Staggering amount of information can be found on the internet regarding meditation – a subject that is as vast and deep as the space itself. Most of the information caters to the requirement of glorifying the subject and sheds little light on some ‘not so bright’ aspects.
From time immemorial, meditation has been associated with spiritual development of human beings. Those who are not interested in spirituality also practices meditation for improving their mental and physical well-being. In fact, experiments have proved that meditation can greatly improve the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. Yoga, the oriental way of synchronizing body, mind and nature, also emphasizes on the importance of meditation.
Due to the sheer impact that it can create on the human psyche, meditation rightly deserves all the praise that has been bestowed on it for ages. But as with everything in this universe and beyond, meditation is not devoid of negative fall outs. Although inconsequential for ordinary mortals, these aspects can create a havoc in the mental landscape of serious practitioners and seekers of higher truth.
In essence, meditation soothes the nervous system and helps the meditator to increase his power of concentration. According to oriental philosophy and scriptures, greater the ability to concentrate more is the intensity of thoughts. For a concentrated mind, mental energies are channelized and focused at a particular point of thought.
It is this ability to focus that determines the quality of work for any person, simply because of the fact that every possible action in this universe is a gross manifestation of the subtle thoughts originated from a focused mind. Ripples of strong brain waves pervade the fabric of the cosmos and are converted into forms that are more tangible.
However, when a person reaches advanced stages of meditation, his mind becomes extremely powerful and he gains occult and psychic abilities to the extent of influencing thoughts and actions of other individuals by merely concentrating on the subject. This is the most critical stage of one’s spiritual journey that determines whether the practitioner will be able to reach the zenith of spirituality.
Ancient scriptures have repeatedly warned spiritual seekers to ignore these special powers and move forward towards the ultimate goal of realizing one’s true self. It is permissible to exhibit some of these gifts on a few occasions, so that ordinary people can realize the significance of meditation and put their faith on it.
If anyone wishes to serve people for free through his psychic powers, then there are chances that he may get away with it without being trapped by earthly pleasures. However, these powers must not be used to earn money and fame, as these are nothing but distractions that deviates a seeker of truth from his goal. Also, the scriptures strongly advise the aspirants against indulging in shadowy activities for narrow and selfish motives. So, the next time you feel empowered while meditating, be very cautious of the slippery path that lies ahead.
Thomas is a technocrat and an avid reader. For writing this article, he has drawn heavily from the experiences he has gained by interviewing Jeanette Jones – a meditation teacher and psychic in Brisbane. He strongly believes that meditation is a great aid for attaining salvation.