DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

116 DISCOURSESthe body has assumed the chosen posture it is, as it were,constantly under the subconscious suggestion that it must not anymore obtrude upon consciousness and that it has to serve thepurpose of meditation. Choosing the same spot and a fixed houralso has a salutary effect. Hence the aspirant must be serious aboutresorting to an identical place, posture and hour. Choice of the spotalso involves consideration of occult associations and possibilitiesof the spot. Special importance is attached to meditating in holyplaces where the Masters themselves have lived or meditated.The place, posture and hour of meditation all have theirrelative importance, which varies according to the peculiarities andhistory of the individual. The Master, therefore, often givesdifferent instructions to each disciple to suit his individual case.However, where meditation has become habitual through constantpractice, adherence to a fixed place, posture or time can bedispensed with and the aspirant can carry on his meditation at anytime under any conditions. Even when he is walking he may beinwardly absorbed in meditation.Meditation should not be resorted to with a heavy heart,as if one were taking castor oil. One has to be serious aboutmeditation, but not grave or melancholy. Humour and cheerful-Meditation shouldbe a joyous enterpriseness not only do not interfere with theprogress of meditation but actuallycontribute to it. Meditation should notbe turned into a distasteful and tiresome thing. The aspirant shouldfreely allow himself the natural joy which is attendant uponsuccessful meditation without getting addicted to it. Meditationshould be something like a picnic on the higher planes. Likeexcursions into new and beautiful natural surroundings, meditationbrings with it a sense