Why Meditation Is Difficult | From Arjuna to the Modern Mind

Many sincere practitioners face a familiar paradox: meditation sometimes unfolds effortlessly, yet at other times remains resistant despite discipline and experience. This challenge is not new. In the Bhagavad Gītā, Arjuna admits that the mind is “harder to control than the wind,” while modern thinkers such as Yuval Noah Harari have noted that analytical brilliance can hinder, rather than support, meditation.

Drawing on the Upaniṣhads and their commentarial tradition, this session explores why the mind naturally turns outward, how meditation differs from concentration, and why Vedānta understands meditation as an expression of inner readiness rather than an act of will. A simple Meditation States Monitor, generated using AI, will be used illustratively to support reflection and explore meditative states.

Speakers

Sundar Rajan

Sundar Rajan is a technologist, project-management leader, and writer known for his ability to bring clarity to complex systems—both technical and contemplative. He has provided thought leadership in methodology, databases, architecture, and enterprise planning across multi-million-dollar public-sector initiatives. With decades of experience in large-scale technology delivery, he pairs analytical depth with long-standing exposure to Advaita Vedānta and contemplative practice. Sundar has published in industry journals, spoken at international technology conferences, and currently leads the PMI Technology Forum in Sacramento. His recent work bridges AI and meditation, exploring how modern tools can shed light on ancient inquiry.