Sakhi - King Janak: How To Meditate

kaur-1 · #1 (**permalink**) 30-Jun-2007, 20:36 PM

King Janak: How To Meditate

There was once a great sage and his disciple. The sage send this disciple to the court of King Janak to learn how to meditate. The disciple did not want to go. Here he was, a Brahmin, a monk who had renounced the world. What could a King who was only a Kshatriya teach him. But since the master had ordered him he went. When he reached the court of the King, he saw the King living a very luxurious lifestyle. He was disgusted; a great condemnation arose in him. What could such a person have to teach a monk. He bowed to the king. King Janak saw his mental state and said that if he wanted he "the monk" could return the very next day. On this condition the monk agreed to stay the night.

King Janak took every care of the monks needs. After having him fed and washed he personally escorted the monk to the bedroom where he was to spend the night. As can be expected the bedroom was luxurious and comfortable. The monk got into bed and tried to sleep. Just then he saw hanging above him a sword suspended from above from a thin thread. The slightest touch of breeze and the sword could fall injuring or even killing him.

The monk spent the entire night in a state of fear and extreme alertness since he knew that if he stopped being watchful for even a moment he might lose his life.
The next morning King Janak asked the monk if he had spent a comfortable night. The monk grew indignant and asked what was the meaning of having him sleep under a naked sward. He said that he had not slept the whole night despite being very tired from his long journey.

King Janak replied that this was exactly the lesson on how to meditate that he had wanted the monk to learn. The monk had to be alert and aware the whole night. It was a matter of life and death to him. This was the teaching of King Janak. King Janak said that despite living in luxury and all else he remained aware of the sword hanging over his head. The sword was invisible, but it was very real. It was his own impending death. Since King Janak kept the awareness of death in his mind, he was able to stay detached from his luxurious lifestyle. He knew that it could end any moment; that in fact it would inevitably end one day. In this manner he lived in the palace and yet was a hermit.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/spiritual-articles/16013-sakhi-king-janak-how-to-meditate.html

This is exactly the attitude to be brought when we are learning how to meditate or to life itself. You can remain unaware if you think that you will live forever. But how can you be unaware when you know that life can end any moment. You will be constantly aware and on your guard.

jaano sath hova(n)tho marano dhrisattaen mithhiaa
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013
Know for sure that death will come; whatever is seen is false.
keerath saathh chala(n)thho bhana(n)th naanak saadhh sa(n)gaen 3
So chant the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; this alone shall go along with you in the end. 3

- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 1360

Harjap Khalsa · #2 (**permalink**) 01-Jul-2007, 18:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaur-1

King Janak: How To Meditate

There was once a great sage and his disciple. The sage send this disciple to the court of King Janak to learn how to meditate. The disciple did not want to go. Here he was, a Brahmin, a monk who had renounced the world. What could a King who was only a Kshatriya teach him. But since the master had ordered him he went. When he reached the court of the King, he saw the King living a very luxurious lifestyle. He was disgusted; a great condemnation arose in him. What could such a person have to teach a monk. He bowed to the king. King Janak saw his mental state and said that if he wanted he "the monk" could return the very next day. On this condition the monk agreed to stay the night.

King Janak took every care of the monks needs. After having him fed and washed he personally escorted the monk to the bedroom where he was to spend the night. As can be expected the bedroom was luxurious and comfortable. The monk got into bed and tried to sleep. Just then he saw hanging above him a sword suspended from above from a thin thread. The slightest touch of breeze and the sword could fall injuring or even killing him.

The monk spent the entire night in a state of fear and extreme alertness since he knew that if he stopped being watchful for even a moment he might lose his life.
The next morning King Janak asked the monk if he had spent a comfortable night. The monk grew indignant and asked what was the meaning of having him sleep under a naked sward. He said that he had not slept the whole night despite being very tired from his long journey.

King Janak replied that this was exactly the lesson on how to meditate that he had wanted the monk to learn. The monk had to be alert and aware the whole night. It was a matter of life and death to him. This was the teaching of King Janak. King Janak said that despite living in luxury and all else he remained aware of the sword hanging over his head. The sword was invisible, but it was very real. It was his own impending death. Since King Janak kept the awareness of death in his mind, he was able to stay detached from his luxurious lifestyle. He knew that it could end any moment; that in fact it would inevitably end one day. In this manner he lived in the palace and yet was a hermit.

This is exactly the attitude to be brought when we are learning how to meditate or to life itself. You can remain unaware if you think that you will live forever. But how can you be unaware when you know that life can end any moment. You will be constantly aware and on your guard.

jaano sath hova(n)tho marano dhrisattaen mithhiaa

Know for sure that death will come; whatever is seen is false.
keerath saathh chala(n)thho bhana(n)th naanak saadhh sa(n)gaen 3
So chant the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; this alone shall go along with you in the end. 3

- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 1360

good story- Always learn from others experience.

nit nit riday sumaal preetam aapna

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji ki Fateh

mystic · #3 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2007, 14:51 PM

Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa
Wahe Guru Ji Ki fateh

Thank you for an excellent example of how to cultivate Awareness. Dhyan and variations of this shabad appears some 1600 times in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, withiout Dhyan there is no Bhagti. It saddens me to read the comments about not using such stories to illustrate dhyan and that doing "paath" at 2.- 2.30 is meditation. Please try and understand the essence of Sikhi, NOT from a christianised point of view, but the mystical traditions to Guru Nanak.

If doing Paath was meditation, why are all Gurdwaras in state of conflict? to mention but one point. Please check how simple TM meditation in Washington DC, Lebonon, Merseyside UK plus another 60 other research studies demonstrated that meditation reduces Crimes rate in surrounding areas, reduce stress and conflict in the lebanon war. WE NOT KNOW how to meditate I m sad to say.

Meditation is essential and the Sikhs need to learn this. I have been studying meditation for over 18 years and have been able to see where meditation was replaced with the usual "prayers" type workship.

Meditation is simply directing ones awareness to either insight (Visapanna) or object, (Shabad/ mantra), The process needs to be done in a loving way, intentionally, with an attitude of observation and acceptance.

To me the situation appears something like this, illustrate via example:

We go and purchase some flatpack furniture,
we extract the instructions, we cover them in clothes, we place the instructions on a manji sahib, we read them, we sing about them, we do katha of the instuctions, we wake up realy in the morning and read them... unfortaunately, our flat pack remains flat! No one bothers to build the furniture, this is the situation with many of us, we read paath, we do kirtan, we listen to katha, yet we dont follow the instructions.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013

I would suggest that colleagues read about Consciousness, read about what meditation really is (Please check Zazen as they are propbably the only holders of this secret in its origional form. Dhyan when it went to China was known as Chan and as it migrated to Japan it become Zen, both India nd China appear to have lost the origional) and compare with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013

•man rae sabadh tharahu chith laae ||Guru Nanak Dev ang 18
O mind, swim across, by focusing your consciousness on the Shabad

•bhaaee rae raam kehahu chith laae || Guru Nanak Dev ang 22
O Siblings of Destiny, chant the Lord's Name, and focus your consciousness on Him

•eikas sio man maaniaa thaa hoaa nihachal cheeth ||
When the mind accepts, and is satisfied with the One, then the consciousness becomes steady and stable

•maerae man eaekas sio chith laae ||
O my mind, focus your consciousness on the One.

•chandhan cheeth vasaaeiaa mandhar dhasavaa dhuaar ||
Like the essence of sandalwood, He permeates her consciousness, and the Temple of the Tenth Gate is opened

• •In your mind, by your words, and within your heart, meditate on the Lord, and He will be pleased. In this way, repeat the Name of the Lord. ||1|| Guru Amar das ang 669

Dhyan is about awareness and Intent. Understand what awareness is first and cultivate the refinement of this awareness to penertate the VIBRATION of shabad ( Remember, Dhunn Surt Chela) DHunn is vibration, Surt is Awareness and Chela is that which follows.

Gurfateh

Mystic
•

mystic · #4 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2007, 23:52 PM

You state..." I agree with U that Dyan is important for Bhagti But dyan itself is a very tough practice for those who fail to follow the Hukums of Guru Ji.To have dyan one needs a calm mind.Right"

Your comments clearly illustrate the lack of understanding about Bhagti and Dhyan.

"You say.... To have Dhyan one needs to have a calm mind! " This is absurd... my friend Dhyan is the means by which one cultivates a calm mind. Not the otherway round. Dhyan has NOTHINg to do with thinking, its about reflexive attentive awareness, willingly directed at the vibration of the Primal sound in an attitude of acceptance and observation.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013

"Thora Sonvey thora hi Khavey Gursikh Sohey Sahaj Samavey" in your opinion is to get a calm mind?

In the famous Zen masters quotation, eat little, sleep little, walk little, eat, walk and sleep, but dont wobble!

Sahaj is balance NOT Calm. Sahaj is equipose that is cultivated from within, NOT placed via an ego.

You say "Also remember that nothing can be achieved by mere talking.Everything is achieved by ACTUALLY FOLLOWING N FACING THE DIFFICULT PART." while earlier on you stated that Dhyan was very difficult....hmmmm.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013

I have a question for you. You say that khalsa is distinct etc etc...

If Guru nanak and all the other Gurus, Bhagtas etc removed our identities, i.e. no caste, no gender inequitity, no dependancy on parents, wife, husband, nation, colour, race, creed etc... then why would Guru Gobind Singh Ji give us a "distinst indentity"? Think about this before you react

This in my opinion is a misquotation. "Also U cannot find anything by going deeper n deeper into Gurubani as nothing can be achieved by trying to find its depth n precision as GuruJi Himself said

Valoo Niki Khaneo Tikhee"

using Tuks outside of their context is a dangerous way of making YOUR point, NOT the GURUS.

The above tuk infact endorses that as one travells this journey within, one finds its to be deep, profound, and most importanly, beyond teh grasp of intellect.

I m afraid your post is not coherent, its self-contradictory and most dangerously, its misleading. You mention Guru Gobind Singh Ji, yet fail to acknowledge that he sat in Dhyan for Eons at Hemkunt sahib. Sikhi isnt about being high on testorone, its a balanced inner and outer apporach of experincing life in the moment of now.

You state "When guru Gobind Singh Asked for Five heads no one among Five loved ones asked Guru Ji why u need my head.".

Do you not think that this act of Initiation (Armit sanchaar) contained within it a quality standard? Guru Gobind Singh Ji ASKED for amrit from the 5 Pyare. I assume you ve taken Amrit, would you be able to give Guru Gobind Singh Ji Amrit is he asked YOU today?

Thank you for YOUR advice, I ll stick to researching Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, taking my advice ONLY From MY GURU, practicing Dhyan,( Simran), eat when my body needs food, sleep when my body needs sleep and Trust with Wisdom and gratitude the moment of this Experince of NOW that I have been blesssed with.

faith without wisdom is blind faith. After all we are known as Sikhs... meaning to LEARN....

Harjap Khalsa · #5 (**permalink**) 03-Jul-2007, 01:01 AM

Sangat Ji,

Dhyaan/Chit is already given to us, we are only misusing it. So Guru Ji tells us to come under God's Will. Dhyaan jehra dasa dishaanva val udda firda hai usnu sahi pase launa hai.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013

mystic Ji you made some very Good points. Thankyou

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

FiveLovedOnes · #6 (**permalink**) 03-Jul-2007, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystic

You state..." I agree with U that Dyan is important for Bhagti But dyan itself is a very tough practice for those who fail to follow the Hukums of Guru Ji.To have dyan one needs a calm mind.Right"

Your comments clearly illustrate the lack of understanding about Bhagti and Dhyan.

"You say.... To have Dhyan one needs to have a calm mind! " This is absurd... my friend Dhyan is the means by which one cultivates a calm mind. Not the otherway round. Dhyan has NOTHINg to do with thinking, its about reflexive attentive awareness, willingly directed at the vibration of the Primal sound in an attitude of acceptance and observation.

"Thora Sonvey thora hi Khavey Gursikh Sohey Sahaj Samavey" in your opinion is to get a calm mind?

In the famous Zen masters quotation, eat little, sleep little, walk little, eat, walk and sleep, but dont wobble!

Sahaj is balance NOT Calm. Sahaj is equipose that is cultivated from within, NOT placed via an ego.

You say "Also remember that nothing can be achieved by mere talking.Everything is achieved by ACTUALLY FOLLOWING N FACING THE DIFFICULT PART." while earlier on you stated that Dhyan was very difficult....hmmmm.

I have a question for you. You say that khalsa is distinct etc etc...

If Guru nanak and all the other Gurus, Bhagtas etc removed our identities, i.e. no caste, no gender inequitity, no dependancy on parents, wife, husband, nation, colour, race, creed etc... then why would Guru Gobind Singh Ji give us a "distinst indentity"? Think about this before you react

This in my opinion is a misquotation. "Also U cannot find anything by going deeper n deeper into Gurubani as nothing can be achieved by trying to find its depth n precision as GuruJi Himself said

Valoo Niki Khaneo Tikhee"

using Tuks outside of their context is a dangerous way of making YOUR point, NOT the GURUS.

The above tuk infact endorses that as one travells this journey within, one finds its to be deep, profound, and most importanly, beyond teh grasp of intellect.

I m afraid your post is not coherent, its self-contradictory and most dangerously, its misleading. You mention Guru Gobind Singh Ji, yet fail to acknowledge that he sat in Dhyan for Eons at Hemkunt sahib. Sikhi isnt about being high on testorone, its a balanced inner and outer apporach of experincing life in the moment of now.

You state "When guru Gobind Singh Asked for Five heads no one among Five loved ones asked Guru Ji why u need my head.".

Do you not think that this act of Initiation (Armit sanchaar) contained within it a quality standard? Guru Gobind Singh Ji ASKED for amrit from the 5 Pyare. I assume you ve taken Amrit, would you be able to give Guru Gobind Singh Ji Amrit is he asked YOU today?

Thank you for YOUR advice, I ll stick to researching Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, taking my advice ONLY From MY GURU, practicing Dhyan,( Simran), eat when my body needs food, sleep when my body needs sleep and Trust with Wisdom and gratitude the moment of this Experince of NOW that I have been blesssed with.

faith without wisdom is blind faith. After all we are known as Sikhs... meaning to LEARN....

I totally disagree with ur extreme level of foolishness.Whatever I have written is all proved by me.I have followed Guru strictly without raising any questions or using my own mind n learned.U simply speak n speak n only use ur mind to make guess work.Sikhi is not a guess work.Follow n u will get it.Otherwise fools r born -says Guru.

BTW I am not at all in favor of ur brahamini style.Also good luck for ur success.BTW success is millions of miles away without actually following Guru's Tough paths.

Also Stop confusing people around by going ur way.In ur comments u r trying to prove guru ji wrong.
Sahaj is balance of mind n only part of a calm mind.Ur way of conquering mind all by self is no way possible however hard u try.U will have to follow Guru's words.Btw u r badly confused by going too much indepth n finally lost.
Sikhs don't need to go indepth of guru's shabad but follow what guru says.
No sikh on this planet can figure out the greatness n depth of the Lord Guru.So follow.That's all u need.

Agan Agan Kahe Sheat Nah Binas Hai.-Bhai Gurdas Ji

By saying fire fire cold never runs away.One has to lit the fire by little hard work to overcome coldness.

Khand Khand Kahe muh mithoo Nah Savad Aaveh-Bhai gurdas Ji

By saying sweet sweet one's mouth doesn't taste sweetness.One has to put sweet food in his mouth to feel sweetness.

Without following u will never experience what guru said.U will never get what guru want to give u just by talking.Everything one gets is thru GURU KRIPA.

GURU = GU + RU = darkness + Light = one who shows us light when we r lost in darkness.

GURU KRIPA =GURU + KRI + PA = GURU (his ways) + DO IT (YOURSELF)+ GET IT (FROM GURU)

So Simple.

Harjap Khalsa · #7 (**permalink**) 03-Jul-2007, 01:28 AM

FiveLovedOne, interesting name- Guru Ji made Five Pyaare- I was reading your posts, appears to be one and only one person- unfortunately lost in Ego of some of his/her false achievements.

Try to come out of this 5 mania. You have to have 5 Sikhs to be FiveLovedOnes my friend. Ik ta Guru Ji ne vi nahee kabuleyaa-Panj kabooley han.

Guru Sahib Da Pavan bachan Hai- boojhey naahee ek sudhaakhar o saglee jhakh jhakhaaeeay

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

FiveLovedOnes · #8 (**permalink**) 03-Jul-2007, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harjap Khalsa

FiveLovedOne, interesting name- Guru Ji made Five Pyaare- I was reading your posts, appears to be one and only one person- unfortunately lost in Ego of some of his/her false achievements.

Try to come out of this 5 mania. You have to have 5 Sikhs to be FiveLovedOnes my friend. Ik ta Guru Ji ne vi nahee kabuleyaa-Panj kabooley han.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

It is not about five persons or appearing as one person.It is all about following at self level the guru's hard ways.It has been more than 20 years since bluestar operation has happened but still sikhs r unable to find way to uproot the Indian govt.Nothing can be achieved by mere talking my friend.Everything is easy by following guru's hard paths by keeping ur head at Guru's feet with complete surrender to Guru's hukums.
guru's paths r very difficult.One has to go ahead by keeping his head on their palm as shown to us all by Brave Baba Deep Singh Ji.
One has to surrender fully to guru's hard ways by giving up their own heads.One has to give up lot of their sleep which is a difficult issue for sikhs of today.What u said Ego is in fact not an ego but a proud that I feel when i do what guru says.
Come on take 1/2 an hour nap in night n another nap of 1/2 an hour during day(This is what a soldier needs when at war or in battle) n obey guru 's hukum of sleeping less n then see the results.U r badly following world sleeping way of at least 6 hrs(soldier sleeping 6 hrs-crazy) sleep during night.
Talking is easy my friend but following is hardest.Calling people around an egoist is easy but following guru's hard way is very difficult.
feeling proud by strictly following Guru is a feeling that only I can understand n the feeling of chardi kala that one gets is far beyond description.

all is Guru's kripa.

Sat Shri Akal

Harjap Khalsa · #9 (**permalink**) 03-Jul-2007, 02:02 AM

Ok you call yourself a PURE FiveLovedOne. Guru Sahib gave Panj Pyaare the darja of Guru. OK DO SOMETHING FOR SIKH JAGAT- I really want to see this SelfStyledFiveLovedOne's parupkaar. Tell the Sangat any one of your kaarnaama. Have you done anything other than depriving yourself of food and sleep and feeding yourself with ceaseless exercise. Seems like an obsessed person. I believe that's why you only talka bout khana and sauna, that's all. Ego and Pride, aren't the same thaalee de chatte batte.

Guru Di bakhsheesh da koi andaaza hai tuhaanu my friend. All this happens to a person when Amrit Di Dhaara is felt, not that a person should do all this to feel the absolute. Ulta raah far ke beh gay ho tusi, JapJi Sahib Da paath dhyaan naal pareyaa karo, Waheguru/Satguru Mehar karnge- as Bhai Gurdas Ji says: Charan Sarn Gur Ek Paindaa jae chal Satguru kot paindaa aagey hoi let hai.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=16013

Guru Sahib De pavan kathan-
Hasandeaa khelandeyaa pehnandeyaa khavandeyaa vicheay hove mukat.

Guru de charana ch beh ke vekho nimaane ho ke- Sutte peyaan vi bhagti hi hovegee.

FiveLovedOnes Ji, Jap Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru -lakh lakh gera aakheeay ek naam jagdish
Anant anant vaari jap Waheguu Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh