Be still.

Pour your thought from the head down into the region of the heart.

From thinking love, begin to feel Love and radiate your Love – to things, creatures, to friends and to those in need and to Nature itself.  Love has no limits…

Having emptied our hearts in lovingness…again Be Still ….

To feel the incoming tide of Universal love drawn to replenish us!

Instead of a seemingly complex mental process, the key to meditation is in simplicity. There are two basic concepts that can help us prepare or to may help refresh our current  meditation practice.

EXPANSION

The first is that of release and expansion of consciousness. This is the required of both physical and mental relaxation, and in preparation for meditation.

Once having prepared your comfortable seat and eyes closed, visualize yourself as a spherical body of energy that expands and stretches a little wider with every conscious exhalation of the breath.  It is like a balloon or a bubble, growing wider as you seek to embrace more and more of life, from your centre to the environment around you and further…..

Only through a sense of letting go, of surrendering, of dissolving the tight ego sense of “I” can we ever grow according to the Laws of Nature that determines growth in all spheres.

Some find a simple affirmation helps… such as “I am stretching, slowly opening the windows of my being to allow more life and light to flow through me.”

It is simply a matter of choosing what seems an appropriate concept, phrase or mantra that appeals and to which you can apply a little concentration, visualization and imagination.

Create your own and as with all affirmations, begin with “I am…”

ELEVATION

Elevation of consciousness requires a little aspiration towards a higher aim.  It is an upward growth impulse that can be applied in various spheres of our lives. We may aspire to total wellness and harmony in our psychological nature seeking to reflect the finest qualities of our balanced, loving and caring nature. Mentally we may seek to grow to intellectual heights. Or we may seek greater wisdom and spiritual understanding of our immortal soul. Beyond this we may seek closer contact or identification with the greatest of human beings.

We require an upward goal, vision or example that can help us anchor the abstract and help uplift our awareness and aspiration to whatever is the source of our personal spiritual inspiration.

Although we may choose to think of someone who represents to us a human expression of what we aspire to in life, it is better to freely focus upon universal principles and seek to become our own hero or heroine and to become what we aspire to be.

Then visualization can be applied appropriately. One example is the use of the mountain top as our symbolic reference. As we sit quietly and breathe evenly, there is a sense of progress as in our imagination we climb little by little from the plain to the summit above.

When enjoying a pleasant experience we have felt spontaneously in the course of our meditation minutes, it will then feel natural enough to formulate a simple affirmation that reflects how we feel.

We are free to use any method or technique that works for us in consciously approaching spiritual awareness but all exercises are to help us identify ourselves with our soul, the inner spiritual part of our nature and beyond to a greater sense of the universal consciousness in which we all live and move and have our being.

We all have times when we are happy to make decisions and feel very confident about ourselves and about our lives.  At other times we suffer from indecision or concern about the path we are taking in our lives or careers and would like to be able to refer to someone we highly regard, who will offer some wisdom in response to our queries or problems.

For many reasons, this is not always easy to do. One of the most common reasons is that we wish to be assured of utter confidentiality and impartiality. Another may be that we do not want anyone else to perceive our seeming inability to cope, or to appear weak. So somehow we seem to manage to find a way around most of the material problems that beset us.

However, when we find ourselves at a crossroads in our life and it is important for us and possibly for our family and loved ones, that full and proper consideration should be given before making a decision or change, we are seeking greater wisdom and communication with a superior intelligence that would allow us to feel ‘right’ about our decision, then many of us resort to prayer.

When seeking answers which are concerned with the non material, and involve deeper issues about life or resolution of the perplexities of thought which can overwhelm many of us at times, we would love to have on hand a spiritual guide who has experienced what we are going through, and who has understanding.  It is a natural desire to feel the need for a spiritual teacher and many find that referring to the figurehead of their religion is sufficient. Others like to trust their own higher or soul psyche and benefit by their own inward guidance or intuition.

The way of self reliance offers many benefits, but demands immediate effort to create a psychological attitude that provides us with a basis for direct experiences in consciousness. Often the simplest technique in this discipline is to begin meditation. It requires only that we are seated comfortably with erect spine if possible, eyes closed, remain still, regulate the breath and patiently attune to a single peaceful thought, to appreciate the results. Only when the thoughts become still can we allow our deeper intelligence and intuition to guide us.

This practice prepares us to be receptive and to benefit from a greater wisdom source than our own – from our spiritual Guru.

At this sacred time we are reminded of the essential message of the Christian celebration of Easter – that is ‘sacrifice.’

There may be many ideas and associations relating to the scriptures and to the idea of sacrifice that can be translated on either a personal level or as a spiritual generality when focussed upon the universal symbolism that Nature demonstrates so vividly for us on this planet in the miracle of growth.

In all growth there is observed the yielding of one thing for another life continuance whether this is seen in a material sense as in the crumbling of a rock to make soil or in the shedding of a snakeskin, or on a human level, the maternal sacrifices for a child or the warrior who gives his life for what he holds dear.  Within the whole process we see that life is given for something else to evolve.

The giving of life of Jesus was such that the full potential of the human spirit of the Christ may be known to us, reflects a magnitude of extreme sacrifice motivated by love.  It is to this ideal that we aspire.

We best honour and acknowledge such a wondrous capacity by exercising the principle within our own lives. It is only our imagination can only bring us a measure of understanding by stirring our own capacity to give in some way so that what we love or value most may be preserved or its life or fate advanced.

Easter time in the natural season of the southern hemisphere is a quiet, introvert withdrawal of energies during autumn as in the northern hemisphere the accent is upon the resurrection or joy of the spirit released in spring.

We are encouraged to meditate upon  both aspects of Easter – upon what we value most and would consider giving even our own life for its advance or welfare and also to attempt to identify with the ideal loving and joyful human being that we are all growing toward as our ideal and personified  in the Christ.

Meditation when focused upon flowers can give us some beautiful and surprising experiences.

As we think of the thought and inspiration that is required in our human creation of anything we can seek for the mysterious original idea in Nature that manifests in the exquisite colours, variety and beauty of flowers.

Through meditation we can sometimes get a hint of that Universal Thought that initiated the design, the perfume and the uniqueness of each of the natural species of flowers that we enjoy on our planet.

We can also become more aware of the human work and involvement in  helping to create the hybrids and mixed varieties. These demonstrate the human skills of the horticulturalists responsible for providing us with an even greater range of delights beyond those of our immediate locality and now accessible in our markets as well as in nurseries for cultivation in our gardens.

Beginning with your favourite flower, after contemplating its obvious visual beauty, form and colour, extend your imagination to try to conceive of a quality or thought that could have initiated such a creation, just as you would wish to have insight into the mind of a great artist’s work or painting.

The exciting part is to allow your own intuition to guide you into a gentle, flowing meditation that allows you to be open and relaxed enough to receive a response without any conscious preconception. Just be receptive and take a little time to experience what follows.

Although there are guidelines, material is scarce and possibly no longer in publication. It is better to embark on this meditation for yourself but should you find the need for assistance and the idea appeals, you could enquire through the Aurobindo Ashram, India.

We will all know the soothing effect of wandering around our own garden, tending or watering.  It tends to put us in a natural meditative mood of appreciation of plant life in general and perhaps allows us a little sense of pride in the results of our personal horticultural efforts.

All meditative states of consciousness commence with a stimulus or focus. If we have a material focus such as a beautiful flower we will be inclined to expand our thoughts and emotions and also elevate them as we look at the intricate handiwork of nature and drink in its beauty.

We will do much the same when we contemplate any beautiful painting or object in a gallery or museum that displays the skill and the beauty of human creativity.

However, when we are viewing the grandeur, the expanses of Nature’s handiwork outside these restricted environments something is added to our consciousness. Whether we call it a greater appreciation, or realize the scope and grander scale of landscapes and complexities, or viewing it evokes an emotional response such as awe or even worship, we are entering a different state. From the comfort of the smaller sphere we are entering the explosive realization of the majesty of life that creates and maintains limitless life and beautiful forms on our planet.  We cannot help but stretch our hearts and minds in an effort to embrace the reality.  If we will allow it, this will invite immensely satisfying spiritual or soul experiences beyond the mundane to freshen our senses and mental perceptions.

The grander the landscape, the vaster the horizons, the more majestically we perceive Nature as a whole. As a scientist gazing for hours into the worlds of the minute dimensions would react to the sudden focus upon the most imposing examples of the magnitude of natural creations such as Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon outside, so we find our ‘muscles’ of consciousness undergo movement and changes when we switch from our little personal world to contemplate the realities of the universe beyond. In some measure this will tend to happen with all meditations to a greater or lesser degree.

Our expansions and contractions of consciousness are always likely to be exercised according to our personal interests, tasks and responsibilities. But it is generally in states or moods of stress that we suffer from contraction and feel tight, limited and insecure. We need then to relax, to stretch and to feel aware of the wonderful vastness of life as a whole, and feel safe.

When the mind is peaceful there is no room for negative thoughts.

Depression melts away when our mental waves and restless thought is stilled.

We learn to take pleasure in making no conscious effort.

We find that we enjoy periods of just Being.

And find that it is Good.

In any teaching situation there is a place for meditation.

It is a tool for the instructor as it is for the student.

A few quiet moments interspersed with learning can help us, as students, absorb information in a relaxed state that better allows its processing by our subconscious mind. It is surprising how this can be effective in selecting material that is particularly helpful to us as well as offering an appropriate time for any remnant questions to surface.

For the instructor, meditation minutes provide opportunity for their personal mental refreshment that helps sharpen perception focus upon the following aspect of teaching that is required.

Meditation time that includes class and teacher provides a silent period of general mental rapport that frequently proves economical with time well utilised and more satisfying for both the transmitter and the receptor of instruction.

Regarding the approach to a general tutoring class situation the following simple hints may serve as a guideline for the teacher. They will be familiar to any teacher of Yoga or those dealing with stress management……

Meditation is a state that looks toward achieving a state of stillness – of mind and body.

To assist this and encourage concentration, the eyes are closed to shut out distraction.

A regular rhythmic nasal breath is established at a gentle and comfortable rate.

Attention is then given to consciously release any mental effort.

Patiently allow some minutes for the body to become quite still and the mind to accept the peaceful, receptive state that is our reward and indicates our preparedness to advance.

Depending upon the subject material and the different tutoring situations, the same simple principles can be applied or modified to suit as appropriate.

The minimum time for beginners’ meditation is approximately ten minutes. Those who find the practice helpful will, in their private time, be inclined to extend the period to a half hour or hour long meditation.

It is in meditation that the Yoga student who regularly follows the Hatha Yoga health practices findsboth mental and spiritual rewards.

Each Yoga teacher through his or her own experience finds a way to offer a path and method of meditation that simplifies and makes successful, the practice.

The art of Meditation is universally used to aid spiritual realization.

Union with the Divine !   Our concepts of God and our relationship with the Divine are not all identical. However, we all tend to share an essential idea that to raise our consciousness and contact with some greater life and light will help us experience greater spiritual Consciousness and through that contact become ourselves transformed and magnified in understanding.

If we entertain strong spiritual faith, it is natural to long for a heightened experience of consciousness in realisation and confirmation of our beliefs.  If we are exploring, without any preconceptions, in order to discover spiritual realities, both inside ourselves and outside in the greater world, we look forward to every new sense of awareness of the subtleties of life that our developing sensitivity will permit.

It is an integral part of human nature to aspire to understand and to establish a conscious link with our Source. Some have experienced a supreme spiritual experience spontaneously, often in difficulties and often without any apparent stimulus. However, it is by use of our free will and by direct personal willingness in our attitude towards spiritual expansion that we can consciously direct our being toward the Power and Universal Intelligence of our Maker.

Some of us see the Divine as the Great Creative Fire, and consider ourselves as little sparks of that same element…. and are likely to experience accordingly….

“As from a glowing fire, kindred sparkles come forth thousand-fold,

So from the Eternal, manifold beings are born and return also.”  Manduka Upanishad

Others conceive God as the Divine Ocean of Life and themselves as a mere droplet of that same element of water, affirming the beautiful merging with that great element….

“The dewdrop slips into the shining sea….”  Light of Asia – Sir Edwin Arnold

Some people consider themselves as part of all life which is manifest. To live in perfect harmony in the outwardly manifested natural world is their wish.

Others cherish the thought of spiritual brotherhood with all other human beings and long to experience unity of spirit in a sense of associated group identity.

Those who believe that the Divine is Supreme Love may yearn to identify themselves with this Greater love.  In devotion they may seek to free themselves from the limitations of personal emotion to find a new identity as part of the eternal heartbeat of Divine and Infinite Love pervading all natural life.

We must give to others what we claim for ourselves – respect for spiritual matters and the essential privacy that is attendant to an individual’s approach to this most important and sacred relationship with our Creator.  We may differ in our chosen manner of spiritual communing, whether we choose to meditate alone or in group meditation, prayer, church service, or in religious rituals.

By whatever way we choose, meditation and prayer are inherent, helping us to arrive at a state of stillness and receptivity of both the body and the mind when we will be reminded that it is by an expansion of our Love that allows us to experience union of any kind, whether with fellow humans, with nature around us, or with the Divine.

With any degree of expansion of our consciousness, we are enriched. Sometimes it comes to us through some intensified perception, increased understanding, greater life motivation and purpose or a more vital attitude towards our personal life.

By degrees we gradually grow as a person to become strengthened as an individual through our free will that allows us to realise how importance it is that we use and assert our individual talents, yet also comforted by the awareness and that we are only a small part of the whole – the greater Universal Consciousness.

We all struggle to discover our own special talents and qualities that when fulfilled will satisfy our personal ego, yet at the same time we find great sense of relief when we are able to feel trusting enough to surrender our personal ego and sense of self.  Only the letting go of our lesser personality allows us to experience the comfort and the safety of a wider spiritual consciousness. We feel this whenever we allow our self centredness to temporarily melt away in meditation, for instance,  or when we feel good after having demonstrated  a degree of self sacrifice, generosity or kindness to others.

Meditation is a natural process.  It is a natural talent to be able to relax, uplift and expand the mind. However, because it is seldom practised regularly, we have to re-educate ourselves until the natural ability returns to us.

Many people have experienced wider spiritual consciousness either through aspiration, expansions of a loving heart, through spontaneous insights and reactions, dream experiences and many factors that result in us knowing of the existence of other, higher levels of consciousness. However, to deliberately encourage these experiences we can choose to follow specific preparations which are known in the various schools of meditation.

There is no great intellectualization required in meditation. Meditation is not accomplished through intellectual skill or application but by the simple qualities of humility and sincerity in seeking truth and by wishing to understand the greater truths of life. We find this is possible through willingness to surrender things that do not matter and to hold to our noblest principles.

We begin to understand the spiritual reality that we are all sharing existence as cells in the great body of the whole of humanity. With this and similar wonderful realizations we are strengthened by the sense of brotherhood with others and need no further proof of the existence of the benign Power of the Universality that exists and presides over all life on earth. We know it by direct experience.