1. Introduction
1-Stop and Think
There is a lot of people wanting you to believe what they believe. They have no proof that what they think is true or good for you. You are a victim of you experience and especially the people around you.
In order to find the truth, at least the best truth that works for you, you have to stop believing in anything and gradually start over. After all it is you life, your future. Do you want to be happy? I mean deep down happy all the time? It is possible.
But if you believe that you are no good, and must confess your "sins", or believe nothing matters, or some other form of nonsense, you are not going to get very far.
The first thing to know is that you are here. That is you see things, hear things, touch things and so on. You are an observer. You are alive, a soul, a spirit, something that is alive and experiencing life. If you don't believe this, then I don't know what to say except that unless you are blind, you do see things right?
The second thing is something inside us is talking to us, and often driving us crazy. It is like having a roommate that will no shut up. Now listen to your thoughts from this roommate. Just observe. Do not join the conversation. Just listen.
Are these thoughts you. How can they be? You are watching them, and they are coming from somewhere. You are not talking, but the voice keeps talking. It is probably talking about nonsense, about your faults or is running a commentary on what you are doing. Just listen.
You are just listening, and you are disconnected with this internal voice.
Who are you anyway? Your more than just your name that was chosen by your parents. You are more than your job title. Your are more than your body. You are more than your thoughts and feelings.
Really you are experiencer of life. You are an observer. You are alive.
Now this was a scientific experiment. In a scientific experiment an observer observes what is happening. You were observing the voice inside you and found it was independent from you. It was talking to you and you were not.
2-Semantics
Word in themselves are not things. The moon does not know it is called a "moon". The word "moon" is arbitrary. Spanish speakers call it "luna". These two words point to the exact same thing. It's that hunk of rock that orbits the earth. There is a word for it in the thousands of languages people speak around the world.
The word "moon" is actually a pointer to the hunk of rock. It is not the rock. It is a word. So "moon" is a pointer to the real moon.
All words are like this. But we have words for things that do not exist. But all words have meaning. So we can say that all meaningful words, point to meaning.
Often times many words have the same meaning. The words "big" and "large" mean about the same thing.
Often the same word will have different meanings to different people. The word "God" depends on the personal belief of the speaker. So when we speak we need to define words like "God".
So getting back to our experiment we have found that we are different from the speaker inside us. So who are we?
I like the word "soul", but not in the traditional since. You might like the word "true self". "me", "observer", or perhaps "experiencer".
3-The Soul and The Mind
For our convenience lets settle on calling our experiencer the soul. In my meaning it is limited to being an observer, and a experiencer of life and not something more. Lets define the talker within us, this roommate that will not shut up as the mind. This word "mind" is also limited to being one thing. It is the thing that creates the voice in our head and nothing more. It is not part of the soul, because the soul can listen to it without being part of this talking mind.
4-Meditation
What we were doing when we stepped back from the mind, and witnessed the mind talking was basically meditation. There are different forms of meditation, but here we will limit the meaning of the word to being in a state of being where we are just observing what is going on within us and around us. Later we will find we can use meditation to achieve other things, such as control over the mind, but for now think of it as just observing.
Here's a basic guide on how to meditate:
1. Find a
Quiet Place: Choose a quiet and comfortable place where you won't be
disturbed. This could be a corner of your room, a quiet park, or any
place where you feel at ease.
2. Sit Comfortably: Sit in a
comfortable position, either cross-legged on the floor or in a chair
with your feet flat on the ground. Keep your spine straight but not
rigid.
3. Close Your Eyes: Close your eyes gently. This helps
in shutting out external distractions and turning your focus inward.
4. Focus on Your Breath: Pay attention to your breath as you
inhale and exhale naturally. You can focus on the sensation of the
breath entering and leaving your nostrils or the rising and falling of
your chest or abdomen.
5. Be Present: As thoughts come into
your mind, acknowledge them without judgment and gently bring your
focus back to your breath. The goal is not to stop your thoughts but
to observe them without getting caught up in them.
6. Start
with Short Sessions: If you're new to meditation, start with just a
few minutes each day and gradually increase the duration as you become
more comfortable with the practice.
7. Practice Regularly:
Consistency is key. Try to meditate at the same time each day to
establish a routine and reap the benefits of regular practice.
5-Benefits of Meditation
By learning to step back away from the mind, we
can gradually allow the soul to be in charge instead of the mind.
After all the soul makes choices, and has more wisdom that the
computer like mind. Some of the longer effects of meditation
include:
1. Reduce Stress: Meditation can help lower stress
levels by promoting relaxation and fostering a sense of calmness.
2. Improve Concentration: Regular meditation practice can enhance
your ability to focus and concentrate, which can be beneficial in
various aspects of life, including work and studies.
3. Produce Better
Emotional Health: Meditation can help you develop a greater awareness
of your emotions and improve your emotional regulation skills, leading
to greater overall emotional well-being.
4. Increased
Self-Awareness: Through meditation, you can develop a deeper
understanding of yourself, your thoughts, and your behaviors, which
can lead to personal growth and self-improvement.
5. Enhanced
Mindfulness: Meditation cultivates mindfulness, which is the practice
of being fully present and engaged in the moment. Mindfulness can lead
to a greater appreciation of life and a deeper sense of fulfillment.
6. Improved Sleep: Many people find that meditation helps them
relax and unwind, leading to better sleep quality and overall
restfulness.
6-Mindfulness
When the soul is in charge, we become mindful. Often the mind over reacts to situations such as getting mad, or under reacts to other situations and does not show compassion and love. With mindfulness the soul is fully present and engaged in the moment, without judgment. Mindfulness occurs when the soul pays attention to other people's thoughts, and feelings, and the surrounding environment with compassion and love. When the soul is in charge, the soul observes the mind and helps it settle down and behave itself. The mind can go to extremes, act silly, and do things that do not consider the consequences.
Here's a guide on
how to practice mindfulness:
1. Start with the Breath: Sit or
lie down in a comfortable position. Close your eyes if it feels
comfortable for you, or maintain a soft gaze. Begin by bringing your
attention to your breath. Notice the sensation of the breath as you
inhale and exhale. You can focus on the rising and falling of your
abdomen or the air passing through your nostrils.
2. Observe
Your Thoughts: As you practice mindfulness, you'll likely notice
thoughts arising in your mind. Instead of getting caught up in them or
trying to suppress them, simply observe them as they come and go.
Imagine your thoughts as clouds passing by in the sky, without
attaching any meaning to them.
3. Notice Your Sensations: Pay
attention to the sensations in your body, such as warmth, tension, or
tingling. Notice any areas of discomfort or relaxation without trying
to change them.
4. Engage Your Senses: Bring awareness to your
surroundings using your senses. Notice the sights, sounds, smells,
tastes, and textures around you. Allow yourself to fully experience
each sensation without judgment.
5. Practice Non-Judgment:
Mindfulness involves accepting things as they are, without labeling
them as good or bad. Practice observing your experiences with kindness
and compassion, both toward yourself and others.
6. Stay
Present: Whenever you notice your mind wandering or getting caught up
in thoughts, gently bring your focus back to the present moment. You
can use your breath as an anchor to bring you back to the here and
now.
7. Mindfulness During the Day: Pause every so often as you go about your life. Are you deeply aware of what you are doing? Concentrate on where you leave things, and what needs to be done. Also give yourself some down time and have some fun.
8. Purpose: As you get better at mindfulness ask your deeper self what is my purpose. How can I help? What should I avoid?
9. Love yourself: You will be with yourself to the day you die. Be kind to yourself. Do things you like to do. Do what feels really good.
10. Love others: Even if people are not kind to you, give them a little love. If you say something nice, it has a ripple effect that can been bigger than you think.
7-Benefits of Mindfulness
Like meditation there are similar benefits
of mindfulness. With mindfulness, the soul is observing specific
things as our and others emotions, the level of concentration we have,
how empatic we are, and how we feel about things in general.
Some specific areas include:
1. Stress Reduction: Mindfulness can help reduce stress by
promoting relaxation and increasing your ability to cope with
challenging situations.
2. Improved Mental Health: Regular
mindfulness practice has been linked to reduced symptoms of anxiety,
depression, and other mental health conditions.
3. Enhanced
Focus and Concentration: Mindfulness helps improve your ability to
concentrate by training your mind to stay focused on the present
moment, rather than getting lost in distractions.
4. Increased
Self-Awareness: Mindfulness fosters a greater awareness of your
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, leading to a deeper understanding
of yourself and your inner workings.
5. Better Relationships:
By cultivating mindfulness, you can develop greater empathy,
compassion, and emotional regulation skills, which can improve your
relationships with others.
6. Overall Well-Being: Mindfulness
has been associated with greater overall well-being and a higher
quality of life.
2. The Story of Mary and Deeper Thoughts
4. Meditation and the Proof of the Core Self
5. The History of Consciousness
6. Deepermind and the Catholic Church