Want to Learn True Meditation?

Questioner: Hi sir, my name is Nikhil Rane. I'm a software developer. So you have played a major role in increasing the clarity with which I perceive life. So, thank you very much for that. Also you just said that dispassionate observation is the key for right action to emerge by itself so that right action will happen. So, when I hear the word observation, the first thing which comes into the front and center of my mind is meditation. Like it's been years now I heard about some gurus who say that meditation is about observing our thoughts.

Then there are others who say that, “Don't observe, just chant something a particular number of times per day.” And then there are some western gurus who basically propel this idea that, “you don't have to do meditation and act per say. You just have to observe something with the utmost of your attention.” Like even if you are going through a park, you see a flower and then give it 100% of your attention and that is the highest most meditation you can possibly be. So I want to ask, does this link between observation and meditation exist? What exactly is meditation?

Acharya Prashant: Technically some of what you have said is proper, but practically there are great problems and entire humanity has suffered out of those problems. See, we said that when you look at yourself, it's not your greatness you will see shining forth, right? You'll see squandered opportunities, you'll see bondages, you'll see greed, lust, all kinds of lies, fears. That's what you'll see, right? And those things are not pleasant to see, are they?