43
Meditation and chanting lead to spiritual transformation
By LINDA M. LINONIS
boardman
Meditation is an ancient practice that many in modern society have embraced.
It is associated with inner peace, and that’s a state of being most people seek but find elusive.
“We’re overstimulated with electronic devices and hectic lives,” said Kedaracharya, founder of Bhakti School of Transformation in Erie, Pa., a nonprofit organization. He has partnered with Bella Nitesh Spiritual Arts and Education Center in the Mahoning Valley to offer programs on meditation and chanting.
Kedaracharya is presenting three programs on meditation at Bella Nitesh. Deana Tareshawty, Bella Nitesh founder, said Pam Lilac of the Downtown Wellness Community suggested Bella Nitesh partner with Kedaracharya on meditation programs after she saw him present a program.
“It’s a good fit because we’re a spiritually based education community,” said Tareshawty.
Kedaracharya believes inner peace exists within people naturally, but over-stimulation and busy lifestyles have crowded out people’s ability to access that peace, joy and happiness. His own search for a peaceful state of being made him realize his “calling was for a spiritual life.”
Kedaracharya, who grew up in a family of performing artists, pursued the spiritual life by studying yoga philosophy for 18 years in Ganeshpuri, India, under the master of the lineage, Bhagawan Nityananda, now deceased. “Selfless service” was the path promoted by Nityananda and followed by Kedaracharya.
He said peace can be achieved through the science of transformation. “That path is based on ancient spiritual techniques known as shaivism,” he said. Shaivism is referred to as the science of transformation, the path to shiva consciousness, by Kedaracharya. Shiva is a reference to God.
Meditation and chanting are techniques used in this spiritual transformation. For meditation, Kedaracharya said, a quiet setting is required. That is necessary, he continued, “to quiet the mind.” When the mind is silenced, peace and joy become apparent,” he said. He added these states are “something you have” and it’s a process of “taking away what you are not.”
In meditation, Kedaracharya encourages participants to “still the mind” and recognize but not react to thoughts.
Kedaracharya uses a harmonium, a reed organ, to accompany chanting. The ancient practice also stills the mind by combining sound with a mantra, repeated words or phrases. Chanting helps the mind “become content with being quiet.” Kedaracharya said when people first try to meditate, they are often distracted by their thoughts. He likened learning how to meditate with eating sugar or sweets. Kedaracharya said people condition their bodies to want those things; meditation conditions the mind to want and enjoy the quiet.
At the first meditation program Jan. 14 titled “New Beginnings — Fresh Energy,” Kedaracharya suggested to the 12 participants to “see God in each other. This self exists equally in all of us.”
The program translates to a new start and “letting go of false notions that hold us back and keep us small.” “You are much greater than you think you are,” he said, adding “with the right practice, you will gather evidence of that for yourself.”
Kedaracharya said the meditation programs will guide participants to achieve a spiritual transformation. “Until we taste the nectar of our own joy, we will identify with things that limit us and make us ordinary.”
Material comforts and things are transient, he said, spiritual transformation helps people lead better and more fulfilling lives. “It’s a process of inner examination,” Kedaracharya said. “Life is precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted.”
He continued that the process will help people discern “what’s not working in their lives and why.” Change will be required, he said, and “courage to plot a new course. This won’t come out of a restless mind, but a quiet one,” he said. “Fresh energy is God’s grace.”
Kedaracharya said “deep sleep is close to deep meditation.” Steps in meditation include closing one’s eyes, taking a comfortable position and focusing on breathing as a centering technique.