As always begin with the breathing. It always is a help.

Vigorous breathing followed by the rhythmic breathing.

Meditation sitting –

It would be sitting continuously for half an hour without moving.

And sitting on the ground – no chair.

Continuous sitting on the ground with two postures only –

Either cross-legged or on the knees and sitting on the heels in vajra-asana.

But when once you take to the posture –

You do not move until half an hour is over.

 

No technique. Just watching whatever that comes up. Body straight.

Through out keep the breathing long and deep –

Strong enough to keep you energized.

Should be able to hear yourself breathing.

We shall be doing this meditation three days in a row – an intensive.

Observe any discomfort that comes up because of the body posture.

The idea is not to stiffen but to be relaxed.

If you stiffen you have to watch –

And remind yourself to be detached from the tensions.

Mind will complain, wanting to move the body –

Stand behind all of that.

 

I call this meditation ‘Siddhartha’.

This is how Buddha did –

So I have given it his name, ‘Siddhartha the Buddha’ Meditation.

So for half an hour, do not move –

Even if the world comes down!

 

In meditation you have to stand behind whatever that comes up –

To watch, to be free.

Buddha decided to sit as long as it required –

Not getting up “until I have it”.

Both, pleasant and unpleasant, even that which is enjoyable when it comes –

You have to watch and be a witness –

And allow them to go, as also that which is un-enjoyable.

That is Siddhartha.

The two sides of reality, the dual movements of life –

You have to stand behind inside.

Therefore to arrive at the siddhi of all siddhis: perfection at all levels –

Meaning freedom at all levels from the movements of nature, prakriti –

Therefore Siddhartha.

In this way it gives us an opportunity to see our complaints, our laughter –

And our tears impartially – impersonally and without bias –

Without being attracted without being distracted.

Attraction and distraction watch for them –

Be a witness to them too. Then you are free.

The Buddha watched through everything.

He threw himself into the fire so to speak –

He threw himself in the ocean without a boat.

 

So three days, backed up by three days of silence.

Only half an hour, not your whole life!

He also began like this until one life time he was born as Siddhartha –

And became the Buddha.

He built his meditation through many life-times, of course.

 

The dogs may bark outside, the birds may chirp.

One is unpleasant and the other is pleasant.

You have to remain centered.

It does not change you, one way or the other, that is the idea –

Standing behind, just be a watcher.

 

The reactions to them will come up.

Watch too the reaction coming and passing.

Of course it will not pass so easily.

You have to keep practicing.

 

So this meditation can even happen in the night and in the morning with me.

I may add to it also if it is not having its effects.

Tighten up the screws a little bit more.

Those who have genuine knee problems can go for a little stroll after half an hour.

 

Then at the end of three days we will discuss –

As to how much you could be a witness.

Discomfort of the body if there be, you have to watch –

And because of the discomfort of the body –

The reaction in the mind that may follow – that too watch.

So it is also an opportunity for you –

To be alert with yourself, in your self.

 

So these three days will be less of expressions –

More of watching, of being self-aware.

The idea of silence is not repression –

Although initially it may come in that way.

Restraint may follow, because automatically you will hold back.

You have to watch even that holding back of yourself.

Buddha is not repressed –

He is free inside from all expressions and reactions.

 

So for three days, there will be minimum expression.

No listening to music, nothing external in that sense –

To keep you in a certain space.

The idea is to be Siddhartha.

You have to be aware of your internal faculties.

So no ear phones while you are working –

Just natural sounds from the environment –

While you stay still with yourself.

 

And I would like you to use a hand-mudra when you sit –

The mudra of peace and completeness.

Right hand on left palm or left hand on right palm whichever you prefer.

Place the two hands one above the other.

It means holding the universe. You are the universe.

You are holding the universe, yourself, in the palm of your hands.

Upholding all that which is yourself, and yet being free of it.

The hand-mudra goes with this meditation.

You are at peace in yourself and with everything else.

Half an hour – thirty minutes.

You have your shoulders relaxed.

The hand-mudra resting on your thighs –

In line and touching the hara, the navel.

You are the upholder of the universe that which you are.

It is a peace mudra. You are at peace therefore.

So even if you are uncomfortable in the body, you are still at peace.

You may experience something very pleasant coming up –

You are still at peace.

Again you may experience something very unpleasant coming up –

You are still at peace.

You observe, you watch and you experience – and yet you are at peace.

Remember you are a witness.

It will happen that that which is uncomfortable will draw your mind –

And bind you to itself.

You have to learn to see that also, standing behind in yourself.

Remember to relax –

So that you can separate yourself from that which is uncomfortable –

And so also from that which is comfortable.

You have to arrive at the being, which is free in all expressions.

This is Siddhartha.

For the second round of thirty minutes, only two minutes to change posture –

Or just continue in the same posture.

Use your own initiative.

 

We will start now.

 

I have already started:

I wanted to say something, and I just watched and let it go.

So it is a good practice of learning how to let go of things –

And finally to be at peace with yourself.

Things will come up: ‘I should have said’, or ‘I should have done’.

It is like going through layers and layers of life-expression –

Uncovering the many layered fabric of your consciousness –

Standing behind and being at peace.

 

It is to free you from any involvement, internally.

It is to be able to keep everything outside you.

Not only that which is outside of your body –

But even so all that which comes up inside.

That is what is meant by ‘standing behind’, ‘observing’.

Relaxing even in uncomfortable situations – to find peace.

You can go, sit and do this by the Ganga also –

Whenever you have the opportunity and the time.

But when you take to the posture –

Remain with it for half an hour without moving.

 

When you meet each other in the morning –

Look into each other’s eyes and greet.

Even if you are upset with the other –

You have to watch, relax and offer pranams.

Look into the eyes, so that there is depth even in the pranams.

 

During the day, watching of the breath can help –

To keep yourself with yourself.

So remind yourself of watching the breath in-between every time.

And through that coming to a self awareness –

Becoming aware of the watcher.

 

So whatever you do, the idea is to perceive the silence.

To feel for that silence, the silence of yourself.

 

When you have found your peace –

In spite of the pleasant and the unpleasant –

A smile will come to your face.

Then you are Siddhartha, the smiling Buddha.

So we will see at the end of three days!

 

Remember: to become free from the discomfort –

You have to remember to relax internally –

While being aware of the discomfort.

 

You can begin with a smile on your face –

At least it will be a reminder –

As to where you have to reach in spite of the circumstances.

See if you can come to the benignness –

And the peacefulness of your inner self.

That is the Buddha. That is Siddhartha.

You will have the idea if you have seen –

The face of the Buddha, sculptured in stone.

They are there in the Ajanta and Ellora caves –

And elsewhere also.

 

We begin the meditation with pranams –

And end the meditation with pranams.

Our Pranams to all –

To each and everyone, sentient and insentient –

To the whole universe.

 

 

Arya Vihar

25 March 1999