Why does meditation seems so difficult?

Holy Master was glorifying meditation to a small group of disciples. While telling about the importance of meditation he said, “When during the night time you go to sleep, you take rest in the Antaryami Parmatma (Supreme God dwelling in your heart), your physical energy gets revived and you feel fresh in the morning. This is everyone’s experience. Then you should also believe me when I tell you that if you learn to take rest in the same Antaryami Parmatma (Supreme God dwelling in your heart) while you are awake, by means of meditation, not only your physical energy will be rejuvenated, but also your mental and spiritual energies gets rejuvenated. With such revived inner consciousness you will find inner peace and wholesome blissfulness within.”

One of the disciples asked candidly, “Dear Sir, it is not that we don’t believe you. We try to learn and do mediation. But, it seems very difficult for us to sit and do meditation. Why is it so?”

Everyone started laughing including the Master.

After a moment of silence, Master said compassionately, “Dear son, I like your honesty in this question. Let me explain it to you. Even though you think you are ready for the spiritual seeking, but your mind is still filled with worldly desires. This apparent world still appears real to you. The holy flower of dispassion from the worldly desires has still not blossomed in your heart. When you sit in mediation, your mind begins to play games with you and begin to drag your attention away from the inner world into the outer world because of these desires. Is that true?”

The disciple nodded in affirmation.

The Master continued, “It is also the lack of spiritual understanding that is responsible from your weaker will power which is unable to tame your mind. Your mind is still having a lot of doubts when it comes to inner world with questions like “who am I?”, “what is my real substance (Tatva)?”, “what is God?”, “what is my relation with God?” and on and on…..”

All the gathered disciples were listening with close attention. After all such jewels of true wisdom were very rare in those days when there were no sound recorders. During those olden days, disciples used to serve the Master and spend many days around him for hearing a few words of true inner wisdom.

The Master continued, “Another reason why mediation seems like a punishment to the beginners is the lack of divine love and being ignorant of the divine taste of  inner happiness. Once the flower of divine love blossom in your heart, once you begin to hear the melodious flute of inner peace and wholesome blissfulness, then you don’t have to put in any efforts at all to sit in meditation. Then meditation will begin to happen on its own, 24 hours a day – while sitting, while walking and even while seeping.”  

“Dear Sir, please shed some more light on this topic. How can we experience the holy state that you are describing?”

Appreciating the curiosity in the disciple, the Master continued, "Rishi, Muni and sages of India have given many tips in this regard. One should perform good deeds, help others, perform selfless services, read scriptures and listen to Satsang to purify the heart. Only a pure Saatvic heart can hold the true wisdom of the Self and Bhagwad Gyan (Spiritual and divine knowledge). Once Bhagwad Gyan make home in your heart, then you don’t have to put in any effort for Bhagwad Smriti (remembering the God). Bhagwad smriti leads to Bhagwad Ras (meaning remembering God leads to divine taste of spiritual happiness). Once you learn to remain in the divine state of true spiritual happiness even for as short as two minutes, then you will truly begin to enjoy this spiritual journey."