Sleep, Meditation, Sprituality and Bhajan

Last month, I wrote about Sleep-Meditation-Spirituality connection. It was just s some glimpse of thoughts on that topic. Happy to see that, at least some people showed interest in that subject.

http://theworldofjayaram.blogspot.com/2009/05/sleep-meditation-and-spirituality.html

As I mentioned in that blog, it all depends on what exactly one wants to achieve through meditation. These days, most of the people who turn into meditation are looking for a way to de-stress. If that is the case, there is nothing wrong in falling asleep while meditating, though meditation is NOT falling asleep or sitting alone and day-dreaming. This is because, meditation can offer a deeper sleep and in most of the cases, one might have already ‘almost’ emptied the mind before falling asleep and that helps a lot to de-stress.

What if those who ‘really’ want to meditate but could not coz of sleep issue? There still is hope (yes, never give up!)That is one reason to suggest to sit in a yoga posture (like padmasan – lotus posture), which is not comfortable or easy. Some Buddhist monks keep their eyes only half closed while meditation. This too helps. But this time, am NOT talking about ‘how not to fall asleep while meditating’. It’s something else this time.

Singing bhajans (devotional songs/church songs etc) is not a 100% religious act. It has some spiritual extension too. Mata Amrithanandamayi, has put this in a very simple but beautiful way.

"……..to gain concentration in this age of materialism, bhajan is easier than meditation. By loud singing, other distracting sounds will be overcome and concentration will be achieved. Bhajan, concentration and meditation, this is the progression. In fact, constant remembrance of God is meditation. Children, bhajan sung with one-pointedness will benefit the singer, the listener and also Mother Nature. Such songs will awaken the listeners minds in due course.

If bhajan is sung without concentration, it is a waste of energy. Bhajan is a spiritual discipline aimed at concentrating the mind on one's Beloved Deity. Through that one-pointedness, one can merge in the Divine Being and experience the Bliss of one's True Self. It does not matter whether one believes in Krishna or Christ, Mother Kali or Mother Mary; a formless God or even a flame, a mountain or an ideal such as world peace can be meditated upon while singing. By letting the mind expand in the sound of the divine chanting, each one can enjoy the peace born of one's inherent divinity."