God

In reality, God is formless, invisible and occupies all space and time. The Upanishads rightly describe this with the analogy that there is not as much space as that occupied by the tip of a needle where God does not exist. The concept of God with form, name and attributes has been developed to help the common man come to terms with the concept of the Almighty.

For those who are interested in knowing that ultimate concept, that one Lord, that one Supreme force which is the cause of all creation and which dominates all other deities, deva-s, men and nature by being the source of their very cause, this ultimate Almighty is described by the term 'Parabrahman' (Supreme Almighty) - also called in short as 'Brahman' or 'Nirguna Brahman' (attribute-less Almighty). It has been rightly said in the Chaandogya Upanishad that the Yogi wishing self-realization should meditate on THIS formless Almighty by closing his eyes,  focusing in the spot between his eyebrows (Bhrumadhya or Thrikuti) and thinking of the empty space that results (chidakasa) as representing the Almighty. He then considers himself as no different from this infinite sky (since the Atman is no different from the Brahman). Such practice of meditation on the formless Almighty who is in the nature of empty space leads to good progress in Brahmacharya and results in speedy acquirement of 'Gnyana' (knowledge of reality). Eventually, after passing the stage of Savikalpa Samadhi (limited super-consciousness), the advanced meditator will merge into this formless reality, losing awareness of his personal identity in Nirvikalpa or Nirbija Samadhi (super-consciousness) where the breath and all metabolic activities including working of the organs within stop and yet the Yogi remains alive in a state of decay-less suspension without ageing.

This state of Nirbija Samadhi or super-consciousness is attainable by all Brahmacharis who practice Yoga if the practice of unbroken Brahmacharya is carried out for many years and with Yogic practices such as Asana, Bandha, Pranayama and meditation. All the superhuman abilities which are attributed to Yogis and their ability to burn past karma is derived through the practice of Samadhi meditation. Padmasana is the recommended posture to sit in meditation. The uniqueness and specialty of Nirvikalpa Samadhi is that even the hair/beard of the Yogi stops growing as long as he is in this state. Not a cell in the body undergoes ageing as all organs from the heart and the lungs to the kidneys stop functioning. It is a special state where the Yogi is alive, beyond ageing and in a state of suspension, enjoying 'Paramananda' (highest bliss) through communion with the Almighty. There are rumored to be many saints and sages in the Himalayan mountains who are in this state even today unaffected by the passage of time. Physically, their bodies have crossed many hundreds of years in terms of time. Yet they maintain excellent health and vitality in spite of being hundreds of years old. For these great Urdhvarethas who have accomplished the perpetual sublimation and transmutation of semen, who are constantly in communion with the Almighty, time becomes a constant in their state of indescribable bliss and existence. The secret behind this state is ultimately unbroken Brahmacharya through complete transmutation of the vital force followed by Samadhi meditation with destruction of the ego.

Prayer and meditation to this formless Almighty is hence the best and correct approach for speedy progress.

ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)