Meditation evolves in stages:
-- Gross objects: Yoga meditation may start with concentration on identifiable objects or words,
-- Subtle objects: Then shift to their non-objective form, such as the light or sound which constructs the object,
-- Bliss: Then lead to the subtler, joy-producing essence or meaning of the object, or
-- I-ness: Move still deeper into being-ness or existence itself.
Contemplation also evolves through stages:
-- Thought: Contemplation may start with a verbal thought process,
-- Reflection: Deepen to quiet reflection,
-- Intuition: Later bring intuitive wisdom, and
-- Knowing: Then lead to a formless knowing.
Prayer also evolves through stages:
-- Repetition: Prayer may start by being repetitive and standardized in a traditional way,
-- Relationship: Then shift more to a verbal and spontaneous inner relationship,
-- Feeling: Then develop to a deeper, non-verbal feeling of love and devotion, and
-- Communion: Then transform into a still deeper communion.
Mantra also evolves through stages:
-- Spoken: At first it may be spoken externally or internally,
-- Heard: Later heard or attended to internally,
-- Feeling: Still later experienced as a syllable-less feeling, or
-- Pervasive awareness: Finally experienced as a pervasive awareness that leads to its source.
Integrate the four: As each of the practices deepen in their own special ways, Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra integrate with one another in a dance of the heart and an orchestra of their individuality and synergy.
...
The four converge into one: Finally, as Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra each reach their subtler stages, they converge into one laser like force-field of concentrated awareness, which then pierces the final barrier into the Realization of the Self, the Absolute Reality.
Samahitam: The state of deep, inner Silence from which the higher knowledge (Paravidya) begins to come, is called Sahahitam. It is the final launching pad, or jumping off place for the direct experience of the Absolute Reality.
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http://www.swamij.com/complementary.htm)
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