I keep hearing the comment, “When I sit to meditate,
continuously thoughts keep coming”. Gave a deep thought to this statement and
then got some revelations during my meditation (as thoughts)! I have been
getting guidance and messages during meditation since many years. And they
always drop down as thoughts. So personally, I don’t long for a totally thoughtless
meditation experience.
The importance of gap
Anything that works overtime gets damaged. There needs to be
time for rest and rejuvenation, however short it may be. Think of our heart,
which starts beating the moment we are conceived, and continues to the last
breath. In healthy adults, there are two normal heart sounds, often described
as a lub and a dub that occur in sequence with each heartbeat. There is a gap
between the sounds, when the heart muscles rest.
Our lungs are also functioning 24x7 during our life time. If
you compare the breathing styles when one is angry and calm, they are totally
different. Long term practice of Reiki and pranayama makes the breath longer
and deeper. I have noticed that the gap between an exhalation and the next
inhalation has increased tremendously after my Reiki and pranayama. Many Reiki
practitioners will have a breathing rate of 8 to 10, instead of the normal 12
to 16 breaths per minute. This gives adequate rest to the lungs, leading to
longer, healthier life.
I will consider mind also as an organ. The function of mind
is to think, and we need to think to have a streamlined productive life. The
problem comes when a thought chain follows every time we think.
Is it possible to stop the function of mind?
When we aim to stop the function of mind, I feel it is being
partial to it. We don’t try to stop the function of the heart or lungs. When we
think logically, the mind is programmed to think and it will continue its
function.
Does it mean that we can’t experience thoughtless state
during meditation? No, that is not what I meant. We need to think from a different
angle, that’s all.
Gap between thoughts
An average human being’s mind is always occupied by thoughts
and thought chains. A thought chain is subsequent irrelevant thoughts that follow
a useful or useless thought. According to the National Science Foundation, an
average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Of those, 80% are
negative and 95% are repetitive thoughts. If we repeat those negative thoughts,
we think negative way more than we think positive thoughts. Many people even
complain that they can't sleep immediately after going to bed as their brain
does not stop thinking. And this is not
conducive for good health.
By practicing meditation daily, gradually we start experiencing
gaps between our thoughts. And that is like tasting nectar (Amrit). Initially
it will be for a brief duration, like a few seconds, but as practice
progresses, the gaps between thoughts become longer, we start enjoying the
process and we are hooked to meditation now!
Catch the Gap Meditation (CGM)
This is the technique that got downloaded into my brain
during meditation. It will help you to experience the gaps between thoughts,
get them removed as they start occupying your mind, and gradually lengthen
these gaps. Before doing this meditation, please read the following carefully,
at least twice.
Etheric body (prana-maya-kosha)
The etheric body, or ether-body, is a name given by
neo-Theosophy to a vital body or subtle body propounded in esoteric
philosophies as the first or lowest layer in the "human energy field"
or aura. It is in immediate contact with and maintains the physical body, to
sustain it and connect it with "higher" bodies. It is a body of
forces, rather than substance.
Etheric body
The etheric body, composed of four ethers, is called the
"Vital Body" since the ether is the way of ingress for vital force
from the Sun and the field of agencies in nature which promote such vital
activities as assimilation, growth, and propagation. The Etheric body delivers
energy to your physical body so that it can do everything that it does to
enable you to generate your life experiences. It is also connected to the
emotional and the mental energy systems.
In a meditative state you will be guided to observe your
etheric body detach from your physical body and being present in front of you,
facing you. But it will be floating, since it doesn’t have any substance or
matter.
An incoming thought
Since you have been taken into a relaxed state free from
stress and tension, as you watch your etheric body detaching and coming in
front, it can float because your mind is thought free. As you keep observing
the etheric body, slowly a thought will creep into your mind.
A thought form
Sense the
presence of this thought in the etheric body and watch it being weighed down by
the thought. Depending on the depth and intensity of it, and also whether there
is a thought chain, the etheric body will float downwards. It is also possible
that you may watch it tipping down, even upside down. Now you know why your
world view goes upside down sometimes.
Sun, the saviour
You will be guided to recognize the presence of Sun and its
healing light particles descending into the etheric body, clearing up the
thought and making it float upright again.
Again you are experiencing a thoughtless state which is
unique, filled with bliss and peace. After a while, another thought will gently
come into the mind.
Easier with each practice
We will go through the sequence several times and each time
it becomes easier and faster for you to experience the thoughtless state.
The Finale
Finally, the etheric body is guided to merge with the
physical body. That is when you experience the weightlessness and expansiveness
of the physical body. It is an indescribable experience!
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