then when he cried, and now again when he smiled, teaching us all so many lessons. Let’s thank this wonderful being who taught us so many things. I am full of gratitude to him, to show me how meditation can bring out a person from hopelessness to pure bliss.

Thank you, my friend.

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Meditation! This experience is awesome. I don’t know why, but it comes from within (may be because of The Law of Attraction)
When I first saw Meditation Rocks! a blog discussing new methods of meditation, I was totally fired up. I started meditation based on the methods suggested on the website. But, you’ll not believe, in my first attempt, I kept on losing my concentration (focus).
Then, I waited for some time to see more methods on the website and some of them worked for me and some of them didn’t (and it’ll be the same case with you!). So I started doing the techniques which I liked, and they were amazing.

I was doing meditation from the last two years, but not like this. I was totally blown away by it. So, I kept doing it for some days and the results were astonishing. The state when you’re meditating just feels so good. I felt tension-free after that and I was able to concentrate on my studies too (what I wanted).
And then I found the answers of many things which I never got. Meditation also helps in the process of The Law of Attraction. It has worked for me, and is still working!
The best thing is, when you start doing it you feel very good. And feeling good is the most good thing in the Universe! That feeling good is not forced to come but comes from within. And that is the magic of meditation. It was truly awesome doing that! And that awesomeness helps us finding the true path of life which many of us try to find.

I had an inner nudge to discover more methods myself. So I kept on experimenting and I really got some awesome ideas! Some of them are:

1. Meditate while you wait! This method works and saves your time and also passes the time. I started doing that, while waiting for my school bus and in the school bus as well! And you know what it really helps. Just use the simple techniques of meditation…!
2. The second one is actually there is no second one! But if I find one I’ll surely send a post to meditation rocks! rejuvenated

But, in one word, meditation ROCKS!!!
Please let me know what you think of my experience in comments.
Photo Credits: This is the coloring side of Tehran by HAMED MASOUMI, on Flickr

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