Meditation
Short Discourses

WITNESSING.

This single word is the essence of meditation.

Concentration is the greater part of meditation where the mediator enters a frame of mind whereby an attitude is assumed that all thoughts are to be watched or witnessed. That is, rather than entertain the thought and expand on it and follow it into another thought, it is 'watched' as if you are observing something external and apart from yourself.

Some Important points. Never is the meditator to attempt to control or stop the flow of thoughts. Never is the meditator to pursue feelings of frustration, disappointment or anger that will arise out of the perception of little or no progress. When such feelings arise, the witnessing mode that we are trying to assume MUST be quickly re-asserted. You must be WATCHFUL!

Consider also that the Mind of the individual who is new to meditation, will have had years and years of getting its own way. Mental discipline would therefore be a process that is alien to most people in this day and age. By implementing the mental discipline of meditation, one will require tenacity, endurance and the cultivation of a sense of 'important purpose' in an effort to overcome the mind's reluctance to this form of discipline. Meditation is concentration, and any concentration requires energy.

It is easily understood that your performance at work suffers when your concentration is hampered by tiredness or a lack of energy. This also applies to Meditation, because the act of Witnessing is concentration to a high degree. You are in fact, concentrating on be able to maintain concentration. This is demanding to the beginner, so be content in the understanding that even 5 minutes of meditation is valuable. The early stages of meditation require careful attention to what you are able to achieve comfortably. If you are determined to achieve success, be believing that no effort is wasted. This is the experience of all serious meditators down through the ages, myself included. Take heart in the words and experience of those who have gone before you. No effort is wasted.

You can't meditate effectively when you're tired or low in energy because the ability to concentrate is hindered. If this is the case, then use the time you have to cultivate being peaceful, or expressing yourself in intimate communication with God. (however briefly) The sense of connection to God WILL in time arise to the individual who is earnest and dedicated to this goal. Don't be misled into thinking that one day you might have a grand revelation in power and glory? the understanding of the experience you should aim for is the sense of a very subtle feeling that shall dispel doubt and uncertainties in regard to things such as? "Does God hear my prayers?" "God may exist but I'm to insignificant to matter." "I do the prescribed practices of my religion but I feel so dry and empty." "I've been told God is out there, but I cant see him." "I have faith in God but it's a struggle? I guess that's my blind faith." "Is God my Father?" "How much does God love me?"

So subtle is this connection, that you also need to cultivate being at peace with yourself and your world. To be able to see the bottom of the pond, you have to stop disturbing the surface of the water. In time, the struggle with accepting the reality of God in YOUR life shall come to an end. Upon the establishment of this connection, spiritual progress becomes accelerated as the most fundamental obstacle to spiritual development has been overcome. This is real faith made mature through the experience of 'inner knowledge', cultivated and nurtured through intelligent effort and dedication.

Daily Meditation as with any skill including meditation, it is important to be regular in your efforts at sitting for meditation. Naturally, you will only ever gain the expertise by actually doing it. The benefits of meditation will only ever be of limited value if you only practice it on-and-off. Always begin with some form of personal prayer for assistance in the cultivation of a higher consciousness and the intimate union with God.

Ask for this freely as a young child would come to a loving Parent and knows with confidence that the request has been heard. Indeed, who would deny any good if not noble request? especially when it is in the parents capacity to give.

Everybody has the same difficulty in the first few months of practicing meditation so it is important to follow the formula which has been found successful by meditators who are still progressing in the meditation practice after many years of experience:  The following is a descriptive metaphor of an experience many, many
meditators including myself have had.

The experience of meditation to the beginner is likened to a Spinning Top. When the Top is spinning at its fastest, there appears to be a form of stillness born out of the furious activity of the motion of the Top. However, when the Top loses speed, it begins to wobble and it's apparent motion seems to increase? there seems to be more activity. This illustrates the behavior of the Mind through the application of meditation. The high speed motion of the Top is likened to the Mind of someone who does not meditate. Once the practice of meditation begins with its associated effect of reducing mental activity, the meditator will perceive this sense of more apparent motion or activity in the mind.

My own feeling was? "This meditation!!!? My mind is even more active than it was before I started meditating."

This description is virtually identical to thousands of other meditators who have walked this road before me. The experience can be off putting to the meditator since it can introduce a fair degree of anxiety. It is important to remember that it does not indicate any degree of unsuitability or failure in meditation. Quite the opposite is true. THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE INDICATOR OF YOUR PROGRESS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. HANG IN THERE. DON'T STOP NOW. YOUR MIND IS WINDING DOWN. HOORAY!

Please be encouraged at this point.

Initially you should meditate at least twice a day. Try to pick quiet times. Five minutes is very good for beginners. Extend it if you feel you have the capacity. In time, you will be able to meditate in any environment. I meditate on the train to work every day since my focus has become strong enough that external noises don't' bother or distract me any more. It will be the same for you one day if you persist.

Some other benefits of Meditation.

Practicing the ability to Witness, will flow on to an ability to stand back and be more objective. Emotionally, you will find you can step back from potentially anxious situations and respond with clarity and poise, as opposed to the state of mind of an emotionally distraught person. Meditation gives you the ability to detach.

Meditation can also expand creative abilities as your perceptive powers become keener or deeper.

Be Peaceful,
Adrian