Meditation and Sumiran

It is said that the key to meditation or Sumiran is to concentrate - to focus on one single point.

The question is: 

What should be the point of our focus - and how to achieve it.

A point is a dominant center - the principal characteristic of perspective - the main point of an idea - of beliefs and concepts. 

It is the very essence of everything.

Just like a definite point in space helps us to navigate in the right direction to reach our destination, our point of view determines our outlook and the goal we want to achieve.

In order to gain knowledge and pass the exams, a student needs to focus on his studies. 

A businessman needs to concentrate on his work to make his business flourish. 

In any field of life, we can achieve the desired outcomes faster by focusing on a single point of interest.

But usually, our mind is dispersed over a wide area of interests and attractions. 

Our thoughts are mostly scattered all over the place. We easily get influenced by others and get disoriented. 

We get confused and find ourselves unable to move in one single direction. Our energies are in disarray and dispersed. 

The result is perplexity, unhappiness, and helplessness.

On the other hand, the one whose mind is focused on a single point gets desired results. 

He achieves his goals and stays happy and peaceful. 

The same is true with meditation. 

When our thoughts are dispersed - if the mind keeps wandering in all directions, we can not focus on Sumiran or one single point of concentration. We become restless - and sometimes even upset and agitated. 

The more we try to focus, the more restless we become. 

Because, as long as there are some thoughts in our mind - some disturbances - worries and anxieties will also remain. 

The key to meditation, therefore, is not to focus - but to become free of all thoughts. 

Peace is a state of no thoughts and desires. 

However, becoming free of thoughts is not that easy. 

The human mind is always busy - always thinking of something. It keeps on chasing everything that appears before it. 

Even during most parts of our sleep, the mind keeps on working. 

Therefore, in the beginning - the Saints and Sages, Scriptures, and the Gurus direct us to meditate upon a single point - on a Mantra or a phrase - or even an image. Singing and chanting a name can also help. 

But eventually, one has to go beyond everything - 

Beyond Naam and Roop - beyond names, forms, shapes, or words - and even thoughts. 

But first, our mind should move from Everything to Something. 

And then finally - from Something to Nothing.

                                " Rajan Sachdeva "