The Enlightened Way of Living could have been the title of Eknath Easwaran’s book Meditation. I wondered what all of those chapters could have to do with meditation. However, it is explained beautifully throughout the entire book.

I didn’t really know what I could gain from meditation that I wasn’t already accomplishing through yoga. So, I didn’t have a desire to start. It was something we yogi’s SHOULD do. But I didn’t WANT to. I had been on this journey of taming my inner demons for years, and felt stuck for about 2. So, one paragraph suggesting that meditation could help quiet the egoic mind had me intrigued.

Easwaran does such an amazing job of explaining things in a very down to earth and yet moving manner. I felt comfortable with the whole idea for the first time. His examples, symbolism and way of teaching new concepts in a way that I could understand were incredible. I was actually moved to tears a few times. I related to his stories of his grandmother. And, excepting the one comment about organized religion being a way for us to feed our egos and relate to people who seem like us, the ideas were familiar and rang of truth to me. I think he was making the case for studying ALL great mystics.

Admittedly ignorant on the subject, I always thought that the goal in meditating was to clear the mind of all thoughts, and had never been able to do that. So, I was relieved when he said to meditate on a prayer or mantra.

I have always been intrigued by the observation that most great enlightened minds in history come to virtually the same conclusions. With, of course variations due to culture, circumstance or time in history. But, truth is always truth, and those who seek it will find it wherever or however they may be.

I was a bit leery of venturing out of my own comfort zone. I thought that chanting a mantra may be considered worshiping idols or something. However, I have also had an open mind as someone who was taught great truths by a parent who was not only non-religious, but alcoholic and somewhat abusive. My point in sharing this is that when the author suggested:

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

as one of the most beautiful mantrams he has experienced. Initially, I didn’t think it would work for me because I am Christian and it has Jewish connotations. However, after the author broke it down syllabically, i too thought it was probably one of the most meaningful phrases I had heard. As with a lot of feelings, the English language doesn’t do them justice. Those three words basically mean: Oh Lord, who has stolen my heart, I cannot rest until I find Him. He ceaselessly, ceaselessly draws me unto Him, and is the only source of true joy.

I gained a better understanding of so many truths through this book. I would just like to sum them up here: Our bodies are only a type of clothing; we “shed” our bodies at death; when you recognize illusion, it evaporates; lose yourself, and you shall find yourself; slow down in order to speed up; depth, not breadth; the senses can be trained and therefore magnified;discipline is freedom.

I would suggest to anyone seeking for truth, enlightenment, knowledge or freedom to buy this book and refer to it often. Thank goodness for Amazon, as it is now out of print. Even with no great insights, meditation will provide moments of peace in trying times, clarity in confusion, and time to listen. To my friends who are a bit skeptical of the mystical as I was, I say meditation is taking the time to listen for answers to prayers.

While growing up, one phrase that was always stuck to my mind is the phrase Living is giving. Almost every spiritual leader, success guru and people in positions of influence agrees that giving is an essential part of life. But why is that? Many people have heard of the phrase living is giving, but I wonder how many of them actually have a complete understanding of the significance of giving in the lives of human beings.

The general understanding of the concept of giving is a very shallow and basic one. People who give and contribute on a regular basis will understand what it truly means to give. For those who dont, their perspective on giving will be a very shallow and generalized one.

The way the world and society generally views giving causes misunderstandings on many levels. It is the general belief that giving only means to try to be being helpful, sympathize with others and being the good guy.

People view giving as a way to ‘get into’ heaven, to collect good karma, to be rewarded something in return in the future etc. Not to say that any of this isnt true at all, but these are just very small parts of giving.

Not only is it a very narrow perspective of giving, it also encourages the false assumption that by giving, the giver actually loses something without getting anything in return. The focus is solely on the transfer of ownership of the item, or the loss of the time and/or effort of the giver.

That is not true at all. All of us get something back in return immediately upon giving. The act of giving genuinely makes human beings feel naturally happy, proud of themselves and significant. It gives a feel good boost that you cannot get anywhere else. It has positive effects and healing properties for every part of your being.

In addition, giving also puts you in a frame of mind that you are already abundant. How does it work? Think about it, when can a person give? Only when he or she has got something to give. If you have nothing to give, you cant give. Thats the only logic. When you give, it can only mean that you already have something.

Every time you indulge in the act of giving, what you are doing unconsciously is telling yourself that you already ‘have’ it. If you give time it means you have time, if you give money it means you have money. Because there is evidence of this (the fact that you gave it), your brain will infer that you are indeed abundant. Gradually you will develop the belief that your life is filled with abundance. Through that belief you will naturally attract more and more abundance into your life.