Meditation and Self-therapy
Meditation is a process of stilling the mind. It can be practiced for relaxation,
to feel more whole and complete, or to gradually reveal ones higher Self. In it's deeper levels meditation can
be likened to a self-psychoanalysis as correctly applied meditation techniques help to clear and reprogram our
thoughts, habits and conditioning to slowly reveal the Self within.
Meditation is a process which can be used throughout the day and not just in quiet periods of silence. All areas of life are important in the ongoing process of personal growth; spiritual, emotional, mental and physical. To grow we need to acknowledge and sustain and balance all of these areas. Meditation is a way of life and leads to health, balance and happiness.
A particular form of meditation which is beneficial for personal growth and self-therapy is 'psychoanalytical meditation'. This can be likened to a self-psychoanalysis as correctly applied meditation techniques help to unravel the soul within. The idea is to undertake self analysis during the day and take unsolved problems into quiet time during meditation when answers may arise. The day can also be spent analysing the results of meditation. Self-analysis and meditation thereby going hand in hand. Through meditation one becomes more aware of the Higher Self or soul. Once an understanding of how the mind works transcendence is gradually attained through a combination of techniques involving:
Self-analysis during the day
Dream analysis
Balancing techniques for the physical, emotional and mental 'bodies'.
Meditation
There are many techniques that assist one's spiritual path, whatever is most relevant at the time can be used. Psychospiritual coaching and meditation can also help you move forwards to fulfill your greatest potential and clear past patterns or conditioning which present obstacles on the path.
Although counselling and therapy are very useful in helping you gain better self-integration, it is expensive to
attend many counselling sessions. Fortunately, with appropriate guidance, in many cases a personal therapy can
be practiced. This is essentially the basis behind true meditation.
When meditation is combined with self-analysis we can enhance our personal growth and well-being and feel more
complete within ourselves. With regular meditation past formations in the mind are exposed before conscious awareness
and freedom is obtained from them. In fact all our past conditioning must be transcended before our worldly consciousness
can merge with soul consciousness.
It can be shown scientifically that thought carries a frequency of vibration. In our Western culture thinking is
predominantly left brain, rational, logical and dualistic. This kind of thinking is stressful. In fact it is thought
that we use no more than 5%-10% of our total brain capacity.
As one practices meditation the brain wave frequencies are decelerated and a greater balance is achieved between
the left and right brain hemispheres. As these slower frequencies are attained thinking is less dualistic and less
stressful, thus the relaxing affect of meditation. Non-dualistic awareness occurs when we are aware that we are
one with all that is.
In deep meditation the threshold to non-dualistic awareness is attained. The point is eventually reached in meditation
where we are able to separate from, and become witnesses to, our thoughts. Also, in successively deeper levels
of meditation, first subconscious and then unconscious patterning are brought before our awareness and through
the process of catharsis are cleared, or successfully integrated into our being.
At these deeper levels, meditation is a tool for clearing away unwanted past conditioning in order to reveal the
true Self within. As more and more of the Self, or inner light, is revealed it can be likened to the term "enlightenment"
used in eastern philosophy. An enlightened person is one who has consistent conscious awareness of being the Self.
Depending on your needs, meditation can be practiced for one or all of the following benefits:
- Relaxation and an aid to reduce stress.
- Self-therapy to aid in greater health and well-being.
- Personal growth and Self-awareness.
If you would like any help or advice, please feel free to contact me for further information.
Copyright © Charles Attfield, 1999-2003