The fourth step of one of the most ancient living techniques – Preksha Meditation – involves observing the body. This practice is very similar to Vipassana, also known as mindfulness meditation. Both techniques focus on seeing or perceiving reality by cutting through the veil of illusions in the mind. This method enhances deep and powerful awareness, offering immediate insight that goes beyond reasoning or thinking.
When we practice this systematically, we begin to see things differently – as a mirror image of what we thought they were. What we once saw as permanent now appears transient. What we once deemed desirable no longer seems so.
Deepening Mindfulness
As mindfulness intensifies, we begin to perceive many more details and subtleties we never noticed before. We start to understand the exact moment when the mind makes initial contact with an object. Instead of reacting to objects, we notice that the data received through our five senses create sensations. These sensations can be pleasant or unpleasant. By clearly experiencing and observing these sensations, we can let go of attachment and free ourselves from suffering.
The Story of the Monk
There is a story of a monk who was giving a discourse when, suddenly, a storm rose. All his followers got up and ran away. After the turbulence was over, the followers returned. The monk told them, “I too ran away. You all ran outside, but I just ran within.”
Once, a king announced an award for the best painting depicting peace. Numerous submissions featured calm lakes, blue skies with powder-puff clouds, and nature in perfect harmony. However, the prize went to an artist who depicted stormy weather with two birds comfortably and peacefully sleeping in their nest. How perfectly revealing!
The Passage of Time
Time is constantly slipping away, and we are moving towards the end every moment. Let us reflect. Is meditation and knowledge developing? Is happiness and friendship growing? Often, we find that we are merely existing, without truly living. This is not life; it is just waiting for death, and waiting can only lead to boredom. How can it lead to happiness?
Life is about being immersed in meditation. Life is about waking up from this ‘sleep’. Amrita Pritam, novelist, essayist, and poet, wrote, “You are not cutting time; time is cutting you. This road does not go anywhere; it is not you who is going somewhere.”
All meaningful journeys begin with the observation of the body. Body observation means seeing the body in a special way. There are four stages of consciousness: towards the body, towards thoughts, towards emotions, and towards feelings (Toorya).
Achieving Consciousness
Mahadevi Verma wrote, “Millions of extinguished lamps cannot light a single diya, but one lighted diya can light a million lamps.” If a person achieves enlightenment, people will gather around that person, feeling comfortable, and will begin to gain enlightenment themselves. This happened with followers of Mahavira, Gautam Buddha, Lao Tzu, and Confucius. This happens with all accomplished practitioners!
If this physical body has any significance, it is to introduce us to our subtle body. Meditation is not an effect or a flow; it is a pause, a state of awareness. Meditation is choice-less, effortless awareness. No expression, no suppression, only observation. We take support from the body so that while observing its vibrations, we can feel the vibrations of the subtle body or the Tejas body, and start imbibing the subtle vibrations of the Karma body. By awakening to all these vibrations, we can enter a state of non-vibration bliss.
The Balance of Prana
The main cause of disease is the imbalance of Prana. The development and balance of Prana Shakti happens through body observation. Buddha was like a brilliant scientist. He researched for six years and discovered that every input through the five senses creates a different sensation in the body. It is processed by the mind. As a result, when you see a human being, you form an opinion — ‘beautiful or ugly, tall or short,’ and so on.
Everyone wants a good life, but not everyone gets a good life because not everyone follows these rules. You have to learn to design your life. This means crossing the boundary of conventional truth and entering the realm of ultimate reality, seeing things as they truly are, not as opinions formed by your intellect or reason.
From now onwards
To begin your spiritual journey, start by enhancing your awareness of the sensations within your body. This simple yet profound practice can transform your understanding and experience of life.