What have you been doing to create peace throughout your life?
Okay. Good question, right? My Guru asked that question of her disciples a few nights ago. It was meant to be answered internally. I realized how important the question was when it occurred to me that I did not have an answer. Certainly, I have been working toward a more peaceful and meaningful existence for the last decade or so. But what about before then? Did it ever cross my mind that peace is something that I/we create?
And here is a statement that I'd like you to give the same consideration to as the question in the first paragraph. Close your eyes and hold it in your mind for a few moments after you read it:
Enlightenment is something you have to do yourself.
There is a formula that those of us in this branch of the Kriya Yoga lineage are familiar with. It looks like this: IxF=D
It means Intensity times Frequency equals Duration. When someone new comes to the practice, we teach them this. You see, many people come to meditation with the idea that if they meditate a long time, they will be accomplishing something. Then, when they sit and become frustrated that they can not quiet their minds the entire time, they give up. It's too hard. There is something wrong with them, they reason, that prevents them from focusing for very long. Well, the truth of the matter is that probably no one is meditating for an entire hour or more. The mind tends to wander. What is most important when we meditate is the intensity. If for one moment you completely let go and are peaceful, you've reached your goal. Please, pay close attention here. I want you to remember this:
Single-pointedness for a nanosecond shifts everything. It changes the Karma.
This one moment will allow you to think a new thought. It will allow you to change your life. Now, what would happen if instead of sitting for an hour being uncomfortable and perhaps discouraged, you had several short, but intense meditation experiences throughout the day? What if you tried meditating for maybe 6 minutes @ a time and did that 10 times a day? Would that be the same as meditating straight through for an hour? Yes, it would. You've accomplished your goal...if meditating for an hour is your goal. Set your own limits. IxF=D.
Reflect upon your life and how you are spending your time. How can you vivify that? The practices need structure, so you must make a plan to structure your practice into your day. Kriya Yoga gives you techniques to use as tools to live the life you want. But you must incorporate those techniques into your life in order for them to be effective. Remember this and you will find that single-pointedness will bring you maximum intensity.
Shanti,
S.