Every human being wants to be free.
But when the mind gets caught up in a never-ending list of day-to-day activities, it seems like the search is forgotten. But meditation allows you to come back to your true nature.
On a spiritual quest, freedom, meditation, peace and centeredness are precious gifts for a seeker. As a meditator it is easier to see through the mirage of misery that is present in the worldliness. With such profound knowledge, meditation, freedom and happiness become a way of life.
Meditation, indeed, is an amazing path to experiencing freedom. Contrary to popular opinion that meditation can curtail ambition or the 'bite' so to speak, both meditation and the freedom that it brings affect competitive advantage across business and financial performance, creativity, and long term, sustainable success. Meditation offers a "freedom from" and "freedom to" in both business and personal life.
"Freedom from" addresses the liberation of individuals from hierarchy, status, oppression, and repressive rules. Meditation opens up the world in its panoramic entirety, thus preventing the mind from slipping into small, narrow thoughts, feelings and attitudes. It creates relationships that are open and two-way since power is not centralized but shared, distributed, and inclusive in nature.
Meditation also leads to a state of "freedom to", which establishes moral and ethical frameworks in which to operate. This is extremely critical in a corporate world where there is a need to act in the common interest, towards shared objectives, and mutually positive outcomes.
The following verses beautifully express how meditation helped these saints discover the real taste of true freedom.
#1 Meditation is being very natural, being at home; at home with yourself and at home with everything else in the universe – Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Is it enough money and a healthy body?
Is it freedom of speech, or a democracy?
Seeing people who have these, do they really feel free?
To be able to love unconditionally
To be able to smile, whatever the challenge may be
To be able to feel at home with whoever you see
That I think is what true freedom really could be!
And it's this that meditation can give you and me
-Swami Purnachaitanya
#2 You are the one witness of everything, and are always totally free - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
True freedom is just a happening
Where in, present moment is accepted and you see yourself witnessing
Without any resistance and letting go
All you do is sit with your eyes closed
Meditate, oh my dear one, to experience the joy of going deep within
(Based on thoughts by Swami Harish)
#3 The practice of meditation makes you skilful in all your actions, enables you to be happy and maintain an undying smile, come what may - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
I am free, is what every moment I feel
For I live life happily
Wherever I am, I feel at home
Smiling and joyous, even when I am alone
Just few minutes with myself, and this is what meditation gives me
(Based on thoughts by Swami Ujjval)
#4 Meditation makes you feel free from within, makes you like a child, helps drop all the inhibitions, stiffness, concepts in the mind and shed all the barriers
In true freedom, naturalness is the key
Because who you really are, you get to be
With no inhibitions, just innocent like a child
You are mischievous, yet so wise
I meditate everyday and a child-like reflection I see in me
(Based on thoughts by Brahmachari Sanjeev Gularia)
#5 The natural tendency is to recycle all that we’ve collected in life as impressions, getting rid of them and getting back to the original state. Getting back to that serenity, your original nature, is meditation – Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
It is only when you meditate
You discover the real strength, with this internal journey you undertake
Break your barriers and feel free
Unlock your potential with this key
So my dear one, just make meditation your best mate
(Based on thoughts by Swami Pragyapaad)
Inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's wisdom talks
