Today’s reading tells us how to use meditation to awaken.
First, let’s look at how we keep the illusion alive. We keep the illusion alive with believing-attention. We keep the illusion alive by believing thoughts, emotions and perceptions and giving them our attention.
Since giving believing-attention keeps the illusion alive, not giving believing-attention allows the illusion to fade away. And that is the purpose of meditation.
During meditation, you close your eyes and ignore thoughts, emotions and perception. You keep attention still, focused on awareness, without chasing after movement. This stillness doesn’t stop movement; it just doesn’t give movement any attention. In this way, movement is allowed to move through, out and away, until only stillness remains.
Today’s reading shares a few tips to help you keep attention still, focused on awareness, instead of being caught up in thought or emotion during meditation. It says:
“When you notice a belief in illusions, ask where your faith is now. Faith comes from desire. … In questioning your faith, you remember your desire. In remembering desire, you loosen your grip on belief.”
In other words, when thoughts arise and your attention goes to them, ask yourself, “What do I really want?” or “What is my purpose?” or “Why am I here?” or any other question that reminds you how much you want to remain focused on awareness and awaken. When you remember how much you want to remain focused on awareness and awaken, you naturally recall attention from thought, and place it with awareness again.
Fear sometimes occurs during meditation, especially as you progress from a familiar stage of meditation to a new stage or new level. When fear arises, notice that the mind is judging the experience. Again, remind yourself how much you want to remain focused on awareness and awaken. Let the movement of fear be—do not interfere with it; gently place attention on awareness, and remain there.
The scene from Little Buddha that we watched on Day 280 is a good symbol of remaining still in meditation, regardless of what arises, in order to awaken.
You do not need to read from Revelation in the Bible today. Go directly to the reading in NTI.
Thoughts of Awakening # 285
There is but one understanding
and that is the understanding of truth.
The one who chooses peace in all situations,
regardless of the story or the emotions involved,
knows what he is
and has understanding of truth.
~From our Holy Spirit
