Studying with Mark Griffin : Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Hard Light focus so much on meditation?

Mark Griffin believes there is no faster path to Enlightenment than meditation.
 
If you, like so many others in the West, find yourself hungering for the experience of God, and not merely words from books or teachings from the internet, this path may be what you've been seeking. [top]

What exactly is it one gets out of meditation?

Meditation offers the opportunity for you to evolve to where you can leave your sense of limits behind and begin to experience direct contact with infinite awareness. This takes time, but you will feel progress along the way that is transformative, especially when studying with such an advanced teacher. It is a unique opportunity, since very few teachers are truly established in the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

Other reasons for meditating:

There have been many scientific studies undertaken in recent years revealing that a committed practice of meditation literally changes the functioning of the brain. Previous studies have also shown that there are structural differences between the brains of meditators and those who don’t meditate.

A 2007 study found that meditators have longer attention spans [source]. A 2009 study suggests that meditation may reduce blood pressure in patients with coronary heart disease [source]. A 2010 study found that those who meditated for about 30 minutes a day for eight weeks had measurable changes in gray-matter density in parts of the brain associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress. M.R.I. brain scans taken before and after the participants had meditated found increased gray matter in the hippocampus, an area important for learning and memory. The images also showed a reduction of gray matter in the amygdala, a region connected to anxiety and stress. A control group that did not practice meditation showed no such changes. [source].

What is Samadhi?

Samadhi is a meditative state where thought stops and the mind merges with infinite awareness. There are vast amounts of energy, knowledge and bliss associated with this state, and the ability to go into Samadhi is extremely rare. It is considered by advanced meditators to be the beginning of a human being’s conscious evolution toward enlightenment.
 
Though not generally associated with any Western philosophy, there is a body of literature and experience explaining Samadhi – particularly in the Yoga teachings from India. [top]

Why do I need a teacher?

The traditional way that meditation has been taught is by direct communication between the teacher and the student.
 
It is true that you can simply stay at home and meditate by yourself, but the difference between that and studying with a teacher who can go into Samadhi is like the difference between seeing the Olympics on television and actually training every day with a Gold Medal winner. There is a tangible difference in progress and intensity.
 
Studying with such a teacher may not be for you, but the way to find out would be to come to an evening meditation and experience it for yourself. If it feels right for you, you'll know. [top]

Who is the teacher?

Mark Griffin is a Westerner who studied with Swami Muktananda for six years until the time of Muktananda's passing in 1982. Mark began going into Samadhi while studying with Muktananda, and advanced his journey with Kalu Rinpoche for six years after that.
 
He founded the Hard Light Center in 1989, and is totally committed to his sangha. [top]

Why aren't more people interested in this type of study?

There are many people who are not interested in this study simply because there are so many other life experiences they must go through before spiritual development even becomes an issue for them. For those people, this study will appear impractical or simply uninteresting.
 
But for those who feel they have had the other life experiences they needed, and are ready to step upon the path to enlightenment, this study will make perfect sense. It may not be fully understood at first, but it will feel good intuitively.
 
In the West, where outer achievement is supported more than inner development, it is no wonder more people are not interested or ready to begin this tremendous undertaking. [top]

Ok, I'm interested. What have you got?

The Hard Light Center of Awakening offers several different types of programs. First, there are the weekly meetings, which are informal sessions which include meditations with Mark, lecture, and question and answer periods.

There is an ongoing subscription program called Deepen Your Practice which presents one focused teaching from Mark to you each month as a developed curriculum of study.
 
For accelerated growth, there are one day retreats called Intensives. These take place about every four to six weeks, and are concentrated periods of meditation in which you can more fully immerse yourself in your practice without the distractions of daily life.
 
There are also several longer retreats. These are three or four day sessions, which are held in a retreat center rented for the occasion. During a retreat, you can concentrate fully on your practice without the usual worldly cares. It is a chance to focus and meditate with intensity, to get away from it all and dive deeply into the practices.

And finally there is the annual 1-2 week trip to India known as the Yatra, which takes place at the Hard Light Retreat Center, Fire Mountain.[top]

I'm ready to take my first Intensive, and have specific questions.


What do I wear? Do I sit on the floor? Is there food? Is it really eight hours long? All these questions and more are answered for you here:
Taking My First Intensive – Frequently Asked Questions

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A few final words . . .

It is taught in yoga that the only thing you carry with you from lifetime to lifetime is your level of awareness. This determines everything in a person's life: from what circumstances you are born into all the way to the complete unfoldment of your destiny.
 
It is very rare to have the opportunity to study with a Spiritual Teacher who can go into Samadhi. It offers an opportunity for incredibly accelerated advancement.
 
Although Mark is a very serious teacher, he knows that this process of spiritual development takes time, so he makes the path an enjoyable one. He asks all those interested in the path of Self Discovery to approach it with an open mind, and in the spirit of adventure and humor. [top]

Here are some additional articles about the benefits of meditation

Discover the art of meditation and supercharge your mental abilities

Meditation Can Provide Greater Pain Relief Than Powerful Medication

Meditation may be the Future of Anti-Aging, Part I • and Part Two

How Meditation May Change the Brain

Meditation found to increase brain size