The Spiritual Goals of Meditation

The Spiritual Journey Through a Meditationdeveloped since we were born and which we call
Practicethe personality. The personality is formed from
The Buddhists and others say that all life istraits we have acquired from our parents
suffering. Others refer to our existence asgenetically and energetically and our experiences in
composed of a pain body. Certainly as we lookthis life. Underlying the personality are many
upon the human condition worldwide we seesub-identities with traits we have carried over
much of both, and we may wonder if there is afrom many lifetimes, and they are mostly
way out of this dilemma. We seem relentlesslycomposed of fundamental beliefs and emotional
programmed to make choices and decisions thatreactions. This collection of identities and reactions
lead us into further suffering. Circumstances thatis what we call the ego.
lead to pain seem beyond our control.The ego is the aspect of who we think we are
Our experience tells us that we seem to havethat was developed over time living in a manifest
many different parts to ourselves in conflict withexistence of separation. Therefore, the ego is
each other. Sometimes we are afraid anddriven by many defenses to whatever it
sometimes we feel secure. Sometimes we areperceives as a threat to its comfort or existence.
angry and sometimes we are calm. SometimesMost of the traits of what we think of as
we are discouraged and sometimes we arefundamental to be human are actually merely the
positively hopeful. You have probably heard thatdefensive characteristics of the ego. This includes
we have a higher self, a soul, a transcendent self,our emotional reactions, beliefs, and our
a lower self, a subconscious mind, a shadow self,judgments, criticism, and blame. Because the ego
a super-conscious mind, an unconscious mind, ais a survival mechanism coping with the sense of
chakra system, and even more. The apparentseparation from God, all human beings have similar
separation of each of these conflicting elementsreactions and defense mechanisms. Naturally, each
of us is actually a perception of separation, andperson has developed a unique style and
that perception of separation is the actual causepreference for particular defense mechanisms,
of the suffering and pain.but the underlying core similarities are closely
Through meditation we are able to integrate allsimilar for all people. For instance, one main core
the illusions of separation, and merge ourmechanism of the ego is fear.
awareness into the unitive state where we realizeThe experience of perceiving separation from our
the underlying infinite, conscious principle that isdivine source engenders a number of fears.
both the very essence of all of who we are andBecause the underlying reality of existence is love
the absolute nature of all there is.and light, the experience of separation isolates the
The Goals of the Meditation Processego in darkness and void to a degree hard to
There are several phases to be keep in mind asimagine, and the ego will do anything it can to
you develop your daily practice. This is not anprevent itself from feeling the terror of this pain.
intellectual process, but rather an experientialThe ego is terrorized by anything that threatens
process of discovering first-hand what your Trueits survival. So the ego is driven to cling to as
Self is. This discovery is not revealed by thinkingmany things as possible to give it assurance that
about the subject or analyzing ideas about it, butit does not have to go into the deep void of
rather allowing the truths to arise from theseparation or come to its end. So this powerful
experience of direct expansions of awareness andunderlying fear drives people with many passions
realization. When the reality of the unity andto accumulate, own, attach to, possess, grasp at,
interconnectedness of all things becomes youror control in an attempt to insulate themselves
experience you will awaken to a new way offrom the pain of separation and the fear of
viewing yourself and all life. You will feel as thoughceasing to exist.
you have awakened from the dreams of a deepThere Is More to You than The Ego
sleep.Beneath the surface experiences of the ego is a
Until you have this experience you think you aredeep and aware part of you that is aware of its
awake and directing your life through consciousconnection to the divine source of love and light.
decisions. When you awaken your awarenessIt is present with you now at this very moment,
pierces through the images that your five sensesbut it normally operates below your level of
tell you is reality, and you become aware of theconscious awareness. This is what we call the
truth that underlies all existence. You will senseTrue Self. It is also called the Soul, Higher Self,
that everything is created out of the sameMaster Within, God Presence, Enlightened
energy, and is therefore fundamentally the sameConsciousness, Awakened Self, I AM Presence,
fabric of existence. You will feel more connectedand other such names.
with this fabric of creation and more awake andWhat defines our perception of our spiritual
more in touch with everything. You will realizeevolution is the gradual bringing to the surface of
how absorbed in an illusion you were. You will feelour awareness of the True Self. As it emerges
reborn as you awaken into a fresh new view ofmore and more it gradually integrates its
everything.awareness into the perceptions of the ego and
The meditative practice was developed as awe experience a merging of our conscious
means of connecting with the field andawareness into the awareness of our Soul. I refer
consciousness of creation, and to listen to the stillto this process as the soul merging, and it is a
small voice which emanates from the infiniteprocess that continues until the ego traits
divine presence. Your sense of being connectedcompletely dissolve.
with and one with the fullness of the divine willWhatever role the ego plays for us can be
become natural and automatic.replaced and managed better by our True Self or
With each meditative experience you surrenderSoul, and this is what makes enlightenment a
into the greater awareness of who you are andprocess rather than a destination. It takes time to
when you return to your normal every daydiscover and get in touch with the many overt
consciousness your awareness is changed, andand subtle aspects of our ego identities, and
with this new awareness your life changes. Youtherefore it generally takes many lifetimes to
know that you and the rest of manifest creationexperience the complete dissolution of the ego
are not what you always assumed they were,and the full emergence of the True Self or Soul.
and life doesn't work the way you assumed it did.Once a person becomes aware of these truths,
The only way to know this is by directthe process proceeds at a much more rapid pace
experience. It is not known by reading, thinking, orthan he or she did prior.
any of the other normal ways you have come toMeditation enables us to disconnect from the
know anything. It is by direct experience inrealm of the five senses and realize our inner
consciousness only.realities and connections in ways the five senses
Introducing the Egocould never provide. There are many types of
The confusion comes from the fact that theremeditation and it is a good idea to try several until
are fundamentally two major components to whoyou find the ones that work best for you. I have
and what we are. The part of us that we think ofwritten other articles on this subject.
as the conscious person is what has been