Sri Saradamma
I realized the Self by meditating on Swamy's (Lakshmana Swamy) form. In the beginning I used to do japa of 'Hare Lakshmana', but later I stopped and concentrated on his form alone. After some time I was able to sustain Swamy's image in my mind continuously with no other thoughts intruding. As my practice progressed I was even able to visualize him outside the body. Eventually a point was reached when no matter where I looked I saw only Swamy. This practice was very good, but the best results came from meditating on him in the Heart.
If you want to meditate on me or Swamy it is not good to think of us as objects separate from us. Meditate on us in the Heart for we are really inside you, not outside you. In the later stages of my sadhana I always used to meditate on Swamy in the Heart. Sometimes he would fill my being so completely that I could actually that I was Swamy. My face would feel as if it had taken on the shape of Swamy's face and there was a feeling that Swamy had entered or taken over my whole body. By meditating on Swamy in this way I could feel that Swamy and I were one and not separate.
Swamy and I are in your Heart; meditate on us in the Heart and you will discover that we are not apart from you. When you look at our bodies you are only looking at an image created by your mind. Meditate on us in the Heart and you will discover that we are your own Self.
Q: When you say 'meditate on us in the Heart' do you mean that I should visualize an image in the Heart-center in the same way you used to do before you realized your Self?
S: No, that is not the real Heart meditation; it is just an exercise in concentration. Meditating in the Heart really means that you should make the mind go back into the Heart so that you can experience the bliss of the Self there. If you are thinking about anything, even mine or Swamy's form, then the mind is still active. While the mind is still active, it will not sink back into its source. If you can give up all thoughts and make the mind completely silent and still, then it will automatically sink into the Heart. Meditation in the Heart when the mind rests quietly in the Heart, absorbed in the bliss of the Self.
I realized the Self by meditating on Swamy's (Lakshmana Swamy) form. In the beginning I used to do japa of 'Hare Lakshmana', but later I stopped and concentrated on his form alone. After some time I was able to sustain Swamy's image in my mind continuously with no other thoughts intruding. As my practice progressed I was even able to visualize him outside the body. Eventually a point was reached when no matter where I looked I saw only Swamy. This practice was very good, but the best results came from meditating on him in the Heart.
If you want to meditate on me or Swamy it is not good to think of us as objects separate from us. Meditate on us in the Heart for we are really inside you, not outside you. In the later stages of my sadhana I always used to meditate on Swamy in the Heart. Sometimes he would fill my being so completely that I could actually that I was Swamy. My face would feel as if it had taken on the shape of Swamy's face and there was a feeling that Swamy had entered or taken over my whole body. By meditating on Swamy in this way I could feel that Swamy and I were one and not separate.
Swamy and I are in your Heart; meditate on us in the Heart and you will discover that we are not apart from you. When you look at our bodies you are only looking at an image created by your mind. Meditate on us in the Heart and you will discover that we are your own Self.
Q: When you say 'meditate on us in the Heart' do you mean that I should visualize an image in the Heart-center in the same way you used to do before you realized your Self?
S: No, that is not the real Heart meditation; it is just an exercise in concentration. Meditating in the Heart really means that you should make the mind go back into the Heart so that you can experience the bliss of the Self there. If you are thinking about anything, even mine or Swamy's form, then the mind is still active. While the mind is still active, it will not sink back into its source. If you can give up all thoughts and make the mind completely silent and still, then it will automatically sink into the Heart. Meditation in the Heart when the mind rests quietly in the Heart, absorbed in the bliss of the Self.
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