Meditation

 by Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati

The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are very pertinent to the present time. The twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York were destroyed last September by terrorists. Why? Do we subscribe to retaliation or do we turn the other cheek? This is similar to the situation that Arjuna faced on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Does one respond to violence (himsa) with violence or to violence with non-violence (ahimsa)? Arjuna wanted to react non-violently, but under the instructions of Krishna he had to respond violently, though with the attitude of ahimsa (non-hate) in his heart.

Sit in a comfortable position. Be completely here in the present moment. Feel your body as an empty vessel. Be in touch with the Heart Space. Feel as though the Heart Space is reaching outwards so that everyone and everything is included in your Heart Space. Know and feel that we are all sharing the same space on every level - physical, emotional, mental, psychic and Spiritual. (pause)

Furthermore, each of us is an expression of Underlying Intelligence. Let us try and be in touch with, and aware of, that Intelligence. Even though we see chaos, selfishness and terrorism in the world, let us know in our heart that there is one Intelligence behind everything and that each person is an expression of that Intelligence. This applies to the terrorists who brought havoc to New-York and elsewhere. Let us send them love and compassion; may they realise that the same Intelligence which is them is in the people they seek to destroy. May they find Peace in their hearts and may it awaken the sense of caring for others. (pause)

On the surface of the sea we see storms which cause chaos; but underneath the sea, all is well and all is still. The surface of existence is something like the sea, sometimes calm, sometimes very stormy; but deeper down, there is just calmness – the Peace that passeth understanding. (pause)

And let us visualise the bombing of the towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. See the incredible damage that was done and all the suffering. Send your compassion to those people who were crushed and burned alive, and who jumped from those windows, one hundred storeys up. See families, relatives and friends who have been affected by the death of their loved ones. Know that they are also an expression of Underlying Intelligence. See the passengers and the terrorists in the planes that were crashed into the skyscrapers. Send your compassion to these also… passengers, pilots, hostesses, stewards, terrorists… (pause)

Let us visualise the people in Afghanistan, suffering through bombs, famine and suppression. Let us send them our compassion. Let us visualise President Bush and other world leaders, surrounded by their advisers. They are also expressions of this same Underlying Reality. Let us visualise them surrounded by calm and making the right decisions based on Intelligence, knowing that such decisions can be difficult. If you are passive, then it may have a certain result; if you are very active it may have another result. Whatever we do, whether we take the attitude of Bhagavat Gita and treat violence with violence or we take the attitude of Gandhiji and treat violence with non-violence, let us not feel hatred in our heart. Let us feel and show compassion. May everyone realise in the depths of their being that there is but One Intelligence; we are all expressions of that Reality. (pause) Let us move, act, talk and feel, knowing that we are all expressions of this Reality. Let us not live this day automatically, like zombies. Let us live this day with awareness.

OM, OM, OM. PEACE, PEACE, PEACE.