Meditation Follows Concentration - Part 10

Sometimes Devatas, Nitya Siddhas (eternally perfected Yogins) and Amarapurushas
(immortal beings) will appear in meditation. Receive them all with due honour. Bow down before
them. Get advice from them. Do not be frightened. They appear before you to give you all spiritual help and encouragement. “Having made Atman as the lower Arani (sacrificial wood) and the Pranava as the upper Arani, one should see the God in secret through the practice of churning which is Dhyana (meditation).” Dhyanabindu-Upanishad.Exercises
I -Place a picture of Lord Jesus in front of you. Sit in your favourite meditative pose.
Concentrate gently with open eyes on the picture till tears trickle down your cheeks. Rotate the
mind on the cross, on the chest, long hairs, beautiful beard, round eyes, and the various other limbs of his body; the fine spiritual aura emanating from his head, and so on. Think of his divine attributes such as love, magnanimity, mercy and forbearance. Think of the various phases of his interesting life and the “miracles” he performed and the various “extraordinary” powers he possessed. Then close your eyes and try to visualise the picture. Repeat the same process again and again.
II -Place a picture of Lord Hari in front of you. Sit again in your meditative posture.
Concentrate gently on the picture till you shed tears. Rotate the mind on His feet, legs, yellow silken robes, golden garland set with diamonds, Koustubha gem, etc., on the chest, the earrings, then the face, the crown of the head, the disc oh the right upper hand, the conch on the left uppe hand, the mace on the right lower hand, and the lotus-flower on the left lower hand. Then close the eyes and try to visualise the picture. Repeat the same process again and again.
III -Keep a picture of Lord Krishna with flute in hands in front of you. Sit in your meditative
pose and gently concentrate on the picture till you shed tears. Think of His feet adorned with
anklets, yellow garment, various ornaments round His neck, the necklace set with the Koustubha
gem, the long garland of beautiful flowers of various colours, ear-rings, crown set with precious
jewels of priceless value, dark and long hairs, sparkling eyes, the Tilaka30 on the forehead, the
magnetic aura round His head, long hands adorned with bracelets and armlets, and the flute in the hands ready to be played upon. Then close your eyes and visualise the picture. Repeat the same process again and again.
IV- This is one kind of meditation for beginners. Sit on Padmasana in your meditation room.
Close your eyes. Meditate on the effulgence in the sun, or the splendour in the moon or the glory in the stars.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA