July/August 1999 Featured Stories
The Mysteries of Meditation Revealed
by Mary Ellen Flora
Meditation is recommended by all of the health gurus; encouraged by
stress managers, doctors and spiritual teachers. It is free, easy and
can be fun. Everyone agrees that meditation can be beneficial, so why
isn't everyone meditating?
The mysteries of meditation are seldom revealed, so the seeker often
flounders around looking for how to meditate and loses interest or momentum
after a few weeks. If he or she finds a method for meditation, it often
includes a complex set of body postures or rules, which need to be mastered
before the spiritual aspect of the meditation blossoms; or cannot find
a system with enough structure to stay spiritually focused. These challenges
deter all but the most serious seekers.
The remainder of the population, who need meditation equally as much,
continue without the life-giving benefits of meditation. For this majority
there is a system that teaches the mysteries of meditation in understandable
terms and does not require challenging physical postures or complex
systems, but does offer enough structure for spiritual and physical
focus. Those already meditating can benefit from the system, as it can
help bring meditation into balance, involving both spirit and body systems.
One of the main mysteries of meditation is that everyone is spirit,
and the body is only the vehicle for spirit. Spirit is the life and
light, and the body is the system used by spirit. Many people attempt
to accomplish meditation with the belief they are only the body. This
is not possible since it is spirit which meditates, using the body as
the vehicle to do so.
You are spirit and you have a body. As spirit you are immortal, and
not limited by physical phenomena such as time, space, mass, emotions
and effort. The body does have the physical limits of all of the mentioned
characteristics, plus ethics, competition, sexuality and all of the
other body traits. When you meditate, you, the spirit, are quieting
the busy physical body to bring your spiritual awareness and nature
into your physical system. You need to use spiritual techniques which
open both the physical and spiritual systems for meditation to accomplish
this spiritual mastery of your system.
In order to meditate, one of the techniques you need is how to ground
your energy to the Earth. Everything is energy. The body and spiritual
systems associated with the body are similar to electricity. We need
to ground electrical systems to keep them safe and functioning correctly.
Grounding is also necessary for the safe functioning of the physical
body. Grounding helps you focus, be solid in the physical world, and
contain and control your energy. It can also help you release energy
from your body.
Grounding is the first technique to use as you start your meditation.
Grounding is the creation of an energy cord from your body to the center
of the earth. You, the being, create the cord from your first chakra
and allow it to flow to the center of the earth.
Be aware of the energy center near the base of your spine, the first
chakra. This chakra contains your information about how to relate to
this reality. Chakras are simply energy centers that contain information
for you to use and master as spirit.
Visualize an energy flow from this chakra, near the base of your spine,
to the center of the earth. The energy will flow through all physical
matter, the chair, the floor, the earth, until it reaches the center
of the planet. Allow the grounding cord to be securely attached at your
first chakra and at the center of the earth. Relax and experience the
spiritual connection you have created with this earth. Notice how your
body reacts to being grounded. Take a few deep breaths to focus your
attention on you and your body... Each individual will have a unique
experience. Allow yourself to be still and listen to you, so you can
get to know yourself and your body.
Meditation is based on the understanding that you are spirit, and your
body is the vehicle for your spiritual creativity. If you are not aware
of your spiritual nature, meditation will open this awareness for you.
If you do know yourself as spirit, meditation will lead you on an exciting
journey of self-discovery. The awakening to yourself as spirit will
change your life, since you will see yourself and everyone else as part
of the Cosmic Whole.
As we meditate, we raise our vibration, the vibration of our body,
the vibration of all of our creations and even the vibration of the
planet. As we solve our own earthly and spiritual problems, we automatically
assist others and the planet. When we fill ourselves with light, it
shines out all around us.
The healing power of meditation is indescribable, but we can see within
and around us the benefits of meditation. People's behavior, health
and state of being change when they meditate regularly. One example
is of a man who was fighting with his wife and children; in conflict
at work and about to lose his family and job. He was desperate for help
and tried meditation as a solution. After only a month his life began
to change. He was kinder to his wife and children and cooperative instead
of argumentative at work. His behavior changed so drastically that he
even inspired others to begin meditating.
Meditation's ultimate purpose is spiritual communication; however,
it can profoundly affect our emotions and other physical experiences.
Our personality and behavior can change from the influence of meditation.
We need to acknowledge the importance of harmonizing with and learning
to effectively use the body for our spiritual purpose. This is accomplished
by turning within.
Meditation leads you into yourself, as it involves quieting the physical
and focusing on the spiritual. Meditation is the only way I know to
truly find the answers to your life questions. With meditation, you
put your attention back on the spiritual realm within and seek your
information there, instead of looking outside yourself for your answers
in the physical world around you.
Meditation is highly recommended because it is the most powerful spiritual
healing tool we have. Meditation leads us to our spirituality and spiritual
nature and from there, we begin to consciously create our lives. Begin
meditation on a daily basis and you will learn to know yourself, and
the mysteries of meditation will be revealed to you.
Mary Ellen Flora is the author of eight books and four cassette tapes
including:
The Key Series, with complementary audio tapes:
Meditation: Key to Spiritual Awakening
Healing: Key to Spiritual Balance
Clairvoyance: Key to Spiritual Perspective
Chakras: Key to Spiritual Opening
The Energy series:
Cosmic Energy: The Creative Power
Earth Energy: The Spiritual Frontier
Male & Female Energies: The Balancing Act
Kundalini Energy: The Flame of Life
Mary Ellen Flora can be contacted for speaking engagements at CDM
Publications, 2402 Summit Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. Phone: (425) 259-9322,
or 1-800-360-6509, FAX: (425) 259-5109. E-mail: cdmpub@c-d-m.org
or visit our Website: http://www.c-d-m.org