Author: balroop singh
A former high school teacher and an educator, a passionate reader, a published poet and a writer, an ardent nature lover, I am also fond of good, soft music. Amazon link for my books: goo.gl/X1NEFf
How I Reached That State Of Mind, Which Is Called ‘Meditation’
I have always cold-shouldered meditation, considering it to be another way of prayer. Probably I didn’t understand its meaning and had no faith in its healing power. I couldn’t believe that it can actually train our mind to think positive, to calm down and enhance the power of concentration.
Probably I had no time to sit quietly at that phase of life.
I always thought that the stream of thoughts flows incessantly. How can it be harnessed by meditation?
Stressful situations could never impel me towards it as I could handle them quite well.
Though meditation belongs to antiquity, there has been much ado about it in the modern times. So I have always been contemplating and waiting for some leisure to get acquainted with this practice.
When I heard that it could lead us to “inner transformation”, I must confess I felt the urge to try it out. However, it remained an unshared reverie for a long time.
Now I have been practicing meditation, a long nurtured dream but it still plays hide and seek with me. I have been trying to peep into the inner recesses of my mind and lately I seem to have made a break through.
Despite various suggestions about the ways of meditation, everybody has to discover one’s own way. And I did but it was a long, obstinate journey.
Meditation in natural surroundings has helped me at last.
The track I have been taking along a creek is blissfully peaceful; even the water produces a very soft sound.
One day the vibe of this creek and the trees reached me. That was an irresistible call. I sat by their side and closed my eyes. I could immediately discern deep connection.
The encouragement:
The visions that I perceived encouraged me to reconsider daily meditation.
Everyday I sit by the side of this creek and let my negative thoughts flow into it. Sitting there has helped me understand meditation. The leaves, the birds, the morning sunshine and the breeze support me in the percolation of positive energy into my body.
Most of the analysis I indulge in happens at such a time or when I go for a walk. So I start with my usual evaluation of thoughts and concepts.
The concentration:
I start with hands on my eyes like a child who is unable to close the eyes till s/he is overpowered by sleep.
I close my eyes to concentrate on the most recent thoughts till they fade into background. Do they? Oh no! Sometimes I wish this advancement of technology could invent a switch to turn our mind off!
On some days, when I close my eyes, all I can see is the yellow light, refusing to let me move beyond that… those are the days when mind is encircled by negative energy.
A little improvement is made when that yellow light turns into red and then I can see a tunnel of red light moving very fast but the moment some sound is heard, I am back in the yellow glow, struggling once again to move ahead.
It is like prodding into the unknown land in circles, coming back to the same spot.
On some days the frustration wins and dissuades me from even trying to sit at the place I chose to meditate.
I tell myself… I am wasting my time but there are days, brimming with positive energy which rekindle the fire within me to restart.
The breakthrough:
My persistence to explore the obscure tunnels of mind paid off and now I have developed some resistance to the loud voices, which try to disappoint me. Now I have realized that meditation is possible:
- By controlling negative energy
- By letting it pervade all around
- By giving it enough space and time to disintegrate
- By waiting patiently for concentration to settle on you
There was a time when external forces and sounds could shatter my concentration. Just the singing bird could divert my attention and I opened my eyes, losing all I had accomplished.
Now I can continue into that corridor which keeps widening, the more the span of concentration the wider it becomes, giving a sense of strange satisfaction.
And then that corridor opens up. I find myself in an open area with trees all around quite different from the ones I see and sit with.
I realize that it is not a state of blank, empty mind. It is more like developing a relationship with your reflections.
While meditating my mind is teeming with fresh thoughts. I find a strange connection with this solitude.
Only when we experience a particular state of mind, do we get the pleasure.
Everyday I drift into that state when I am trying to meditate.
It is now getting easier, more meaningful and blissful.
Do you meditate? How did you learn it?
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Balroop Singh.
Protected: Why Forgive? Isn’t It Extremely Hard To Do So?
Confessions Of A Writer Who Loses Track And Feels Disillusioned…
I have been trying to write a book, trying to compress most of the experiences of my life, honestly into it but each time I go back to those pages, some kind of darkness descends on me.
I get wedged in those dark corridors. I feel stifled.
My thoughts veer into those unknown crevices where I have buried many setbacks, a thousand emotions and disappointments, which have been struggling to wriggle out.
I have endeavored to approach it from a different angle, interspersing it with fictional characters and situations to camouflage the darker moments but each time I have returned disillusioned.
My progress has been dismally slow; I lose the inspiration just after writing a few words. Meanwhile I have completed two books. My poetry flows most naturally and this has been a good reminder that I lack the will to come out of those long, narrow alleys, face sunshine and move forward.
The hope
But sunshine has been my lifeline, my motivation, and my most trusted friend who has always provided me the impetus to welcome positive thoughts.
I have been pondering who is the real culprit and why this unknown entity lurks around me…
There is one main character with ghost like eyes, prying at me all the time, holding my hands, scaring the life out of my fingers, paralyzing them, shooting at my thoughts, stealing all the ideas, showing daggers and making me quit.
Each time its approach is different. Sometimes it visits me right in the morning, even before I open my journal, exerting a strange power over my actions, distracting me into some meaningless activities.
The vice like grip of this monster holds all the words that seem to drift away, leaving me powerless.
There is always a villain, I reassure myself. I have the liberty to portray this villain in the darkest shades.
Devilish influence
Whenever I move ahead with this argument in my mind, I can race through some more pages, which reveal many more fiends, glowering at me through the words.
I refuse to give up. Nothing can bog me down. I continue to write. A day will come when all these devilish characters would stand exposed.
They will lose their hold on me one day.
Do I regret having buried them? Probably that was the only solution at that time.
Probably I didn’t have the maturity to handle their power at that juncture.
Now I can’t let them keep visiting me. Now I need to extort them out of my life. Words are more powerful than the sharpest weapons.
So I have been using just words.
“If I waited till I felt like writing, I’d never write at all.” – Anne Tyler
Thank you for reading these random thoughts. I know you too have some. Please share them.
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Balroop Singh.
Why Arrogant People Don’t Have Friends…
This is my third post on Arrogance, which is inspired from organic traffic.
This word – ‘Arrogance’ is detested by all due to the negative energy it carries but we all like to know more about its aspects and dimensions. Have you read how it can harm our personality?
Arrogance leads you into a self-created glittering world, making you the protagonist of those realms and the throne that feeds your ego is placed at a higher pedestal. It is very difficult to look at others with compassion and love when you gaze from that exalted throne.
Self-love dominates your thoughts and all those around you appear to be your friends and admirers.
Arrogance dwells in such a shallow zone where relationships do not hold any relevance. So friendship and arrogance can never move hand in hand.
Self-importance guides arrogance:
You have to step down from that platform of superciliousness to befriend people but your haughty nature doesn’t let you step down. You think you have a lot of friends and indeed you can see yourself surrounded by many people.
Admirers can never be your true friends. They would surround you till you entertain them, party with them and let your money flow freely for their benefit.
Arrogance detests emotions:
The only emotions that seem to be of any importance to arrogant persons are those, which concern them. If they have been snubbed at some stage of life, they carry that pain in their heart forever. If they have not been treated justly, they would call the whole humanity unjust. When they hide their true emotions from their friends, the latter can understand their demeanor.
Arrogance doesn’t trust anybody:
Trust is the main plank of true friendship but arrogant people are always on their guard. Their relationships remain superficial. They fail to open their heart to their friends and therefore their friendship never crosses that line of mutual trust. Those who try to be friendly with such people often discover this trait and walk off, feeling cheated.
Nobody likes to be judged and controlled:
Arrogance is that intoxication, which never lets you come to your senses. Those who acquire this trait think highly of themselves and try to judge even their friends. They manipulate them in various ways, which is always disliked. How long can any friend bear such a behavior?
Arrogance mocks at humility:
Such people consider humility to be a weakness. They look down upon benevolent and humble friends, which exposes their own hollowness. Virtues are very hard to maintain and therefore all those who try to endure the behavior of arrogant persons give up out of disappointment.
Arrogance thrives on dominance:
Would you like your friend to control your thoughts, influence you into doing something you may not be comfortable with? Arrogant people are compulsive rulers. They want to govern your feelings, your time and even your likes. They take pleasure in planning for all the people around them.
Do you have arrogant friends? Do you like their company? I would love to hear your views.
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Balroop Singh.
Image adapted from: http://windydy.deviantart.com
Emotional Shadows 