Power of Meditation
Meditation is often viewed as a goal in itself, a nirvana-like state representing the pinnacle of dedication and practice. An alternative viewpoint considers meditation more like a tool than a destination. Abdu’l-Baha informs us that: “Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries.” (Paris Talks, p. 175).
To describe how meditation works He uses an analogy: “The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror; if you put it before earthly objects it will reflect them… But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, the heavenly constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in your hearts…”(ibid,p. 176).
As well as being a tool, the meditative faculty appears to be a gateway allowing access to the Divine: “This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal nature, discerns the reality of things, puts man in touch with God.” (ibid,p. 175). In fact, `Abdu’l-Baha goes even further and categorically states: “Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life…”
The capacity for meditation is one of our definitive features and without it we would not be human: “You cannot apply the name `man’ to any being void of this faculty of meditation; without it he would be a mere animal, lower than the beasts.”`(ibid,p. 175).
Further, meditation seems to be an essential means for developing a sense of spirituality which, in turn, is a prerequisite for ‘living the life’. It seems that without the practice of meditation we are not truly ‘alive’: “The first thing to do is to acquire a thirst for Spirituality, then Live the Life! Live the Life! Live the Life! The way to acquire this thirst is to meditate upon the future life. Study the Holy Words, read your Bible, read the Holy Books, especially study the Holy Utterances of Baha’u’llah; Prayer and Meditation, take much time for these two. Then will you know this Great Thirst, and then only can you begin to Live the Life!” (Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West Vol. 19, No. 3, p. 69)
O God, guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
…Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in my heart all the world’s afflictions can in no wise alarm me. Bahá’u’lláh
O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.
www.Bahai.org