Page 28 - Introduction to Prananhuti Aided Meditation

5. Concentration and Control of Mind - Sri Ramchandra Ji Maharaj of Shahjahanpur
Concentration
Concentration, as commonly understood, refers to a state in which the conscious activity of the mind is brought to a standstill. But that is not the correct expression of the sense implied in it. This type of concentration implies physical effort which one must resort to consciously or even unconsciously. Usually, one proceeds with it with a conscious idea of some particular state which he interprets as concentration. Generally people take it in the sense of an unnatural heavy sleep brought about by the temporary suspension of the senses. As such, it is just like a state of senselessness caused by the drowning effect of some intoxicating drug. It may perhaps be for that very reason that some of the so called mahatmas are found to be addicted to bhang, charas or ganja.
Generally, teachers advise the abhyasi to practice concentration as a preliminary step, and the abhyasiputs himself to efforts for effecting the same. But in spite of all his labour for years together he is seldom able to achieve it. Why is it so? The failure can in no way be attributed to any of the defects of theabhyasi but to that of the teacher himself, who resorts to his bookish knowledge to guide the aspirant on the practical path of Realisation. The fact is that the entire process as it is prescribed, is wholly unnatural and artificial and the means adopted for the purpose are all physical and gross. The result is that instead of proceeding towards subtleness, they go on imbibing more and more of solidity and grossness, and finally turn into impregnable rock.
Taking up concentration in terms of suspension of mental activities, one has necessarily to apply his effort to create in himself a state of insensibility. The force required for the purpose is undoubtedly the physical force which acts in combination with matter. Thus the whole process undertaken for the purpose becomes a material pursuit in the real sense. Concentration in that sense relates to the condition of the physical mind at the conscious level, the activity of which