|
Validation and Verification of Personal Experiences on the Third Day
of Starting the Practice.
VISION OF THE GOAL: EVOLUTION, FREEDOM, FULFILLMENT through the
development of higher states of consciousness
PURPOSE: To examine in the light of personal experience the
value of the outward stroke of consciousness -- meditation and action to
reach the goal.
Procedure of the 3rd Day's Meeting:
- As meditators arrive experience sheets are given to be filled out and
collected.
- Discuss questions and recap on 2nd day -- (10-15 minutes).
- Discuss the questions & recap the previous day.
As you recall, correctness of meditation was established
on the 1st day's meeting. The day before yesterday and
yesterday we analyzed in detail the experiences of TM and found that
what happened to the mind is experience of finer states of the
mantra and experience of thoughts. Simultaneously what happens
to the body is breath becomes softer, the system gets
deep rest and feels relaxed owing to
release of stress, and we understand thoughts as
arising from the release of stress. This has given us a clear
understanding about what happens during meditation.
Today we'll analyze what actually happens when we are
coming out of meditation, i.e., the value of
thought and action out of meditation.
- Group meditation.
- Explanation of development of states of higher consciousness through
regular practice.
- Outline of advanced courses.
- Additional activity.
- World plan of the movement
- Check mantra and personal discussion
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Note to initiators: Many people enjoy discussing the
good results of other meditators. Often they will realize they have
experienced similar results quite innocently. "Oh, now that you mention
it..."
Start with new experiences:
You may have noticed that there are 4 new points on the checking sheet.
It is a normal thing that in TM one begins to feel these effects from the
start. You see how the effects grow so quickly.
This is what we have been emphasizing right from the beginning of the
introductory lecture. Even though the practice is mental, its benefits
begin to be felt in all fields of life: body, behavior,
environment, effectiveness of our activity and appreciation of the world
around us. This is what we emphasized during the introductory lectures.
You remember the introductory lecture dealt with 4 areas:
- Development of mental potential in which it was said
that TM produces clearer thinking and releases
mental stress. It expands the awareness and improves the ability
of concentration.
- Another point was effect of TM on health. Now within two days we
have experienced the deep relaxation that it brings to the body. The
increase in physical energy that we feel is due to this effect. The
general experience is that the meditators do not feel towards the end of
the day as tired as they did before.
- And it is this lively state of body and mind that makes one capable
of spontaneous good behavior. Almost everyone has felt this calmness of
mind along with more liveliness and this develops the ability of wider
comprehension. One naturally sees the situation in a broader perspective
and is therefore able to comprehend greater truth about it. With this,
one is spontaneously more tolerant and appreciative of situations that
arise and grow in one's surroundings. More loving behavior becomes normal
with meditators. Maharishi says, "Meditators produce a warmer air about
them." And it is this quality of meditators that will establish a natural
situation of harmony everywhere.
- It was this that we emphasized in the introductory lectures when we
established the principle of world peace through TM. You see, as
meditators begin to meditate and grow in peace in their lives, this shows
that world peace is a possibility if individuals begin to meditate. It's
such a joy to us -- teachers of TM in all parts of the world -- to see
that what we say in our introductory message is verified by direct
experience in 2-3 days.
However, it is evident to some that these experiences are more striking
and to others they are more modest. Experiences vary in intensity. This
is because of different conditions of the nervous system. The reason is
that those who by nature are calm and quiet don't experience contrast in
this relaxation -- their life is naturally relaxed. When they feel more
relaxed with meditation the contrast is not so very much, but even in
such cases the benefits are positive and cumulative with regular
meditation. The benefits of TM are real because they are on the level of
body and mind both. We don't think of them, we live them; they become a
part of our nature. TM produces a simultaneous development of all aspects
of the personality: body, mind, behavior and also environment. It will be
interesting to read at this stage the stated objective of TM, as
Maharishi has recently framed in the context of SCI (read objectives from
brochure). It is better at this stage to introduce the literature that is
available.
Review of normalizing (2nd night)
- Briefly discuss nature of mind and body; mechanics of TM (bubble
diagram): normalization, purification of the nervous system,
inward/outward stroke.
- Go over possible experiences and how to deal with them: thoughts,
dominating thoughts, sensations, etc., as necessary. Bring out the
knowledge to be given during this meeting on the basis of experiences
mentioned by meditators. Make sure the significance of thoughts is
understood intellectually.
Thoughts outside Meditation
Thought is the expression of life. Life finds expression and expansion in
the impulse of a thought. This evolutionary impulse of life seems to
express itself in two distinct modes of activity: one that creates the
steps of progression and the other that neutralizes any resistance or
obstruction to progress. This we know from our experience in meditation.
The same evolutionary impulse causes expansion of the mind by providing
it with the experience of finer states of thought and, in the same
process, providing deep rest to the body removes stresses which have been
the obstacles to the expansion of mind and use of its full potential.
When thoughts appear to be negative they denote clearance of stresses and
strains in the system. Any negativity means the system is being cleared.
A thought is said to be negative because in the context of the
environment it is unsuitable. But even the so-called negative thought is
all positive with reference to its own source -- which is the process of
release of stress. (If the initiator wishes to make a reference to the
teaching of the Bhagavad-Gita on how the wise maintain equanimity, here
is a chance to do so... The wise recognize negativity as the inevitable
clearing process for the steps of progress and are not startled by it and
naturally maintain equanimity.)
Normal functioning of the nervous system spontaneously
maintains pure awareness. And what normalizes the nervous system is
release of stress. This release of stress, we have seen, is spontaneously
brought about by the deep rest of the system gained during meditation.
The deep rest the system gets is due to refining mental activity. When
the mind thinks on the finer level of thought then mental activity is
refined. We have seen that with the use of the mantra the thought becomes
refined.
When the thought comes there is an increase in activity but with the
clearance of stress indicated by the thought or indicated by the
increased activity, the situation has been made more favorable for much
finer mental activity. This is the reason why once we have started the
practice no matter what happens, whether the mind in on mantra or on
thoughts, the benefit is inevitable. This is the reason why we say, "Take
it easy." Even if a thought comes, we don't try to dismiss the thought.
Very easily come back to the mantra. Because from the mantra there is a
chance to go to still finer states.
- Release of stress automatically results in a favorable situation for
the maintenance of the full potential of the mind which ranges from the
depth of silence to the surface of activity, covering the whole range of
life from the unmanifest through all of the ranges of the manifest.
When we are talking of this restful state of the nervous system, we may
recall what we said yesterday, that to avoid contrast we never come out
of meditation suddenly. When we want to stop meditation we stop the
mantra inside but still keep the eyes closed for about 2 minutes. Here we
should review the importance of the half-a-minute before and the two
minutes of silence after meditation.
Outline: Vision of the Goal
- Each of the states of waking, sleeping and dreaming has its own
physiology.
Say: Each state of consciousness has its corresponding state of
physiology -- that means, the activity of the mind corresponds with the
activity of the nervous system.
The pure nature of Creative Intelligence, Transcendental Consciousness,
likewise has its corresponding state of physiology, (it is a fourth state
of consciousness). We have experienced how the breath becomes slower and
slower as the mantra becomes finer and finer. Restfulness of the body
corresponds with the restful state of the mind in Transcendental
Consciousness. Every sitting in meditation creates this restful state for
both body and mind. Daily practice stabilizes this restful condition of
body and mind even during dynamic activity. The first 2 days we have been
examining the inward stroke of meditation and now this evening we want to
understand the outward stroke and the value of our daily activity. The
inward stroke of meditation, in its increasing quietness, located the
Infinite and the outward stroke of meditation draws that transcendental
infinite out into the field of activity. As pure consciousness or pure
intelligence grows in life one spontaneously, out of one's own nature,
starts to be more effective. So, if we want to locate the infinite,
meditate. If we want to substantiate the infinite, act. Mediate and act.
Stability through activity, location (of the pure nature of Creative
Intelligence) through meditation.
Through the regular alternation of TM and activity, a state is gained
where the nervous system does not lose the influence of restfulness even
when it is in dynamic activity. In this state -- whatever stresses and
strains result from activity are, so to say, simultaneously eliminated,
because it is the rest which neutralizes stress. Now this state in which
Transcendental Consciousness is permanently established is then a fifth
state of consciousness. We call it Cosmic Consciousness because it is
all-inclusive, that is, where Transcendental Consciousness, the fourth
state of consciousness, is maintained along with waking, dreaming, and
sleeping.
This development of Cosmic Consciousness only requires regular meditation
morning and evening and regular activity during the day. Maintain the day
in activity, maintain the night in rest, and regular mediation morning
and evening will result in higher states of consciousness.
The important point to note here is that activity and meditation are both
important to rise to higher states of consciousness and to accomplish the
goal of life. This is how in a very natural way one accomplishes the goal
of life. We meditate morning and evening quietly and evaluation will take
care of itself.
The sun shines everywhere the same but its reflection is found everywhere
different. The pure field of Creative Intelligence is everywhere the same
but the reflection of the pure field of Creative Intelligence is
different because of different nervous systems. The nervous system may be
considered to be the reflector of the pure field of Creative
Intelligence. The reflection is the individuality of the Self. We are
aware that there are two ways of writing, "the Self" -- one with small
"s," one with big "S." When the nervous system, the reflector, is full of
stress and strain it is incapable of producing a clear reflection. Like
green water in a glass. As the water is purified, the reflection becomes
less green. The purification of water could continue and the reflection
would continue to be clearer. It may be possible to purify the water to
such an extent that the reflection could say, "I am the Sun." The self
which has realized the quality of the Sun is valued and honored. It's
written with big "S." The small "s" has become a big "S." The deep green,
shadowy reflection has become sunny and clear. The individuality of the
reflector has risen to the universality of the Sun. This example is to
clarify that our nervous system is a reflector of the pure field of
Creative Intelligence. When due to stress, etc., it does not function
normally, then the reflection of the pure field of Creative Intelligence
is called "small self." And when the reflector, the nervous system, has
been purified and is free from all stresses and strains, the reflector
shines in the value of "Big Self" or in the light of the pure nature of
Creative Intelligence. And then the Self knows, "I am That." This is
self-realization. Realization of one's unbounded potential. TM
accomplishes this very quietly and smoothly, gracefully and profoundly.
- Attributes and Value of the Fifth State
Pure consciousness with waking, sleeping, dreaming -- all-inclusive
state of consciousness (Cosmic).
- The state of pure awareness or self awareness is spontaneously and
permanently maintained. Development of this all-inclusive state of Cosmic
Consciousness only requires regular meditation morning and evening and
regular activity during the day. In this state the mind has transcended
boundaries of thought and has gained boundless awareness. This is real
freedom of life. Now, from our own experience we know how fulfilling it
is. Freedom is fulfilling -- that is why everyone wants freedom.
Boundaries are a pinch to everyone. It is good that in the transcendental
state we experience this freedom. Having experienced this, it is our
legitimate desire that this state of freedom should continue with us at
all times. This desire is fulfilled through the regular practice of TM.
- Integration of 200% of life (no withdrawal from life). 100% absolute,
100% relative.
Here is the philosophy of action. The first purpose of action is growth
of absolute in the relative. The second purpose is achievements on the
material level.
Therefore any action always has two effects: Development of Creative
Intelligence and achievement of material goals.
- Skill in action -- maximum effects from minimum effort.
- Spontaneous right action which is evolutionary and progressive
(relate to their experiences, develop these points with reference to
The Science of Being and Art of Living.)
When activity is harmonious the resistences to achievements are less.
- Our theme of gaining fulfillment in all fields of life is to achieve
the highest first and then the subsidiaries. Highest is Infinity,
Unboundedness, Absolute. This value of life we aim at bringing to our
awareness first and the all other values of relative life will be
accomplished with least effort. We aim at capturing the fort and all the
gold mines and silver mines and diamond mines belonging to the territory
naturally belong to the Master of the fort. He who captures the fort
automatically enjoys all that lies within the territory. In order to
clarify this point one thing can be added: the nature of Pure
Intelligence is fulfilling and being so, it attracts the mind in a
natural way, more than anything else can attract it. That is why is
easier to capture the pure field of Creative Intelligence than it is to
capture anything that is less than it, namely, any material physical
value of the relative field. Having captured the pure field of Creative
Intelligence, the entire territory of relative values comes within our
possession. Without capturing the fort, if one tries to move toward the
gold mind, this movement may become a difficult task. This is what makes
Maharishi say, "Capture the fort and enjoy the whole territory." He
enjoys saying, "Water the root and enjoy the fruit." Develop full value
of Creative Intelligence and enjoy all aspirations of life.
Vision of Future Activities
"All that we had said in the introductory lectures we have begun to
experience in these three days. We have connected the first step and the
seventh step to fulfillment -- this is the basis of integrated life."
(Review 7 Steps and go into future programs.)
- Emphasize regular meditation with regular activity (cloth analogy);
regular checking and verification of experience.
- "TM and drugs are highly contrasting. If we refine our thinking and
raise our consciousness we should be very careful of outside influences
on the nervous system."
- We should not over extend activity to the point of missing meditation
(the business man in doing so loses the very basis of success).
- Group meditations and advanced lectures.
- Residence courses and teacher training program.
- Center functions, helping as coordinators, at seminars.
- To our friends we don't mention mantra or other aspects of personal
instruction. Otherwise confusion can bring poor results. We want them to
have the same innocent start as we did. Best advice is to bring friends
to a lecture. Tell your friends about the results and not about details
of practice.
- Verification of the mantra. "We would like to meet each meditator
individually for a few minutes." Have his form. "Is there any point we
haven't covered?" Give any needed special instructions. "And you remember
your mantra?" "Let's check it.Close the eyes." (5 seconds) "Whisper
softly what you feel it is." (let him say it three times) "Fine." If
wrong, whisper it to him, then have him say it back to you.
[ top ]
[ back to Checking/Initiation Table of Contents
]
Member of the Internet Link Exchange
|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
