Aspiration, Links and Meditation getting started - sharing techniques

When I first heard the word "Aspiration" in the context of Sri Chinmoy's talks and writings, I would always pause. It was like hitting a bump in the road. Somehow I knew I didn't get it!

Hearing "Aspiration", I would say "what?" I think I understood the concept of countries' "Aspirations". That "aspiration" was abstract, positive and comprehensible yet distant in that it didn't have much to do with me. But when I read about personal "aspiration" something stirred inside of me. I could only sense at first what it was NOT. I knew from the context that it was not about "desire", wanting something at any cost or simply to posses it.

I re-read many sections where "aspiration" appeared in Sri Chinmoy’s writing and it confirmed that It was outside my conscious conception experience at that point. However it did not seem "unknowable"  just currently "unknown".

For example My Lord's Secrets Revealed had many uses of the world aspiration* http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/lord-secrets-revealed/

As time passed  I found more direct explanations of aspiration. Others had asked very pointed questions related to similar subjects. In the beginning my mind found it quicker to grasp the meaning from a  question and answer format than poetry. Links to some of these aspiration related questions, answers and explanations can be found at 

 http://www.srichinmoy.org/resources/library/questions_answers/aspiration/

In 1974 some related talks of  Sri Chinmoy were published in My Rose Petals Part II:

Aspiration And Wisdom, http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/sri-chinmoy-rose-petals/part2/12.html

Desire And Aspiration, http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/sri-chinmoy-rose-petals/part2/6.html

Aspiration And Spirituality, http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/sri-chinmoy-rose-petals/part2/15.html

 

Later Sri Chinmoy began to call me Adhiratha and said it meant "Divine charioteer carrying Earth-Aspiration** to the Supreme.

 

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Awareness - Who am I? - Aspiration

Recently in conversations with friends from my University days the relationship between "awareness" and "aspiration" was touched on. "Awareness" was a prime concern of sage Ramana Maharshi who was famous for his continual question of "Who am I".  Carl Jung and his students were possibly the most known of recent western Psychologists to also explore this avenue.  Carl Jung admired Ramana Maharshi and his comments are used for the forward of one of Ramana Maharishi’s books.

In searching for these two words at the Sri Chinmoy library site,  95 items are presented. http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/search?SearchableText=aspiration+awareness+

The first item included the two terms related to psychology where Carl Jung is mentioned: "Many years ago I studied Freud and Jung, and last year I studied an authority on Jung’s philosophy and psychology. There I found that they have come to the conclusion that awareness is all; they do not go any farther. I agree that awareness is of immense help to an ordinary human being. But spiritual seekers have to go beyond awareness. We have to make a conscious effort; and that conscious effort we call aspiration, inner aspiration." - excerpt from  Soul-Education For The Family-World by Sri Chinmoy. Published by Agni Press in 1977. Question: "As far as psychology..."

Note: "Who am I?" was also the foundation of the path of the spiritual teacher Ramana Marhashi.
http://www.aspiringindia.org/saints_sages/ramana-maharshi/ramana-maharshi

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There was an earlier chat about aspiration and self-giving at the yahoo discussion group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sri_Chinmoy_Inspiration/message/7925

Re: SELF-GIVING: comment invited

 

For me the word that first shook me a bit was Aspiration.

Every time I came across it in Sri Chinmoy's writings it was like
going over a bump in the road. I finally slowed down and took better
look. I realized I did not understand with my mind what he was
saying. But some how in my heart I felt that with time the concept
would come more alive for this "aspiration" word which seemed more
than "achieve" or "succeed".

Self-Giving, too is one of those things that you can see out of the
corner of your eye when you are looking at something else. But if you
turned to look directly it was gone. Self-giving to me is something
that happens when one is aspiring. It is something one falls into,
like when you are whole-heartedly doing a task that your heart says "
needs to be done" and your are right there - now .

But the self-giving is a funny critter. It you become aware of it, the
mind has a tendency to then claim it as its possession and expects
appreciation and then self-giving just seems to slip away, with
aspiration close behind.

Adhiratha, divine charioteer carrying earth aspiration to the Supreme.
Maybe saying a name with a meaning is an aspiration for self-giving.
Because there is both divine and other types of pride - but that is
for a different discussion

 

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* Search aspiration

Searching "aspiration my lord's secrets" at the Sri Chinmoy library site returns 21uses of aspiration in My Lord's Secrets revealed. http://search.srichinmoylibrary.com/search.jsp?query=aspiration+my+lord%27s+secrets

**Hyphen words

There are a number of hyphen separated words in Sri Chinmoy's writings. Many times these hyphen words would envoke in my mind or life a new way of "understanding". I have seen somewhere a fuller description of this type of word use by Sri Chinmoy. When I locate the exact reference I will post it here.

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Meditation getting started:

When I first came into contact with the concept of meditation was when I in the minor seminary (grade 9) in high school. If as tudent was "spacing out" or not paying attention in class the teacher wiould say "meditation was to be done at home". I think there was also a book called something like "daily meditations" that included short prayers or themes fo the day. The next time I remeber coming across meditation was writing a paper on Scocrates and "Know Thyself" for Philosophy class in my second year of College. I think it was the first class paper that I really enjoyed doing. I made a remark in the paper that in trying to discover what it meant to meditate I didn't get to know myself much beter - since I only got a headache. The professor much appreciated the remark. Later when the USA mititary service was comming up and it seemed like I might end up spending a lot of quite time by myself I began to explore in earnest some techniquesa and possible benifits to meditation. you can read more about my early seeking journey here  Adhiratha Early Seeking.

Through the years I began to practice meditation from books and personal instruction. Some of the related books are lsited here  Inspiring Books & Quotes. The most important thing about making progress with meditation seems to be daily practice and being around other people who value the experience and practice a similar technique regularly together.

From time to time I have led introductory sessions and shared techniques I value with groups of seekers. Many years ago I gave a series of 7 classes or workshops in: Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Queens and Long Island, NY;  and Alberta, Canada; as well as to colleagues in UNICEF where I was working. 

Since then much good instruction material has been produced I recommend 101 Meditation Techniques booklet and the more comprehensive book Meditation: Man perfection in God Satification (described at Inspiring Books & Quotes). I also sugest seeing where the Sri Chinmoy Centre is offering workshops in closes to your area. 

Here is link to USA cities http://us.srichinmoycentre.org/meditation

Here is link to centers around the world: http://www.srichinmoycentre.org/contact_us

Page links above will also point to some on-line meditation courses and other helpful resources to get you started if there is not a workshop scheduled for your area. See: http://www.srichinmoycentre.org/meditation. This Ibelieve is the best on-line source for meditation

Below I am including a list of some of the topics I coverd in the workshops I presented or I have since added from others workshops I have attended.

You will se that the formats in different classes may differ. what they have in common is the actual practice of meditation techniques during the classes. thisI feel is the most important experience for a new seeker or one trying to deepen thir personal practice. I see the philosophy shared during the sessions also very useful for some participants, but the best results always seem to come to those who learn the techniques and immediately begin to practice a few of them each day in the own private setting.  Over the years the philosopy has become more concise to express and the time available to practice meditation techniques in the courses has increased with notable appreciation from participants - who are more able to share the experience they are having practicing the various techniques daily outside the class on their own and seek more clarification on techniques of most interst. 

Sample Outlines to add more detail:

  • 1981 Course Structure - 4 course structure 
  • Meditation and the Spiritual Life as taught by Students of Sri Chinmoy – A seven week course
    • About Sri Chinmoy
  • A course Outline – given as part of College course – 9 weeks
    • Open Space 145 – Meditation: Practical Techniques 

 Add highlights of all the topics covered: (or possibily a chart with the topics listed and check colum if covered in 4, 7, 9 or other course structure) 

 

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 test from word add:

 

Self Awareness and Meditation
 
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Session Number
Title
Main Items introduced
Comment on locations or reference works
I 
Knowing oneself
the search and the Goal, different paths, concentration , starting meditation
 
II
Meditation
Techniques, when and where to meditate, individual problems, benefits, concentration and contemplation
 
III
Cosmic Consciousness and Daily Life
Desire, Aspiration, realization, dreams, astrology, evolution, death, the physical body, sports, diet harmonizing the inner and outer Life
 
IV
Creativity and Maintaining Progress
Art and intuition, music, poetry, choosing a teacher, the relationship between Guru and disciple, advanced meditation, practice and maintaining Progress
 
 
 
 
 
 Useful aids:    some candles, possibly incense, books for reading or reference, recorded or live music, slides video.
 
Strategy for advertising Classes:  Local Media – Ads or Story,  Posters for Campus? Student Papers, Radio Station, Book Store, Health Food store.
  
At the Course:    Hand Out packets – Envelope with the basic outline of Courset
o    Candle in Packet.
o    Exercises in Packet