Meditation
The art of turning the mind inward — and finding the Self that was never lost.
Meditation, or Dhyan, is the practice of gathering a scattered mind and turning it gently inward. In Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya's teaching, it is one part of a single, complete path — Jap, Tap, and Dhyan — through which a person remembers their true nature and their bond with the Divine. It is not about forcing the mind to go blank, but about giving it one clear direction. With patience, the restless mind grows calm, the inner self grows luminous, and life finds a steadier, kinder centre.
The Triple Path — Jap, Tap, Dhyan
Gurudev describes Sadhana as a single path woven from three strands. Jap is the repeated chanting of the Gayatri Mantra — like ploughing the field of the mind again and again, until faith takes root and the mantra's subtle vibrations awaken the inner self. Tap is loving self-discipline — voluntarily setting aside some comfort of body, speech, or mind. Like ore refined in fire, it burns away old habits and releases a quiet inner strength (tapobal). Dhyan is meditation itself — gathering the mind and turning it toward the Divine. Chanting steadies the voice, discipline steadies the will, and meditation steadies the mind. Practised together, the three carry a seeker far further than any one alone.
- Jap — repeated Gayatri chanting that plants conviction and awakens inner energy
- Tap — gentle self-discipline that refines character and builds quiet strength
- Dhyan — gathering the mind and turning it toward the Divine
Dhyan Yoga — Taming the Mind
The mind, Gurudev says, is like a wild elephant — immensely powerful, but apt to run amok. Meditation is the rope that gently tames it, so its strength can be turned toward good. Left untended, the mind's energy scatters and is lost, like sunlight falling everywhere yet warming nothing. Focused — as sunlight through a lens — that same energy can light a fire. This is the quiet miracle of concentration: gathering the mind's dispersed currents and pointing them in one direction. The deeper purpose, though, is remembrance — to wake from the long forgetting of who we are, and to feel again our bond with the Divine. As that bond is felt, the fear and restlessness of life begin to fall away.
- The mind is a wild elephant; meditation is the rope that tames it
- Scattered energy is wasted; focused energy works quiet miracles
- The aim is remembrance — waking to who we truly are
Two Ways to Meditate — With Form and Formless
Gurudev offers two gentle ways into meditation, and both begin with a symbol. In Sakar Upasana, the seeker meditates on a beloved form — for example, visualising Gayatri Mata within a soft sphere of light, and slowly feeling a warm, intimate closeness, as a child feels toward a mother. In Nirakar Upasana, the form gives way to light itself: most often Savita, the radiant energy of the rising sun, imagined as golden rays soaking into body, mind, and inner self. The Gayatri Mantra is the bridge that invokes this light. Whichever path one chooses, what matters most is not perfect stillness but heartfelt feeling (bhava) and a willing surrender. God is never seen with the eyes — only known as growing goodness in thought, word, and deed.
- Sakar — meditating on a loving form, like Gayatri Mata within a sphere of light
- Nirakar — meditating on light itself, the golden rays of Savita (the sun)
- What matters most is heartfelt feeling and willing surrender, not force
How to Begin — Gently, and Without Hurry
Beginners often imagine that meditation means a perfectly blank, motionless mind. Gurudev is reassuring here: that deep stillness (samadhi) comes only after long practice, and chasing it early only brings frustration. In the beginning, the real work is simpler — gently bringing the wandering mind back, again and again, to one chosen point. It is enough that the flow of thought turns in a single direction. Sit at a fixed time each day, ideally in the calm of early morning, with the rising sun or a loved form held softly in the mind. Let feeling lead, not strain. Practised daily, even a few quiet minutes slowly reshape the inner self.
- Don't chase a blank mind — simply return, gently, to one point
- A fixed daily time, ideally early morning, builds the habit
- Let feeling lead, not strain — a few quiet minutes daily are enough to begin
Learn more — books & resources
These titles by Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya explore Jap, Tap, and Dhyan in depth. Read free online, or order a copy.
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