| 1. Meditation: | | | | the creator of the universe, of all that is. |
| Meditation is a sacred practice. Shamans, gurus, | | | | In this state of surrender, a person is in touch |
| priests, medicine men and other wise beings have | | | | with their divine essence. Having pure intentions, |
| practiced meditation for over 5000 years. In the | | | | they are harmless. They are interested only in |
| 20th century, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi popularized | | | | higher service. |
| one form of meditation he named Transcendental | | | | On the other hand, some people who develop |
| Meditation, (TM). This is a simple form of mantra | | | | access to their higher powers, use their higher |
| meditation, easy to learn and to do. | | | | powers for selfish, negative and harmful intentions. |
| We meditate by sitting quietly, eyes open, and | | | | (Darth Vader types.) |
| concentrating on an image such as a mandala, or | | | | Your intuition may be trusted to inform you, to |
| a candle, or sitting with closed eyes, and, in either | | | | warn you of people with negative and evil designs. |
| case, repeating a mantra. A mantra is not a word. | | | | These people are to be resolutely avoided. |
| A mantra is a sound. Different sounds, repeated | | | | 3. Bulldog Tenacity: |
| over and over and over again, affect energies | | | | When we unite the practice of meditation with |
| within the body, each in its own way. | | | | surrender to our divine essence, we are likely to |
| There are many ways to meditate. In most | | | | be empathetic, loving, and harmless. |
| instances, you sit quietly. Teachers may | | | | And if we are to advance ourselves in the |
| recommend different postures. These include the | | | | relative world, the temporal world, the ordinary |
| lotus position in which the Buddha is often | | | | world of people, places, and events, a third quality |
| depicted. Diverse cultures recommend various | | | | is required. |
| deployments of the fingers. (one example: thumbs | | | | This quality is bulldog tenacity. Do you know the |
| and forefingers lightly touching, palms up.) | | | | nature of a bulldog? A bulldog is tenacious in |
| When we meditate, we slow down our brain | | | | defending its master and the master's property. |
| waves. We change them from the beta state, | | | | Their teeth lock onto the presumed invader. Their |
| (22 cycles per second in normal waking | | | | grip is an iron grip. That iron grip prevails even in |
| consciousness) to the alpha state (11 cycles per | | | | death. |
| second.) | | | | This means that when your intentions are noble |
| This slower vibration opens up access to the | | | | and worthy, when the outcome of your intentions |
| subconscious mind. The subconscious mind, in turn, | | | | somehow contributes to making this a better |
| opens awareness of our otherwise inaccessible | | | | world, you are to never, never, never give up. |
| higher consciousness. To higher consciousness as | | | | You are to "pay any price, bear any burden" to |
| well as to universal intelligence. | | | | bring your intentions into objective reality. This is |
| 2. Divine Essence: | | | | the way to justify the space you take up and the |
| When a person's intentions are pure, they | | | | resources you consume while you draw breath. |
| surrender selflessly to their higher purpose in life. | | | | This is the way you make a positive difference in |
| They surrender themselves in the service of the | | | | the lives you touch. |
| creator of us all. Diverse cultures variously call the | | | | This is the way you make yourself a role model |
| creator God, some Allah, some the Great Spirit, | | | | for others. And, most important of all, this is the |
| some Our Heavenly Father, some use various | | | | way you leave a lasting legacy. |
| other names, all meaning the supreme intelligence, | | | | |