The ultimate goal of meditation is to experience the Self or Atma. The experience of Self is a state of transcendent knowledge and bliss: it is that state beyond time, space, and causation which is called Samadhi, Nirvana, cosmic consciousness and many other names. Ordinarily, awareness is not refined enough to perceive the Self because the mind is preoccupied with more gross perceptions and thoughts. The practice of meditation as per the blessed methodology of the Guru, sharpens our perception of the essence of our inner being, the real Self, the Atma within us.
The Atma is covered with the 3 inner sheaths.
1. The outermost sheath: It is the physical sheath composed of gross matter, beneath it is the,
2. The Middle subtle sheath: It is composed of subtler counterparts of the gross matter, and beneath it is the,
3. The innermost casual sheath: It is the casual sheath composed out of our Karmas, actions, as per the law of Karma.
In the normal waking consciousness state, all sheaths intervene between you and Atma. But,
1. During the sleep state, the physical sheath is removed,
2. In dreamless sleep, only the casual sheath shrouds Atma, This final sheath is difficult to penetrate. We are closest to Atma, during this dreamless sleep state. But there remains no memory of the experience when we wake up.
3. In meditative state, all the sheaths are penetrated and one can experience Atma with the techniques explained by the Guru.
The Upanishads say that the Atma dwells in the lotus of the heart, which refers to he Anahata Chakra. The Katha Upanishad says that Atma is smokeless and pure illumined flame burning in the temple of the heart and is of the size of thumb. In meditation this lotus of the heart can be experienced, bathed in the inner light the students experience divine bliss. Through the technique of Guru, one is able to enter the shrine and experience Atma and being yogyukta , in Unison and meditating on Atma, transcends the body and experiences higher knowledge.
Distractions: Initially there are distractions, even more than before discouraging the student. This is because the disturbances were there but previously not aware, like seeing the accumulated dirt swept under the carpet. The accumulated dust has been swept under the carpet, which got but hitherto unknown. This needs perseverance and is transitory.
There are three processes in the mind during meditation:
1. Contemplation,
2. Filling, and
3. Identification,
Kindly remember these three word-images before starting the meditation:
1. Contemplate Atma,
2. Fill the mind with Atma,
3. Then you become identified with Atma.
As you think so you become. Think you are Atma, Atma you will become.