Distinguishing Concentration and Meditation from One Another

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If we observe the mental status
that takes place at times when

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we focus on achieving some
objective or other taking a test

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working on a project, running a
race playing music.

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We're creating some work of art.
For example, we see that the

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attention is focused, intensely
on the task at hand, and there

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is in most cases, little
perception of extraneous.

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Sensations, or Or matters or
even of the passage of time.

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This is concentration.
Concentration also applies when

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the focus is turned towards
Spiritual Development.

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For instance, through intensive,
visualization of a mandala or

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through focus on awareness
between the eyebrows or in the

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heart region or mindful
attention on the breath or on

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recitation of a particular
Mantra brain waves in a state of

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concentration, tend to be
tightly packed dense and strong.

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Meditation on the other hand has
a different character when we

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view the process inwardly, the
mental process may be more

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relaxed, the brain waves less
intense and more widely spaced

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from each other.
As the Mind moves along its

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chosen object of meditation.
Meditation by definition is an

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inward process while
concentration may be focused

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either internally or externally.
Each of these processes has its

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time and place and both clearly
can be aged to the spiritual

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growth of the individual.
It may be noted that in his

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lectures on Raja yoga, Swami
Vivekananda.

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Systematically explores the
process of achieving

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concentration and describes the
power of concentration and its

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effects.
One pointed focus is considered

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to be one of the ultimate
achievements of spiritual

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discipline.
We find that the Mind cannot

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remain constantly in a state of
intense concentration.

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Thus, an alternation with the
process of meditation can be

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highly beneficial and refreshing
to the mind.

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Meditation is more reflective in
nature.

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While concentration is more
active.

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SRI aurobindo notes.
Quote concentration is a

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gathering together of the
Consciousness and either

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centralizing at one point or
turning on a single object.

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For example, the Divine, there
can also be a gathered condition

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throughout the whole being not
at a point in meditation.

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It is not indispensable to
gather like this one can simply

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remain with a quiet mind
thinking of one subject or

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Observing what comes in the
Consciousness and dealing with

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it.
Concentration means fixing the

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Consciousness in one place or on
one object, and in a single

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condition meditation can be
diffusive, for example, thinking

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about the Divine, receiving
Impressions and discriminating

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watching what goes on in the
nature and acting upon it, Etc.

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In quote reference SRI aurobindo
and the mother growing within

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the of energy development,
chapter 5 growth of

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Consciousness means and methods
Pages, 89 to 90,