Meditation styles: from No to Yes in 7 Words

Meditations
In the normal work-a-day bustle, the mind is not able to find and maintain a state of repose. It is constantly kept in a stimulated state by external influences and internal cogitations, and only gets to rest at night—and even then not always fully. The reposed mind is more receptive to influences that are able to bring attention to new perspectives, fresh ideas and inspired solutions to problems. For this reason, it is rather refreshing to spend a little time each day allowing the mind to fall into a condition of stillness. From this deeply relaxed state, attention can be gently drawn towards questions that are of interest.


No: Concentration
Disciplines of body and mind. Allowing no body movement, holding a very defined subject in mind and, by exercise of will, keeping it in focus for a sustained period. Gazing at an object for some time without blinking.

Hello: Communion
Being with a particular object, for example, fire, water, wine, food, work etc. Tracing connection on 3 levels: down, across and up to expand awareness of its relationship within the whole picture. Find equivalence within a) yourself b) your outer life events c) society. Also study of scripture.

Thanks: Heart-centring
Softening the feelings to enjoy love, beauty and music. Expand the heart to feel well being, compassion, harmony with all people, all beings. Be innocent without goals or beliefs. Walking in nature, smelling flowers.

Goodbye: Movement
Integration of mind, heart and body. Awareness exercises that require exact timing and precise control such as Gurdjieff's movements. Seeing what you're doing in every part in every moment. Awakening of life in the body. Sufi practice of Zikr.

Please: Prayer
Whilst maintaining a meditative state of being, project desire into a well-formulated specific intention for the future. Invoke cooperative support of a particular non-physical being such as the archangels, Christ or a Buddha. Use of mantra. Also priestly ceremony, rituals etc.

Sorry: Purification
Simple breathing. Detached observation of the outer circumstance of life. ‘Is that so?' Expanded awareness of the interconnectedness of desire and its implications—how wanting is a creative force for which one takes karmic responsibility. Owning all perceptions, softening the ties one by one. Forgiveness, Indifference, Release. God's will be done.

Yes: Transcendence
Cosmic Consciousness. Thinking as the Universe thinks. Subject -object disappears. Dissolving into Unity. Sacred Darkness. Sanyassin. Being a ‘Fool for God'. Lost in the Eternal.

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