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NEW ATLANTIS BBS
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This is the first part of a three part online course in Basic Meditation
Techniques
The course is divided into three sections. Section one deals with what meditation is and how it plays a part in the lives of those who use it. Section two will go into the techniques and tools of meditation. Section three gives suggestions on how to use what you've learned, in everyday life. A list of books for further reading on the subject, will be given at the end of section three.
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Webster defines meditation as "The act of meditating; close or continued
thought; the revolving of a subject in the mind."
To meditate is to focus mentally on one thought, idea, or concept. It may
also mean, to revolve an idea in your mind so as to change the way in which
you think of that idea. Meditation is therefore, a tool with which you may
manipulate thought in an organized manner.
Many people view meditation as a very difficult thing to learn. In reality
though, we do it often without even knowing it. When you daydream or find your
mind fixed on one thought, that is a form of meditation. Have you ever watched
a bird in flight, or stared up at the clouds in the sky, or maybe even found
yourself watching a stream of water flow by? If you have and at that moment
the rest of the world around you has seemed removed, then you were in a state
of meditation. The real key to this practice, is to be able to exercise
control over your thoughts and awareness of the world around you.
There are many groups of people for whom meditation is an everyday ritual.
Others use it at special times as a means of relaxation and "mental house
cleaning." It allows the individual a freedom unlike no other freedom. The
freedom to look inside oneself and learn just who you are. Some use it as a
way of being closer to nature or God. No matter how you wish to use it, you
will find it a healthy and very rewarding experience.
Most all religions practice meditation in one way or another. Eastern
philosophies such as Yoga, and Buddhism are not the only ones to view
meditation as a way of looking for the Truth found in one's own consciousness.
Even in Christianity meditation finds a place of value. The Bible itself
mentions the value of meditation. In writing to the Phillippians, the Apostle
Paul tells them this. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
(Phil. 4.8)
So you ask, what can it do for me. Well, beyond just being a good way to
really relax, which we can all use in this hectic world, it can be a doorway
to the Truth inside yourself. It is a way of gaining wisdom. Knowledge has
always been fairly easy to come by. Wisdom on the other hand, is a bit harder
to grasp onto.
In "The Task" by William Cowper, the following line is found. "Knowledge
dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men: Wisdom, in minds attentive
to their own."
For me, meditation becomes a way of "grounding" myself, of reaching a place
of peace and stability, where I can find how I fit into the universe.
In many philosophies, meditation is viewed as a necessary skill. All those
who are students of these philosophies must learn the ways of meditation early
in their training. Although the techniques may vary from one group to another,
the most basic concepts remain the same. The ability to be able to focus on
one thought and selectively block out all others is the foundation upon which
many more advanced skills will be built. These skills may range from telepathy
to the ability to move objects with only the mind.
It is well known that Yogi adepts can lower their breathing and heart rates
to near death levels. This is something you should not try as it takes years
of practice to learn and can be quite dangerous. Still, these yogis are proof
of the type of power the mind can exercise over the body through meditation.
In some cultures, the use of drugs to achieve a meditative state is
encouraged. The american indians for example, used drugs derived from various
plants to put themselves into an altered state of consciousness. This was
usually done as a religious practice and as an event marking the change from
one state of life to another. A good example would be the ceremony marking the
coming into manhood of a young boy. Today there are still many, who advocate
the use of drugs to achieve these altered states. It is my opinion that such
measures are neither necessary nor good. You can reach an altered state of
consciousness without the use of drug induced "highs". It takes practice, but
it can be done.
In New Age philosophy, the art of meditation is highly valued. We also find
another well developed skill which is called "creative visualization". This is
the idea of visualizing what you want to the point of it becoming reality. A
good example would be a salesman visualizing himself as successful and
prosperous. The concept is simple, if you can visualize a personal reality,
you can change or bring that reality into being. "Positive Thinking" is a very
similar idea. The technique of creative visualization goes beyond positive
thinking however. It deals with the premise that we all create our own reality
and therefore have the power to change many aspects of that reality. The idea
of "personal reality" is a lengthy one and we do not have enough room to cover
it in this course.
So far we have looked briefly at what meditation is and how it is used. By
no means have we touched on all the aspects of this practice. There are many
books on the subject which cover it in much more detail. My purpose is to give
you an overview of the many facets of meditation in the hope that you will
wish to learn more.
In the next section, I will give you instructions on how to meditate and
achieve an altered state of consciousness. Also a list of aids to meditation
will be given and their use explained.
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In this second section of the "Basic Meditation Techniques" course, we will
discuss various relaxation procedures and how they will aid you in entering a
trance or meditative state. You will also be given some ideas about types of
music and other "tools" which can help you achieve these relaxed states of
mind. Let's begin.
First, let's set the stage for our meditation practice. You should pick a
place which is as private and safe as possible. An altered state of mind, as
in meditation, lessens your awareness of the outside world. For this reason,
it is not advisable to practice these techniques in a public place where there
is a chance of being mugged, robbed, or molested. If you are at home, with
other family members or friends present, ask that you not be disturbed and
that all other noise in the house be kept to a minimum. When you have found a
place suitable for meditation, you may begin.
"The seekers of new mind states-the mind control devotees, the encounter
group enthusiasts, the drug takers, the psychics, the meditators - all are on
a journey into the interior universe trying to burst the limits of the
socially conditioned mind. Whether acceptable or unacceptable, moral or
immoral, wise or foolish, the mind of man is stirring toward a new evolution."
Dr. Barbara Brown (1)
As I said in section one, trance or meditative states, alter the way your
mind deals with the realities it accepts as normal. Things which are
experienced in a trance state are often not easily expressed in everyday
language. You will at some level, experience a heightened state of awareness.
Colors, smells, and sounds may seem amplified from what they normally are.
People who can achieve very deep states of trance often leave their bodies
in astral projection, or have psychic experiences.
I highly recommend, that if you wish to enter deep states of meditation,
you do so under the guidance and teaching of someone who is well trained in
the practice of such techniques. The key thing to remember is that it's not
what level your working on as much as what you are learning. There is a lot to
be gained in wisdom and knowledge at all levels of trance.
Now let's learn some simple and useful relaxation exercises.
You want to be sure that the time you pick to practice your meditation is a
time when you are least likely to be disturbed. You should not be overly tired
or have just finished eating as both of those conditions may cause you to fall
asleep. Even though you wish to achieve an altered state of consciousness, you
do want to remain conscious to some degree. If you fall asleep when you are
meditating, no harm is done and you will awaken quite refreshed and rested.
Unfortunately though, you may not be able to recall all the things you
experienced while in trance.
If you are lying down, be sure your back and neck are properly supported so
as not to fatigue the body. If you are sitting, be sure that both feet are
flat on the floor and that you are sitting as erect as possible without being
too stiff or strained. You should have your arms resting comfortably in your
lap with palms up.
In either case, it is important that your body not become strained or
fatigued for at least thirty minutes. This is a good length of time to begin
with as it should put neither a physical or mental strain on your being.
Next, visualize a yourself in a cocoon of white light. You should surround
yourself completely. See the light as bright and warm. You may play with this
sphere of light making it bigger or smaller until it "feels" right for you.
Say to yourself, "I am protected by the pure white light of all that is good
and truthful. I am surrounded by the pure light which keeps out all unwanted
and evil influences."
This is a good idea to do for several reasons. There are those, and I am
one of them, who believe that each of generates an aura which protects us from
outside influences when we are in trance. This aura may be strengthened by
visualizing the light as growing brighter at our command. Even if you do not
accept this idea, the practice lends a feeling of safety and security to you.
Nothing which is outside of you may enter or touch you without your
permission.
Learning to control and pay attention to your breathing is the next step.
You should start by taking a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for the
mental count of 4 and then let it all out slowly through your mouth. Repeat
this until you begin to feel at rest and relaxed. Allow your breathing to
settle into a steady, rhythmic rate. Just this simple technique can relax and
refresh you at any time. When you are only doing the breathing exercise, it is
not necessary to go through the white light sphere visualization. Some people
use a muffled metronome or recording of some other rhythmic sound, such as
ocean waves, to aid them in setting the pace of their breathing. A good source
of recorded sounds which can help you in meditation is a series of records and
tapes which have been produced under the title "ENVIRONMENTS".
Now, as you are breathing, see yourself lying in the warm light of the sun.
The light is warm and pleasant to be in. Starting with the tips of your toes,
feel the light warming all of your body, slowly moving up into your legs, your
trunk, and then into your arms and fingers. As you feel this warming become
more and more relaxed, going deeper and deeper into a calm and quiet place.
When you fell totally relaxed and at peace, bring a single thought into
your mind. It should be of a pleasant experience or of an idea such as love,
joy, peace, or compassion. Focus on this one thought and if some other thought
should try to intrude, picture it as being written on a clear board between
you and your focal thought. Then picture it being erased from that board as it
might be from a piece of paper. Deal with any thought, other than your focal
thought, quickly. Try to maintain concentration on your focal thought for at
least five minutes. Picture it as being real and experience it as if it were.
When you are able to do this and can exclude all other thoughts as they
attempt to enter your mind, you will have learned the single most important
technique of meditation.
It is now time to begin coming back to normal consciousness. slowly let the
thought fade from your mind and again become aware of the warm light of the
sun. As you fell the light bathing you in its' warmth, start to reconnect your
mind with the physical sensations of your body. Become aware of your breathing
and the room around you. Do this slowly and calmly. When you are fully aware
of your surroundings, open your eyes slowly. Enjoy the sense of calm and
peace.
If you succeeded in doing this exercise, you should feel more relaxed and
calm than normal. It is important to remember that you are comparing it to
normal for you, not to what you think others would or should feel.
If you do not feel you succeeded try again in a day or two. Between
meditation sessions, practice your deep breathing exercises. If you keep
trying, you will soon reach a calm and meditative state. Do not attempt to
meditate when you are ill, tired, or hungry. Those feelings only serve to make
your efforts more difficult. A very important part to remember is that you can
not force yourself into a meditative state. You must flow into it and
surrender to it calmly.
Some things which are found to be helpful in meditation follow.
Try concentrating on the flame of a candle when focusing. You could also
use a crystal ball. The later is rather expensive but small crystal window
ornaments or pyramids also work well and cost much less.
Music is also an aid to some. The music should be quiet and rhythmic. It
should bring on feelings of peace and comfort. Such music may range from New
Age recordings to classical.
Another useful device is to focus on a symbol which holds special meaning
for you. It may be an well known symbol or one you design yourself. As long as
it holds a special meaning or expresses a special concept, it is a useful
focusing tool.
This brings section two of this course to a close. In the next part I will
give you some practical ways in which to use what you have learned. Also, a
list of books for further reading will be included.
References:
(1) Dr. Barbara Brown
"New Mind, New Body"
New York, Bantam Books, 1975
Page 17
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In this third and final section we will discuss some ways in which you may
use what you've learned, in your daily life.
The most obvious use of the techniques you have learned, is relaxation.
During the course of the day, many of us have moments when the pressure
becomes almost to much. When this happens, we often can't deal with other
people or projects the way we should. The breathing exercises you learned in
section two can help at these times.
It doesn't require a lot of time or absolute quiet as does your meditation
practice. All that is required is about five minutes and relative privacy. At
these times, begin doing your rhythmic breathing and visualize a place which
is calm and refreshing. This simple and quick exercise, can work wonders to
help you regain control in a hectic situation.
Another way in which meditation is used is in the development of psychic
powers. There are several books on the subject, listed at the end of this
section. Most of those who teach about the use and development of these
abilities, agree that meditation is necessary to any such study. Again the
reason for this is that meditation allows you to reach an altered state of
consciousness. In this altered state your mind is more open to such phenomenon
as telepathy. If you should decide to pursue studies in this direction, please
seek the help of someone trained in these areas.
One final use I will suggest is visualization. Meditation can be used as a
tool for problem solving. While in a meditative state of mind, you have the
ability to take any situation and manipulate it. By that I mean you can
mentally play the out the situation using several different solutions. Then,
you can pick the one which seems to best solve the problem. While the use of
meditation can help you deal with problem solving more effectively, it is not
infallible. All it can do is allow you to think more clearly and concisely
about the problem at hand.
Well that concludes this study on meditation. I hope you have gained
something useful from this course. It has been by no means, a full
explanation of the subject. There is much more to learn than could be covered
in this short series and It is my hope that you will want to continue your
studies into this fascinating and useful skill.
More studies of this type will be developed in the near future. The New
Atlantis BBS will continue to post these studies as an ongoing service to it's
users. Please feel free to leave suggestions on the BBS about subjects you
would like to see covered.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Miriam Simos (Starhawk)
The Spiral Dance
New York
Harper & Row; 1979
W.E. Butler
How To Read The Aura, Practice Psycometry, Telepathy and Clairvoyance
New York
Destiny Books; 1978
Melita Denning & Osborne Phillips
The Development of Psychic Powers
St. Paul, MN
Llewellyn Publications; 1985