On Meditation

An Extract From Profit From Unlimited Thinking

A personal development course in a book I wrote ages ago.

In Part 5, I have included more details of the various processes  and mind states involved in self-programming, or self-hypnosis. Through self-hypnosis, we can interact profitably with our subconscious minds. Not only can we tell it what improvements our conscious minds would like, we can also receive in return, symbolic messages of hidden and useful knowledge. I have also included a sample hypnosis script which can be amended to suit individual needs. Use it as a skeleton script for your own creative endeavours.

“Man has three ways of acting wisely. First, on meditation; that is the noblest. Secondly, on imitation; that is the easiest. Thirdly, on experience; that is the bitterest.” Confucius

“Meditation is really the mind thinking of the Soul, just as Activity is the mind thinking of the world.” Paul Brunton

“Whoever here among men attain greatness, they have, as it were, part of the reward of meditation. …He who reverences meditation as the Supreme – as far as meditation goes, so far he has unlimited freedom.” Chandogya Upanishad

I confess to having a prodigal-son approach to inner education: off on mundane or materialistic trips, I pay lip service to still and silent listening. Yet when I do, and it can be for mere seconds, I am greatly rewarded beyond my deservability.  In fact, probably like most mere mortals, I am awed by what I could receive, and thus switch off.

A lot has been written about meditation.  What happens to our consciousness during the process? Devotees of meditation swear it transports them into a new realm of consciousness. Others are relieved of stress, or gain an exceptional energy charge. Creativity is enhanced and obstacles have been known to “miraculously” disappear.

Research has shown that a deep meditative state does result in a reduction in metabolic activity, with increased cerebral blood flow. The characteristics are directly opposite to those of a stressed state.  Brain wave patterns differ from those in the sleeping state. Yet despite the alertness, the meditator experiences a calm restfulness. This is described as transcendental consciousness.

“Meditation is as simple as breathing.” Greer Allica

“The road of meditation is not an easy one. The first shock of surprise comes when we realise how undisciplined our mind really is…” Lawrence LeShan[1]

If you are anything like me, lengthy meditation can frequently make you twitch and fidget. Thankfully, I discovered my One-Minute Meditation can work almost as well – at least for my current capacity to receive. It certainly shoos away any negative thoughts and allows me to feel a sense of directed confidence.

The usual instructions for meditation are to sit comfortably and let your mind relax into a state of restful awareness. For a successful meditative session, it is important that one’s physiological functions slow down. Unfortunately, if you have just stepped out of a sales meeting, or are in the middle of prospecting, to meet end of quarter quota, you will have neither the time to relax your physiology, nor an understanding sales manager. Ladies’ loos are usually prime gossip-spreading meeting rooms and, short of finding a solitary park bench opposite a large lake, they can provide the necessary aloneness for the OMM. Men are advised to stick to their own WCs.

Close your eyes, hold your breath and let the only image be of infinite nothingness. Don’t gulp a minute’s worth of breath, or hold in your stomach. Just stop, and sense the infinite within you. As you do, even in those seconds, you will feel as if the sides of your mind and body have merged with this infinite nothingness. Yet, as you do, you will be aware of an enormous potentiality about it.

Even those short seconds can give you an extraordinary sense of self-belief and power. Small wonder I have called my autobiographical essays Delusions of Divinity?[2] It feels almost like overhearing a conversation, or peeking inside someone’s windows on a Sunday stroll, yet, at the same time, being a part of it.. You probably will not be aware that you are actually still breathing, albeit slowly.

Do apply some commonsense to practising this exercise if you have asthma or any other respiratory disease.

“The essence of meditation is nowness… (it) is not aimed at achieving a higher state or at following some theory or idea, but simply, without any object or ambition, trying to see what is here and now.” Chogyam Trungpa

“The holiest name in the world, the name of the Creator, is the sound of your own breathing.” Arthur Samuel Joseph

“Empty yourself of everything, let the mind become still.” The Book of Tao

Meditation is now generally accepted as a worthwhile method for controlling stress. Indeed one recent guru advised a form of meditation while driving. This is not at all a good idea! Listening to soothing music is far better, and may even attract ideas or solutions to problems. The key is diverted attention.

“In the Meditator’s worldview, God isn’t separate from the world, but is the consciousness out of which  everything is formed.” David Harp

While Eastern chanting, and yoga predominate, there are in fact many forms of meditation.[3] One of my favourite books on the subject is a Teach Yourself – Meditation by James Hewitt. It is intelligent and informative, as well as practical. It is particularly telling that the only line I have highlighted is “Desire for results as you meditate in fact robs you of results.” Ah, plus ça change!

“It seemed to me that the Yoga exercises produced in us a certain silence favourable to contemplation, the approach of God and personal contact with the divine Persons.” J-M Déchanet OSB

Yoga is a physical form of meditation. Obviously not one for the ladies’ loo! I well remember when it was said to be contrary to Christian faith to practice yoga… till I discovered one of the better books on yoga was written by a Benedictine monk.[4] 

The most important demand from unlimited thinking is to learn to quieten your mind at least once a day, and one of the best ways is through meditation whichever practice you choose to adopt. The result is not dissimilar to runner’s high. However, during transcendental consciousness, the mind is enhanced, without borders, and is able to consciously receive and create.

Through still and silent meditation, one achieves perfect equilibrium. Isn’t that a beautiful word?  A state of mental and emotional balance… in these moments of deep mental and emotional balance, previous creative efforts are usually rewarded.

While it is possible to achieve moments of similar equilibrium in a busy world, “moving meditation” can be distracting. Dogs’ calling cards, other people passing by and  traffic are just some of those distractions making demands on our subconscious energy. Thankfully the one-minute meditation (OMM) can not only still and focus your thoughts, it will also rebalance your EMFs[5].

Re Narcissism and Meditation

NB this quote from Paul Brunton which applies as much to any with ‘issues’.

“Too much meditation could create hypersensitivity and nervousness in certain persons.” Paul Brunton[6]

While I may not be very good at lengthy meditation sessions,  I do have an enhanced self-awareness which tells me when I must still my mind. By and large, I obediently take time out to tune up. When the benefits emerge, as they invariably do, I always wonder why I do not practise more devoutly…!

“…those will survive whose functions happen to be most nearly in equilibrium…” Herbert Spencer

Finding balance, whether emotional, mental or spiritual, in our frantic and materialistic world can be incredibly difficult. Hip gip can affect even prime time players in our struggle to match our worldly needs with the cries of our souls. Even as our bodies flash painful warnings, it is possible to re-align our auras, and, in effect, to begin a self-healing. For those with serious illnesses, please make sure you follow your medical practitioner’s advice as well.

1] How to Meditate: Lawrence LeShan

[2] Delusions of Divinity?: Euphrosene Labon (not yet published)

[3] The 3 Minute Meditator: David Harp with Nina Feldman

[4] Yoga in 10 Lessons: J-M Déchanet OSB

[5] electro-magnetic frequencies

[6] The Notebooks of Paul Brunton: Vol Four, Part 1 Meditation

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Another NB

More spiritual mumbo-jumbo: my spiritual purpose is to learn and share – a kind of teaching through personal experience. This is why I share aspects of my life and thoughts either on social media or on my website.

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