Just wanted to add a few comments regarding meditation as a way to enlightenment (as contrasted with all the other reasons mentioned in the blog):
Meditation can become an impediment, especially to function in the world, since it becomes held dualistically and becomes compartmentalized, i.e. there is a "me" that is meditating at this certain place and time. The states that arise in meditation are temporary, and once you get up and walk around you snap out of it. It helps to "peek" ahead and see what's out there, but the insights and awareness you get in meditation must be incorporated into your daily life as a beingness in order to derive lasting spiritual benefit from it.
Dr. Hawkins thus advises contemplation as a way of being in the world, almost like a 24/7 meditation. Self-inquiry, being the witness/observer, and surrendering everything as it arises are a few helpful ways of contemplation.
And regarding Japa, it is true that all names may be used and it is the intention behind them that matters, but certain sounds/names have been traditionally used for so long that Divine energy becomes linked up with it and are thus more "powerful". There are also other reasons why certain names are more effective, for reasons unknown (to me). I believe that the traditional "OM" probably has the highest effect, Dr. Hawkins calibrates it at 740.
|