It [meditation] is like the sculptor chipping away all that is not divine in us. This process involves the purification of the body, mind, and intellect, which serves as the foundation for entering deeper states.
An Acharya was asked what he had gained from meditation. He replied, ‘Nothing. But let me tell you what I lost: anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, and the fear of old age and death.’
For him, the practice of meditation was a journey for shedding the mental burdens that hindered inner peace and enlightenment.
Purification unfolds on many levels. It begins on the physical level through discipline and mindful living. Emotionally, it grows through love, truthfulness, and non-violence. Intellectually, it deepens through wisdom and contemplation. Spiritually, it culminates in surrender and devotion to God. As impurities dissolve, the light of consciousness shines freely. The restless mind grows still. The heart becomes transparent like a crystal, reflecting the divine light within.
The resulting transformation affects every level of existence, moving the practitioner from a lower, self-centred nature to a higher, universal consciousness. Thus, transformation is essentially ‘purification of the heart’ as a result of meditative practice.
What Brings About Inner Transformation?
Simply focusing the mind on any object—a candle, the breath, or a mantra—does not by itself lead to transformation. It is the intention and purpose behind the focus that determines the depth and outcome of the practice.
When viewed in its full context, dhyan is not just a mental exercise; it is sadhana. When we infuse meditation with spiritual fervour—growing virtues, shedding vices, and uplifting our soul—it brings about a transformation.
Focusing on any neutral object can calm the mind, but transformation occurs when the object is sacred and pure.
This transformation progresses in many ways. Below are a few of its symptoms that appear at different stages of meditation, listed in no particular order.
Attaining balance and serenity: Dhyan restores the original equilibrium of the mind. Consequently, one’s consciousness remains undisturbed, allowing action to flow with full awareness and clarity.
Purified mind: The grip of anger, greed, lust, envy and delusion loosens. The mind becomes clear, light and serviceable—able to hold what is noble without struggle.
Cultivation of virtues: As impurities fade, divine qualities blossom quite naturally. These include truthfulness, humility, compassion, patience, forgiveness, and contentment.
Meditation does not create these qualities: They are intrinsic to the soul; inner cleansing removes the obstructions that hide them.
Emotional and psychological shifts: The reactive mind transforms into a responsive heart. Fear gives way to faith, agitation to serenity, and self-centredness to empathy. Emotional balance becomes natural, and one lives with awareness rather than on impulse.
Peacefulness: Peace becomes an inner constant, not dependent on external conditions. You develop the strength to remain steady amidst success and failure, pleasure and pain, and all other dualities of life. In that state, you radiate calm and poise because material yearnings have subsided.
Achieving full potential: When mind and heart are aligned, human potential unfolds. Clarity and intuition sharpen, creativity blossoms, and purpose becomes evident. You begin to live with nobler intent and higher proficiency. You experience greater harmony in relationships, awakening the capacity to give and receive unconditional love.
Evolution of consciousness: Through discipline, consciousness ascends from tamas (inertia) to rajas (activity) and finally to sattva (purity). Eventually, with God’s grace, the seeker goes beyond even sattva. The mind now attains transcendence—beyond the play of the three gunas.
Salvation (enlightenment): This manifests differently for each path as explained below.
Jnana Yog sadhana reaches a culmination when, abiding in the light of pure awareness, the jnani realizes the self. At that stage, the atma jnani transcends identification with the body, mind, intellect, and ego. However, atma jnana is insufficient for liberation.
Release from maya requires brahma jnana, knowledge of the Supreme Brahman. Brahma jnana requires the grace of God; it cannot be attained by self-effort alone. Ved Vyas states in the Shreemad Bhagavatam (11.19.2):
jñaninastvahameveshtah svartho hetushcha sammatah
‘The jnanis too must engage in devotion to attain their supreme goal.’ On the completion of this step, jnanis attain the realization of the formless Brahman and are liberated from the samsara of life and death.
Ashtang Yog sadhana culminates in samadhi. It also requires surrender to God for completing the conquest of the mind. At the stage of perfection in samadhi, ashtang yogis realize God as the Paramatma residing in the heart.
For the bhakti yogis, when they fulfil the condition of mam ekam sharanam vraja (complete surrender to God), divine grace intervenes and the bonds of maya are cut asunder. It results in the sweet and intimate union with the Supreme Beloved, in His personal form as Bhagavan. Subsequently the devotee goes to the abode of God. The Bhagavad Gita states:
mat-prasadad avapnoti shashvatam padam avyayam (verse 18.56)
‘By My grace, they attain the eternal and imperishable abode.’
The goal is to move from the act of meditation to a permanent meditative state. In this state, one is simultaneously immersed in the Source while also being aware of the external world. Then, practice is no longer necessary because one is already in meditation. Life itself becomes a continuous expression of awareness, love, and divine harmony. The result is a transformed self—the best gift one can give to the universe.
