Meditation-we have heard of this many a time in many books as quoted by many eminent personalities and philosophers. Basically the thought that we get the moment the word meditation strikes our minds is-closing eyes, sitting in a particular position and looking into one's self.  Many philosophers have used this tool meditation for various purposes-right from curing diseases related to breathing to the things that can't be understood with logic (salvation and attaining higher self). Whatever the reason may be, closing eyes and sitting peacefully without any disturbance is the common thing in meditation. But, is it the same meditation that took place at the so called World Meditation Conference? Definitely not will be your answer after watching the awful visuals that were telecast by a leading news channel in Telugu.

Organized by Mr Subhash Pathri, World Meditation Conference took place at Kadthal of Mahbubnagar district  between December 21 and December 31  under a giant pyramid structure name Maha Pyramid. What pyramid has to do with meditation? Did people like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swamy Vivekananda and others practiced meditation under same pyramids? No, definitely not. So, what was the need for Subhash Pathri to install such a giant pyramid by forking out so much money? Don't you think that the same money, in case, diverted to some charity or hungry people could have served a better purpose? So many questions for which probably the devotees of this Subhash Pathri might have ready made answers. But friends, believe us there's nothing called pyramid meditation.

In fact,  meditation gives more pleasure the more you do it yourself and the more you do it alone. That's the reason why the famous rishis (Hindu saints) meditated in forests. Adi Guru Shankaracharya is the best example for this. He meditated amidst thick woods near Srisailam where he even wrote Sivanandalahari. You alone decide whether you want to follow the foot steps of Shankaracharya and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa or someone else who will touch and enjoy you in the pretext of curing.

Three things to remember based on previous pious saints:

• Saints never demand money

• Saints only ask for food for the day

• Saints lead a pious life and treat every woman as a mother

  

If the person whom you consider a saint either demands money or spends lavishly and enjoys touching you or asks you to massage you or sleep with you in the pretext of tantra philosophy, then please be aware that not just vedic but even tantra philosophy doesn't ask a person to enjoy the physical pleasure of other women. Not to forget the master of tantra in India, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who worshiped his wife as a mother.

(AW Phani)