Lesson 36 – Putting Your Rational Logical Mind In The “Backseat”
“The root of suffering is attachment.”
BUDDHA
Detachment
Many people are looking for a fast way to find and pursue their life path. They only want to listen to their heart if the message doesn’t affect their security. They would like to learn more about the mysteries of life to manifest more abundance, but they don’t want to give anything up in the process.
Attachment to things, people, and desires holds most of us back from finding our true selves – from walking our life path. Absolute abundance can come naturally into your life only when you are ready to release all attachments. All unnecessary things must be allowed to leave. Only then can you receive plentiful abundance.
This doesn’t mean that you must give everything up. So be it if most of what you already have is allowed to stay. However, if many things leave and you start to get concerned, don’t worry. They ultimately will be replaced with something else of much greater value.
You must learn how to place yourself directly in the path of creation and let it guide you. Doing so first requires you to turn off your conscious mind and the cravings of its imperfect desires. Only then will you be able to let the perfect knowledge of your Higher Self-guide you and help you identify what ideally should be in your life? It will guide you through your internal voice of intuition.
THERE IS A NATURAL PROCESS AVAILABLE FOR MANIFESTING ANY DESIRE
Using only the voice of your conscious self, that of your rational and logical mind, you rely upon your belief system to guide the manifestation of things and conditions in your life. Most of us have faulty or incorrect beliefs, and leading life from this base of experience can only result in generating inferior results – results that do not provide the satisfaction, joy, and happiness that you desire. You are very fortunate if you are already manifesting a perfect and satisfying life. Most of us, however, are not and would like to make substantial positive changes.
You need to disengage your conscious mind – and let go of who you have become for a while so you can learn to connect to a new source of guidance. It would help if you experienced a whole new cycle of inner transformation – to connect with your divine center and let it help awaken you to a more expansive understanding of your role in the universe. To awaken your inborn capabilities more fully, you will need to lead your life from the guidance of this inner voice. Not the voice of your conscious mind, but one that is hidden deep underneath – the voice of intuition.
The only way to powerfully and directly become who you came here to become is to build a permanent connection with that inner voice of knowledge and let it guide you. You have already started the process to develop a profile of who you are and what areas of life you came here to work on. You examined the karmic residue from your past to determine what unresolved lessons need to be worked on in this lifetime. You determined where you would find your greatest joy and what would satisfy your heart’s desire. You don’t know precisely what you should be doing to become who you came here to become. And, even if you have found your path, you don’t know precisely how to pursue it.
No one outside of you can give you the answers to these questions. These answers only exist deep within you. You can achieve your highest joy, your greatest fulfillment, by exercising your own free choice – the power of your free will. You need the direction – the direction of the voice of your Higher Self.
Realize this. You are a powerful manifesting “machine.” By the unrestricted use of your powerful will, you can manifest almost anything you desire if you want it enough. This fact has already been proven in my life and many others.
Not the lack of your ability to manifest becomes the problem. Instead, it is the lack of discrimination in choosing the right thing or things to manifest. You subconsciously know whether a particular desire is right for you. You have often manifested something, thinking it would yield high happiness and satisfaction, only to find that this happiness was fleeting, shallow, or nonexistent.
Few choices can be made that result in lasting fulfillment. Your conscious mind will not be able to help you select them, nor will the emotionally laden mind of your subconscious self.
There is only one place wherein you can discover the right choice and develop the right desires at any given time. This is the place occupied by your higher mind, higher self, and divine center. It is the only source that knows what is right for you. It is the only evaluator that can look into your past and present and project into your future what you should have to be happy and whole.
Listening to the voice of your higher self requires an openness and a level of detachment that you are probably not yet used to. Before maintaining an ongoing connection with this voice, you must learn a technique that will consistently and efficiently take you there.
You had allowed your intuitive voice to get buried since early childhood when it played a prominent role in your life. Since then, your conditioned conscious mind has taken over and has become your ever-powerful evaluator and initiator of desire. You have accumulated an extensive database of beliefs and experiences that were initially processed by your conscious mind, stored within memory, and watched over by your subconscious mind.
It is not easy to separate your conscious mind from your subconscious experiences. These two influential minds will not let you. First, you must learn how to disengage and neutralize them before building a conscious bridge to your higher mind, your authentic self.
If you resolve to truly become who you came here to become, if you desire to fulfill your true potential, and if you would like to achieve total fulfillment, true joy, and happiness during the balance of your lifetime, you have no other choice than to invest the time and effort required to build this bridge. It would help if you came face to face with your higher self regularly, every day for the rest of your life. You must commit the time required to learn how to connect and maintain that connection.
Without the commitment to spend daily time in direct contact with your higher self, you cannot sustain a permanent connection with it. If you don’t, your life will not be a seamless series of the fulfillment of desires that fully satisfy you and powerfully express your true nature. Instead, your life will consist of disconnected ups and downs, half-desires, and half-truths that don’t represent the real you or provide any actual degree of lasting happiness and little fulfillment.
HOW DO I CREATE PERMANENT CONTACT WITH MY INNER VOICE OF KNOWLEDGE, MY HIGHER SELF?
The only direct and consistent method is through meditation.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION?
The benefits of meditation have been carefully studied under controlled circumstances, and numerous significant benefits have been discovered. Some of these benefits are as follows:
1. Deep, Conscious Relaxation – By observing changes in brain wave patterns and other physiological conditions, we now know that it is possible, through meditation, to experience conscious relaxation that is more complete than that experienced during the ordinary sleep state. You can experience full rest while remaining “awake” and conscious.
2. Stress Reduction – Because of deep relaxation, slowing of breathing patterns, and activity of internal organs, emotions become settled, and mental activity becomes refined. An examination of blood samples of meditators reveals a reduction of blood lactate levels, indicating lessening stress in the body. The harmful effects of hypertension have been widely reported, not the least of which can be elevated blood pressure, migraine headaches, and interference with the normal functioning of glands and organs. Many meditators with a history of high blood pressure have been able to reduce blood pressure to a safe level by meditating on a regular schedule for the relaxation benefits alone.
3. Improved Concentration – Concentration is the easy flow of attention to the purpose. During meditation, our attention is naturally drawn inward, without interference from unwanted thoughts or emotional surges. After meditation, we find it easier to concentrate on projects and relationships, and in this way, we can be more productive and functional. Also, conscious concentration exercise during waking hours enables us to meditate more effectively.
4. More Orderly Thinking – When superconscious forces prevail during meditation, thought streams are ordered automatically. The chaos of conflicting thought streams, supported by emotions, ceases. After meditation, because of the relaxed awareness one experiences, thought processes tend to be harmoniously arranged and the interaction between left and right hemispheres of the brain is more balanced.
5. Strengthening of the Immune System – Stress, confusion, despair, anxiety, fear, and loneliness all contribute to the weakening of the immune system, the body’s defense against disease and deterioration. Conscious relaxation and superconscious experience, on the other hand, are conducive to strengthening the immune system. After meditation, the cultivation of optimism, hope, faith, and feelings of love also exercises a healthy and nourishing influence on the immune system.
6. Slowing of the Aging Process – Examination of meditators indicates that persons who meditate regularly do not show signs of aging as fast as nonmeditators. Mental and emotional states are better, evidence of minimal stress, and the immune system is healthier.
7. Improvement in the Quality of Life – To merely exist in space and time or cope with a seemingly never-ending series of challenges is not the real purpose of living. Because of general improvements in mental, emotional, and physical health and feelings of self-value, meditators tend to enjoy life more, have more wholesome and supportive relationships, and have purpose and direction.
8. Increase in Intelligence – Our ability to discern, draw correct conclusions, and perceive without error indicates intelligence. When thoughts and feelings are confused, when self-defeating attitudes are maintained, our ability to exercise native intelligence is diminished. Superconscious influences experienced during and after meditation increase awareness and harmonize thoughts and emotions. Self-defeating attitudes tend to be dissolved. The result is that most meditators experience an increase in intellectual abilities.
9. Awakened Intuition – Intuition is our innate ability to know by knowing. It is the ability to perceive directly what is true about what is examined. When we experience a flash of insight, when we experience inner knowing, this is intuition. Through intelligence and intuition, it is possible to discern the inner side of nature and subjectively experience reality at a finer and deeper level than is possible through sense perception alone.
10. More Self-Sufficiency and Freedom of Choice – As a result of being able to rest in silence during meditation and to experience “self-completeness,” one discovers that he is no longer as dependent upon externals as he perhaps once was. The meditator, then, experiences himself as a self-sufficient person and is, therefore, better able to make wise choices about how he will live his life and what he will do with his time, energies, and talents. Many people, as the result of regular meditation, have been able to make critical choices, such as the choice to experience healing and live a productive life rather than to play the role of victim and be defeated by illness or other circumstances.
11. Pronounced Creativity – A healthy human is naturally a problem-solver and a goal-achiever. Meditators discover a pronounced increase in their creative abilities by removing inner restricting patterns and conditions. They can flow with the rhythms of life more easily and accomplish functional purposes with relative ease.
12. Increase in Spiritual Awareness – As a result of correct meditation practice, the meditator can experience his real nature as pure consciousness; he is not dependent upon mental activity, feelings, or relationships to add to his beingness. He readily accepts that he is a unit of awareness and can more clearly understand the inner teachings of philosophers and seers. If he is religious, the meditator will find that his appreciation for spiritual instruction increases and his understanding rapidly improves. A more pronounced sense of unity-consciousness and harmony with the universe naturally unfolds.
13. Freedom from Addictions of All Kinds – The addictive personality has emotional needs that he attempts to satisfy by using substances, behavior, or relationships, which are often harmful and destructive. Even if such substances, behavior, or relationships are not a health challenge, they still diminish creativity and prevent a person from exploring a more comprehensive range of possibilities in life.
The symptoms of addiction may vary – overeating, undereating, unwise use of alcohol or drugs, the maintenance of non-useful relationships, self-defeating behavior of many kinds, and so on. The real problem is never “out there,” and it is good for a person with an addictive personality disorder to realize that he is not a victim. Every person has freedom of choice.
After meditating deeply on a regular schedule, many people find that they can choose wise behavior and renounce unwise behavior without painful withdrawal symptoms or involvement in expensive and time-consuming programs. Suppose one enrolls in a unique education and emotional support program. In that case, his progress will be much faster if he meditates correctly and is willing to assume responsibility for his choices.
MEDITATION TECHNIQUES
There are many methods of meditation, some more valuable than others. The most effective method used by the most significant number of people is the Transcendental Meditation Technique taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. His TM organization holds classes in most major cities across the United States. This technique involves utilizing a sound, or a mantra, with the accompanying control of breath and an inner gaze.
This technique is so simple that it is a shame that the TM organization currently charges $1,000 to teach it. Because of its simplicity and timeless usefulness, it should be freely given away to anyone who desires to use it, and this is what I am doing here. In the following instructions, I will provide you with a mantra meditation technique similar to, if not identical, taught in the TM program.
HOW TO MEDITATE
Select a Time and a Place for Meditation
You need to develop a specific time during each day when you can do your daily meditation. It is best if you meditate twice each day, for at least twenty minutes each time, but if you can’t, at least one thirty-minute session is needed to maintain the benefit of the momentum of your meditation.
Early morning is a good time for meditation since your thoughts will not yet have become involved with other matters. The evening is also good because the day’s events will have transpired by then. Meditation in the evening will also help to reduce any stress that might have accumulated during the day.
Because you will want to experience deep relaxation, it is best not to meditate after eating, as the digestive process will preclude the complete calming of your body.
Select a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for any reason. You will want to dedicate your total attention to this process. Just as regular sleeping, eating, and working habits are conducive to function, a regular meditation routine is conducive to success in meditation practice.
The Meditation Technique
Loosen any tight clothing so you can fully relax. Sit upright in a comfortable, poised, balanced chair with your head erect. The ideal meditation posture is one in which you can sit for the duration of the session without unnecessarily moving your body.
Close your eyes and be still for a few moments. Inhale and exhale a few times, rather intensely, but do not overdo it. Let the breathing pattern become regulated independently, not trying to control it.
As you start meditating, allow the process to occur quickly and naturally, without any effort or anxiety, for quick results.
The Inner Gaze
You need to develop an inner gaze (while your eyes are closed) directed to the space between your eyebrows. Let your gaze continue outward as your inner sight focuses on this space. Select a point in the distance of your inner space and gaze at it without strain. Steady gazing contributes to allowing you to accomplish single-pointed concentration. It is essential to maintain this gaze at all times while you meditate. Remember, your eyes will always look upward as though you are looking at an object in the line of sight between your eyes and the middle of your eyebrows.
The Mantra
You will begin to coordinate your breathing with a word or phrase that floats within your mind but is not physically vocalized. This word, or mantra, is not essential in meaning but is a focusing device. Consequently, the word choice should be based on the ease of use (for you) and its natural propensity for the mental sound process being used during meditation. If a word is physically challenging to say, it will probably conjure up images of your lips pursing or may trigger a memory of the strain required for its use. Any word or phrase based exclusively on vowel sounds will provide your best mantra.
I recommend two mantras. The first should be used until you are comfortable with it. Then, you can experiment with the second and see which you might prefer for your long-term practice. Both words or phrases will be split into two parts. One part will be used for inhaling breath and the other for exhalation. In this manner, you will have a focus both during inhalation and exhalation.
The first mantra you should consider using is ah – ha. The ah is repeated mentally during each inhale of breath, and the ha is repeated mentally during each exhale.
The second is the mystical syllable OM. OM should be mentally pronounced as ohmmmm and broken into two parts: Oh and Mmmm. (the O is pronounced comparatively short, and the M is long – prolonged without a break). The Oh is repeated mentally during each inhale of breath, and the Mmmm is repeated mentally during each exhale.
When repeating your mantra during meditation, do not articulate it; instead, repeat it mentally. Don’t mentally affirm the word, but rather “listen” to the word in your mind. Let the word float in your mind, naturally on its own.
This attractive inner mental sound will fascinate your attention and keep you more easily focused. Eventually, as you become more internalized, conscious listening to the word will give way to the experience of clear awareness and deep peace. Should you drop out of the state of clear awareness, resume listening to the word, letting it float in your mind every time you exhale until you experience the clear state again.
Breathing
Two cycles are involved in your breathing: your inhalation and your exhalation. No meditational benefit is derived during inhalation. The ego is disentangling itself from the body during meditation, and the “feeling of self” in the heart’s core is moving on to the wordless, thoughtless state of concentration in your mantra. This state is possible only at the time of exhalation and not at the time of inhalation.`
In exhalation and retention of breath, the body’s nerves relax, and the mind gets into a vacant, inactive state, which is not possible at the time of inhalation. The breath should be exhaled with a prolonged and appropriate effort to practice this method. The whole body and the chest should be kept still, and inhalation and exhalation should be done with the movement of the abdominal muscles, not your chest muscles. A happy feeling or lightness spreads throughout the body when practiced assiduously for some time. Further practice is to be continued with this feeling, and when that is mastered, retention need not be practiced after each exhalation but at intervals, which will not tire you excessively. When you are more advanced in this practice, it might be easier to have retention after each exhalation.
Your goal is to arrive at a unification of exhalation and retention so that the two can be achieved in the same process, and no separate effort has to be made for each. At exhalation, the entire internal air volume need not be ejected. When some air remains, the exhalation should be reduced and passed on to retention. Carefully mastering this, it should be watched that both the body and the mind remain still and in a vacant state, especially at the time of natural inhalation in a none-too-fast manner. Through this type of breathing, a disturbed mind can be easily anchored to a particular place internally and become settled without any fluctuation, leading to the state of concentration called Samadhi.
