While every one of us seek happiness, comfort, satisfaction and success, it is very important to realize the importance of calmness in our efforts to achieve them.
Great saint and philosopher Swami Vivekanand once said, "Happiness in life comes not by manipulating what you want to achieve but by paying attention to something seemingly totally unconnected with it."
Meditation is considered as the key to happiness and success and for thousands of years, the saints and astute spiritual leaders of different cultures have suggested us to practice meditation. Based on their own experience, these spiritual leaders often claim that meditation leads a person in a state of metabolic restfulness which is far deeper and more satisfactory than that of sleep.
However, it is not only the suggestion of spiritual gurus. Even scientists support the fact through their scientific studies that meditation leads a person’s body in a state which results in a better flow of blood from different parts of body to the brain. This helps our muscles to relax while decreasing the stress hormones.This specific metabolic rest results in a quick rejuvenation of a person’s body and mind, offering them cure from the effects of stress, tension and fatigue.
The benefits of meditation and chanting are deep and profound and that is why people from different spheres of life practices chanting and meditation to refresh themselves while relaxing their body and mind against the stress and tensions of their high demanding business jobs and lifestyles.
People may have different reason for adopting to meditation and chanting, yet everybody from Rhea Pillai, Riya Sen, Sheetal Malhar, Dia Mirza, Priya Dutt, Kitu Gidwani, and Vinod Khanna are reaping the fruits of meditation and all of them engage themselves to propagate the beneficial effects of meditation and chanting.
Munisha Khatwani, the popular Indian Television actress says, "I chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Jaap to break free from all the karmic ties. It frees me from all negative karma and has also helped improve my health, finances and personal life to a great extent. The more I chant, the more I am at peace."
However, happiness and peace are not the only goals that can be achieved through meditation. Or one should say, meditation is not for achieving goals. According to spiritual and yoga guru Nandini Sen, there are many other benefits of meditation.
She says, "I feel meditation helps one just in being more in the present moment, because only in this moment can one do something. The basic idea is to relax in that very moment. All anger, anxiety and negative thoughts are carried forward until you don't let go. Meditation simply gives the mind a holiday.” The moment you will try to set goals to be achieved through meditation, you will lose the track of meditation.
Nandini Sen further elaborates, "A goal is always set for the future, but meditation is about the present moment." Meditation is in fact, the process of forgetting everything for that moment when you are in meditation and concentrating on your own inner self. This is the way of ignoring the problem and concentrating on meditation while dissolving the problem altogether.
But meditation is certainly not the way of escapism, rather it is the way of concentrating your energies and abilities to resolve and solve the issues of your life with the application of a better and calm mind. Model turned actress Aditi Govritkar says that meditation cannot be considered as the means of escapism from the materialistic life, "Not unless one chants 24/7."
She leads a difficult and busy life that includes her house, kids and work. At many times she find it difficult to cope with the schedule and take time off for meditation. She says, "I try and chant at least 10 minutes daily to decrease my stress levels. This helps me feel more calm and at peace."
Sharmilla Khanna, another working woman and famous event organizer agrees with the idea of meditation as she says, "Of course, one cannot escape from the real world with meditation. I do everything that I'm entitled and responsible to do. I don't escape from anything, not even my problems. Instead, meditation has helped me face my problems with a clear mind, heart and soul."
