A Meditation Technique Using Contemplation

A Meditation Technique Using Contemplation

Learn a unique technique of meditation. When you contemplate on your own life, you can place yourself into a meditative state.

One Answer….for all questions - This too will pass...

   This meditation technique is quite different from the conventional meditation techniques. This technique is actually a contemplation exercise and involves thinking deeply over your life. Even though people of all age can try this technique, it is basically best suited for people of a more mature age (I mean 18 or so & above). The reason for this is that only those who have lived a longer (substantial) duration of life can truly reflect back on their past. Very young people who are still in the initial phases of their life are less likely (though not impossible) to analyze and contemplate their life from the angle which this meditation technique demands. Nevertheless, this technique is very useful for discovering and knowing our true self.

Contemplation Method:  

First, read this thought provoking story.

Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them,

"Is there a mantra or a suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place and in every time... something that can help me, when none of you are available to advise me, tell me is there such a mantra?"

All the wise men became puzzled by King's question. There is a single answer for every question? There is something that will work everywhere, in every situation? There in every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought more. After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on paper. However, the condition was that king was not to read or see it out of curiosity. Only in circumstances of extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way out, only then should he read it. The King placed the papers under his diamond ring.

After a few days, the kingdom falls under attack. It was a collective surprise attack of the king's enemies. The king and his army fought bravely however, they lost the battle. The king had to flee on his horse. The enemies were following him as he rode his horse far into the jungle. He could hear the many troops following him and the noise was coming closer and closer. Suddenly the king found himself standing at the end of the road - that road was taking him no further. Below the road there was a rocky valley a thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished for sure…and he could not return the way he just came because it was a small road. From behind him the sound of the enemy's horses was approaching fast.  The king became very restless as there appeared to be no way out.

Then suddenly he noticed the diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was very small but very amazing.

The message read - "This too will pass."

The king read it. Again he read it. Suddenly something in his mind opened and became aware that- Yes! this too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom, I was the mightiest of all the kings. Yet today, the kingdom and all of its pleasures are gone. I am here trying to escape from my enemies. However, as those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. Calmness appeared on his face as he kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his own kingdom. The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about the enemies who were following him. After a few minutes he realized that the noise from the horses and his enemy was fading. They had moved into some other part of the mountains and were no longer on the same path as he was.

The king was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought back. He defeated the enemy and regained control of his lost empire. When he returned to his kingdom after his victory, he was greeted with much fan-fare at the gates. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being thrown onto the king from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment, the king said to himself, "I am one of the bravest and greatest kings, it is not easy to defeat me.” With all the reception and celebration he received, he began to see an ego emerging within himself.

Suddenly, the diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message he had read. He opened it and read it again: "This too will pass"

He became silent. His face went through a total change, from the egotist he moved to a state of complete humbleness.

If this too is going to pass, it is not yours.

The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours.

You are just a watcher. Everything passes by

We are witness of all of this. We are the perceiver, the interpreter. Life comes and goes, ebbs and flows. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.            See the pattern?

Now that you have read this short story, just sit silently for a moment and evaluate your own life. “This too will pass.” Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moments of sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and then they pass. Life just passes away.

There were friends in the past. They all have gone.

There are friends today. They too will go.

There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go.

There were enemies in the past. They have gone.

There may be enemies in the present. They too will go.

There will be new enemies tomorrow and......they too will go.

There is nothing permanent in this world. Everything changes except for the Law Of Change. Think it over from your own perspective. You have seen all of the changes, you have survived all of the setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All of those have passed by. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass by. Nothing remains forever! Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass by. Who are you in reality? Know your real face, your authentic self. The face you see with your eyes is not your true face. It will change with time. However, there is something in you, in each of us, which will never change. It will remain unchanged.  What is the unchangeable? It is nothing but your True Authentic Self.

You are just a witness of change. Experience it, understand it.

Every day for 10-15 minutes sit in silence. Just think over the sentence, "This too will pass." Contemplating over your own life will help you realize the true meaning of this sentence. Everything passes yet your real true-self  remains the same. To know that self is true and pure Meditation.


Contemplate Your Life!
Bryan Shumway

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