Just as ‘deekshaa’ is not Bay’t, similarly, ‘Meditation’ is not Muraakibah. The actual meaning of Muraakibah can be better understood from the Arabic adjective ‘Raakib’. Dictionary meaning of ‘Raakib’ is -awaited, hopeful, muntazir (one who waits) etc. The reality of ‘Muraakibah’ is that we wait to be connected with that Supreme Power or “zaat Paak”; our total concentration in Meditation is based on this much only.
Word meaning of ‘Muraakibah’ is – ‘Awdhaan’ or keep a watch (as per Hindi Dictionary). Keep your inner self out of any doubt; physically- eye and cardiac eye should be in perfect harmony and in the same form. When this happens there is no need to close the eyes. But till we clearly understand the ‘omni presence’ state of God, we have to close our eyes and wait vehemently.
To understand the mystery of ‘Muraakibah’ clearly, two things must be understood very well; first, what is the mystery of duality, non duality (Dwet and Adwet) and second is what the omnipresent form of God is.
According to Sufi saints, internal purity and stability is a must. You can not achieve your aim till your heart is not pure. Instability of heart is one difficulty which does not allow us to achieve our aim. If the mirror of your heart is not clear then how can you see clearly? The biggest hurdle is confusion. It means when there are two opposite thoughts in your mind, you remain confused and perturbed.
This confusion is the root cause of tension. Doubts and confusions do not allow the mind to concentrate, keep you engrossed in different types of duality. What is non duality or “tauheed”? When all thoughts and doubts are focused and concentrate on one point; so much so that every other thought vanishes, when there is faith only in God and nothing else, every other picture except one is removed from your mind, that is non duality or “tauheed”. This is a peaceful situation and here is where the search ends. Only one (god) exists in this stage.
“Vishwa Roop Darshan” or seeing only one (God) everywhere, can be explained through examples or through the medium of different illustrations. This is a different philosophy in itself and the explanation of this will unnecessarily prolong the topic. Presently, it is important to understand that this is an ‘internal meditative stage’ which can not be cleared without realization. However, without the same it is difficult to get rhythm and concentration; can not see God, which is the ultimate aim, hence one can not reach the ultimate truth.
All above stages are completely esoteric and can be attained through the practice of Muraakibah. Therefore, the knowledge of all the activities related to this and their detailed explanation is a must. In this respect, our Satgurudev is the main centre from beginning to end. Spiritual Guru is one who takes the responsibility of bringing deviated pupil to the right path. Through sermons they teach meditation and teach the worldly behavior and give suggestions to improve it. Therefore, only those Sufi Saints who have the correct knowledge of ‘chakras’, the subtleties, and their correct position, names, symptoms, forms, effects etc, and have achieved perfection in the field of meditation, are Proper Saints to part with this knowledge to others or they should not take up this responsibility.
Five stations or rest points have been decided near the heart- chakra in our body, which are the reflections of universe in the same-
1. Lateefa Qualb towards the left side of our heart.
2. Lateefa Rooh, below right nipple.
3. Lateefa Sirr, slightly above the Qualb or heart.
4. Lateefa Qhafee, it is above Lateefa Rooh.
5. Lateefa Aqhafee situated in between Sirr and Lateefa Qhafee on the above side near throat, where one gets hiccups.
For daily practice of Muraakibah it’s good to do zikra-khafi or dil ka jaap. Zikra means jaap or recitation ‘Qhafee’ means something which is hidden.
To perform Muraakibah, Sufi-saints have suggested two ways; one is Zikra (jaap) and second is Fikra (Meditation). In Hindu teachings these have been given the names; ‘Shruti’ means to hear and ‘Smriti’ means memory. ‘Shruti’ and jaap mean the same and ‘Smriti’ and ‘dhyaan’ also mean the same. There is only the difference of language. “Shruti is related to sound, so it is only sound, whereas Smriti is a copy of sound and also having a ‘form’ so it is dominated by letters, words, language and pronunciation. The first effect of Shruti is to evolve the order of the God. Shruti has the effect of rhythm, which will be exposed at time of devastation. It can be understood as it relates only to sound which is omni-present. Only knowledgeable readers can understand this.
Shruti- sound has one more name which is called ‘Udgeet’. “Ud” means ‘belongs to the other side’ and “Geet” means the song of heaven and earth, song which reaches God. “Aum” is a copy of ‘Udgeet’ which is made up of three letters and pronounced with the help of lips, tongue and vowel sound. If you hear its original sound, you will understand that ‘Aum’ is the real element of Vedas. Keeping the specific linkages of birth, live and return i.e. death.
To understand the mystery of ‘Zikra khafi’ we’ll have to understand the physiological connection to meditation. Our heart beats on the left side of the body, so sound of its beating can be heard clearly. But on the right side same sound of heart beat can hardly be heard or sometimes not even heard. Sometimes it can be known in ‘Lateefa Sirr’ and sometimes not. By Zikra- khafi we understand that just as our existence gets absorbed by our soul as if the whole universe gets hidden in ‘Sirr’ ( shesh – chakra).The jaap in which you can not make out the sound is called ‘zikra-khafi’. In this the existence of Zikra (jaap) and word gets absorbed in Surat (consciousness). Zikra and words are never lost. So, these are the best ways to get the appropriate results. ‘Jaap’ means recitation and ‘dhyaan’ means contemplation.
According to Sufi- saints all those deeds which have memory, awakening and knowledge are called Zikra and jaap; those deeds which do not have these three symptoms can not be put into the category of Zikra or jaap. Here one difference that is memorable is that, word ‘khafi’ that has been used, means hidden; Lateefa or chakra is not the destination, as has been mentioned above.
To remember the form of word in Zikra- Qualb again and again, the mystery behind dwelling of the divine in our heart is that we not only keep the word in our heart but also the letters and their potency in our heart like word ‘Aum’.
In this respect a good example is that while reading a text, so far as we concentrate on the words, we do not pay attention to the color of the ink, but the moment we concentrate on the color of ink, the actual words disappear before our eyes.
The best jaap is one in which only that form in whose respect the prayer is done stays, remaining everything disappears, including the one who is doing the prayer.
The functioning of jaap is very important, but it is equally important to follow and understand the discipline of jaap. If it is not followed properly, we face so many difficulties, and jaap can not be done in with its natural speed. The complete discipline of jaap is classified under three categories- A, B & C; (these are total twenty points).
(A) These are five points. These must be remembered before jaap.
(B) These are twelve. These must be remembered during the course of jaap.
(C) These are three. These must be remembered after jaap is done.
(A)
Ø Repent that whatever wrong I have done has been done; but in future, forever, I shall not do anything which will go against dharma, the ‘Religion’.
Ø Keep your heart still and clean.
Ø Take bath, be clean and sit in a clean place.
Ø Take help from your Guru or Spiritual teacher.
Ø To know that taking help from your Gurudev, is like taking help from God.
(B)
Ø Appropriate Aasan (posture) - Sit as you sit for doing namaaz, the best is siddhaasan; sit with both hands on your thighs.
Ø Make the place fragrant with scented sticks or flowers.
Ø Wear clean washed clothes, keep the door closed and do not light up, in side the room with any artificial light like electric bulbs. Do not also make a special effort to darken the room.
Ø Keep both eyes closed. If need be, keep both your ears also closed by using cotton buds.
Ø Feel the presence of your Guru, the Spiritual Master.
Ø With external and internal cleanliness and purity recite ‘kalmaa-e- tauheed’ ( mantra of non duality)- ‘LA ila illillah’ or ‘ Aum tat sat’ ‘Eko Brahma Dwitiyo Naasti’ (nothing except one God), keep your mind still because you basically concentrate on hearing the word during jaap, no importance is given to the recitation of any other mantra etc.
Ø Keep all the unwanted (unsocial, indecent and unworthy) people and company (those who are corrupted etc.). Keep your mind clean of all bad impressions.
Ø Do not focus on anything else except God, means it is the condition of ‘tooryaavastha’ which purifies our mind and heart, which is closer to God and try to stay in this condition.
Ø Make promise to be in awareness of God with full concentration and determination.
Ø Acquire love of God.
Ø Attain this condition by removing your own existence.
Ø Merge your identity totally in God. Forget even the fact that you are meditating.
(C)
Ø After the meditation, sit for sometime (minimum 10 minutes) with your eyes open in the same condition.
Ø Hold your breath. This is no ‘Praanaayaam’; personally understand this from your Spiritual teacher.
Ø Keep your self away from cold water and cold air, for at least half an hour.
By doing ‘Zikra Qualbi’ gives the exercitant of meditation a state of attachment to God realm called viraat-roop or virat-desh within a few months time.
