WHAT IS MEDITATION ?

Meditation is many things to me, but for me it's mostly a tool and a haven...a means to an end, and also a very comfortable place to crawl into. A date with God. It can be very pleasant or it can be a struggle, and it's obviously difficult when things aren't happening in meditation that we think should be happening, or we're just dry, or our minds are running 1000 mph. But I couldn't live without it, and I couldn't progress without it, regardless of whether I'm seeing that progress or not.

Meditation is that which burns the veils away which separate us from the Real. Not only the veils, but the karma. If time were real--which it's not--I'd say that each passing day brings me closer to merging, thanks mainly to my teacher, to the meditation and the rest of the coping tool-kit given me by her, including the Names which help keep me sane 24-7.
Aquila

The_Passerby wrote:Meditation is passive and there is a reason why Yeshua never mentions it. It would be better if one remembered themselves -- if they triangulated the moment with conscious-awareness and breath, connecting to what is essential in themselves. I know that will sound confusing, but in all honesty meditation is passive. It is helpful, but self remembering, now that is something very important.

Yes PB, I must admit that I am somewhat confused by what you say here.

The meditation which I practice does all that you say is good - it brings forth conscious-awareness, awareness of breath, and connects to what is essential within oneSELF - our true SELF - beyond mind and thought.

Also, there may be another reason why Yehoshua never mentions meditation as such (although he does mention going alone to 'pray' within one's private chamber - and he himself goes into the desert to be alone). If you add together all the words that are reported to be spoken by Him during His lifetime here on Earth, even adding those from all the non-canonical books, you will find that they amount to no more than can be read or spoken in a couple of hours! This, I calculated, would be less than 0.05% of all He would have said during His 3 year teaching mission!

So, quite obviously, we actually know very little of what Yehoshua would have taught - especially the more intimate details reserved for the initiates.

PLU ~ Bob

I'm not bad mouthing meditation, it is good -- but it is not a essential aspect of seeking. I used to meditate all the time, in my meditation and I had MANY experiences, some I can't really discuss.

However, I do not meditate as much anymore. Yes one can see the light, but you can't become it through meditation. What I am referring to in self remembering, which Gurdjieff relates and what the scriptures relate is something that far exceeds passive meditation especially if you see that you operate in life mostly in sleep -- on autopilot or unconscious.

BelzeBob wrote:Hi!

I hardly, if ever meditate in the traditional sense.

Still, I try to meditate 24 hours a day, whatever I do, wherever I am.

But I know it as "Self-remembering".

BB

well done sir, a true "master" makes everything a meditation...


The
time of action does not differ at all from my time of prayer; I possess
God as tranquilly in the bustle of my kitchen –where sometimes several
people are asking me different things at one time—as if I was on my
knees before the blessed sacrament…It is not necessary to have great
things to do. I turn my little omelet in the pan for the love of God; when
it is finished, if I have nothing to do, I prostrate myself on the
ground and adore my God, who gave me the grace to make it, after which
I rise, more content than a King. When I cannot do anything else, it is enough for me to have lifted a straw from the earth for the love of God.

–Brother Lawrence

The_Passerby wrote:I'm not bad mouthing meditation, it is good -- but it is not a essential aspect of seeking. I used to meditate all the time, in my meditation and I had MANY experiences, some I can't really discuss.

However, I do not meditate as much anymore. Yes one can see the light, but you can't become it through meditation. What I am referring to in self remembering, which Gurdjieff relates and what the scriptures relate is something that far exceeds passive meditation especially if you see that you operate in life mostly in sleep -- on autopilot or unconscious.

wel if you mean that your meditation becomes somethign seperate then I'd agree....

If we are walking over to the corner to wear a funny hat, for an hour a day..and leaving our spiritual practice at that, then its ging to do something sure, but there's much more...