Many think that concentration is the same as meditation and take to the wrong path. Concentration is below your senses, whereas meditation is above your senses. We use concentration involuntarily in our daily, normal routine life. When concentration is part and parcel of our daily life, why then do we need to practice it? What we have to practice is that which is beyond these normal senses. We must rise from being below the senses (that is the state of concentration) to the senses (the middle position called contemplation); and from there we must rise above the senses, which is called meditation. Between concentration and meditation there is an area which covers both and that is contemplation. To be in that area of contemplation is to free yourself of routine attachments of the world. When you have completely broken away all your attachments, you break through this area of contemplation and you get into the area of meditation.
The first word in that thought for the day is many. If many think that concentration is the same as meditation, they are wrong and due to that misunderstanding they take the wrong path. And what if we don't know the difference?
He explains that we use concentration in our daily normal life, it is part of life and if it is already there, why do we need to practice? We have to get from concentration to meditation, from below the senses to above the senses, or from a state in the senses, going beyond the senses, transcending the mind.
The company one keeps determines one's character; a person tries to join the group where one can freely express one's innate nature. Man, by nature, is prone to cater to the desires that arise within or the urges that are prompted from without. Very often these are deleterious. So people ruin themselves by giving them the chance to overpower their personality. Consider the influence that good association can exert. A length of string is a worthless piece - none adores it or consider it useful. But when it associates itself with a few fragrant flowers, then women decorate their hair with those flowers and devotees place the garland on idols they adore. A block of stone in a public square is neglected and abused. But when the stone receives the company of a sculptor, it is transformed into a charming statue of God and installed in a temple to receive the homage of thousands. So satsang (holy company) is very important to grow morally and spiritually.
Baba talks about the company one keeps, so we went regularly to the center, we join a group where we can freely express one's innate nature. They were singing, and so did we. If we realize that we are all the same self, it is every time when we are singing an adventure.
Man, by nature, is prone to cater to the desires that arise within or the urges that are prompted from without. Very often these are deleterious. So people ruin themselves by giving them the chance to overpower their personality.
