| We must be clear that meditation is an altered | | | | distracts you or feel you want to go deeper into |
| state of consciousness. It is not a method for | | | | the words, then repeat the deep inhalation and |
| getting our normal consciousness to feel better. | | | | exhalation while saying the phrases. Keep the |
| "You don't have the meditation because ... you | | | | breath relaxed yet under your control. |
| want to feel better, but to attune self to the | | | | If you are in the "stillness" or the "Godness" |
| infinite!" We must set our normal, everyday | | | | between the phrases, remain in it as long as your |
| selves aside and allow our deeper, spiritual selves | | | | consciousness holds there, breathing gently and |
| to attune to the Infinite. This is perhaps the most | | | | evenly. If your consciousness wanders, then bring |
| fundamental and yet the most difficult | | | | it back by saying (in your mind) one of the |
| requirement of meditation. But it can be done. | | | | phrases and re-engaging the deep inhalation and |
| The body, mind and soul are interconnected in | | | | exhalation cycle. |
| such a way that certain actions will automatically | | | | The silent periods while feeling the power of |
| lead to "the magic silence" and the awakening of | | | | essence of these words and their meaning are |
| our better selves. | | | | the more important parts of this practice. The |
| Actions that Lead Inward | | | | phrases gather and direct the consciousness, and |
| We have two nervous systems. One (the Central | | | | the spaces of silence are golden, or as the |
| Nervous System) we use mostly for our outer | | | | readings say, "magical." So, as long as you are |
| life -- for acting consciously in the physical. The | | | | silent and still, stay there; don't feel a need to |
| other (the Autonomic) governs those functions | | | | move on to the next phrase or to continue |
| such as breathing and digestion that are taken | | | | repeating the phrases. Abide in the powerful |
| care of without our conscious participation. | | | | stillnes and godliness. |
| What do these two nervous systems have to do | | | | This method of combining an affirmation/mantra |
| with successful meditation? When we quiet the | | | | with breathing will bring even the weakest |
| outer system and do something to stimulate the | | | | meditator into a deep stillness and a heightened |
| inner system, we are setting aside our outer | | | | sense of Godness. |
| selves and actually activating our souls. For | | | | To move deeper, add three "OM's" on the end of |
| example, let's sit down and stop using our | | | | the last phrase: "Be STILL [feel and breathe], and |
| musculo-skeletal systems. Let's reduce our | | | | know GOD [feel and breathe], OOOMMMM [feel |
| sense-perception by closing down our five senses | | | | and breathe] OOOMMMM [feel and breathe] |
| -- close our eyes, stop touching, listening, smelling | | | | OOOMMMM [feel and breathe]. This can be out |
| and tasting. This quiets the outer system and the | | | | loud in the beginning and then silently in your mind |
| outer self. Now, let's take hold of some part of | | | | as you go deeper. When chanting the OM |
| the inner system that the soul has charge of and | | | | incantation aloud, remember that true chanting is |
| let's alter it. The most popular one is the breath. | | | | an inner sounding, not an outer singing. (You can |
| The autonomic system, under the control of the | | | | hear what this inner resonating sounds like on my |
| subconscious mind and soul, is in charge of and | | | | audiotape "Tips on Meditation.") Keep the sound |
| directly connected to the breath. If we start | | | | resonating within the cavities of your body. |
| changing the breath, we cause the soul and | | | | Beginning with the abdominal cavity, rising to the |
| subconscious mind to become alert to the | | | | pulmonary cavity and then on into the cranial |
| changes. This is an action that leads from our | | | | cavity, let the sound carry you deeper. |
| outer selves to our inner selves, and ultimately to | | | | I've taught this method to people who have |
| an altered state of consciousness. | | | | never meditated before, had them in a deep |
| Physical Changes | | | | silence for twenty minutes, and watched them |
| Now we know from the research done in the | | | | coming out of it with that wonderful glaze in their |
| '70s with TM meditators and others, that the | | | | eyes that results from an altered state. Their |
| body goes through many changes during | | | | outer self is moved, yet uncertain as to exactly |
| meditation. As researchers Wallace and Benson | | | | what has happened. But they know they have |
| discovered, meditation causes measurable physical | | | | just meditated well. I've also had people who had |
| changes. "There is a reduction in oxygen | | | | tried meditation for years with little success come |
| consumption, carbon dioxide elimination and the | | | | out of one of these sessions with the biggest |
| rate and volume of respiration; a slight increase in | | | | smiles on their faces -- victory at last! |
| the acidity of the arterial blood; a marked | | | | |
| decrease in the blood-lactate level; a slowing of | | | | Keys to This Method |
| the heartbeat; a considerable increase in skin | | | | There are three keys to this method. First, the |
| resistance; and an electroencephalogram pattern | | | | power of the words "still" and "God," and their |
| of intensification of slow alpha waves with | | | | effect on us. Second, the connection between the |
| occasional theta-wave activity" (Wallace & | | | | breath and the soul -- allowing us to arouse our |
| Benson, 1973, p. 266). | | | | souls by taking hold of the breathing pattern. |
| Reading 5752-3 expands on the wonderful | | | | Third, the spaces of silence between the words |
| changes: "Meditate ... in the inner secrets of the | | | | while breathing. These spaces grow longer and |
| consciousness, and the cells in the body become | | | | longer as one practices. Eventually, an hour's |
| aware of the awakening of the life...." The cells of | | | | meditation is easy (and recommended in the |
| the body become aware? According to the | | | | readings). According to the readings, and many |
| readings, every cell in the body has | | | | other sources, the silence is in itself transforming. |
| consciousness, and that consciousness may be | | | | One need not "do" or "hear" anything when in |
| raised or lowered. The reading goes on, "In the | | | | meditation. Abide in the silence and it works its |
| mind, the cells of the mind become aware of the | | | | magic. |
| life in the spirit." The cells of the mind, life in the | | | | Now I would like us to look at another area of |
| spirit? Interesting concepts, aren't they? "God is | | | | the total meditation picture. I would not |
| Spirit, and those who worship Him must do so in | | | | recommend going on to this next practice |
| spirit...." Then, if raising the consciousness leads to | | | | (kundalini meditation) until you have practiced the |
| awareness of "life in the spirit," it leads to life with | | | | Magic Silence method with much success, and feel |
| God -- the Great Spirit. The wonderful thing about | | | | you are ready to go deeper. As with medicine so |
| this whole process is that we activate it by | | | | it is with meditation: one person's poison may be |
| entering into the magic silence. | | | | another's cure, and activities that may be harmful |
| The Magic Silence | | | | at one stage in life may be quite helpful at |
| For those of you who are just beginning with | | | | another. You have to judge what is best for you |
| meditation or who have always had trouble | | | | now, and continue to evaluate your readiness as |
| meditating, let me spend a moment to describe | | | | you progress. |
| this very simple yet effective way to meditate. | | | | It may appear contradictory to say that silence is |
| Then, as you progress with it, you can move on | | | | in itself transforming and then to describe another |
| to Kundalini Meditation. The Magic Silence method | | | | form of meditation in which inner activities are |
| is a simple yet powerful way for anyone to get | | | | used to effect greater transformation, but such is |
| into meditation -- especially beginners and those | | | | the case with the Cayce readings, and other |
| who have difficulty meditating. | | | | sources. The explanation for this is that the |
| Using a combination of an affirmation and a | | | | manifold nature of full enlightenment and |
| mantra, coordinated with our breathing, we can | | | | transformation is such that contradiction and |
| enter into the magic silence. Let's use a | | | | paradox are elements of any method. After all, |
| modification of a line from Psalm 46, "Be still and | | | | we are dealing with celestial beings in terrestrial |
| know God." In order to fully succeed with this | | | | forms, spirits in flesh, gods who are also human, |
| affirmation/mantra, not only do we need the | | | | eternal beings in temporary manifestations. |
| power of the words, we must also take hold of | | | | Paradox and contradiction are bound to be a part |
| the breath and create a breathing pattern that | | | | of any process that attempts to resolve or |
| arouses the soul. It works like this: "Be STILL" | | | | integrate these. |
| [inhale slowly while feeling the word "still" and then | | | | Furthermore, as we progress with our |
| exhale slowly] "and "Know GOD" [inhale slowly | | | | development, we naturally become more able to |
| while feeling the word "God" and then exhale | | | | handle complexity and intricacy. We become more |
| slowly]. Once you begin to "feel" the reality of | | | | aware of and participate in the many aspects of |
| these word "Still" and "God", let the breath go on | | | | the Godhead, the Universal Consciousness, with all |
| automatic and abide in the feeling. If anything | | | | its diversity. |