Dr. Ajmal Sobhan, MD – On Meditation
by Abha Gupta, PhD , YSN Editor-in-Chief
(YSN Vol. 8, No. 3 – Oct. 2020)
Dr. Ajmal Sobhan, MD, is a retired general surgeon who received his surgical training in New York City. He practiced general and vascular surgery for twenty-eight years in the US, primarily in the Tidewater Area of Virginia but also in South Carolina. He is the author of “Journey to Silence: Memoirs of a Surgeon” and a co-author of “The Sacred Drops”. He is a long-time practitioner of Vipassana meditation. He currently conducts weekly meditation sessions for community members in the Hampton Roads region. The audio podcasts of his guided meditations can be found at the bottom of our website’s front page: www.yogasetu.org.
Abha Gupta (AG): Thank you, Dr. Sobhan for agreeing to share your take on meditation with us. There are so many forms of meditation practices out there. It can be confusing for someone starting afresh. In the West, the most well-known practice is Mindfulness Meditation. Also, for some, the word meditation, triggers fear and horror, contriving images of cross-legged people with closed eyes struggling to redirect the traffic of thoughts. Yet we are hearing more and more about the mental health and physical health benefits of meditation practice during pandemic to minimize fears, anxieties or concerns people may feel regarding themselves or near and dear ones. There are many questions that people may have, so if you could address some of them that will help the readers of our newsletter to make informed decision about the practice of meditation.
AG: What is meditation? Is it different from contemplation or concentration? What is the purpose of meditation and how long and how often should one do it?
Dr. Ajmal Sobhan (AS): Meditation is a process of focusing attention and awareness to attain self-control over discursive thought. The human mind is a non-ending thought producer. The thoughts are as random as they are plentiful. Most of us are not in control of our thoughts but rather we are controlled by them. The constant chatter of the mind with very little control leads to a state of suffering that we find ourselves in and are unable to extricate from. Meditation and contemplation are terms used synonymously. The simple meaning of contemplation is self-analysis and soul searching. However, there are also clear distinctions when one considers the religious implications. In Christianity, contemplation or contemplative prayer is a gaze of faith, silent love or resting in God’s presence. In Christianity, meditation comes first, contemplation the second stage where there is union with Christ or God. In Hinduism, Dhyana (meditation) is the insightful observation to get in touch with Brahman in order to attain Moksha.
The task is to recognize and realize the “Universal Self” that one is, and the individual self gets abdicated. Again, in Christianity, meditation implies the human effort while contemplation implies the embrace of God. On the other hand, in Buddhism, God or Brahman are left out. In Buddhism, it is primarily a human effort only, leaving aside the ‘self” or the need for an Omnipotent. My own discipline follows the Buddhist tradition of Vipassana which has two stages: Samatha or attainment of serenity or equanimity and Vipassana or insight: self-knowledge through self-observation and seeing reality as it is. Ignoring all that I have mentioned above, one needs to think of meditation as a spiritual quest to attain a degree of serenity, equanimity, being aware of the transient nature of thought or devoid of psychological thought patterns that allows one to be free of stress, anxiety and ultimately end suffering. For someone who is a beginner it is best to start with a short time span, like 10-15 minutes, but twice a day: early morning when the mind is clear, and late evening before bedtime.
AG: Who should do meditation?
AS: Anyone who is interested in a spiritual pursuit, keeping intact, if possible, their religious affiliations. There is no need to give up religion or faith.
AG: Given the current pandemic conditions around the world, more and more people of all age groups, nationalities, ethnicities, backgrounds are looking for ways to minimize their anxieties, worries and fears. How can practice of meditation help them, if at all?
AS: In this present-day environment, meditation is a tremendous asset, as it allows one to turn inwards, stay in the present moment, and become free of the constant state of anxiety and fear which is counterproductive to physical and mental well-being.
AG: What is your advice to someone who is totally new to the practice of meditation, a beginner?
AS: For someone who is totally new, it is best to follow guided meditation and try to find some one who would be willing to guide and mentor. For a novice, it may be intimidating to endeavor alone, though it is possible. They can meditate sitting on a chair or on the floor. My recommendation is to avoid meditating while lying down because one can easily fall asleep.
AG: How does meditation diffuse our fears, anxieties and worries?
AS: Meditation diffuses fear and anxiety by detachment from the worldly affairs and affiliation with soulful affairs. In accepting reality as it is, one is able not to surrender to the drama of the moment but rise above it.
AG: Is this a religious practice?
AS: Meditation can be part of a religious practice, but it can be totally devoid of any religious encumbrances.
AG: How did you get into the practice of meditation?
AS: Fifteen years back I was in a state of constant anxiety and always waiting for the next disaster that would ruin my life. Through meditation I have been able to salvage my life to the extent that my life has become meaningful and purposeful.
AG: Any final words for our readers?
AS: As I have mentioned before, meditation has basically saved my life and I find each day worth living for. Even in the midst of many adverse situations I have been able to keep my calm and not succumb to the drama of the moment. It is important to remember that bad things will happen, but bad things do not need to rule one’s life.