Meditation

SAT., OCT. 1, 1983, 6:17 AM
FARM, STUDY

As you hear this word you transport yourself to the auditorium of the A.R.E. in Virginia Beach… that is where meditation, in the more orthodox sense, has been, for you. Hear, o son, some thoughts of Mine about meditation.

Until We developed this unique form of writing meditation you had little success in meditation. Oh, you did have some relative success in clearing your mind during those loosely guided meditations at the A.R.E., but follow-up at home and at other places was pitiful. You just have not developed the capacity to let your mind be “blank” in relation to active, purposeful thought. That is a restful condition, and it is good for the total person when the mind retreats from its purposive, disciplined functioning.

Realize that there are different forms and qualities of thought. I have mentioned the purpose-oriented, disciplined form, where you are reading and assimilating, or lecturing in a creative way, or writing something from your own “head” and experience. These are but a few examples of this most important mind function. Another form is guided fantasy or reverie, where you are imaging a story, with a fair amount of reality imposed. Still another is more unstructured day-dreaming, where the mind wanders, but is still actively thinking. Each of these, and other variations of these, must be “conquered” before any form of meditation can occur.

Any mode of meditation (and I do repeat) requires the retirement of the active, inquiring mind. In orthodox practice this means keeping the mind blank or “in neutral” and experiencing either that restful blankness or the gentle focusing on a mantra or some spiritual thought that is truly spirit-building.

Now, what We do commences with the “clearing”… the retirement of the mind. But then I borrow some qualities of that mind and use them during this meditation time. I use your vocabulary, your writing style, your punctuation, and your physical handwriting. But, when the meditation is successful I use these for these Teaching purposes, and the rest of your mind is the “outside onlooker”.

You have felt a bit strange at times when Lenore or someone else has asked you to tell about a Teaching just received and you have been unable to remember. The feeling is misplaced, for when the meditation is in its purest form you should remember no more of it than of any page you have not read and studied. The best analogy is one you have not experienced, but Lenore has… an expert typist who types a paper without thinking about the content… typing the words with speed and accuracy, but without thought as to what they mean. This is probably not possible for you, both for lack of discipline and because of interest in what I am teaching.

Still, if you are attentive to the process you hear and write and think minimally, during that process, about what has been transcribed.