Today, I embarked on a new journey by attending the Brahma Kumaris' Raj Yoga meditation course. It was the first of eight sessions spread over this week and next. With everything going on in my life, I have been feeling the weight of stress, and I was hoping this course would bring some much-needed peace and self-reflection.
The session began in a fascinating way. The teacher guided us through two meditations. In the first one, as we all naturally closed our eyes, I was able to immerse myself in the practice. After finishing, I found myself smiling, feeling a deep sense of peace wash over me—a kind of calm that I had not felt in a while.
Then, the teacher posed a surprising question: Was it necessary to close our eyes? She challenged us by suggesting that perhaps, by closing our eyes, we were limiting our connection to the soul. This led to the second meditation, where we were asked to keep our eyes open. It was an entirely new experience—meditating with our gaze open, allowing the external world to be part of the meditation instead of shutting it out.
The Tired Mind in Meditation
Interestingly, despite having coffee just a couple of hours before and a brief evening nap, I still felt tired during the second meditation. My body was awake, but my mind was fatigued—perhaps a reflection of the stress I have been carrying. Yet, amidst the tiredness, I also felt a sense of hopefulness. This meditation, with eyes open, was a challenge, but it offered a different kind of clarity.
I left the session feeling curious about what tomorrow’s practice would bring. There is so much more to explore and many questions to reflect upon as I continue this journey. I am optimistic and looking forward to tomorrow’s session, hoping for more clarity and deeper reflection.
So Many Questions About the Soul
As I sat in quiet contemplation after the session, a flood of questions filled my mind:
- Where do we come from?
- If the soul is small dot of light, how does it choose which body to inhabit?
- If the body is simply a vehicle, does it affect how quickly or slowly we progress on our spiritual journey?
- Are souls finite or infinite? what would then explain increasing population? or is a population of some species increasing and some decreasing, keeping overall number the same?
- Is there one type of soul, or are there different types of souls depending on which species of living being it uses as its body? So do all living beings—humans, animals, birds, plants—share the same type of soul?
- If so, can we communicate with them, soul to soul?
- Does the soul ever finish its journey, or is it an eternal traveler? Is that Moksha/Salvation? How does it know when it is nearing its completion of its journey?
- With millions of thoughts passing through daily in our mind, how does the intellect filter and decide which ones to keep? Where has it learned its knowlege from? Does that knowledge carry from one life to another?
- Do rejected thoughts remain with the soul, or are they discarded forever?
- How does the soul absorb and learn, knowing what is beneficial and what is harmful?
These questions swirl in my mind as I continue this journey of self-discovery.
The Challenge of Seeing Everyone as Pure Souls
One of the teacher’s most profound teachings today was to look at everyone as a peaceful, pure soul, no matter if they have hurt us or brought us joy. This concept resonates deeply, but it also brings up an important question:
- How do you reach that state of pure acceptance?
The teacher hinted that this might be achieved through conscious meditation, by continuously training the mind to see beyond human behavior and recognize the purity of the soul within each person. This is no small task, and I wonder how long it takes to reach that level of detachment and acceptance.
Looking Forward
As I continue with these sessions, I hope to find answers to some of my questions or at least start down a path toward understanding them. I am eager to learn more about the connection between the body and soul, the eternal journey of the soul, and the art of seeing everyone as a peaceful pure being.
I will keep reflecting and learning. In the meantime, have any of you ever encountered similar questions or experiences in meditation? I would love to hear your thoughts and reflections on the nature of the soul and its journey.
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