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In faith you can transcend the laws of nature, but it needs to be pure. Sri Sri
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 Blossom Goodchild -March 14, 2015 Hello there. I wondered if today I could ask you about something
that is ‘interesting’ me more and more. Sometimes, when out amongst people perhaps, I FEEL so very much like
I am sitting in the middle of some sort of computer programming. That is the only way I know to describe it … and as
if those looking down upon it are finding ‘The Game’ quite ridiculous in a way. Are you able to talk to me about
this and perhaps give some clarity? I would if possible, prefer for you not to speak through me today, as I feel there will
be questions I need to ask. Oh! Sorry! Good morning. And Greetings of the Highest Love
to you also. This matter is indeed an intricate one … and not one to
be entered into Lightly. There is room for much confusion due to the enormity of the scale upon which it exists. Firstly, we would care to address a certain document that you have been sent to read. How did it make you FEEL? Most uncomfortable. I know you have said if something doesn’t sit well, leave it alone. Yet, I am unsure of
distinguishing between that which maybe TRUTH … yet, isn’t really nice to face … and therefore, with this
particular document … much of it resonated and much didn’t. Because it is
Truth’s mixed with untruths. It matters not what the document is about or who it says it is from. If it TRULY makes
you feel uncomfortable … STOP READING IT! Yes, but as I say … what if it
IS TRUE and I simply don’t like to know it? Let us be quite clear about this.
Your origin ... is LOVE. This you KNOW. This we 'harp on about' over and over again. Therefore, that which does not resonate
with you … that which makes you FEEL uncomfortable … cannot be of the Vibration upon which you have now reached.
Therefore, it is not YOUR TRUTH. Only that which resonates with you … that which makes you FEEL GOOD … is TRUE
FOR YOU. Yet, the confusion is … do I just not want to handle the Truth? You ARE handling the TRUTH. YOUR TRUTH. By staying in LIGHT and all
that makes you Happy … you are living in YOUR TRUTH. No one else’s … yours. If you are FEELING uncomfortable
about ANYTHING … then it is because it is not in alignment with who you TRULY are. You read … that this Earth of yours and the humans that inhabit it … are enslaved … even in the
afterlife. It is all a trap … because you have a computer programme inside of you … Correct? Yes, I don’t usually read or indeed ‘fall’ for this kind of thing. Yet, I moved through the not
FEELING good, because I FEEL so often we are in some kind of programme and this particular writing sucked me in. It turned
my world upside down for 24 hours … Yet, I came out KNOWING MY TRUTH … and felt that a lot of it was very much
… fear mongering. I guess it’s good to do, for the self, now and then. Why?
What did you gain from it … but unrest … deep unrest. Maybe it helped me
grow a lot more. Did you think you did? Well, in
a way. I came through it … working it out for myself. That showed me ‘more’ about myself. Yet, it led me
into wanting to know more about 'The Game' you say we are in. This illusion. Some of it made sense from that point of view. Dearest friend. So, you want to delve more deeply into this? We can certainly understand why. Yet, we would contradict
you by saying … that much that you would like to know about it … you are unable to … whilst you are in
it. The FEELINGS you have of You … Yourself … Love … Happiness
… Joy … Compassion … Gratitude … etc. All FEELINGS that allow you to FEEL YOU … also allow
you to ‘beat the system’ … if you like. THIS IS WHY WE KEEP
ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT. FOR IT IS A WAY TO SET YOU FREE. And the freer you become … the more you understand 'The Game' … and the more you learn how to play
it! And the better at it you get … the more you ‘see through’ this illusion and merge into the TRUTH of
yourself. So, I am aware of all the external programming/control … via media …
finance … governments … all the lies etc. Yet, are we actually in a programme ‘internally’ as well?
Are there programing’s inside of ‘our workings’ that bring us down? Keep us from Being the TRUTH of our
Light? Suppress our FEELINGS Etc.? Our answer to you is NO. Not in the way you are imagining
it … as in ‘implantations’ … as this document suggests. There
is certainly demand from those who do not resonate with Light at this time … to control and suppress and bring down
… without question. Yet, this is done from an external tactic that can then affect the internal workings. Both of the
mind and the physicality. Do you mean things such as chemtrails, vaccines, food etc.? Yes, we mean exactly this and much more. There are subliminal realities at work … that One is not aware of
being affected by. Very much through your media and indeed, the popular music that so many of the younger generation listen
to and ‘are fed’. It is important for those who are aware that
they are losing control to ‘take hold’ of the younger ones. Many are unconsciously being sucked in by this and
we say … it does not serve The Whole. We also say … that we offer
you the key. We have been handing it to you on a plate … We have dangled it in front of your nose. We state again …
THE ONLY WAY TO SET YOURSELVES FREE … THE ONLY WAY TO COME HOME …
IS THROUGH LOVE. I understand. I do! Yet, one has to be really strong in order not to
succumb to the ‘negativity’ that often wants to rule. It sometimes FEELS like a never ending ‘battle’. We understand why you use that word. Yet, we would correct you in that … it is not NEVER ENDING. Sure feels like it sometimes. Don’t get me wrong … I LOVE BEING ON FORM. It all makes sense when I am
on form. I GET IT … when I am on form. It’s just that I am not always on form! And you are asking us to be …
in order to break free. In order to grab the key, put it in the lock, turn it, open the door and BAM! We are suggesting to you … that the more you are aware of the difference it makes to you and therefore, ALL
… the more you have the determination to break through the programming. As we say … ‘to beat the system’.
There is no other way. NOTHING AND NO ONE CAN CONTROL WHO YOU ARE … IN
ESSENCE. KNOW THIS! Your spirits
can be dampened … your FEELINGS can be usurped if you allow all that you are fed to become your TRUTHI. I am interested in you using the word usurped. ‘To take over or occupy without
right’ … We use it purposefully … in that … this is the
intention of those who do not ... at this time in their hearts, want freedom In/As/Through/Of Love. Their intention is to
make a soul FEEL so disillusioned ... so discontent with their lot. They want One to ALWAYS FEEL THE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE
… and lose the part of them that is Joy ... through the consistent barrage of programming of all that is miserable
and destructive. Ok, so may I ask you to give us a little more on the ‘illusion’
… Just a little more that I am able to grasp? When you yourself Blossom, are on
stage in a play … You are aware that you are in a play … the saga, or indeed, the comedy … acted out,
is not real. It is a performance of sorts. You are pretending to be someone else. You are portraying that of someone you
are not. Correct? Yes. That is what you are doing
on Earth … performing in a play. Yet, what for? Who’s the audience? EVERYTHING! We have spoken of The Game … The Experiment to expand LOVE In/As/Through /Of ITSELF. An incredible opportunity … to express LOVE as it has never had the chance to be expressed before …
in all its different forms … in all its different Vibrations … of itself. Free choice has brought it to the place in which you now live within it. For all reasons of conscious expression
of the individual … yet, collective soulself. Through free choice …
decisions have been made to change the direction in which the trajectory was travelling. Hence … ALL THIS THAT WE
SAY TO YOU … and shall continue to say to you … sprung forth. All
that you came to Earth for … sprung forth … TO MOVE ON UP …
INTO A BRIGHTER PLACE … A
BRIGHTER WORLD TO RESIDE AND BE HAPPY IN … YOU DECIDE ... EACH ONE OF YOU. It is up to Each One as to how they choose
to make this happen … in their own way … on form or not! Each one
is part of The Whole … each one CREATING the most splendid pathway ‘outta here’ … as you would say. THERE IS NO QUESTION NOW THAT IT COULD FAIL. NO QUESTION AT ALL. YOU
ARE DESIGNERS OF THE NEW, FRESH, EXHILARATING WORLD THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE IN. YOU ARE MAKING SURE THE PLAN FALLS INTO PLACE. You are making sure
that as a vast covenant of the physical embodiment of LOVE … In/As/Through/Of IT … that the time is now upon
you to bring it about … and this … you are conducting with your every smile … your every kind thought,
word and deed. You are leading the way home Dearest, dearest Souls. You are
the One’s showing the way … and we can see from our fortunate position … all those that are following on
behind you … with encouragement in their hearts and KNOWING within their Being … that at last … after such
a very, very, very long journey … they are walking in the Light and Love towards FREEDOM. I FEEL it should be left there. Thank you. You have TRULY LIFTED ME UP ... ONCE AGAIN. Up where I belong …
in LOVE … And indeed … I AM … IN LOVE! We are so very Grateful for
the opportunity … IN LOVE. Website: Blossom Goodchild
An audio version of Blossom's channelings can be found here.
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 | Heavenletters™,
bringing Earth closer to Heaven.
HEAVEN is here to reach every soul on earth to reawaken:
* Our connection to God *
* Our belief in ourselves *
* Our awareness of our shared worthiness to God *
* Peace
on Earth *
God is always bringing us closer to Him. | Heavenletter #5223
In the Non-Land of Infinity, March 14, 2015 God said: Sadness is one thing, tears are another.
Tears are a beautiful release. Sadness is a holding on. It is holding on to what was or what you thought was and what you
thought was supposed to stay but did not, could not. Tears are designed to let sadness flow out of your heart.
There is hanging on, and there is letting go. In each case, we are talking about illusion. Every dream that ever came true,
it is still illusion, you understand.
In the world, everything goes on, yet it is all a golden brick path.
Nothing ever was, and everything was not. In a manner of speaking, the world, which is made of matter, has no substance. The
world is like a photo.
The extant world does not hold the reliability you desire. There is a tendency for you
to see the world as a liability, a gauntlet that you are required to run through. Too often, this life that you see as a gauntlet
is too much for you, and you don’t know where to turn. In a wilderness of life, you feel lost and, perhaps, entrapped.
Let go of the illusion of danger. No matter how real-seeming, even danger is illusion. You cannot capture life
as if you could squeeze it in your hand. Come to admit that life is elusive. The more you try to catch life and clasp it,
the more it seems to run away. You can see that life runs away from you. You almost have it in the palm of your hand, yet
you don’t clasp it. On the other hand, you may run away from life, and it picks you up and drops you here and there.
You think you know someone, and you don’t know the person at all, or, you know only one aspect of the person
and then are shocked by other aspects that stumble out. It may seem that nothing is as you thought.
Let bygones
be bygones. Let life be as it is. It doesn’t matter. You walk through life anyway. You may think you walk through a
jungle, yet jungle is illusion as much as anything else.
That which you do not see, cannot touch and so on,
that which has no concreteness is not illusion but Truth. What you know, dear ones, is not all that much, for it is illusion,
a sort of a mock-up. That which you don’t know and cannot grasp is Reality. Anything else is a picture show.
Drama in the world is of the world. The Divine in stories may have drama, yet the Divine itself is not distracted by drama.
The Divine is not in search of itself. The Divine does not rush around madly. The Divine is Stillness. The Divine knows itself
and is powerful. The Divine is subtle and ebullient. I harp on the subject that you are, in your essence, Divine. Divine can
only be essence, you understand. The Divine is Truth. All else is fiction. Fiction may be a good story or even a great story,
yet it is all story. All the drama is story. You are not confined to story. You live in a far larger realm than story. Consider
story as playtime. It is not real time, for time measured is not real time. Infinity cannot be timed. It is in the non-Land
of Infinity that you truly dwell.
You are a dweller in Infinity. You are an Infinite Dweller in Infinity. You
are a Forever Dweller in My heart, and My heart is the Heart of Hearts. This is where you are. There is nowhere else for you
to be. You cannot be out of My Heart. You can only be Love within My Heart, and Love you are and can only be no matter what
you imagine and hold onto. Dreaming comes to an end whereas Infinity is Infinite. |
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 Recalibrate Your Perspectives by Mother Mary | | Recalibrate Your Perspectives by Mother
Mary
Channelled through Natalie Glasson- 13th March 2015- Sacred School of OmNa
With new vibrations anchoring
into the Earth and awakening from your being with each day, a frequency of simplicity is rising akin to a phoenix from the
flames to attract and draw your attention. The vibration of simplicity present due to the greater anchoring of light brings
forth a new valuable wisdom and a new perspective with which to observe yourself and your reality. With all the many shifts
and awakening occurring within your being at this tremendous period of cleansing and purifying in order to resonate in greater
oneness with the Creator, simplicity brings you back to your centre. Many of you may experience the presence of your centre,
core, essence or soul, whatever you wish to label it, with greater power and resonance. Those who are shifting beliefs and
perspectives which no longer serve them may find it difficult to return to their centres, they may feel as if they have lost
their centres, as if it has been misplaced and can longer be found in the same space as usual. This is because your entire
being is recalibrating, your essence, the core of your being, is expanding therefore it takes a larger, more expansive and
open perspective to recognise the core of your being once more.
With each process and practice
of light and love you as a soul and spiritual being are recalibrating. This means your essence is transforming, expanding
and becoming empowered within your being, akin to your essence growing up into adulthood. Sometimes when you have known a
person from birth you have to move through processes of changing your perspective in order to recognise the person as their
true self. For example, you may still recognise the person as a child even though they are a teenager, or you may still perceive
the person as a teenager while they are a fully mature adult. Most of the time the mind wishes to continue to perceive you,
your reality and others as they once were, because it feels safer to do so, therefore you are unwilling to acknowledge the
new transformations and growth. In order to recognise expansion and evolution within yourself and others there is a need to
let go of the old perspectives and the old structures or facts of how life is or has been. Due to the accelerated growth you
are experiencing and guiding, there is a need to let go of your perspectives of yourself and reality, recalibrating them so
you may acknowledge the expansion which has taken place within your being to find your new centre once more.
Are you ready to see, sense
and acknowledge yourself and others anew, no longer placing yourself and others in restrictions and limitations of the past
and even the present?
Recalibrating your perspectives is to dissolve your attachments to your viewpoints
of yourself, others and your reality in order to recognise the continuously transforming centre, soul or essence within you.
If there is an unwillingness
to let go of current perspectives then it could be akin to treating yourself like a child when you are embodying adulthood;
frustration, anger and rebellion may manifest as a result. It is time to make a promise to yourself of seeing, sensing and
acknowledging yourself as your truth during this powerful period of recalibration, expansion and new understandings of self.
‘With courage, peace
and love I now choose to recognise greater aspects of my truth, easily discovering my centre and soul as I move through a
beautiful process of recalibrating my viewpoints. This will only enhance with vibration of love and truth within my being.
I ask Mother Mary and my community of guides to be my guiding light, in every moment lead me back to my centre, my soul, for
further acceptance and recognition of my true self. Thank you.’
Please know you are never
alone as you move through processes of transformation, you can always invoke your guides or any light being you feel a connection
with to guide you back to your soul and centre of your being. It is akin to asking to be brought back to the truth and essence
of your being when you may find yourself lost on a dark pathway or engulfed in old perspectives. When you are experiencing
pain and suffering, feel hopeless or helpless, or are engaged in a uncomfortable manifestation within your reality, ask to
be returned to your centre, your soul, so you can see the truth of your being once more.
As I shared, from the flames
of transformation the phoenix of simplicity arises, this is to again encourage you to return to your soul, to rest in the
peace and love of your soul and essence. This new energy invites you to see, sense and perceive everything in simple ways
in order to enhance your inner strength, to rejuvenate your being and to aid the release of fear. Sometimes with transformation
comes a feeling of being overwhelmed which is born from fear, with the presence and acceptance of simplicity fear can be dissolved.
Whether you feel centred or wish to return to the core of your being you may wish to experience the vibrations of simplicity: ‘Mother Mary and my
community of guides, I call upon your assistance, love and protection, please enhance my senses and experiences in this moment
so I may fully connect with the vibration of simplicity and the truth of my soul in its continuous process of expansion and
transformation within my being. Please guide me in returning to the centre of my being and soul to recognise the continuous
growth and expansion occurring within my being while dissolving all perspectives which hinder my recognition of my truth.
As I connect and place my
attention within my soul I am aware of the flames of truth, love and peace of my soul burning bright within my being. I allow
myself to perceive the full expansion, strength and love of my being.
(Enjoy this sensation for
a few moments)
I now activate from within my truth and soul the vibration, energy and consciousness
of simplicity to rise like a phoenix from my soul showering simplicity over and through my entire being, bringing forth a
renewed truthful perspective of myself and soul. I am more connected and aware of my soul now than ever before, I feel as
if I have returned home within my physical body, fully connected to and able to accept all that is the truth of the Creator
as it flows from and through my being. Thank you.’
(Enjoy the experience and
the recalibration of your perceptives for as long as feels appropriate. You may experience blessings, healing, wisdom or awakening
occurring from within your being.)
Your reality is a complete process of creation,
it is akin to a creative project which you have the ability to constantly transform, shift and recalibrate in order to satisfy
and bring pleasure to yourself and your soul. As you allow for recalibration to take place within your being and especially
within your perspectives you make it possible to recalibrate your reality at any given moment. This is a powerful service
for the ascension of humanity and the Earth. Imagine each person on the Earth is singing a song, as everyone creates from
the truth of their being, which is to bring forth your soul and the Creator vibrations to exist in your physical being and
reality, then everyone begins to sing the same song, singing in harmony. The beauty created on the Earth would be immense
as every person created from their truth the reality they wished to experience existing beyond limitations in harmony with
love. The Creator would truly be present within every moment of reality, within every form and experience. The entire Earth
would vibrate in harmony with the Creator which would be such a beautiful sight and experience.
Allow yourself to return to
simple and yet empowering perspectives which align with your soul. Let yourself accept, perceive and create perspectives which
are simple and resonate with and as peace, love, grace and expansion. In truth, I, Mother Mary, invite you to let go of the
complexity of your being and reality as this will allow you to gain focus in times of transformation and purifying of your
being. More so I invite you to let go of the desire to understand the complexity of your being and reality through a process
of experiencing and recognising the vibration of simplicity born from the Creator rising within your being to bring forth
peace, healing, renewal and a deep experience of recalibration.
‘I accept the simplicity
of the Creator to empower my soul and truth.’ You may notice yourself and many around you returning to simplicity;
simple practices, simple thinking and seeking a life of simplicity in order to bring one’s focus on the truth emerging
and emitting from within. Through your remembrance of your truth, soul and essence, which simply means your attention of your
truth, soul and essence, you will discover yourself more fully, recognising your power, purpose and all you have to share
with yourself and humanity. Know that as you perceive your spiritual evolution as becoming more complex, expansive and maybe
even harder to understand what is really occurring is that you are moving into a space of simplicity if you choose to accept
this perspective. As you evolve, life, your reality and the way you interact with yourself and others becomes simpler, easier
and more rewarding. Let go of your perspectives of ascension being hard, great volumes of effort, unrewarding and complex.
Recalibrate for yourself a new perceptive to support your alignment with the Creator of life and ascension being easy, fulfilling,
rewarding and simple to experience and achieve. This simple shift in your perspective allows you to see, sense and acknowledge
the fully grown spiritual adult soul within your being thus empowering yourself to experience all you wish.
The acceptance of simplicity
is the process of recalibrating your perspectives. In love, recalibration and simplicity,
Mother Mary
.Read More |
15 March Posted:
14 Mar 2015 02:21 AM PDT Yogasara-Upanishad Mantra
- 9 Pleasure
also must be given up as pain Notes and Commentary Pleasure that is derived from sensual objects gives pain to one who discriminates. Worldly-minded
persons who have lost the faculty of discrimination, rejoice in sensual objects on account of lack of discrimination. They
weep in old age. You weep when you are born. You weep when you die. You weep in the interval also. Where then is pleasure
in the world? Learn to discriminate. Become a yogi. Yoga will put an end to all sorts of pain. Yoga will destroy all
kleshas (afflictions). Wake up. Open your eyes. Practise yoga, my child! Sensual pleasure is momentary, deceptive, illusory and imaginary.
A mustard seed of pleasure is mixed with a mountain of pain. Enjoyment cannot bring about satisfaction of a desire. On the
contrary, it makes the mind more restless after enjoyment through intense craving (trishnas and vasanas). Sensual pleasure
is the cause of birth and death. This body is nothing but a mass of flesh, bone, and all sorts of filth. Place before the mind the
fruits of Self-realisation or life in the Soul or Brahman or the eternal such as immortality, eternal bliss, supreme peace
and infinite knowledge. If you remember these points always, the mind will be weaned from the cravings for sensual pleasure.
Vairagya, viveka and mumukshutwa (dispassion, discrimination from the real and unreal and keen longing for liberation from
birth and death) will dawn. You should seriously look into the defects of the sensual life and into the unreal nature of worldly
life. Just
as pure gold which has been treated in the crucible with borax, etc., and rendered pure, shines brilliantly, so also the yogi,
whose mind is rendered pure by the agents of vairagya and abhyasa, becomes a lustrous person.  | Raja Yoga, Message 15 Posted:
13 Mar 2015 10:00 PM PDT Useful
Hints for Concentration The vital
point in concentration is to bring the mind to the same point or object again and again, by limiting its movements to a small
circle in the beginning. That is the main aim. (A time will come when the mind will stick to one point alone. This is the
fruit of your constant and protracted practice. The joy will be indescribable.) For instance if you think
of a rose, have all sorts of thoughts connected with the rose only. You can think of different kinds of roses that are grown
in different parts of the world. You can think of various preparations that are made out of roses and their uses, etc. When
you concentrate on a chair, it really means getting full and detailed knowledge of the chair — its different parts;
the particular wood out of which it is manufactured (such as devadaru, rosewood, etc.); its workmanship, durability and cost
price; the degree of comfort it gives for the back, arms etc.; whether the parts can be detached and fixed again; whether
it is manufactured on modern lines and made bug-proof; what sort of varnish or polish is used to make it durable, etc. Bring
all thoughts connected with the chair and dwell on these ideas. Do not allow any other thought connected with another object
to enter the mind. There should be one line of thought, one continuity of thought like the steady flow of oil from one vessel
to another vessel or the continuous sound of a church bell. You can gradually reduce the number of
ideas and come to one idea of one subject. When this one idea also dies you get the super-conscious state or samadhi. When
there is one idea it is called savikalpa samadhi, which is a lower stage. When this one idea also dies out and when there
is not even a single idea, the mind becomes blank or void. There is mental vacuity. This is the stage of thoughtlessness described
by Patanjali Maharishi in his raja yoga philosophy. You will have to rise above this blank vritti also and identify yourself
with the Supreme Purusha or God, the silent witness of the mind who gives power and light to the mind. Then and then alone
can you reach the highest goal of life. Too much physical exertion, too much talking, too much eating, too much mixing
with undesirable persons and too much walking will cause distraction of mind. Those who practise concentration must abandon
these things. Whatever work you do, do it with perfect concentration. Never leave the work without finishing it completely.
Just
as you take physical exercises and play games such as tennis and cricket in order to maintain physical health, you will have
to maintain mental health also, by taking sattvic food, mental recreation of an innocent and harmless nature, change of thought,
relaxation of mind by entertaining good, ennobling and sublime thoughts and by cultivating the habit of cheerfulness.
If
you find it difficult to concentrate your mind within a room, go outside and sit in an open place or terrace, by the side
of a river or in a quiet corner of a garden. You will have good concentration. Remove the restlessness
(rajas) and inertia (tamas) that envelop the purity (sattva) of the mind by pranayama, japa, enquiry into the nature of God
and devotion. When it is freed from restlessness and inertia it will guide you. It will be your guru. Then the mind becomes
fit for concentration. Know that you are progressing in yoga and that purity is increasing when you are always cheerful,
when the mind is even and concentrated. If you want to increase your power of concentration you will have to reduce
your worldly activities. You will have to observe the vow of silence every day for two hours or more. Then you will have more
concentration and a richer inner life. You should have real and intense thirst for God-realisation, then all obstacles
will be obviated. Concentration will be quite easy for you then. Mere emotional bubbling for the time being out of sheer curiosity
or for attaining psychic powers cannot bring any tangible results. Train the mind in concentration on various
objects, gross and subtle, and of various sizes — small, medium and big. In course of time a strong habit of concentration
will be formed. The moment you sit for concentration the mood will come at once, quite easily. When you read a book you must
read it with concentration. There is no use skipping over the pages in a hurried manner. Read one page in the Bhagavad Gita.
Close the book. Concentrate on what you have read. Find parallel lines in the Mahabharata, Upanishads and Bhagavatam. Compare
and contrast. It will be very difficult to fix the mind on one thought in the beginning. Diminish the number
of thoughts. Try to have the thought fixed on one subject. Concentration will increase by lessening
the number of thoughts. Certainly it is an uphill work to reduce the number of thoughts. In the beginning it will tax you
much. The task will be very unpleasant. But later on you will rejoice, as you will get immense strength of mind and internal
peace by reduction of thoughts. Armed with patience, perseverance, vigilance, fiery determination and iron will you can crush
the thoughts easily just as you crush a lemon or orange with ease. After crushing them it will be easy for you to root them
out. Mere crushing or suppression will not suffice. There may again be resurrection of thoughts. They should be totally eradicated,
just as a loose tooth is rooted out. So long as one's thoughts are not thoroughly destroyed through persistent
practice, one should be ever concentrating his mind on one truth at a time. Through such unremitting practice, one-pointedness
will accrue to the mind and instantly all the hosts of thoughts will vanish. When concentration is deep and intense, none
of the senses can operate. Be cheerful and happy. Away with depression and gloom. There is nothing more
infectious than depression. A depressed and gloomy man can radiate only unpleasant and morbid vibrations all around, he cannot
radiate joy, peace and love. Therefore never come out of your room if you are depressed and gloomy lest you should spread
the contagion around you. Live only to be a blessing to others. Radiate joy, love and peace. Depression eats the very core
of your being and havocs like a canker. It is verily a deadly plague. If emotions disturb you during concentration,
do not mind them. They will pass away soon. If you try to drive them you will have to tax your will force. Have an indifferent
attitude. The vedantin uses the formula 'I don't care, get out; I am only a witness of the mental modifications,' to drive
the emotions. The bhakta simply prays and help comes from God. You will have to coax the mind in the
beginning just as you coax children. Mind is also like an ignorant child. Speak to the mind: "O mind, why do you run after
false, worthless, perishable objects? You will undergo countless sufferings. Look at Lord Krishna, the beauty of beauties.
You will get everlasting happiness. Why do you run to hear worldly love songs? Hear the songs of the Lord. Hear the soul-stirring
names of God. You will be elevated." The mind will gradually leave off its old vicious habits and get itself fixed at the
lotus feet of the Lord. A man whose mind is filled with passion and all sorts of fantastic desires
can hardly concentrate on any object even for a second. His mind will be jumping like a baboon. Regulate and master the breath.
Subdue the senses and fix the mind on any pleasing object. Associate ideas of holiness and purity with the object. It is
easier to fix the mind on a pleasing object such as jasmine flower, mango or orange, or a loving friend. It is difficult to
fix the mind in the beginning on any object which it dislikes — such as faecal matter, a cobra, an enemy, an ugly face,
etc. Practise concentration till the mind is well established in the object of concentration. When the mind runs away from
the object of concentration, bring it back again and again to the object. Lord Krishna says: "As often as the wavering and
unsteady mind goes forth, so often reining it in, let him bring it under the control of the Self.'' Bhagavad Gita (VI-26)
Exercises
in Concentration (1) Ask
your friend to show you some playing cards and then remove them. Immediately name the cards you have seen, the suit, number,
etc. (2) Read two or three pages of a book. Abandon all distracting thoughts. Focus your attention
carefully. Allow the mind to associate, classify, group and compare the facts of the subject matter. You will get a fund of
knowledge on the subject. The mind skipping over the pages inadvertently is no use. There are students who read a book within
a few hours. If you ask them to repeat important passages in the book, they will merely blink. If you attend to the subject
on hand very carefully you will receive clear and strong impressions. If the impressions are strong you are cultivating a
good memory. (3) Sit in your favourite meditation pose about one foot from a watch. Concentrate on the 'tick-tick'
sound. Whenever the mind runs let the sound of the watch bring it back, again and again. Just see how long the mind can be
fixed continuously on the sound. (4) Sit again in your favourite posture and keep a burning candle in front
of you and try to concentrate on the flame. When your eyes get tired, close them and try to visualise the flame. Start by
concentrating for half a minute and increase the time to five or ten minutes according to your taste, temperament and capacity.
This will help you to go into deep concentration. (5) Lie outside when the evening is balmy and concentrate
on the moon. Whenever the mind runs, again and again bring it back to the image of the moon. This exercise is very beneficial
in the case of persons having an emotional temperament. (6) In the same manner, concentrate on any
star you may single out from the millions of stars shining above. (7) Lie outside in the open air and concentrate
on the blue expansive sky above. Your mind will at once expand. You will feel elevated. The all-pervading sky will remind
you of the infinite nature of the Self. (8) Sit in a comfortable posture and concentrate on any one of the numerous
abstract virtues such as mercy, love, peace and harmony. Dwell upon the virtue as long as you can. (9) Sitting
relaxed, listen to each heart-beat as the sound of OM. This will bring peace. (10) Sit by the sea or
the side of a river where you can hear a roaring sound like OM. Concentrate on that sound as long as you like. This is very
thrilling and inspiring. (11) Place a picture of Lord Jesus in front of you. Sit in your favourite
meditative pose. With open eyes, gently concentrate on the picture until tears trickle down your cheeks. Rotate the mind on
the cross, the chest, long hair, beautiful beard, round eyes and the various other limbs of his body; find the spiritual aura
emanating from his head, and so on. Think of his divine attributes such as love, magnanimity, mercy and forbearance.
(12)
Retire into a quiet room and sit in padmasana. Close the eyes. See what happens when you concentrate on an apple. You may
think of its colour, shape, size and its different parts such as skin, pulp, seeds, etc. You may think of the places (Australia
or Kashmir) where it is imported from. You may think of its acidic or sweet taste and its effects on the digestive system
and blood. Through the law of association, ideas of some other fruits also may try to enter. The mind may
entertain some other extraneous ideas. It may begin to wander about. It may think of meeting a friend at the railway station
at 4 p.m.
It may think of purchasing a towel or a tin of tea or biscuits. It may ponder over some unpleasant happening that occurred
the previous day. You must try to have a definite line of thought. There must not be any break in the line of thinking. You
must not allow other thoughts, which are not connected with the object on hand, to enter. You will have to struggle hard to
get success in this direction. The mind will try its level best to run in the old grooves and to take its old familiar road
or beaten path. The attempt is somewhat like going up-hill. (13) Some yogis try to become aware of
the junction between waking and sleep, and then prolong that junction. This is a difficult task. At night sit in a quiet room
and carefully watch the mind. You will be able to get at the state of junction. Practise regularly for three months. You will
have success. You will rejoice when you get even some success in concentration. Just as the laws of gravitation,
cohesion, etc., operate in the physical plane, so also definite laws of thought — such as the law of association, law
of relativity, law of continuity, etc. — operate in the mental plane or thought-world. Those who practise concentration
should thoroughly understand these laws. Concentration on Anahata Sounds Dharana is the intense and perfect concentration of the
mind upon some interior or exterior object or sound like anahata sounds, or any abstract idea, accompanied by complete abstraction
(pratyahara) from everything pertaining to the external universe or the world of senses. To concentrate on the anahata
sounds, sit in your favourite asana. Close your eyes. Close the ears with your thumbs or plug the ears with wax or cotton.
Try to hear the anahata sounds (mystic sounds). You will hear various kinds of sounds such as flute, violin, kettledrum, thunderstorm,
conch, bells, the humming of a bee, etc. The sounds which you hear will make you deaf to all external sounds. In the beginning
of your practice you will hear many loud sounds. They gradually increase in pitch, and then are heard more and more subtly.
You should try to distinguish more and more subtle sounds. You may change your concentration from the subtle to the gross,
or gross to subtle, but you should not allow your mind to be diverted from them towards other objects. Generally you will
hear sounds in your right ear and occasionally you may hear in your left ear also, but try to stick to the sound of one ear
and you will get one-pointedness of mind. This is an easy way to capture the mind, because it is enchanted by the sweet sound
just as a snake is hypnotised by the notes of the snake charmer. The mind, having at first concentrated
itself on any one sound, fixes firmly to that and is absorbed in it. The mind, becoming insensible to the external impressions,
becomes one with the sound, as milk with water, and then becomes rapidly absorbed in the akasha (space) where chit (consciousness)
prevails. Being indifferent towards all objects, and having controlled the passions, by continual practice you should concentrate
your attention upon the sound which destroys the mind. There are ten stages in the hearing of anahata
sounds. (You may experience the tenth stage without the first nine stages through the initiation of a guru.) In the first
stage the body becomes chin-chini; in the second, there is the breaking or affecting in the body. In the third there is the
piercing; in the fourth the head shakes; in the fifth, the palate produces saliva; in the sixth, nectar is attained; in the
seventh the knowledge of the hidden things in the world arises; in the eighth, paravaka is heard; in the ninth the body becomes
invisible and the pure divine eye is developed; in the tenth you attain the state of Para Brahman. When the mind is destroyed,
when virtues and sins are burnt away, you shine as the effulgent, immaculate, eternal, stainless, pure Brahman. Objects of Concentration The powers of the mind are always scattered
and resist attempts at concentration. This oscillatory tendency is an innate characteristic of the mind stuff. Of the various
methods employed to curtail and arrest this tossing of the mind, those using the medium of sound and sight stand prominent,
because these two have a peculiar knack of catching the attention of and stilling the mind. It is seen how the hypnotist gently
subdues the mind of the 'subject' by making the latter gaze steadily into his (the hypnotist's) eyes and listen to the monotonous
repetition of his steady deliberate suggestions. We have still another clue to this when we note how the mother gently croons
the little child into slumber. Also the schoolmaster's sharp, "Now then, boys, look here!" whenever he desires them to pay
special attention to what he is saying, is significant. He feels that by getting them to fix their gaze on him he will draw
the attention of their minds to his teaching as well. There is great concentration when you play
cards or chess, but the mind is not filled with pure and divine thoughts. The mental contents are of an undesirable nature.
You can hardly experience a divine thrill, ecstasy and elevation of mind when it is filled with impure thoughts. Every object
has its own mental associations. You will have to fill up the mind with sublime spiritual thoughts, then only will the mind
be expurgated of all worldly thoughts. The picture of Lord Jesus or Buddha or Krishna is associated with sublime, soul-stirring
ideas; chess and cards are associated with ideas of gambling, cheating and so forth. Algebra, the science of
abstract numbers cannot be understood without a preliminary practice and knowledge of arithmetic, the science of concrete
numbers. Even so, abstract meditation is impossible without a preliminary practice of concentration on a concrete form in
the beginning. Approach to the invisible and the unknown is to be made through the visible and the known. Therefore in the
course of spiritual discipline the methods of developing concentration take the form of gazing steadily at a dot, the symbol
of the pranava (OM), the mantra or the figure of the favourite chosen deity. With some others it is done by the audible repetition
of the mantra or the Lord's Name, or OM, or some select chants with regular rhythm and intonation. By these means the mind
gradually gets indrawn and focussed. As this state deepens the person slowly loses awareness of his surroundings. Japa of
any mantra and pranayama will steady the mind, remove its tossing and increase the power of concentration. Concentration can
be done only if you are free from all distractions. The mind should be trained to concentrate on gross objects
in the beginning, and later on you can successfully concentrate on subtle objects and abstract ideas. Regularity in the practice
is of paramount importance. In trying to concentrate your mind or project a thought even, you will find
that you require naturally to form images in your mind. You cannot help it. It is easy to concentrate the mind on external
objects. The mind has a natural tendency to go outwards. Desire is a mode of the emotive mind. It has got a power of externalizing
the mind. The mind generally wanders wildly at random. When it thinks of one object, in a second it leaves
that object and runs to another object like a monkey, then to a third object and so on. It cannot stick to one point. Do not
allow it to create hundreds of thought forms. Make it hold on to one thought-form for half an hour. Make it shape itself into
one shape and try to keep this shape for hours together through constant and incessant practise. Introspect
and watch the mind carefully. Live alone. Avoid company. Do not mix. This is important. Do not allow the mind to dissipate
its energy in vain — on vain thoughts, vain worry, vain imagination and vain fear and forebodings. Attention and Interest You must evidence good interest in the
practice of concentration, then only will your whole attention be directed towards the object upon which you wish to concentrate.
There can really be no concentration without a remarkable degree of interest and attention shown by the practitioner. You
must, therefore, know what these two words mean. Attention is the steady application of the mind. It is
the focussing of consciousness on some chosen object. Through attention you can develop your mental faculties and capacities.
When there is attention there is also concentration. Attention should be cultivated gradually. It is not a special process.
It is the whole mental process in one of its aspects. Perception always involves attention. To perceive
is to attend. Through attention you get a clear and distinct knowledge of objects. The entire energy is focussed on the object
towards which attention is directed. Full and complete information is gained. During attention all the dissipated rays of
the mind are collected. There is effort or struggle in attention. Through attention a deep impression of anything is made
in the mind. If you have good attention you can attend to the matter in hand exclusively. An attentive man has a very good
memory. He is very vigilant and circumspect. He is nimble and alert. Attention plays a very great part in concentration.
It is the basis of will. When it is properly guided and directed towards the internal world for the purpose of introspection,
it will analyse the mind and illumine very many astounding facts for you. Attention is focussing
of consciousness. It is one of the signs of a trained will. It is found in men of strong mentality. It is a rare faculty.
Brahmacharya wonderfully develops this power. It is easy to fasten the mind on an object which the mind likes best, but a
yogi who possesses this faculty can even fix the mind on an unpleasant object for a very long time. Attention can be cultivated
and developed by persistent practice. All the great men of the world who have achieved greatness have risen up through this
faculty. Throw your entire attention into whatever you happen to be doing at the moment. Practise attention
on unpleasant tasks from which you have been shrinking before, on account of their unpleasantness. Throw interest upon uninteresting
objects and ideas. Hold them before your mind. Interest will slowly manifest. Many mental weaknesses will vanish. The mind
will become stronger and stronger. The force with which anything strikes the mind is generally in proportion
to the degree of attention bestowed upon it. Moreover, the great art of memory is attention, and inattentive people have bad
memories. The human mind has the power of attending to only one object at a time, although it is able to
pass from one object to another with a marvellous degree of speed, so rapidly in fact that some have held that it can grasp
several things at a time. But the best authorities, eastern and western, hold to the 'single idea' theory as being correct.
It agrees with one's daily experience also. If you analyse carefully the mental functions or operations, no one process
can be singled out and called attention. It is not possible to separate attention as a distinct function. You observe something,
therefore you are attentive. Attention belongs to every state of consciousness and is present in every
field of consciousness. An attentive student in the spiritual path can listen to scriptures in an efficient manner. The military
officer says, "Attention!" and the soldier is ready with his gun to carry out his behests. An attentive soldier alone can
hit the mark. No one can get success either in temporal or spiritual pursuits without attention. There
are yogis who seem to do eight or ten or even a hundred things at a time. This is not strange. The whole secret lies in the
fact that they have developed their attention to a remarkable degree. All the great men of the world possess this faculty
in varying degrees. Attention is of two kinds, viz., external attention and internal attention. When the attention
is directed towards external objects, it is called external attention. When it is directed internally, within the mind upon
mental objects and ideas, it is known as internal attention. There are again two other kinds of attention
viz., voluntary attention and involuntary attention. When the attention is directed towards some external object, by an effort
of the will, it is called voluntary attention. When you have an express volition to attend to this or that, it is called voluntary
attention. The man understands why he perceives. Some deliberate intention, incentive, goal or purpose is definitely involved.
Voluntary attention needs effort, will, determination and some mental training. This is cultivated by practice and perseverance.
The benefits derived by the practice of attention are incalculable. Involuntary attention is quite common. This does not demand
any practice. There is no effort of the will. The attention is induced by the beauty and attractive nature of the object.
Individuals perceive without knowing why and without instruction. Young children possess this power of involuntary attention
to a greater degree than grown-up people. If a man is not observant, he is not attentive. If he
observes something, he is said to be attentive. Intention, purpose, hope, expectation, desire, belief, wish, knowledge, aim,
goal and needs serve to determine attention. You will have to note carefully the degree, duration, range, forms, fluctuations
and conflicts of attention. There is great attention if the object is very pleasing. You will have to create interest, then
there will be attention. If the attention gets diminished, change your attention to another pleasant object. By patient training
you can direct the mind to attend to an unpleasant object also, by creating interest. Then you will grow strong. Some
say that we attend to things because they are very interesting, but others are of the opinion that things are interesting
because we attend to them or because we are likely to attend to them. We do not attend to them if they are not interesting.
By
the constant practice and ever-renewed effort of attention, a subject that in the beginning was dry and uninteresting may
become full of interest when you master it and learn its meaning and its issues. The power of concentrating your attention
on the subject may become stronger. If you closely watch, you will note that you observe different objects at
different times. This perception of now one object and now another, when the physical conditions are constant, is known as
fluctuations of attention. Attention is changing. The objects themselves change or fluctuate but there is no fluctuation in
the observing individual himself. The mind has not been trained to bear prolonged attention. It gets disgusted through monotony
and wants to run towards some other pleasing object. You may say, "I am going to attend to one thing only," but you will soon
find that even though you attempt very hard, you suddenly perceive something else. The attention wavers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The section ‘Attention and Interest’ will continue next Saturday. |
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Rudy
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