23.

     " What is the difficulty?"

• Whatever he says, we talk to him for one or two minutes as needed to find out where to start with him, which point to use.

  A.

  difficulty in thinking the mantra effortlessly. (The man may experience some pain or pressure in the head or neck whenever he thinks the mantra.)

  "In this meditation, we do not concentrate, we do not try to think the mantra clearly. Mental repetition is not a clear pronunciation. It is just a faint idea. We don't try to make a rhythm of the mantra. We don't try to control thoughts. We do not wish th at thoughts should not come. If a thought comes, we do not try to push it out. We don't feel sorry about it. When a thought comes, the mind is completely absorbed in the thought.
  
  "When we become aware that we are not thinking the mantra, then we quietly come back to the mantra. Very easily we think the mantra and if at any moment we feel that we are forgetting it, we should not try to persist in repeating it. Only very easily we start and take it as it comes and do not hold the mantra if it tends to slip away.
  
  "The mantra may change in different ways. It can get faster or slower, louder or softer, clearer or fainter. Its pronunciation may change, lengthen or shorten or even may appear to be distorted or it may not appear to change at all. In every case, we take it as it comes, neither anticipating nor resisting change, just simple innocence."

  • Shifting of the mind from the mantra to the thought has been an effortless process, shifting from this thought to another thought that "I am off the mantra" has also been effortless. When two shiftings have been effortless, then the third could also be nat urally effortless, that is, back to the mantra.
  • Then go to point #8.

  B.

  He complains against thoughts and says, "Due to thoughts I can not think the mantra effortlessly."

  "There is no need to try to stop thinking because thoughts are a part of meditation. Even if the mind is filled with other thoughts while the mantra is going on, there is no conflict. Our concern is with the mantra, and if other thoughts are there along with it, we do not mind them and we don't try to remove them. We are not concerned with them, we innocently favor the mantra."

  • Then go to point number 24.

  C.

  He complains against noise and says, "Due to noise I cannot meditate easily."
   

  "Noise is no barrier to meditation. Even in a noisy market, it is possible to be thinking thoughts and whenever we can think, we can meditate. So one can think the mantra comfortably even though aware of outside noises. We just innocently favor the mantra and do not try to resist noise in any way."

  • Then go to point number 24.

  D.

  He expresses unpleasantness, discomfort, pressure or pain anywhere in the body which is not associated with thinking the mantra.

  "Even with this (some discomfort) we should be able to meditate, for anyone who can think can meditate, and even with some bodily discomfort, it's our experience that we do not lose the natural ability to have thoughts."

  • Optional -- If appropriate, say:

    "If you are ill in bed, you should meditate as much as is comfortable."

    • If the man says that due to that sensation of pain he can not meditate, go to point number 10B.
    • If there is severe pain (but yet the mantra continues) be sure to ask if he has seen a doctor.
    • Then go to point number 24.

  E.

  He indicates that he "resents" or is unsure of his mantra.

  "We will just see whether the fault is in the method of using the mantra and if we find that the method is right and yet the meditation does not produce the desired results, then we will consult your initiator to check the mantra."

  • Then go to point number 23A.
  • Checking of meditation does not mean checking the mantra.
   
  • If the initiator is checking:

  "I'll check your mantra but first I'll check your method of using the mantra."

  • Then go to point number 23A.
   
  • If he is strained say,

  "Close the eyes and sit comfortably."

  (2 min.)

  "Open the eyes."

  (5-10 seconds)
  • Go to point number 23A.
  
  
  • In such cases when the meditation has been checked and he feels good, then remind him that:
     

    "The mantra is the same as before but now it is giving the desired results, therefore we should never doubt the mantra because just now it has become clear that the mantra is not wrong but it was the use of the mantra that was slightly incorrect. The mantra may be resented due to forcing the mind on it."

  • (If meditation is still not good check him again -- return to point number 5 -- keep checking until he feels better and then check his mantra.)

24.

   "Now this time when we close the eyes, wait for a little while, for about half a minute and then start thinking the mantra effortlessly, very easily and comfortably. Now let's close our eyes."

(3-4 minutes)

25.

   "Slowly open the eyes."

(10 seconds)

26.

  "It was easy?"

• If he says "yes" go to point #27.
• If he says "no" go to point #23.
  (He will find it easier than what he did at home.)

27.

   "Very good, this is how to meditate. Now we will meditate for about ten minutes. Don't mind the time. And when I ask you to open the eyes, then take one or two minutes and then open the eyes slowly. Let's close our eyes, sit easily for about half a minute and then start the mantra innocently."

(10 minutes)

• If you leave him alone, say:

"Very good, this is how to meditate. Now I'll be going out and you will be meditating for about ten minutes. Don't mind the time. I'll be back. (10 minutes) And when I ask you to open the eyes, then take one or two minutes and then open the eyes slowly. Now, let's close our eyes, sit easily for about half a minute and then start the mantra innocently."

• Do this with him for about half a minute before quietly slipping out. When you come into the room, quietly sit down and wait for about one minute and let the air settle down.

At this point you should also close your eyes and meditate or leave him by himself. But if you stay with him, it is advisable to glance at his face from time to time to see that there are no signs of straining, but actually he may not have been straining o n the mantra. This sign of strain may be the expression of natural release of stress. We shall find confirmation of this when we check the success of his meditation at the end of ten minutes.

It is important that the checker never gives the impression that he notices some change in the meditator. A meditator should never feel that the checker has been watching him closely while he was meditating.

28.

   "Now, slowly open the eyes."

(wait 10 seconds or longer)

• Give him sufficient time to come out of meditation.

29.

  "It was easy?"

• If he says "yes" go to point number 29B.
• If he says "yes" but some uncertainty or discomfort go to point number 29C.
• If he says "no" go to point number 29A.

29A.

"Close the eyes, just sit easily."

(2 minutes)

"Slowly open the eyes."

(5 seconds)

"You feel easier?"

•  ("You" is whispered)
• If he says "yes" go to point number 24.
• If he says "no" go to point number 23.

29B.

    "You experienced how easy it is? It is easy and simple. It is just the normal, natural process of thinking the mantra and taking it as it comes. Now, this is how we will meditate, easily, morning and evening."

• Then go to point number 30.

29C.

  If he says "yes" but indicates some feeling of discomfort inside in some way, ask him:

"You feel some relaxation?"

• Whatever he says, say:

"Maybe it will be good to meditate for sometime more, for about twenty minutes."

• If he has to go due to lack of time, tell him:

"If you have to go doesn't matter. Take it easy. Meditate at home in this way. If you feel that meditation at home is good, fine. If you feel that in some way it is not satisfactory, then it will be good to check again tomorrow."

• Then go to point #30.
• If he stays, say:

"Let's close our eyes."

•  Wait 20 minutes or leave the room -- and return in 20 minutes.
  • If we leave, say:

"Now I'll be going out and you will be meditating for about twenty minutes (or 15 minutes if that is his time). Don't mind the time, I'll be back. And when I ask you to open the eyes, then take one or two minutes and sit easily for about half a minute and then start the mantra innocently."

•  (20 minutes)

"Slowly open the eyes, take a minute or two."

•  (wait fifteen seconds or longer)

"It is better?"

• OR "You feel easier?"
• If he says "no" got to point number 23.
  • If he says "yes" go to point number 29B .
  • If it is felt that the meditator is not stable or not quite sure of the practice, tell him:

"I feel it will be good to check again tomorrow after you have meditated at home."

• Make a provisional appointment.

As he is about to leave say:

30.

"One thing is very important, that we do not try to meditate. We do not try to keep the tempo of the mantra the same, nor do we try to change the tempo. And, we do not concentrate against thoughts we might have, or against noises we might hear. We do not r esist thoughts, we do not resist noise, we do not resist the mantra changing or disappearing, we do not resist anything. We take it as it comes. It is a very simple, natural, innocent process. When we meditate at home, we start with half a minute sitting e asily. That means, close the eyes about half a minute and then start the mantra easily. And when we want to end meditation then we stop thinking the mantra inside, but do not open the eyes for about 2 minutes. This is very important that we start with half a minute of silence and end with 2 minutes of silence."

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