02.20.08
Meditation Explained
First sit in a comfortable position with the back straight. Close your eyes and look slightly upward gazing into the darkness of your eyelids. Upward gazing will keep you alert and awake. Take a few deep breaths, and feel the air come in and leave your body. With each exhalation let your worries or concerns fall away. As you
settle into a relaxed attentive state set your intention to experience the essence of divinity within and without you. This can be done with a prayer if you are inclined. Now, return your attention to your breath. For the next fifteen minutes just breath, and be aware of breathing. Should thoughts arise, let them pass. Remember to
give yourself fully to the practice. Become absorbed in the breath, prayer or stillness. This is the time for inner rejuvenation. You have all day to attend to other matters. After any form of distraction, gently return your attention to your breathing. When you are ready, drop the breath from you attention. Rest within the stillness that has been allowed to emerge from this simple practice.
After a few weeks gaining proficiency in the above routine, utilizing the following schedule can deepen the practice. Twice a day sit for thirty to forty-five minutes. Set aside the same time every day. Sit where you will not be disturbed. Take a few deep breaths and get comfortable with your back straight. Close your eyes and
direct your attention within. Again, looking slightly upward to stay alert and affirm your innate divine nature. Recite a memorized prayer, or speak one spontaneously silently to allow the connection with the divine to become more real. Now, use a two word phrase to direct your attention toward. This can be as simple as
“Peace, love” or any other word that positively attracts your attention.
With your breathing recite your word phrase. On the inhale, listen to the first word inside your head. On the exhale, listen to the second word. Let it fill your entire awareness. Give all of your attention to it. Should thoughts or distractions arise, gently bring your attention back to your word phrase and breathing. Practice
feeling the word phrase resonating in your awareness for the next ten to fifteen minutes. This will calm the mind and allow the body to relax deeply. Now rest in this relaxed, yet alert peaceful state. Remain calm and poised for as long as possible. Once internal or external distractions begin to make themselves known, start over
again. Continue practicing in this way until you have reached your proscribed time. Finish with a silent prayer, and acknowledge the divine peace you experienced, and let it fill your day.
After resting for a while in the pure state of awareness you may conclude and go about your day, or remain a little longer engaging in constructive problem solving. It is after the practice that we can most appropriately address any issues in our lives that need it. When our awareness is not clouded by overactive thoughts or
emotions we are more easily able to understand why things are the way they are. With this understanding proper action can be taken to change.
This practice creates the structure in life for the unfoldment of self-realization and spiritual knowledge. Without this understanding we wander pointlessly into suffering. Each day we meditate or pray to realize our spiritual purposes and how they transpose into our physical life, we lay a few more bricks into the structure.
With patience and consistency we will eventually wake up to find that the last brick was set yesterday morning, and from there all we need do is let life happen spontaneously and constructively.
