Did you meditate today? Remember that consistency will bring to you the results you’re looking for more quickly. Even five minutes a day will help you develop a necessary pattern to your daily activities and, I guarantee, you will eventually look forward to and appreciate this time with yourself. We understand that our motivation and intent are very important when we begin to develop new skills and patterns of behavior. Be clear in your mind what you are trying to create with your meditation practice. If you are new to this exercise, keep it simple at first. A basic desire to be at peace in your life and find that sense of balance and relaxation, that is required to be more comfortable and effective in your daily living, is the most important goal for you. Whether you are a dedicated spiritual student, or you are just beginning to get to know yourself as a spiritual being, some form of meditation will help you get to where you want to go. There’s nothing strange or difficult about getting quiet inside for a few moments each day to create better self-awareness and self-understanding. This is achievement. This is spiritual growth. Finding that open space, that inner connection, is certainly challenging and frustrating at first, but I assure you that with a little patience and effort, a sense of ease will come. You will indeed experience the benefits within the meditation itself, and in your outer life as well. Whatever goals or motivations you may have, I’m sure you have a few questions about your process. Today, we’ll take a look at some of them, and what we can expect in our meditative practice as we move forward.
Meditation and spiritual development are always about practicality
We all want to be more loving, more understanding and more compassionate. This is what spiritual development is all about. We also want to be smarter, more truthful to others and ourselves, and we want to be sincere and have integrity in all that we are and do. Let’s not forget the need to be patient and relaxed in our approach to life and, most importantly, toward ourselves. We must find a way to be relaxed and thereby trust the process, for if we do not, we will continue to be stressed, unorganized, frustrated and ineffective. The most critical thing we can do is to learn how to quiet our mind. We must slow down. This is the intended benefit of meditation, and every other spiritual exercise. Can you see the practicality in all this? Spiritual growth is not about acquiring some grand vision of reality, or the desire to be someone else or somewhere else. It’s about being who you are and where you are. If we take the time to slow down and just be ourselves, even occasionally, all of the above qualities will naturally develop over time. If we have questions, if we need answers, if we want to feel better, then we need to ask. It is within those times of reflection, contemplation, and meditation when we allow ourselves this very opportunity. Unfortunately, we cannot receive unless we are open and receptive. Our minds are too busy, almost all the time, so we are unable to learn what we need to learn. To seek freedom from emotional pain, relief from mental anxiety, and be able to relinquish the fear that lives inside us, begins in the mind. We can work with our mind and therefore have our mind work better for us. We’re in charge. We create. Sit down, relax and just breathe. All problems can be resolved, and all healing can be had, if we take the time to listen.
The inner life and “higher contacts”
There is every reason for you to expect new experiences, both emotionally and mentally, in your meditation practice. The question almost everyone has, however, is “what is supposed to happen”, or “am I doing this right?” Keep in mind that some people are visual, some have greater hearing, and some are more sentient and experience things at a feeling level. The answer, then, there really is no right or wrong way. Each will have their own unique experience. If you have been studying and practicing for a long time, you will inevitably have a strong desire to have that all important insight or vision. You may also want to find out if all of this is real by having some kind of communication with the guides, teachers, or the Masters themselves. The best advice I can give you is to let go of all that. Whether you receive some kind of “higher message” or not, has no bearing on your abilities, your point on the spiritual path, or your level of understanding. Remember that the most important contact you can make is with your own higher self or soul. As far as the Masters are concerned, they have important work they’re engaged with, and are indeed quite busy, so you may want to seek your answers in a more practical manner. This is a great disappointment for every student, by the way. All things spiritual involve a necessary level of efficiency and practicality, always. If these great Teachers had the time, they certainly would speak to us. It’s enough to know, without any doubt, that we are loved, cared for, and our needs are understood. There are many teachers, both within and without, so the best and most appropriate teachers for us are the ones closest to our own development. We must keep in mind, as well, that the answers we seek can be found anytime and anywhere. This brings in the importance of paying attention to our experience in our everyday life. The universe happens in mysterious ways! Yes, we hope to gain insight within our meditation, but it can happen in our outer life just as easily, and probably will!
No news is good news!
It is important to have some idea of our progress and where we’re at on our path. More often than we care to admit, it seems like we’re getting nowhere fast! I must say, although we often cannot see our growth and progress, it is there. It’s ok to take a risk and ask someone. Many times, someone else can be more objective, as we are unfortunately not the best assessor of ourselves. We may be surprised to hear that we’re doing well. “Hey, I can see a real change in you”. We can listen and accept. It’s true that growth happens slowly, so we must learn how to pay attention to the little things in life in order to have a sense of progress and forward motion. We can and must learn how to acknowledge ourselves. Ultimately, only we can know. If you find yourself a bit further along on the path than others, it is even more likely you will seek acknowledgement from “on high”. This can happen, but my friends, probably not. It doesn’t mean anything. If we’re trying and doing the best we can, then we are doing a good job. We are fine. Let me say that if you haven’t heard anything from the Teachers, this is a good thing. “No news is good news”! That very rare “higher” message would most likely indicate we’re off track or headed for danger. Nobody wants to hear that!
Be honest about your progress
To be successful in your meditations, it is crucial that you accept who you are and where you are. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, or somewhere you’re not. We grow the fastest through acceptance. If we believe, or worse yet insist, that we are further along than we actually are, someone in our life we’ll be happy to point it out to us. If it comes from “on high”, it’s going to come quickly, and it’s going to come hard! Slow down and be honest, and you will achieve. It’s ok to be where you are. It’s good to be where you are! Honestly, we’re all exactly where we need to be, nothing to worry about.
From higher understanding to outer living
The goal of meditation and all spiritual practice is to bring what is discovered within to the outer world of human living. Given sufficient practice, skills will be developed and brought forward into the physical life. Keep in mind as well that our spiritual practice, and any advancement on our individual path, has little practical value if it cannot be used to benefit others, and improve the conditions of the world and greater humanity. Yes, we have our own development to be concerned with, but we also participate in something much bigger than ourselves. Gauge your progress, not by the effect or impact you have, but by your willingness to participate, and by being comfortable along the way to the best of your ability.
What can you expect in your meditations? Expect nothing and expect everything! If you want to feel loved and accepted, do your meditation. If you want to be more content and successful in life, do your meditation. If you want to change the world, do your meditation. Breathe, relax, be at peace.
All my love and support, be well