Wednesday, Sep 1, 2010Meditation As Part of Your Spiritual Journey

Mental work or meditation is one the true experiences that differentiates us as human beings. Man alone is capable of reasoning, perfecting himself, and experiencing eternal life, unending joy, and taking the ultimate spiritual journey.

We set out on our path and bit by bit, with the help of inspirational words of wisdom from our parents, we unfold a stronger and stronger sense of ourselves. Through encouragement, we learn more and more about the wonders that each of us is, and eventually, we take on the task of our individual spiritual journey ourselves.

There are many, many techniques available to help us to unfold a deeper sense about ourselves and about life in general.  We can use any of these techniques to help develop a plan for the clarity and purpose in our life.  One of the best techniques is know as Mental Work or Meditation.

Mental Work or Meditation simply means to set aside a dedicated time to think. I realize that some have the concept that Meditation should not involve thinking, but I haven’t discovered a way to keep my mind from thinking, since that is it’s purpose.  I find that channeling my thinking along specific paths is a more practical way to think about Meditation.

First:  Consider setting aside time for yourself to think or meditate every day.  This will put aside your worldly cares and allow you to focus on yourself.  You will soon develop an awareness about the inner you – how it thinks, what it wants, what it’s Biggest Dreams are, and what is in the way of fulfillment.

Start small.  Some people maintain their focus by looking at a lighted candle.  Some people set a kitchen timer for just five minutes and work to stay focused on a single idea for those five minutes.  Some people don’t think of anything, but let their minds bring topics up. Once you accomplish the five minutes, increase to ten, and then fifteen minutes.  As you do this mental work,  you’ll be amazed at how relaxing and entertaining living with  your own thoughts can be.

Second:  Become conscious of breathing in and out.  Be as relaxed and calm as you can as you direct your thoughts toward your breathing.  You’ll be able to do this for longer periods of time as you work with the idea.  Having your eyes closed as you do this keeps you focused within and helps to eliminate distractions.

Third: Exercise awareness.  If you will do this Mental Work or Meditation every day,  you will be establishing a habit and that habit will make you more aware or conscious of what you are thinking throughout the rest of the day when you are NOT meditating.  This conscious awareness will begin to foster many benefits in your life.  Enter into the work expecting to be benefited and begin to look for them.  These levels of awareness both in a meditative state and throughout the remainder of your day will be uplifting, will help you to clarify your desires, and will allow greater wisdom to unfold in you.

No other creature on this wonderful earth is capable of meditation, contemplation, reasoning or Inspirational, directed thought but You.  I encourage you to embrace these words of wisdom so that you can benefit from them as you continue on your spiritual journey.

It is by freeing the mind from external influences, whether casual or emotional, that is obtains power to see somewhat of the truth of things. ~ Alaister Crowley