Brahmanubhuti Talk 43
(Laya & Vikshepa)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0XDF2NhCKg
Today let us contemplate on two main obstructions in the Samadhi or transcendental meditation of Nidhidhyasa.
So, as I told earlier, the process of Nidhidhyasa involves Shravana, Manana, listening to the truth, contemplation and internalizing the truth, in the process of Nidhidhyasa. Nidhidhyasa is a Chetana Samadhi or conscious meditation, as against Jada Samadhi or unconscious meditation. In Nidhidhyasa, Chetana Samadhi, you are fully aware. Awareness is there. There is not a moment of drop of awareness. There are two blocks in Chetana Samadhi. One is called Laya and another is called Vikshepa.
‘Laya’ means going into a trance-state. Instead of going into a transcendental state, you enter into a trance-like state. And when you enter into trance-like state, it becomes Jada Samadhi or unconscious meditation. Let us understand this trans-like state. You are sitting in meditation, without support of the wall, and you lose your awareness, for let us say one second, ten seconds or one hour, whatever that is. When you wake up, time has passed. It is exactly like sleep. But, you will say, ‘No, no, I am not in sleep, because I am sitting with back straight.’ You are sitting with back straight, but you have entered into unconsciousness. You have lost your awareness. You feel refreshed, just like after getting up from sleep. In Jada Samadhi or Laya also, you will feel very refreshed. Then, you feel, ‘Oh! Such a bliss that is.’ No. It is not that.
Sri Ramana Maharshi speaks about Laya in Upadesha Saram, in Shloka no. 13 and 14 –
“Laya vinashane ubhayarodhane layagatham punarbhavati nomrutham.
Pranabandhanath leenamaanasam ekachinthanath naashametyada”
So, the mind has two ways – Laya, means suppression, or going like a trans-like state; Vinasha means destruction of ignorance in the mind. These are the two paths. ‘Pranabandhanath’ – due to the process of Pranayama, breath control, mind enters into state of Laya, or suppression or trans. But only through Self-enquiry, or meditation on ‘Soham’, ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, the mind will lose its ignorance; Or even Shivoham – these meditations have to be practiced for losing the ignorance. The mind becomes no mind. Please understand, this has to happen in a very conscious and waking state, not in a trance state, not in a dream state, not in a hypnotic state. Many people confuse the Laya or trans-like state for meditation. Absolutely, there is wisdom in Laya. Even for hundreds of years if you practice Laya, nothing will happen. Many people enter into a state of Laya, through Pranayama practices. Pranayama is good, to make mind calm, and energize the body. But don’t use Pranayama for suppressing the mind, to enter into a trance-like state of the mind. There will be no wisdom gained through that process. This is called Laya.
Another state is called ‘Vikshepa’ or distraction. So, you are fully awake, fully alert, trying to enter into a conscious state of meditation. But, the mind will be distracted with thoughts. You are contemplating on, ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, ‘Shivoham’, ‘I am not the body, mind, or intellect.’ But the mind is distracted, thoughts will come. Many people think that a thoughtless state is meditation. They suppress the thoughts, they reject the thoughts, and they will run away from the thoughts. They enter into a blank state of mind. That is not Samadhi. You should not enter into a blank state of mind. But the mind should be gently, silently made to go to a state of silence.
The best example I can give is this: The child is crying, and the mother is singing a lullaby, then the child calms down. The mother could have as well given some drugs to the child to make it sleep. But the mother sings lullaby, and the child will enter into a silent state. The crying child is the mind. Our mind is distracted by thoughts – thoughts of many things. You should give the mind, in meditation, the lullaby. The lullaby is the Guru’s words, the teaching of Upanishads – ‘I am not the body, mind, or intellect, I am Consciousness.’ This is the teaching of Guru, this is the teaching of Upanishad. Let the thought come and go, I am not bothered about these thoughts. These are like waves in the ocean, waves in the Consciousness. The water will never be afraid of waves. Let it come and go. I am Consciousness. Sun will never be afraid of clouds. Don’t run away from thoughts, don’t reject thoughts, just understand the nature of thoughts. That itself will make the mind calm. Don’t fight with the thoughts.
This Vikshepa is called distraction. Laya and Vikshepa are two obstructions in meditation. How do you remove Vikshepa or distraction? You do that by contemplating on the Truths. Laya or going to a trance-like state, how to avoid that? So, people, actually, consciously, want to enter into a state of unconsciousness, because they think that meditation is an escape from reality. ‘I am not the body, mind or intellect,’ they think that it is going into an unconscious state. No. Many people starve themselves in the name of meditation. In the name of spiritual sadhana, they starve themselves. And when the energy of the body goes low, they enter into Laya. None of this should be tried. Laya and Vikshepa, should be avoided with wisdom, in meditation.
Pranams