The Circle of Solitude

I can’t

Meditate!

Why?

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

So many of us find it difficult to sit for

meditation. Why?

We try to learn in this SlideShow.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

At first we will try to understand where

our thoughts are consumed?

For this purpose, we may visualize

ourselves as a deck of concentric circles.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Each layer

represents a

specific

category of

thoughts.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Firstly, most

of us see

ourselves as a

social being.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Society

Thus our mind is occupied greatly in

social thoughts.

We are busy thinking of things and

activities our society bring to us.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Our name, fame, popularity, etc.; these

subjects dominate our thoughts.

We are constantly concerned about our

standing in the society we live.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Next, in

modern times,

our thoughts

are consumed

deeply in our

profession.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Profession

We use our profession to achieve our

social objectives.

In so many ways it is our professional

success that decides other things of life.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

As a result we work hard to make

ourselves successful professionally.

It is not uncommon to see people

neglect family, health, etc. for this.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Third, in olden

days, people

will lay lot of

emphasis on

family. Now

also its

important.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Family

In countries like India, there will be

joint families previously.

People were known by the family they

belonged to.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Now also family is important for us. The

size may have become nuclear.

Thus a lot of things we do in our life are

done for the sake of our family.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Then next, we

are thinking

about

ourselves.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Individual

We are thinking of our likes, dislikes,

dreams, desires, emotions, feelings.

We are thinking of things we wish to

do, accomplish & build.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

This circle is specifically important to

most of us in the current times.

Our thoughts are greatly captured in

this space.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

These 4

thought

spaces

consume us

in modern

life.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

SocietyProfession

FamilyIndividual

Even things

like

Humanity,

Nationality,

etc., are part

of this.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

SocietyProfession

FamilyIndividual

Beyond these 4 circles, which are all

outward looking, there is one more…

This one exists within us and we know

of it as well.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Solitude

This is us

when no one

is watching.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Solitude

This is us

when we are

with our

truest

thoughts.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Solitude

This is us

when we are

untouched by

any other

kind of

existence.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

The Circle of Solitude

This is the

voice that

comes from

within.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Meditation is an activity of this space.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

We cannot meditate because we are

busy all the time visualizing ourself as a

social, professional, family or the

person we may be.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

We cannot meditate because we forget

there is a fifth level in us, as well;

The one which is within & is focused

inwards.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

We cannot meditate because we

constantly deny its existence.

We are busy in thoughts that are

flowing outwards.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Now, does

that mean we

leave

everything

else?

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

???

For 15 minutes when we close our eyes

& sit still…

…if we can keep everything out or at

least in waiting, we can Meditate.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

That is why no matter what meditation

we learn…

… they all focus on reducing number of

thoughts in the mind.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Anyone who can understand this, can

Meditate.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Meditation is when lesser external

thoughts disturb us.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

For 15 minutes try be free of all external

/ outbound thoughts.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

For 15 minutes try to be in your Circle

of Solitude.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

For 15 minutes forget everything

outward about yourself & instead try

look inwards.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Do it! & Meditation shall happen.

© Puneet Srivastava, Feb 2015

Gratitude: My revered teacher, Swami Amartayananda &

the message of SDM – Satsang, Disciplined Life & Meditation.