In Meditation we realize that we are free from thoughts, beliefs and conclusions

In our waking state awareness, the thoughts in our head are what we experience as reality. As the thoughts arise when we wake up in the morning, their meaning and their content define how we experience our circumstances as well as ourselves. Whatever mood the thoughts project on a given day - that will be the colour and flavour of the day’s experience. Whatever thoughts the mind produces - they dictate what we do and who we think we are. When we live our lives on automatic pilot - without being aware of this mechanism - thoughts and their meaning are the tyrant that controls all aspects of life.

The awareness necessary to become free from this tyrant is cultivated in Meditation. When we close our eyes, thoughts are the first thing we notice. There may be a sense of frantic thinking activity, just a few stray thoughts floating around, or something in between. The intensity of the mind’s busy-ness depends mainly on what we were doing before we decided to meditate. If we sit after a very active day, chances are that the mind is racing. If that’s the case, it will take a few moments for the activity to slow down.

Contrary to widespread belief, there is no need to wilfully change what is happening in our minds when we meditate. In fact, it is not possible to control the mind’s activity. What we can and should do, is notice that there is a part in us that is aware of the thoughts floating through the mind. It knows whether there are many thoughts, a few or none at all. It is aware of the sounds in the environment and it perceives what is happening in the body. That part in us is often referred to as Witness or Knower.

Cultivating the awareness of the Witness brings with it the possibility to realize that the thoughts are not what we believed them to be. We notice that they are not our identity and that there is a sense of I far vaster than just the content of the thinking mechanism. When we become aware of the presence of the Witness or Knower, we have a choice we never had before: We can either continue to direct our attention to the thoughts and remain engaged with and controlled by them; or we can direct our attention towards the Witness.

When we remain with the Witness, we notice that thoughts are nothing more than movement in the space that we are watching. In the process of shifting our attention to the Knower, the sense of I that was invested in the thinking process aligns with Knower. As simple as it sounds, this is a very big and important step. When the sense of I aligns with the Knower and rests in it, it becomes one with the Knower. This Knower Being is our highest Self and as that, it is free from the thinking mechanism: free from its ideas, concepts, conclusions and limitations. For the Witness it doesn’t matter whether there are hundreds of thoughts or none at all. Neither presence or absence, nor the content of thoughts have any influence on the Knower. As the Knower we are Pure Free and Forever. THAT is who we truly are!

Sampriya is available for personal guidance and Meditation Mentoring. All information can be found here: https://www.essenceofthehimalayas.com/meditation-mentoring. #meditationmentoring #meditationpractice #meditationtraining #meditationmentor #onlinemeditationteachertraining #onlinemeditationtraining

How choosing the perspective of the Self changes everything...

From a human perspective, with our mind as the instrument of evaluation, we see every situation we find ourselves in as either good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. The mind's vision is dualistic by nature. It forever assesses life in terms of black or white. Although we rarely argue with pleasant experiences, as soon as something unpleasant happens we are quick to try to get away from it. When circumstances go against our preferences it is human nature to assume that "this shouldn't happen" or "something went wrong". Consciously or unconsciously, many have the unreasonable hope that bad things should't happen to them - and when they happen anyway, they easily judge the situation, others or themselves as faulty. Most people assume that if they do things right, the outcome should be in their favor.

This reasoning is obviously flawed. It is the source of great confusion and suffering. Even though we rarely admit it to ourselves, we know from experience that reality differs from this mistaken assumption. We can plan all we want, if Life has a different idea, things won't go our way. Even when we spend considerable effort to assure or control an outcome - even when we do everything right - the result may still not be what we expected or hoped for.

Trying to blame someone or ourselves for an unwanted outcome is not only counterproductive and unreasonable, it is truly missing the point. By giving in to the blame game we are ignoring an important fact: that there is a force at work in our lives; a power that has nothing to do with our personal willpower or dedication to a result. Acknowledging that force, is recognizing the current of Life, our True Self, that underlies all our actions, thoughts and feelings. Those who are awakening to the awareness of the power of Self as the Source of existence, have the possibility to tune into a reality infinitely vaster than the human consciousness.

Through Meditation we have the possibility to know and experience the Self as our own Being. We have the possibility to merge with it, align with it and rest in it. The practice of Meditation dissolves the duality of the mind and allows us to live in Oneness with our True Self. From the perspective of the Self, all situations we experience as human beings are just invitations to remember that our mind's limited and dualistic vision is illusory. United with the Self, we can see the current of Life as our own infinite power of creation - never right or wrong - always One.

If you want to start or deepen your Meditation Practice right now, you can download our Free Guided Meditation here: https://www.essenceofthehimalayas.com/why-meditation. For Personal Meditation Training and Mentoring check: https://www.essenceofthehimalayas.com/meditation-mentoring. #meditationtraining #meditationmentoring #meditationpractice

Compassion is the nature of the Self - Kindness is how it manifests...

Just as love is much vaster than the sense of attraction or infatuation we experience as humans beings, compassion is much vaster than the sympathy, commiseration or care we may feel towards our fellow human and animal friends.

True compassion is unchanging and unconditional in nature. It is a state of being rather than a feeling - and it is one of the characteristics of the all-permeating Self. The fullness of compassion lives hidden in our innermost core as the knowledge of Oneness with our Divine Source. When we awaken to that reality and choose to live our lives in Oneness with the Source, then we know everything emanating from that Source as our own Self. In the living Vision of Oneness all sentient forms and all of creation are our own Self - and compassion is our natural, essential quality.

In a human being who lives in alignment and Oneness with the Self, compassion manifests as boundless kindness. Indeed, how could we feel anything but infinite kindness towards our own Self in all its multiple forms of manifestation? When we are steeped in Oneness, our thoughts and feelings - towards ourselves and others - are bound to be kind. They are the direct expression of the Self's unconditional compassion.

Meditation is the pathway to experiencing the Source of compassion in your own being. If you are looking for guidance to get started, to deepen your practice or to meditate with a group, check our website: https://www.essenceofthehimalayas.com, or download our Free Guided Meditation here: https://www.essenceofthehimalayas.com/why-meditation. #meditationtraining #meditationteacher #meditationpractice #onlinemeditationclasses