Is it possible to meditate without any technique?
The question you have asked
is certainly of great importance
because meditation
as such needs no technique at all.
But techniques are needed
to remove the obstacles
in the way of meditation.
So it has to be understood very clearly
meditation itself needs no techniques.
It is a simple understanding
an alertness,
an awareness.
Neither alertness is a technique nor awareness is a technique.
But on the way to be alert
there are so many obstacles.
For centuries man has been gathering those obstacles.
They are needed to be removed.
Meditation itself cannot remove them.
Certain techniques are needed to remove them.
So the work of the techniques
is just to prepare the ground,
is just to prepare the way,
the passage.
The techniques in themselves are not meditation.
If you stop at the technique
you have missed the point.
J. Krishnamurti in his whole life
was insisting
that there is no technique for meditation.
And the total result was not that millions of people
attained to meditation. The total result was
that millions of people became convinced
that no technique is needed for meditation.
But they forgot all about
what they are going to do with the obstructions, hindrances.
So they remained intellectually convinced
that no technique is needed.
I have met many followers of J. Krishnamurti,
very intimate ones,
and I have asked them, “No technique is needed –
I agree absolutely.
But has meditation happened to you
or to anyone else
who has been listening to J. Krishnamurti?”
Although what he is saying is essentially true,
but he is saying only the positive side of the experience.
There is a negative side also
and for that negative side
all kinds of techniques are needed,
are absolutely needed
because unless the grounded is well prepared,
and all the weeds and wild roots
are taken away from the ground
you cannot grow roses
and other beautiful flowers.
Roses in no way are concerned with those roots,
with the wild plants that you have removed.
But the removal of those
weeds was absolutely necessary
for the ground to be in a right situation
where roses can blossom.
You are asking, "Is it possible to meditate
without any technique?
It is not only possible
it is the only possibility.
No technique is needed at all
as far as meditation is concerned.
But what you are going to do with your mind
your mind will create thousand and one difficulties.
Those techniques are needed
to remove the mind from the way,
to create a space in which mind becomes quiet,
silent,
almost absent.
Then meditation happens on its own accord.
It is not a question of technique.
You don't have to do anything.
Meditation is something natural.
Something that is already hidden inside you
and is trying to find its way
to reach
to the open sky, to the sun, to the air,
but mind is surrounding it
from all sides;
all doors are closed, all windows are closed
the techniques are needed to open the windows, to open the doors
and immediately the whole sky is available to you
with all its stars,
with all its beauty,
with all its sunsets,
with all its sunrises.
Just a small window was preventing you.
Just a small
piece of straw
can go into your eye
and it will prevent you from seeing the vast sky
because you cannot open your eyes.
It is absolutely illogical
that just small pieces of straw or sand
can prevent you from seeing the great stars,
the infinite sky.
But in fact they can - they do.
Techniques are needed to remove those straws, those pieces of sand,
from your eyes.
And meditation is your
nature, is your very potential.
Hymie Goldberg
was visiting his friend
Mr.Cohen, who was dying.
“Do us a favor,” said Hymie Goldberg,
“when you go to heaven
could you find a way of letting me know
whether they play baseball up there?"
Mr.Cohen said he would certainly try
to contact his old friend if at all possible.
Only a few days after Mr.Cohen died
Hymie Goldberg had a phone call.
“Hello, Hymie,” said Mr. Cohen.
“It is your old friend here.”
“Cohen? Is it really you?” asked Hymie.
“Sure,” answered his friend.
“I have some good news and some bad news.
First, there sure is baseball in heaven.
And the bad news is that you are pitching next Sunday.”
Life is a complicated affair.
There are good news and there are bad news.
Good news is that there is no need of any technique.
But the bad news is without any technique
you are not going to get it.