Let’s keep our mind vibrant

Rajesh Bhola

The ever-expanding screen based world of new technology is taking us to a new world that so many people acrross the world are inhabiting. We have started believing that as if something has not happened until it has been uploaded on the social media platforms. Due to the modern technology there is a marked shift in the way we think and behave.
For the younger generation today the pleasure has started to mean endless hours at the screen. The pleasure is becoming the end all of many lives. A new hedonistic generation has come up which is living only in the thrill of the computer generated moment.
Unfortunately, we cannot remain trapped in the moment of that pleasure forever. Soon we land in the real world and start realising that sadness and misery has returned again which, obviously, cannot wither away and remains to be integral part of the human existence. The develpment of new technologies has resulted into shorter attention spans, reduced personal communication skills and marked reduction in the ability to think abstractly; These trends are profoundly worrying. What actually goes into it is that our mind is getting highly conditioned.
On the opposite side, what we are losing, is the great bliss. The unconditioned human mind delights in the miracle of daily life, enjoys each breath, savours each taste, listens to the chirping of the birds, and looks quite naturally with eyes of love. The reason that we are not experiencing this bliss at all or only rarely is that we are getting thoroughly conditioned due to these technological advancements. Instead of getting lost into this two dimensional screen world, let the younger people spare out time for growing a meditative mind.
The aim of meditation is to allow our original nature to function. This original nature is not something we can construct. We need to stop doing what cuts us off from our natural happiness. Meditation will teach you to stop. When you feel angry, for instance, do absolutely nothing. Do not let your self be swept away by the wind; cultivate stillness. Return your attention to your breathing, and enjoy a few moments of being alive.
Look at the way the sunshine is catching the wall of the building across the street. You will become simply whatever it is that registers beauty and peace – the unconditioned. That is beyond good and bad, profit and loss, a beginning and an ending. It is not born and does not die. It is.
You will feel relief. This is the meaning of meditation, if practiced on a regular basis.
This practice puts us in touch with our deeper life, and strengthens us against the ravages of greed and hate. We learn to be happy in the midst of a daily life. It destresses us of the stress and ennui created by long hours of sitting before the screens. For finding solutions to the modern age problems we need to go back to the age-old methods of sitting still on meditation; at least for some moments in the day by focussing on emotions and fantasies that start arising and we strat getting afflicted with all types of perversions: some violent, some terrifying, some lustful and some tempting.
We need to go back to the same old methods followed by the wise men for keeping their minds vibrant and happy. To keep themselved grounded and attached to the basic truths of life, even in the midst of city life they remain intimately close to the instinctual and natural in themselves, and their innate goodness guides them; they never become a part of society's furtive scramble to reach an imaginary pinnacle.



		EDITOR'S MAIL EDITOR'S COMMENT SAFFRON FALL SIGNALS FOR TELANGANA SAFFRON FALL FRANKLY SPEAKING LOK SABHA ELECTIONS STATE OF ECONOMY REALPOLITIK AGRARIAN DISTRESS BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY PAST IN THE PRESENT MUMBAI TERROR ATTACK GLOBAL AFFAIRS KARTARPUR CORRIDOR HITS & MISSES BOOK BAZAAR SIGNS OF THE TIMES BOOK BAZAAR POLLUTION FALLOUT FOREST MANAGEMENT PATRIARCHAL BIAS IRANIAN FILMS A MIRROR TO SOCIETY ON RECORD ART OF LIVING Issue:January' 2018 Subscribe Now	ART OF LIVING Let’s keep our mind vibrant Rajesh Bhola The ever-expanding screen based world of new technology is taking us to a new world that so many people acrross the world are inhabiting. We have started believing that as if something has not happened until it has been uploaded on the social media platforms. Due to the modern technology there is a marked shift in the way we think and behave. For the younger generation today the pleasure has started to mean endless hours at the screen. The pleasure is becoming the end all of many lives. A new hedonistic generation has come up which is living only in the thrill of the computer generated moment. Unfortunately, we cannot remain trapped in the moment of that pleasure forever. Soon we land in the real world and start realising that sadness and misery has returned again which, obviously, cannot wither away and remains to be integral part of the human existence. The develpment of new technologies has resulted into shorter attention spans, reduced personal communication skills and marked reduction in the ability to think abstractly; These trends are profoundly worrying. What actually goes into it is that our mind is getting highly conditioned. On the opposite side, what we are losing, is the great bliss. The unconditioned human mind delights in the miracle of daily life, enjoys each breath, savours each taste, listens to the chirping of the birds, and looks quite naturally with eyes of love. The reason that we are not experiencing this bliss at all or only rarely is that we are getting thoroughly conditioned due to these technological advancements. Instead of getting lost into this two dimensional screen world, let the younger people spare out time for growing a meditative mind. The aim of meditation is to allow our original nature to function. This original nature is not something we can construct. We need to stop doing what cuts us off from our natural happiness. Meditation will teach you to stop. When you feel angry, for instance, do absolutely nothing. Do not let your self be swept away by the wind; cultivate stillness. Return your attention to your breathing, and enjoy a few moments of being alive. Look at the way the sunshine is catching the wall of the building across the street. You will become simply whatever it is that registers beauty and peace – the unconditioned. That is beyond good and bad, profit and loss, a beginning and an ending. It is not born and does not die. It is. You will feel relief. This is the meaning of meditation, if practiced on a regular basis. This practice puts us in touch with our deeper life, and strengthens us against the ravages of greed and hate. We learn to be happy in the midst of a daily life. It destresses us of the stress and ennui created by long hours of sitting before the screens. For finding solutions to the modern age problems we need to go back to the age-old methods of sitting still on meditation; at least for some moments in the day by focussing on emotions and fantasies that start arising and we strat getting afflicted with all types of perversions: some violent, some terrifying, some lustful and some tempting. We need to go back to the same old methods followed by the wise men for keeping their minds vibrant and happy. To keep themselved grounded and attached to the basic truths of life, even in the midst of city life they remain intimately close to the instinctual and natural in themselves, and their innate goodness guides them; they never become a part of society's furtive scramble to reach an imaginary pinnacle.