Question: I have been going through your useful site quite sometime and found it extremely useful. from young i am much focused in formless god . also I am much impressed by advaita vedanta. Now the problem is I find great difficulty in meditation as i do not have any ‘ istham’. how am I to proceed? I feel as if caught between mid-heavens. should I try to cultivate devotion on any istham ? if not how to proceed with formless meditation ? I am very worried if I would waste this birth with these confusions. can you please help me?
Answer: My Dear ********, You write that you are fascinated by formless aspect of the God. If so, the question now – Ishhtam – does not arise at all. You should have full faith & confidence in feeling yourself as all pervading Brahman. That is what “Aham Brahmaasmi”, refers to. Follow the “Neti” (Not this, Not this)path & go on discriminating & rejecting everything as unreal. In your meditation, do Vichara or discrimination and get more & more established in the Advaitic thought of “Aham Brahmaasmi”, I am Brahman. This also needs the Scriptural study, which confirms this truth. I wish you make a thorough study of Shankaracharya’s Viveka Chudamani.
From the e-mail I am unable to find out, your address. If I know where you are staying, I shall suggest you to get a copy of it from the nearest centre, if you do not already possess it. However, I wish you all success in your endeavor.