The
purpose of meditation is to look inward, to reach a state of inner spiritual
bliss. We are conscious of our soul’s connectedness with God and all life. We
are strengthened by the fearlessness that comes with identifying with soul. We
live in the knowledge that we are immortal. By looking inward, we go to the
source of wisdom from which all outer knowledge is derived. Through meditation
we can go beyond the door of death to meet the bliss and beauty that await us
beyond. We no longer live in fear of death.
Saints
who have seen past this world say that death is not something to fear, but
something to embrace. Kabir said, “The death of which other people are afraid
is a source of happiness for me. It is only with death that I attain
everlasting bliss.” St. Teresa of Avila
has said of death. “I do not die. I enter into life.”
For
enlightened beings, life as we know it on earth is sleep. Death and entry into
the kingdom of God is walking up. St Paul said, “Oh death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?”
Behind
many fears is the fear of loss, pain and death. Having experienced our
immortality, our fears begin to dissolve. The soul, in its state of oneness
with the Lord, fears nothing. It only fears ignorance of that oneness. In
reality, sin is merely ignorance of truth. Sin means being unaware of God and
the laws of truth and love that govern all the universes. It is a simple
formula. Virtue is what brings us closer to God, sin or evil takes us away from
God.
If we
walk on the path of righteousness, observing the laws of non-violence,
truthfulness, chastity, humility and selfless service and spending time in our
spiritual practices of meditation, then we have nothing to fear in this world
or in the beyond.
When we
see the same Light that is within our soul in all other souls, we experience
connectedness with all forms of life. With such a bond of unity, we realize
that all beings are members of our family and life becomes one joyous reunion
with everyone we meet.
The joy
of family gatherings extends to the whole of humanity. Love permeates all our
dealings because we are among our universal family and friends. By journeying
within, we can reach this state and consider all creation our family and all
places our home.
Unending
bliss is ours when we look inward. Sufi saint Shamas -i- Tabreze offers a glimpse into this state of bliss: “Please
do not ask me about my inner state of being. My senses, intellect and soul are
intoxicated, and they have achieved a permanent bliss of intoxication. The
roots of these trees are drinking the secret wine of love. Have patience,
because one day you too will wake up into this state of intoxication. In my
mind there is a festival of intoxication. Feel the effect of the wine of Divine
Love, so that even the walls and door are intoxicated.”
When we
are in love with an earthly beloved, the whole world takes on the color of
love. We see things as rosy and blissful. Similarly, when in a state of bliss
from within, it colors the whole world in bliss. We then see ecstasy wherever
we look.
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