“The exact definition of meditation, according to Yogic science, is twelve seconds of concentration without a break upon that which you want to be. Twelve seconds only. In between the mind cannot waver. It has to be a continuous flow of concentration. You have to be very careful what you meditate upon. Choose the object you want to be. You have to relax back into silence. Try to lose yourself into that. Ultimately meditation leads to silence—inner, absolute silence—and you get Realization of the object you are meditating upon.

Meditation is very sacred, the last step before Realization. According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, meditation is the seventh step in the eight limbs of yoga, the eighth being Enlightenment. Before meditation there are six steps in preparation: be truthful, be honest, forgiving, forbearing, don’t be jealous, don’t be prejudiced, avoid ego trips, forgive, be patient, be tolerant. This will lead you to purification. Once you prepare yourself in this way, meditation comes to you automatically.”

Swami Amar Jyoti