YH JAN-FEB 2019 | Page 47

the world, is to be caught up in the maya, the illusory field of existence. This detachment does not prevent one from acting in the world, but rather it is helpful not to be reactive to every rise and fall in one's circumstances. One maintains a centered space throughout. Meditation seeps into the very fabric of your consciousness. That is why if you meditate consistently every day for months or years, when you stop doing it, something feels like it is missing or unsatisfying in your life. Losing that sense of detachment can be painful for the meditator. They have tasted something very pure and deep, and they don't wish to lose that sense of bliss, which they recognize as the truest part of their nature. After a while, the meditator maintains a consistency of practice if only to remain centered in bliss. Meditation then becomes akin to breathing. It is something you need to do and there is almost no choice about it. At some point Jan./Feb. 2019 www.yogicherald.com 45