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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

11-24-15 Post: Meditation 

Question/comment: What is meditation and what is it good for?

Response: This may seem like a clear cut topic but many people may have a different opinion from mine. Please, explore different opinions from many different sources. By meditation you can find out for yourself what meditation is about and what the benefits are.

To answer the first part of the question, according to my understanding the process we call meditation has four stages. First comes learning to concentrate. It is very difficult for many people to focus on any thing for even a few seconds without becoming distracted. So learning to focus for a sustained period takes practice. Here I might look at a rose or a candle flame. Every time my mind wanders, I bring it back to the object in front of me. 

The second stage of meditation is meditation itself. With an object or concept as the focal point my thoughts are directed on aspects of that thing. For this stage I might begin to think about a rose and all it’s qualities. Rose is a flower that is often red. Red, red lipstick. Ups. Back to rose. Red petals of the rose. They are soft; I like to touch soft things. Ups. Back to rose. The soft petals of the rose repel water. I remember seeing water beads on a rose petal. I had an aunt Rose. Ups. Back to rose. Rose petals smell of a fragrance only roses can give off. I wonder what the cellular process is that creates the rose’s scent? I wonder what chemicals are involved in the rose scent. Ups back to rose. Some roses have thorns. Ouch. Blood. Ups. Back to rose. Some roses grown in hot houses don’t have a very strong smell. I’ve heard that florists spray flowers with artificial scents because commercially grown flowers don’t have much scent. Ups. Back to rose.

The third stage is contemplation where the mind ceases to think about the object or concept yet remains focused on it. This process allows insight to dawn in awareness. It is a more direct knowing without thought. It is more experiential. This is when a person can experience Samadhi which is both a kind of seeing beyond the norm and a very ecstatic feeling at the same time.

The fourth stage is Turiya. Turiya encompasses all other stages and moves beyond them to unselfconscious observation of being. Observation is of one’s own consciousness as the observer and all else all at the same time. The limitations of time and space are seen in perspective and known to be useful conceptual tools that don’t really exist. The really tricky part of this state of awareness is to retain it while functioning in every day life.

When viewed from an aspect of brain wave frequencies we can note that our normal frenetic waking state of what has been called “the monkey mind” emits the Beta brain wave frequency. When we concentrate we begin to produce Alpha brain waves which are the same ones we produce when we are in the creative process or relaxing or day dreaming. In the meditation phase we emit Theta brain waves which are the same that we produce while dreaming in REM sleep. The difference is that we are doing it in full consciousness.

In Turiya, as I understand it, we produce all the brain waves at the same time and to the same strength or volume with full awareness. So in Turiya we produce Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta all at once. We might say at this point we have a fully functioning mind as opposed to a mind that is usually partially functioning at any given time. 

To answer the second part of the question, every person who practices the process of meditation probably does it for their own individual reasons. Examples could be that some people use meditation to relax. Some use it to learn to focus their attention. Some use it to reach Samadhi. Others use it because they are seeking enlightenment. Some people may be seeking their own true nature, and so on. 

Regardless of the initial reason for taking up the practice of meditation and what ever the stage of expertise a person reaches in their practice, meditation is a worth while activity. There are no down sides to the effort as far as I can tell. The discipline gained from practicing meditation can be put to good use in every aspect of life and the increased mental abilities gained by a person can only be a benefit.

It is very important to stay in the moment with meditation. At any stage of meditation focus on you and your current experiences and abilities. Be grateful for the practice its pleasures and its benefits. Any comparison you might make to what you experienced in the past, what you hope to experience in the future or how skillful someone else appears to be as a meditator will distract you and might discourage you from continuing your effort. Enjoy each session as an individual experience. 


Thursday, November 12, 2015

11-12-15 Post: Stalker

Question/Comment: What do I do about a person who will not let me alone. She seems completely fixated on me and the more she pursues me the more I want to run from her.   She shows up at my house unannounced and uninvited. She tries to wheedle her way into my life by telling me what I need to do and then offering to help me do it. It has gotten so bad that just the sound of her voice causes me to cringe. I think I have PTSD from her harassment. Now I am really angry that I have to spend my time and money to heal from this person’s harassment and I still cannot get rid of her. (Original comment has been edited to shorten and hide identities.)

Response: Have you called the police? You may need to get a restraining order; do you have witnesses to the harassment or videos? Then if she harasses you in public, you can show the restraining order to the business owner or the police and have her removed. Do not take physical action yourself. You do not want to get suckered into doing something that will ruin your life. Get legal help.

I am assuming that you have spoken to her before this point and told her clearly and definitely that you don’t want any contact with her. It is very important to make clear to such a person that her plans for a relationship with you will never happen. It is possible that indirect hints and behavioral clues will be totally missed or ignored by some people. There are also those people who will ignore very direct no nonsense communication as well.

I would also suggest that you may need a few sessions with a therapist to explore your reactions and thoughts on this issue. If indeed you have developed PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from this issue then definitely see a counselor. It may seem unfair to you for you to have to spend your money on therapy because of the actions of someone else but you might ask yourself if this indication of victim thinking on your part? A few well used counseling sessions can benefit just about everyone.

A person doing the kind of stalking you mentioned may have a personality disorder at best. There isn’t enough information here to know about this person but there have been some cases of people who were psychotic and believed they were married to or in a relationship with someone who was a stranger or who had at least never agreed to or entered into such a relationship with them. 

If you have stated your desire for no contact with her clearly and she persists, then at least to some degree she not be fully in touch with reality. She may also enjoy the power of being able to frighten you or illicit your anger. Like any child or child part, negative attention is preferred to no attention. Clearly the person you described has mental health issues.


Request assistance from the police if necessary, get some counseling, take loving care of yourself. Make certain that you do not focus your time and energy on this stalker. What we focus on we get more of.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

11-3-15 Post: What would if feel like to be supported by life?

Commentary: It is important for each of us to engage in an ongoing process of choosing what we want for ourselves and picturing it happening. The desires we have for good things do not come by accident. Our core selves lead us toward our destiny and urge us toward our individual path. It is very important that we each allow ourselves to receive the good that is waiting to come our way. We must each know that we deserve our good no matter what we may have been lead to believe to the contrary and no matter what mistakes or failures we believe we have committed in the past.

I challenge you to begin to picture a world, a life, where your are loved, guided, and supported in all ways at all times. You still have the freedom to choose. Being offered guidance and support does not meant you are an automaton.  You have choice, always. If you refuse to accept guidance because you feel rebellious ask yourself what purpose rebellion serves. Usually rebellion happens when someone is attempting to push us away from our personal destiny not when we are being guided toward it. But rebellion can become a habit, a badge of honor. 

Do you fear giving away your power if you accept support? No one can take your power from you. Listening with an open mind will not make you weaker. Do you feel guilty and undeserving? Shower your mistakes with love and forgiveness. Allow light to shine on them and heal all concerned. Forgive yourself and forgive others. As healing occurs, everyone will be uplifted. Self recrimination and self punishment can only hinder the work we are each here to accomplish. We are here to receive and share the love and clarity that is ours by Divine Right. It is our most basic nature and our most basic duty. 

It is not just a metaphysical saying that what we picture, think about and say is what we will attract to ourselves. This is basic science. Vibrations entrain with each other. Like attracts like and then blends and enhances. When two notes are played on a musical instrument at the same time, they blend and form a chord. A person who displays anger and irritation, will influence the mood of people s/he comes across who perceive the negative emotions and then react to them. Even if this process takes place on an entirely unconscious level, it will happen each and every time.

If a person walks down a crowded street focusing on the Oneness and God-ness of everyone and everything, people will react to that vibrational output. If s/he walks through a crowd intentionally emitting feelings of love and approval, people will react to that in kind. Begin to ask yourself what kind of world you choose to be a part of. For anyone who does not want to live in a happy, loving, supportive world, is it time to stop the self-punishment and the punishment of others? Is it time to stop the pain? Is it time to replace pain with feeling good, light and happy? What do you choose? You are a very powerful being; you have the power, the choice. Right here, right now.