Latest / Sri Aurobindo Studies / Distinguishing Concentration and Meditation from One Another

Transcript

Distinguishing Concentration and Meditation from One Another · Sri Aurobindo Studies

• 0:02
  If we observe the mental status that takes place at times when
• 0:05
  we focus on achieving some objective or other taking a test
• 0:11
  working on a project, running a race playing music.
• 0:16
  We're creating some work of art. For example, we see that the
• 0:20
  attention is focused, intensely on the task at hand, and there
• 0:25
  is in most cases, little perception of extraneous.
• 0:29
  Sensations, or Or matters or even of the passage of time.
• 0:35
  This is concentration. Concentration also applies when
• 0:41
  the focus is turned towards Spiritual Development.
• 0:44
  For instance, through intensive, visualization of a mandala or
• 0:49
  through focus on awareness between the eyebrows or in the
• 0:53
  heart region or mindful attention on the breath or on
• 0:58
  recitation of a particular Mantra brain waves in a state of
• 1:03
  concentration, tend to be tightly packed dense and strong.
• 1:09
  Meditation on the other hand has a different character when we
• 1:13
  view the process inwardly, the mental process may be more
• 1:17
  relaxed, the brain waves less intense and more widely spaced
• 1:22
  from each other. As the Mind moves along its
• 1:25
  chosen object of meditation. Meditation by definition is an
• 1:31
  inward process while concentration may be focused
• 1:35
  either internally or externally. Each of these processes has its
• 1:41
  time and place and both clearly can be aged to the spiritual
• 1:46
  growth of the individual. It may be noted that in his
• 1:50
  lectures on Raja yoga, Swami Vivekananda.
• 1:54
  Systematically explores the process of achieving
• 1:57
  concentration and describes the power of concentration and its
• 2:02
  effects. One pointed focus is considered
• 2:06
  to be one of the ultimate achievements of spiritual
• 2:09
  discipline. We find that the Mind cannot
• 2:13
  remain constantly in a state of intense concentration.
• 2:17
  Thus, an alternation with the process of meditation can be
• 2:20
  highly beneficial and refreshing to the mind.
• 2:25
  Meditation is more reflective in nature.
• 2:28
  While concentration is more active.
• 2:31
  SRI aurobindo notes. Quote concentration is a
• 2:35
  gathering together of the Consciousness and either
• 2:38
  centralizing at one point or turning on a single object.
• 2:43
  For example, the Divine, there can also be a gathered condition
• 2:48
  throughout the whole being not at a point in meditation.
• 2:52
  It is not indispensable to gather like this one can simply
• 2:57
  remain with a quiet mind thinking of one subject or
• 3:01
  Observing what comes in the Consciousness and dealing with
• 3:04
  it. Concentration means fixing the
• 3:08
  Consciousness in one place or on one object, and in a single
• 3:12
  condition meditation can be diffusive, for example, thinking
• 3:18
  about the Divine, receiving Impressions and discriminating
• 3:23
  watching what goes on in the nature and acting upon it, Etc.
• 3:28
  In quote reference SRI aurobindo and the mother growing within
• 3:34
  the of energy development, chapter 5 growth of
• 3:39
  Consciousness means and methods Pages, 89 to 90,