The True Nature of Dhyāna (Meditation)





 


The True Nature of Dhyāna (Meditation)

Nowadays, almost every sect, path, or religious group puts on a show of teaching meditation in order to present itself as spiritual. Osho’s meditation, Mata Nirmala’s Sahaj Yoga, the Brahma Kumaris’ Rajyoga, Sri Sri’s Art of Living, Radhasoami’s Surat Yoga, Vipassana, and many other methods are prevalent today.

Just as light is the only means to remove darkness, similarly the only authentic method of meditation is the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga as propounded in the Vedas and the Yoga Darśana.

Osho’s meditation—shouting loudly, dancing wildly, jumping, laughing, singing, and behaving like animals—and calling this “meditation” is sheer foolishness. In dedicating one’s life to dharma, discipline and self-restraint have their own scientific importance. The campaign being run in the name of Osho’s meditation, which turns people into addicts of indulgence, has destroyed many families and ruined countless young people.

The Vedas lay great emphasis on moral conduct, avoidance of sin, character-building, and brahmacharya (celibacy/self-control), for example:

  • Yajurveda 4.28 – O Lord, the embodiment of knowledge, keep me completely away from immoral or sinful conduct and establish me firmly in perfect righteousness.

  • Rigveda 8.48.5–6 – May they not allow me to fall from good character.

  • Yajurveda 3.45 – The sins we have committed in villages, forests, assemblies, and through individual sensory behavior, we now completely cast away from ourselves.

  • Yajurveda 20.15–16 – May our teachers, learned guides, religious preachers, and God protect us from crimes and evil addictions committed by us during day, night, wakefulness, and dreams.

  • Rigveda 10.5.6 – The sages have laid down seven boundaries; whoever violates even one of them is sinful: theft, adultery, killing noble persons, foeticide, drinking intoxicants, repeatedly committing evil deeds, and lying to conceal sins after committing them.

  • Atharvaveda 6.45.1 – O sins of my mind! Why do you speak evil to me? Go away—I do not desire you.

  • Atharvaveda 11.5.10 – Through brahmacharya and austerity, a king can especially protect the nation.

  • Atharvaveda 11.5.19 – The devas (noble persons) have destroyed death (suffering) through brahmacharya and austerity.

  • Rigveda 7.21.5 – A person of immoral conduct can never attain the Lord.

Thus, numerous Vedic mantras preach restraint and righteous conduct.

From the beginning of creation to its end, truth always remains one and the same. Therefore, to ignore the universal and timeless principles of Veda-based morality is a clear sign of ignorance.

— Dr. Vivek Arya

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