People resort to meditation for a variety of reasons. Some just for fun; while a few others, to go with the flow. Some curious ones want to try myriad forms of meditation, having done some quick “window-shopping” on the net. There is actually quite a variety of meditation forms out there to choose from: namely, [Om] Mantra Meditation, Chakra Meditation, Kundalini Meditation; then there is Zazen, Vipassana, Mindfulness Meditation, Transcendental Meditation, Taoistic Meditation, Qigong Mediation.
And if that is not already enough, and you want more peppered, nuanced, and customized variety, you may go for guided imagery, Creative Visualization, Lucent Dreaming, Nada Yoga, Third Eye Meditation, Navel-Gazing and so forth. Or else try the ubiquitous stress reduction, count/watch-your-breath sort. Then there is also the option of eyes fully-closed, half-closed or fully open—to say nothing about the sitting, walking, and lying down meditation varieties.
Once a person was meditating with his eyes tightly closed. He was also repeating an unintelligible mantra.
His wife noticed it and the following exchange ensued: (questions by the wife, answers by ‘you know who’) 
What are you doing?
I am meditating.
Why are you meditating?
To release my stress!
What stress? I am the one who does all the work: shopping, cooking, laundry, paying the bills. Why are you stressed?
I am just stressed.
And what is this thing that you are uttering, slowly?
It is a mantra. It is a very precious mantra.
[…coming to the real question, the wife asks…]
How much did you pay for it?
500 dollars.
500 dollars?!! Last month, when we wanted to buy a vacuum cleaner, you said, “Honey, let’s buy a used one. We are on a limited budget!” And you spent 500 dollars on this silly thing! I cannot believe it.
Tell me what is it? What is this mantra?
I cannot tell you. My guru told me not to tell it to anybody.
What??!!! I am your wife.
Sorry, honey, I cannot. I took a vow of secrecy.
How can you keep secrets from your wife? You cannot even tell this to your wife?
Sorry. I cannot. I really cannot.
That’s it! I have had it. I am leaving right now!!!!
Saying this, his wife left him for good.
The man opened his eyes and joyously exclaimed: “This mantra thing really works!”
There you have it. Without knowing what we want, we will not know the difference between what we want to get and what we want to get rid of. Knowing one’s purpose is as pivotal in meditation as in any other serious pursuit.
Buyers beware. Mantras work in mysterious ways.
Above all, stay away from ‘quick-fix-it-all’ ‘enlightenment-in-sixty-seconds’ variety.
The Bhagavad Gītā provides succinct guidelines about the ‘how to’ of meditation in chapter six. We quote the following quintessential verse on the means and the end of meditation:
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया ।
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥ ६– २५ ॥
śanaiḥ śanair uparamed buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā /
ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiṃcid api cintayet //6.25
By the intellect held in firmness, may one slowly resolve the mind in the Self (ātman).
Keeping the mind established in the Self, may one not think of anything else.
Let’s see what people generally want to get out of meditation. Most people want peace of mind, the “calming effect.” Some want to gain concentration; still others want greater clarity and sharper memory. A few others want to cure their headache or migraine through meditation. While all such reasons may have their legitimacy, we should remember that the “wanting attitude” or the “gaining mindset” could actually be counterproductive to the very spirit of meditation. Meditation accords the greatest avenue to get in touch with our deepest self. For the deepest secrets of the Self are revealed in the silence of soul. If we approach meditation practice with the mindset of “acquiring something” or ‘what-is-in-it-for-me’ attitude, it may turn out to be just another mundane activity. Perhaps, it is not what we gain but rather what we lose which may determine the true value of a mediation practice, as the following story splendidly illustrates:
The Buddha was once asked, “What have you gained from meditation.”
“Nothing,” he replied.
However, the Buddha added, let me tell you what I lost: anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death.
Litmus Test: One can gauze one’s progress on the path of meditation through a simple test.
Ask yourself: In the post-meditation period…
Am I becoming more calmer, peaceful, considerate, tolerant, forgiving, cheerful, understanding, accepting, responsible, life-affirming, celebrative, loving, joyous, and compassionate?
Love, joy, and compassion are signs of being awake.
Anger, hatred, and greed are signs of being asleep.
Awakening to our real nature—
the sole purpose of all spiritual practice.
Von Voyage and Godspeed.
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