Holistic Meditation – III

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Unitary Perception:

Holistic Meditation enables one to have a unitary perception. The unitary perception is the opposite of dualistic perception. When the mind is fragmented by thoughts it can think only in terms of pairs of opposites, good-bad, ignorant-wise, rich-poor and so on. In such a dualistic vision the body, mind and the Self are seen as three separate entities. The dualism of the mind springs from the de-linking of the mind from the source of light, the Heart, which happens in the waking and dream states. Consequently one comes to believe that the body is self-conscious or that the mind is self-conscious or that both the body and mind are self-conscious. This results in one being aware of the multiple variety of forms in this universe, ignoring the underlying single unitary source of energy gushing in the spiritual heart.

The Ramana Way and True Vision:

'The Ramana Way' restores to us the true vision of oneness of the energy source by locating it in the spiritual heart and providing the seeker a means to search and discover for oneself this central light within. To the extent to which one is successful in Holistic Meditation, the seeds of a new transformed life would be sown. Meditation would then embrace life as a whole and not be limited to the short period set apart to be free from thoughts and relate to the Supreme at that time.

The Light, the Seer and the Seen:

We find that Ramana takes us through this unitary vision by placing before us certain fundamental truths. Beginning with the heart-centre he then takes us through the vast panorama of variety, the variegated world with millions of life forms and nature's infinite splendour. One has to ask oneself the question, 'Which is the light which enables the seer to see this world of creation?' If this question is posed to oneself it would be seen that the individual, the objects and the world can exist only if that light falls on the mind of the seer.

Ramana gives an analogy of the cinema theatre. In the theatre there is a projector, the film which is being projected and the screen on which it is projected. None of them can function unless light is focussed through the projector. For all life the essence is the ever-conscious light of the heart. This fact should not be forgotten and must be kept in clear focus by one following the path of Holistic Meditation.

Some examples:To drive home this point, Ramana gives the example of gold and gold ornaments both in the 'Forty Verses' and in his last composition 'Five Hymns on the Self'. Ordinarily one may see only the different forms of the ornaments like necklace, bangles, earrings and so on. But can they exist without gold? The goldsmith is aware and goes only by the weight of the gold. The other example is that of a sugar doll sold in a village shanty. A child would ask for the elephant or the deer not knowing that all the dolls are made of sugar and cannot be made without them. Likewise one who forgets the essence will perceive only division and variety. For the jnani however, divine light would be seen in all forms without losing sight of the truth that it is “limitless embracing the mind, the body and the world".

About the author

A.R.Natarajan

Sri A.R.Natarajan has had the opportunity of a long association of over 50 years with the Ramanashram. He was the editor of "Mountain Path" for two years. He was the secretary of Ramana Kendra, New Delhi for ten years. He founded the Ramana Maharshi centre for learning, a non profit institution. He has authored more than thirty six books and eleven pocket books on the life and teachings of Bhagavan Ramana.

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