Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Dhyana included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of 顿丑测腻苍补
(Meditation). Even from ancient times the people of 叠丑腻谤补迟补 believed that heaven could be attained by meditation. There are scientific methods of meditating upon God. They are described below:
The root "dhyai", means "to think". 顿丑测腻苍补 (meditation) means thinking of God with concentration. God is invisible and figureless. We can meditate only upon some material that contains the attributes of God. So dhy膩na (meditation) is to fix the mind on the object of meditation, and to imagine that particular object in a particular place and to concentrate the mind upon it. One who casts off his body, while engaged in meditation attains '厂腻测耻箩测补' (oneness with God).
He who can meditate upon God, with concentration of mind even for a moment or two can attain heaven. The fruits he attains are far greater than the fruits attained by performing great sacrifices and offerings. For meditation, there are four factors: Dhy膩t膩 (the meditator), 顿丑测腻苍补 (the act of meditation) Dhyeya (the object meditated upon) and 顿丑测腻苍补prayojana (the attainment by meditation). He who indulges in meditation is the meditator. The act done by him is meditation. That which is meditated upon is the object of meditation. What the meditator obtains as a result of his meditation is the attainment. A meditator should be wise and virtuous, should have attention and patience, devoted to 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and always energetic.
We can meditate upon God, walking, standing, sleeping and awake. God should be consecrated in the centre of the lotus chair of the heart and be worshipped with devotional meditation. It is to give practice in fixing the mind firmly on a particular object, that the sages say that some visible material object should be given to meditate upon, in the early stage of meditation. When concentration of mind is obtained by meditating upon a visible object, it will be possible for us to meditate upon an object which is not amenable to our senses. When engaged in meditation we should be thinking "Aha峁� 叠谤补丑尘腻 jyotir膩tm膩 v膩sudevo vimukta O峁�". (I am 叠谤补丑尘腻, the light, the Spirit, 痴腻蝉耻诲别惫补, and Vimukta (having no connection with anything), OM). (Agni Pur膩峁嘺, Chapter 374).