True meditation is achieved when one is fully aware, yet without any thought, a state called as "thoughtless awareness". Normally this is very difficult to accomplish, which is perhaps why today there are so many other meanings attributed to the word "meditation" such as concentration on an image or thought, contemplation, musing about a subject, or simply relaxing and letting your mind wander freely.
Nevertheless, thoughtless awareness can be effortlessly achieved when the Kundalini passes through the sixth center (called "Agya" chakra) located in the middle of the head. Even if initially achieved for a single second, this state where there are no thoughts can be expanded through regular meditation - however, Self Realization needs to be first experienced.
The mind is relative, with its continuous chatter of thoughts that keep us away from reality, stuck in the domain of our ego (left brain, responsible with thoughts about the future) and superego (right brain, producing thoughts about the past). Throughout the day, our attention oscillates between the past ("What did just happen", or "This took place when I was a child", etc.) and the future ("I'm going to meet this person and tell him this", "Next year I'm planning to do this") but we are rarely, if ever, in the present moment.
In the state of meditation we go beyond the mind and are automatically in the present moment because there is no thought. We observe everything like a witness, but we do not react. We are connected to that inner silence which is own true Self, that pure entity which never thinks but is always in a state of peaceful joy. In meditation we are alert but relaxed at the same time.
In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.
Mahatma Gandhi
Sahaja Yoga is first of all an experience, even though there is a vast amount of knowledge to support it. Our online meditation lessons show a few simple ways to meditate, in order to further the initial experience of Self Realization.
We invite you to try Meditation Lesson 1: Simple Meditation.