Why Naamsmaran is Better than Meditation?

This post stands tall as the world meditates tomorrow. Meditation does give a temporary relief, but it might not be the ultimate solution in the digital age. As we struggle to fight digital addictions across age groups, staying closer to the Ultimate reality might work faster. Here's an explanation to the claim. 

Yoga is chitta vrutti nirodha, as per Patanjal Yoga Sutra. The ultimate aim of Yoga is also said to be Nirbeeja Samadhi- total cessation of the modifications of the chitta- absolute thoughtlessness.

This kind of state is impossible to be attained by a mortal human being. Because his entire life is bound by something called Karma which inturn is the cause of desires.

Everything we do, in every role we play, we fulfill some of our own desire. Even if we talk of a selfless lady working tirelessly day and night for the family, has her own desire that the family will remain fine. A devotee going to the pilgrimage also has desire to be fulfilled by the God.

Whatever your stage and state of life, only Naishkaam Karma, or actions without the expectation of fruits of action (as stated in Bhagavad Geeta) frees us of that ever-growing baggage of desire.

 

Meditation takes us away from chitta vruttis temporarily. Therefore, seems very relieving and in fact intoxicating. The illusion of meditation seems more relieving than the real life illusion. In the end, as Shakespear says, “All the word’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”.

Then follows a continuous desire to meditate in turn affecting our daily karmas. In the baggage of desires we got into this world, our aim must be to set ourselves free as far as possible. But meditation seems to increase the weight of that baggage.

 

All aim of meditation and yoga is to gain knowledge. But this knowledge like the siddhis of Patanjal Yoga Sutras, is the biggest obstacle to Nishkaam Karma. Instead of following the ideal path of duty without expectations, knowledge brings the intellect in between. 

As per Sankhya Darshan, the complementary darshan of the Yoga Darshan, intellect is also bound by Trigunas and is not mula prakriti or the balanced state of trigunas. The ultimate aim is lost in that sense. 

More meditation leads to more knowledge which in turn leads to more accumulation of Mahat or the intellect. It increases the sense of me and mine beyond imagination. Because of this, acceptance of people and situations becomes difficult and Nishkaam Karma becomes a far reality.

 

In Bhagvad Geeta, Chapter 3, shloka 43, Lord gives a timeless solution to overcome vasanas. He says- “Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind, and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence and thus – by spiritual strength- conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.”

Naamsmaran is the easiest and the fastest way to invoke that spiritual intelligence. Naamsmaran directly gets us to the source of the entire universe (including our own selves and our desires). It lessens the burden of me and mine. It shifts the onus from your own self and karmas to Him.

Even Patanjal Yoga Sutra, which is written in Sutra form (where minimum words are used) has mention Ishvar Pranidhan (Surrender to the Lord) thrice. Because whatever knowledge you gain in meditation has to be surrendered to the source of the knowledge and not kept with you to increase your burden.

Naamsmaran  doesn’t need extra time. You can do it on and off the mat, anywhere, everywhere, in any state. Like meditation, Naamsmaran also detaches you from the current situation and gives temporary relief. But it also attaches you to the ultimate source of this existence, the only truth and reality of this universe.

When you are attached to the Ultimate, the sense of me and mine lessens. You will have just the right sense so that you can fulfill the duties bestowed by Him upon you, gracefully!