The basic instruction of NSR

Dear ghop,

Just let happen whatever happens. In fact, if there could only be one instruction to guide one in correct, efficient, beneficial meditation, that's what it would be.

Throughout recorded history the benefit of meditation has been well known in and around India. The key truths, though, were largely dormant in books and oral tradition. Most folks, and many gurus, considered that tradition fanciful, or academic, or even unbelievable. The knowledge just didn't seem literally possible to those not living in enlightenment (that is, not living free from stored stress).

In 1958, a minor monk named Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had the desire to spread the knowledge of enlightenment that he learned from his guru, Brahmananda Saraswati. His travels took him to the USA, where he had an unexpectedly and overwhelmingly positive reception.

He taught that the secret key to enlightenment was meditating effortlessly. Believe it or not, this was a completely new idea. The standard schools of meditation taught that it was a difficult procedure, and could require several lifetimes to accomplish. They generally taught exercises of concentration and repetition, chanting and singing, trying to clear the mind of all thoughts, or focusing on a single thought, sensory perception, or idea.

Maharishi turned these misconceptions on their head. Any technique that could accelerate our progress toward enlightenment, he reasoned, must be completely effortless, since that is one of its most fundamental characteristics.

We now take this understanding almost for granted. It is clear from our own experiences in meditation that the less we do the better it works.

Daydreaming is just another form of stress release. It is very similar to the experience of a single thought gripping the mind (such as when a tune keeps running through our mind). Depending on how strongly a thought or a daydream grips the mind, it may or may not be possible to think the syllable effortlessly. The way to tell is simple. Think the syllable. If you can't without applying force, then active stress release is going on and there is no need to think the syllable. If you can think the syllable effortlessly, even while the thoughts or daydreams continue, then do so.

Eventually, when the stresses that caused your daydreaming are gone, there will be no more daydreaming at all. Instead, your mind will be yours. You will finally be able to have clear, powerful, life-supporting thoughts without the distraction of nonsense thoughts. Your desires will have fewer obstacles to achievement. This is the joy of life lived without accumulated stress.

You are well on your way.

Thank you for your beautiful question.

David Spector
NSR Meditation/USA