Sri Chinmoy taught meditation was an invaluable aid for a seeker to discover his inner self. It is through meditation that the inner life can become a reality rather than mere mental abstraction. Spirituality we cannot get from book learning; but meditation is the practical application of spirituality.

"When we go deep within, into the deepest recesses of our hearts, we commune with God through meditation. It is through meditation that we can know that God is both with form and without form, with attributes and without attributes."

- Sri Chinmoy (10)

Prayer and Meditation

Often people ask about the difference and similarities between prayer and meditation. Sri Chinmoy often replied that through prayer we feel we are talking with God - asking God to fulfill our desires. These desires may be worldly or prayers to increase our aspiration. But, whatever our prayer, there is a feeling of separation - a feeling of asking God for a boon. With Meditation, we try to listen to God. We keep the mind quiet and try to enter into the highest consciousness, which is none over than God. There comes a point when both prayer and meditation merge and lead to the same goal - the upliftment of the human consciousness to the divine consciousness. In the West, prayer has a stronger tradition. But, through the practise of both prayer and meditation we can make the fastest spiritual progress.

Meditation and Realisation

Through meditation we become aware of what we always had. As a beginner in meditation we feel we are trying to achieve something. But, in our highest meditation, we merely feel we are remembering what we always had. Meditation is a process of emptying the mind; often it is a process of unlearning many things and perceptions of the mind.

There is a story of a Zen Master, he was visited by a famous professor. When the professor arrived, the Zen Master poured some tea. When the cup was full, he kept on pouring and the tea went on the carpet. The professor said, what are you doing? the cup is full.

The Zen Master replies, yes. Your mind is like this cup - completely full because you think you know everything. If you want to understand Zen you need to first empty your mind otherwise you will not get anything.
Meditation and Modern Life

We can live in the remote Himalayas but be troubled by a restless mind. We can live in the hustle and bustle of New York but, able to gain inner peace through effective meditation. Meditation involves the acceptance of life. Meditation we can practise whatever our situation or location. The only thing we need is the inner aspiration, the inner hunger.