Meditation Practice - Part II

Meditation and Personal Evolution

      During meditation, our energy centers or chakras are activated and energy flows through the autonomic nervous system, up the spine and into the energy centers above our familiar seven chakras. The seven chakras are associated with physical endocrine glands in our bodies. The movement of energy along the glands, chakras and nervous system is called kundalini in some eastern traditions. Meditation influences much more than simply the movement of energy, however.

      Meditation also results in a "purification" of the energies in our individual energy centers. Each energy center has characteristics and traits of its own. Some of these traits have become contaminated or corrupted through the process of our separation from our original Source. The traits of lust, greed, desire for power over others and self indulgence all affect the energy expression of our energy centers and extend into affects on our physical bodies and our health as well. As we connect with the higher Source that we can call a Universal God, we surrender our will and in that process diminish our separateness. Diminishing our separateness requires that we "clean up" our energy centers. This can present some challenges as we confront the darkest and most unpleasant parts of ourselves. It takes dedication and persistence to see it through. The rewards are more than worth the effort.

      In many religious texts, the kundalini energy is represented metaphorically as a serpent. According to Cayce, the fall of man as depicted in the bible and elsewhere also involved the fall of the serpent. The kundalini energy itself became corrupted and disconnected from the Source as well. The numerous reports of physical, psychological and psychic difficulties associated with raising the kundalini energy are the result of individuals activating powerful energies without first doing enough basic work of self examination, clarification of intent and practice of basic meditation first. Without this basic preparation, desires of every nature can be awakened and intensified. The point is: "Do your homework from the previous 6 lessons and proceed slowly when you feel you are ready".

How to Meditate Deeply

      This description of deeper meditation is the one that Edgar Cayce practiced himself. This description is adapted from an article by John Van Auken (http://edgarcayce.org/ps2/deep_meditation_J_Van_Auken.html).

Position: This version of meditation is practiced lying down. Cayce recommended covering the solar plexus with your hands. Cayce recommended using your "imaginative forces" to direct yourself through three transition stages.

STAGE 1: First, "remove the earthly portion and your personality." In this stage one sets aside all earthly aspects of the outer personality. During this process, we suspend a closely connected "thought form body" above out physical body for the duration of the meditation.

STAGE 2: At this stage, our conscious mind is very still, our thinking process is essentially suspended and we are physically still with our attention taken off of the physical body and the five senses. Next, Cayce instructs us to "subjugate" control of the physical body to the subconscious mind and soul-self (basic self in Huna terminology), explaining that this part of one's self is rooted in the deeper, autonomic nervous system. Cayce said that a key indicator that this was happening would be a shift in our breathing pattern, a shift toward deeper breathing.

STAGE 3: At this point in the subconscious mind is amenable to a suggestion. Cayce would give himself the suggestion to rise up and expand into the spiritual levels of our being and God's presence. John Van Auken suggests using this affirmation: "Arise my soul, and enter into the infinite, universal mind and spirit of God." Cayce explained that during this stage we may feel ourselves expanding or becoming "buoyant,".

      It's important to distinguish that this is not an out-of-body experience. Rather, Cayce clearly teaches us to avoid going out of the body at this stage, but to "go through dimensions of consciousness." Imagine and feel yourself rising through the mind's levels of perception; expanding from individual, finite perception toward full, infinite, universal perception.

      Cayce's indicator that this stage is being achieved is the sense of rising and expanding.

STAGE 4: Now, we need to sense the Presence of God and connect with It. This is not a human-like God, but an infinite, universal God of the entire Cosmos. We are leaving individualness and finiteness, and entering into universalness and infiniteness.

STAGE 5: Once we have the slightest sense of God's Presence, we need to connect with It firmly, completely. John Van Auken visualizes himself plugging in like an electrical appliance plugging into the source of power.

      In order to maintain this connection, we have to suspend all judgment and conscious thinking processes. Here is where our prior practice of stilling the mind becomes very necessary. Here, we suspend the exercise of will and maintain a state of receptivity. Seeking becomes receiving. Cayce recommends that we say the little phrase, "Thy will be done in and through me, now." And "see, feel, know" it is happening. Allow it. Imagine it. Abide in a receptive state in the Presence.

Return: When you sense that the session is drawing to a natural close, retrace your steps through the stages until you are completely back into your body with your earthly portion and personality intact. Then, take a deep breath and go live life. Magically, the inner experience will affect the outer life in many wonderful ways.

Assignments:

Watch These Video Clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Nmud5gLPw A multipart series on the Revelation.

Read the following:

Edgar Cayce on the Revelation - By John Van Auken

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