What are the true benefits of Meditation?

Meditation is attracting people in a big way these days. People often ask about the benefits of meditation. “What Are? we going to gain in meditation? Does meditation give us wealth and prosperity, besides peace of mind?”

The answer to such questions is: No, meditation is not something mundane or utilitarian; it is not for business or for material gains. If you are hankering for material gains through meditation, you will become victims of those who sell all kinds of package in the name of meditation.

Sadly, large-scale businesses run by unenlightened people are flourishing all over the country. An enlightened person will never promise any material gain in this world or spiritual gain in the next world.

Meditation is transcendental. It can be done in the marketplace but it does not belong to the marketplace. Rather, it is a sharing of peace and bliss by those who have attained it.

There is an interesting Tao story told by Osho which is on these lines: Lao Tzu was walking with his disciples and they came to a forest where hundreds of carpenters were cutting trees, because a great palace was being built. So, the whole forest had been almost cut, but only one tree was standing there, a big tree with countless branches.

Lao Tzu asked his disciples to go and inquire why this tree had not been cut. The disciples asked the carpenters, “Why have you not cut this tree?”

The carpenters said, “This tree is useless. You cannot make anything out of it because every branch has so many knots in it. Nothing is straight. You cannot make pillars or furniture out of it. You cannot use it as fuel because the smoke is dangerous to the eyes. This tree is absolutely useless. That is why.”

They came back. Lao Tzu laughed and he said, “Be like this tree. If you want to survive in this world be like this tree, absolutely useless. Then nobody will harm you. If you are straight you will be cut, you will become furniture in somebody’s house. If you are beautiful you will be sold in the market, you will become a commodity.

Be like this tree, absolutely useless. Then nobody can harm you. And you will grow vast, and thousands of people can find shade under you.”

A person of meditation becomes such a huge tree. Thousands of seekers of truth attain to meditation and benediction in his presence. Buddha, Mahavira, Krishna, Kabir, Nanak, Farid, Meera and so many enlightened mystics and sages were such trees whose eternal message and everlasting energy in the cosmos is helping humanity till this day.