MEDITATIONHANDBOOKbyChristopherCalder

Astudenthelpingstudentproject

Meditationisinnerastronomy.Youdiscoverthestars,themoon,andthesunareallinsideyou.

WhatisMeditation?
MostdictionariesdefinetheWestern(Jewish,Christian,Islamic)meaningoftheword
'meditation,'butusuallydonotdescribetheEastern(Hindu,Buddhist,Taoist)conceptof
meditation.ThemostappropriatedictionarydefinitionIcouldfindreadsasfollows."Ifyou
meditate,yougiveyourattentiontoonething,anddonotthinkaboutanythingelse,usuallyas
areligiousactivityoraswayofcalmingorrelaxingyourmind."Thisdefinitionimpliesthat
meditationmeansthinkingaboutsomething,beitreligiousormysticalinnature,andthata
constantthoughtprocessgoesonwhileonemeditates.ThepurestEasterndefinitionofthe
word'meditation'meansnotthinkingatall,butratherfocusingconsciousnessonthecosmic
whole,"theallandtheeverything,"asGeorgeGurdjieffcalledit,withoutthought,judgment,or
distraction.
Wecandefinemeditationastheartofconsciousnessbecomingawareofitselfonthegrand
andcosmicscale.Meditationcannotbecalledascienceasyet,becausesciencerequirestesting
withobjectivelyprovenmethodsandresults.Meditationisontheroadtobecomingareal
science,however,andnotjustanintuitiveartveiledinmystery.
Whymeditate?
Meditationbringsasenseoffullnessandcompletion,andistheonlypermanentsourceof
tranquilityavailabletohumanbeings.Allotherformsofserenityaretemporaryanddissolve
intoconflictandchaosovertime.Theeuphoriaofdrugsquicklyleadtomiseryandself
destruction.Thewholesomenessoflove,sobeautifulandethereal,isarelativelyshortlivedand
fleetingexperience.AsJ.Krishnamurtisaid,meditationbringsorderand"Thatorderisthe
orderoftheuniverse.Itisirrevocableanddoesn'tdependonanything."Meditationisthe
eternalessenceofnaturetakingonconsciousformwithinthemortalhumanframe.
Meditationisanadventureofselfdiscovery.Howcanyoulivewithoutknowingwhoor
whatyouare?Ifsomeoneasksyouwhoyouareduringtheday,youmaystateyourname,asif
atemporarylabelactuallymeanssomethingimportant.Askyourselfwhoyouarewhenyouare
indeepsleep,unconscious,andwithoutevenadreamtoprovethatyouexist.Askyourselfwho
youweretenmonthsbeforeyouwereborn,andwhoyouwillbejustonemomentafteryour
bodydies.Meditationincreasesawarenessofthenaturalphenomenathatisactuallygoingon
behindyourowneyes.Selfknowledgehasintrinsicvalue,evenwithouttheindescribablebliss
naturegenerouslyunleashesinthosewhopracticemeditationwithsincerityandpatience.
SittingMeditation
Classicsittingmeditationisavitalpartofallmeditationtraditionsandhastakenmany
forms,somemoreeffectivethanothers.Sometraditionalapproachesdemandthatthestudent
sitmotionlessforhoursonend,asifbecomingafrozenhumanstatueisthekeyto
enlightenment.Amorescientificapproachdoesnotmakethehumanbodyourenemy,but
ratherworkswithournaturalphysiologytoallowmoreintensemeditationwithlesseffortand
discomfort.Masochismisnotaneffectivepathtoselfrealization.
Beginbyfindingarelativelyquietplacetomeditatewhereyouwillnotbedisturbed.All
formsofclassicsittingmeditationshouldbedoneinsilence,withnobackgroundmusic.You
cansitcrossleggedAsianstyleonameditationpillowonthefloor,orusetheReclinerChair
Methoddescribedbelow.Eyesmaybefullyopen,halfopen,orslightlyopen,lettinginjusttwo
smallslitsoflight.Meditatingwitheyesfullyclosedisfineaslongastheroomremains
brightlylit,sothatenoughlightpassesthroughtheeyelidstokeepyourbrainalert.Iusea
powerful500watthalogentorchierelamptoilluminatemymeditationroom,andthislamp
projectsapleasingyelloworangeglowonmyclosedeyelids.
Meditatinginadarkenedroompresentsfundamentalphysiologicalproblems.Whenyousit
quietlywithyoureyesclosedindarkness,yourbraininterpretsthissituationasasignaltostart
shuttingitselfdownforsleep.Sleepinducinghormonessuchasmelatoninarereleasedatthe
sametimeyourheartrateandcirculationarereducedduetolackofmovement.Youfeelswept
awayonaseaofquietrelaxation.Thispleasantexperiencemaybelightsleepstatehypnosis,
notmeditationatall,andthusdoesyoulittlemoregoodthantakinganap.Meditationmeans
thatyouarerelaxedasifsleeping,butyourconsciousnessisfullyandintenselyawake.
Therefore,ifyoumeditatewithyoureyesclosedtheroommustremainbrightlylit,sothata
significantamountoflightpassesthroughtheeyelids.
TheSitStandMethod
Anotherdefenseagainstsleepinessistobreakupyourformalmeditationintothreefifteen
minutesessionsthatareeasyforyourbodytotolerate.Sitinquietmeditationforfifteen
minutes.Thenstandfortwominutes.Thensitforanotherfifteenminutes.Thenstandfortwo
minutes.Thensitforafinalfifteenminutesession.Thisfortynineminutetechniquecanbe
doneonce,twice,orthreetimesadayforintensepractice.Youcantimeyourselfbymakinga
taperecordingwiththesoundofabelloragongtoletyouknownwhentostandup,sitdown,
andbeginandendmeditationsessions.
Thesitstandmethodlargelyeliminatestheproblemofcramps,soreness,andnumbnessin
legsoftenexperiencedbystudentsattemptingtositforlongerperiodsoftimethanthebody
wasnaturallymadetosit.Thestandingbreaksincreasebloodcirculationwhichhelps
wakefulness.Comfortismaintainedandweavoidthelightsleepstatehypnosisproblem
mentionedearlier.
Thetransitionsbetweensittingandstandinginthismethodareanopportunitytopractice
meditationinaction.Normally,unlesswearephysicallyill,ourwakinglivesarespentin
motionandactivity.Meditationmustnotbethoughtofassomethingthatisonlydoneina
physicallyrigidstate,farremovedfromtheworldofworkandplay.Thegoalistobecome
meditativecontinuously,sothatyourverybeingbecomescosmicallyconsciouspermanently
andirrevocably.Whenyoustandupandsitdownduringmeditationsessions,feeltheinner
flowofmeditationcontinue.Observethatyourbodyismoving,butyourbasicexistential
identityremainsthesame.
TheReclinerChairMethod
SittingforlongperiodsoftimeinthetraditionalAsiancrossleggedpositionis
uncomfortableformostWesternstudentsofmeditation.Thisphysicaldiscomfort,whichdoes
nothinginitselftoaidmeditation,canbeentirelyeliminatedthroughtheuseofareclinerchair.
TheReclinerChairMethodisthemosthealthfulmethodofsittingasitavoidsblockingvital
bloodcirculationinthelegs,yethas100%ofthebenefitsofsittingonthefloorinthefulllotus
positionwithbackheldrigidlystraight.
Everylivingcellinyourbodyproducesenergy,andwhenyouincreasebloodflowtoyour
legsyouincreasetheamountofenergyproducedbyyourlegmuscles.Thisissignificant
becauseduringmeditationsessionsyoubecomeacutelyawarethatyourentirephysicalenergy
outputisoneunifiedphenomena.Usingthismethod,studentswhocannotcomfortablysitfor
twentyminutesonthefloorareoftenabletositforonefullhourorevenlongerwithoutback
pain,numbness,orlegcramps.IhighlyrecommendtheReclinerChairMethodasthefirst
choicesittingmethodforallWesternstudentsofmeditation.
Contrarytopopularbelief,sittingwiththebackheldrigidlystraightdoesnothingtoaid
meditation.Theenergythatrisesupthebackduringmeditationsessionsislikewaterina
gardenhose.Ifyougentlybendahoseintoamildarch,theflowofwaterwillnotbeaffectedin
anyperceptibleway.WiththeReclinerChairMethod,thebackisheldfairlystraightin
relationshiptoitself,butrestsatanoffangleinrelationshiptothefloorratherthanexactly
perpendiculartothefloorasinthefulllotusposition.
Inadditiontooursolidphysicalbodythathasweightandform,humanbeingshaveasecond
bodyofenergycreatedbytheactiveenergycontentofthetotalhumannervoussystem.The
electriclikeenergyofthesecondbodyisconstantlybeingwashedoutthroughourhandsand
feet.Thisenergylosscanbestoppedbylockingthehandsandfeettogether,creatingaclosed
loopofenergythatbuildsupovertime.Thisconservedenergyisneededtostrengthenthe
secondenergybodyandpushushigherintomeditation.TheReclinerChairMethodismore
effectivethanthefulllotuspositioninrecyclingsecondbodyenergy,andisthereforethefastest
actingandmostpowerfulsittingmethodavailable.
Withthismethodyousitinareclinerchairthatissettoamediumreclinedposition.Shoes
andsocksshouldberemovedforbestresults.Ifyourfeetgetcold,drapeatowelorlight
blanketoveryourfeettokeepthemwarm.Thebaresolesofyourfeetshouldbepressedagainst
eachotherandyourlegsrelaxed,kneespointedouttothesidesofthechair.Handscanbe
lockedtogether,layingcomfortablyinyourlap,orbetteryet,pressedagainstthecenterofyour
chest,oneontopoftheotheroverthecenterofyouremotionalheart.Energythatisnormally
washedoutthroughyourhandsisnowchanneleddirectlyintoyourheartcenter,whichfortifies
bothyourheartcenterandyourhara(bellycenter)simultaneously,asallofyourcentersare
connected.Theexactinternalwiringofyourcentersandtheirelectrochemicalrelationshipsto
correspondingnervebundlesinthebrainarenotcurrentlyunderstood.Fortunately,youdonot
havetoscientificallyunderstandthephenomenaofinternalpsychiccenterstoenjoytheir
benefits.
TheReclinerChairMethodcanbeusedinconjunctionwithanyofthesittingmeditation
techniquesdescribedonthiswebpage,andusuallyeliminatestheneedforthesitstandmethod
mentionedearlier.Onoccasion,Ihavehadsuchintensemeditationsessionsusingthis
techniquethatIlosttrackoftimeandmeditatedfortwohoursstraightwithouttheslightest
physicaldiscomfort.AttheendofthesessionIeasilystoodup,withnonumbness,soreness,or
physicaldiscomfortofanykind.
Whatdoyoudowhilesitting?
Themostbasicapproachtomeditationistorelax,letgo,anddonothing.Surrendertothe
momentandwatchyourselfasasilentwitness.Ifthoughtscometomind,thenobservethe
thoughtswithoutaddingtothembyyouractiveparticipation.Beadetachedandpassive
observerandsimplyfeelyourmostbasicfundamentalbeing.Thisinherentlyimmenseentity
hasbeencalled"thegroundofbeing."
TheenlightenedteacherJ.Krishnamurtiusedtheterm"choicelessawareness"todescribe
hisownmeditationmethod.Thismeansbeingconsciouswithoutthethoughtprocesschoosing
somethingsmallerthanyourvastfundamentalbeingtofocuson.Consciousnessislikeaglass
ballfloatinginthedepthofspace.Lightandsensoryinputflowsintothefieldofconsciousness
fromalldirections.Whenyouthink,youfocusyourattentiononjustoneareaofsensoryinput,
oryoucreateathoughtfrommemorystoredwithinthebrain.Withchoicelessawareness,you
arenotthinkingorremembering,justfloatingandlettingsensoryinputflowthroughyoufrom
alldirectionswithoutmanipulatingthatinputwiththethoughtprocess.Youliveinthemoment
andbecometotallyopen.Thisopennessattractsenergyfromallsidesoftheuniverse,which
pushesyouevenhigher.
Krishnamurti'schoicelessawarenessisthesame"methodlessmethod"thatZenmonkscall
"mindfulness."Hinduyogissometimescallit"onepointedvision."Amoreaccuratetermmight
beoneobjectvision.Thismeansthatyouobserveyourself,thesky,thetrees,andtheentire
universeasoneobject.Younolongerseetheworldasamultitudeofpartsanddisconnected
events.Instead,youaccuratelyperceivetheobserverandtheobservedasexactlythesame
thing,withnoartificialwallofseparationblockingthelimitsofconsciousness.Thissingular
entitybecomesacutelyawareofitselfinallitsvastness.Theonecosmicbeing,asKrishnamurti
said,is"beyondtime"andis"untouchedbythought."ThereveredsageRamanaMaharshi
describeditas"infinite"and"biggerthanthehumanrace."
Anotherusefulmethodistolendspecialawarenesstothebreathingprocessfeltinthebelly.
Justbehindandbelowyournavel(bellybutton)liesthehara,whichisfeltasanetherealballof
energy.Theharaisanaturalbalancingpointofyourconsciousness,whichcanbethoughtofas
thecenterofyourbeing.Subjectivelyandpoeticallyspeaking,theharaiswheremanand
universemeet.Itisthegatewaywherewemergeandbecomemanuniverseanduniverseman.
Noonereallyknowswhattheharaactuallyis,butwecanuseittoourfulladvantage.
Consciouslydevelopingapowerfulharacenteristhemostimportantsecretofmeditation.
Whenyourconsciousnessiscenteredintheharainsteadofthehead,yourthinkingprocess
slowsdown,andyoucanrelaxintheexpandedworldofbeing.Tryingtostopdistracting
thoughtsthroughwillpoweraloneleadstomorethoughtsandaselfdefeatinginnerstruggle.
Bytransferringyourcenterofawarenesstothehara,thoughtsgraduallydisappearontheirown
withoutinnerconflict.ThatiswhyyouseeBuddhastatueswithabigbelly.Itisanesoteric
messagethattheharaisthekeytomeditation.
Sitquietlyandfocusonyourbellyasitmovesinandoutasyoubreathe.Overtimethehara
pointwillbecomemorenoticeableasyourmeditationgrowsstronger.Suddenemergencies,
suchasnearcollisionsonthehighway,tendtoactivatetheharacenter.Weoftengeta"gut
reaction"fromsuddendanger.Youcannourishthefeelingoftheharabysimplypayingpassive
attentiontoit.Thisrelaxedconcentrationisveryclosetodoingnothing,yetitisstillasubtle
effort.Drinkingherbteaorhotwaterbeforemeditationsessionsrelaxesthegutandfacilitates
awarenessofthehara.vereatingandconsumingcolddrinkstendstomakeharaawareness
moredifficult.

Onecanalsoconcentrateontheheartcenterortheforeheadcenterduringformalmeditation
sessions.Theforeheadcentermaysimplybethefrontallobesofthebrain,whichareknownto
becomeactivatedbymeditation.Irefusetousethecornyold"thirdeye"label.Thehara,heart,
andforeheadcenterareallsomehowconnected,butIsuggestyoumaintainhealthyskepticism
astotheoldAsianexplanationsofexactlyhowtheyareconnected.Ifyouactivatetheheartor
foreheadcenter,theharawillautomaticallybecomeenergized.
SweepingHouse
Thiseasytechniqueisdesignedtoquicklysweeptheclutterofthoughtsfromyourmind.It
isoneofmyfavoritetechniques,andIamcontinuallyamazedathowmuchithelpswithso
littleeffort.Itcanbeusedatthestartofformalsittingmeditationsessions,oryoucancontinue
repeatingthemethodeverytenminutesduringthemeditationsessionitself.
Beginbyplacingbothhandsbehindyourhead.Restyourhandsatthepointwheretheneck
andheadmeet.Thenquicklysweepyourhandsoverthetopofyourhead.Imaginethatyour
handsaregatheringupallyourthoughtsastheymoveacrossthetopofyourskull.Whenyour
handsreachjustbelowyourforehead,useaflickingmotiontothrowyourhandsawayfrom
yourface.Feelasifallofyourthoughtsarebeingsweptoutofyourheadandthrownoutinto
emptyspace.Repeatthisrapidlybetweentenandthirtytimesasneeded.Whileaccomplishing
thesweepingmotion,feelthatyourcenterofconsciousnessisdroppingdownfromyourhead
toyourharacenterinyourbelly.Restinyourharacenterasyoucontinuetomeditate.
SweepingHousewithaKicker
Avariationofthesweepinghousetechniqueistoaddabreathingstageafterthesweeping
stageiscomplete.Placeyourrightpalm(reversehandsifyouarelefthanded)onyourupper
foreheadandplaceyourleftpalmonthebackoftherighthand.Nowtakefourtosevendeep
breathsthroughthenoseandfeelasifyouaredrawingtheairallthewaydowntoyourbelly.
Fullyexhaleinanormalandrelaxedfashionaftereachbreath.Thisbreathingtechniqueisnot
thebastrikamethodusedintraditionalyoga.Itisordinarydeepbreathingdonewithintensity
andfullness.Afterexhalingthelastbreath,sitmotionlessforafewmomentswithyourhands
stillonyourupperforehead.Cooperatewithanyupwardflowofenergyyoumayfeel.This
energeticmethodcanbedoneeverytenminutesduringanhourlongsittingmeditationsession
tocreateasafeandeffectivekundalinitechnique.
WARNING:Avoidtheuseofmantrasandlongrepetitivechanting.Repeatingthesamewords
overandoverisamethodofforgetfulnessthatwillborethemindandleadstothelightsleep
statehypnosisproblemmentionedearlier.Iwoulddefineamantraastherepetitionofwords,
usuallymeaningless,foraperiodoftwominutesormore.Mantrashavetraditionallybeenused
forhoursonendbystudentswhobecomementallycalmedanddulledbytheiruse.
Mantrashaveproventobemedicallyhelpfulforsome,becausetheycanunleashhormones
thattemporarilycalmthemind.Mantrasarehealthierthantakingtranquilizers,butare
fundamentallydifferentfrommeditation,whichreliesonthepurifyingfireofselfobservation.
Selfobservationisadifficulttaskthatrequirescourageandanenduranceofcharacterand
spirit.Realmeditationhastherealpayoffofleadingtoanaturallycalmandexpandedstateof
consciousness,notjustanartificiallysilencedmindthatremainsfundamentallyshallow.
ASelfInquiryIncantation
Theuseofmeaningfulincantationsisquitedifferentfrommantrause,andcanhelpbring
consciousnesstogreaterclarity.Wordscanhelpbecauseourmindsareorganichybridanalog
digitalcomputersthatprocesssymbols,andwordsaresymbols.Thewordsthatdeepen
meditationformastrategicquestioning,notamantra.
RamanaMaharshiwasabelovedIndianteacherwhoreachedenlightenmentthroughself
inquiry,byaskingthemostfundamentalquestion:"WhoamI?"Hereisaselfinquirytechnique
thatexpandsRamanaMaharshi'smethodtomakeitevenmorepowerful.Speakoutloudthe
followingincantationwithtotalintensitybeforeand/orduringformalsittingmeditation
sessions.Bytheterm"totalintensity,"Imeanthesamelevelofintensityyouwouldfeelifyou
werejusttoldthatyouonlyhadonehourlefttolive.Beemotional,beItalian,useyourhands
andbodylanguageifithelps.Pleadwiththeuniversethefollowingquestion.
Whatisthisballofconsciousness?Whatisthisballofconsciousness?Whatisthisballof
consciousness?
Youcanrepeatthisquestionmorethanthreetimesifthespiritmovesyou.Gowiththeflow.
Iamnotthislibraryofmemories.Ihavenohistory.Ihavenobiography.Iamthespace.Ihave
alwaysbeenthespace,andIcrushthesebondsofattachmentnow!
Whenspeakingthewords,Icrushthesebondsofattachmentnow!strikeyourupturnedleft
palmwiththebackofyourrighthandlikeahammerhittingananvil,uponsayingtheword
now!Reversehandsifyouarelefthanded.Donotoverdoitandhurtyourhands.Justhit
forcefullyenoughtoproduceasoftcrackingsound,whichaddsdramaandhelpswakeupthe
centralnervoussystem.
Resonatethewordsdeepinsideyouwithoutthinkingofintellectualexplanationsofwhoyou
are.Justaskingthisquestionispurifyingandennobling.Selfinquiryisaninnocentand
fundamentalendeavor,andyouneedaninnocentlynakedmindtoseerealitydirectlywithout
thedistortionsofmemoryandthought.Youcanusethisquestioningtechniqueonlyatthe
beginningofformalsittingmeditationsessions,oryoucanrepeattheincantationeveryten
minutesduringmeditationsessionstohelpkeepyourenergyfocused.
Overtimeyouwillfindthewordsbecomeatriggermechanismwhichallowsyouto
instantlydropallperipheralinvolvementandcomehometoyourprimordialbeing.Weallhave
thesameessentialbeing,andthatbeingiscosmic.Nooneisleftoutofthisuniverse.Ifyouare
partoftheuniverse,youarealloftheuniverse!Thesmall'I'isdropped,andonlythebig'I'
remains.Thenyoucanhaveagoodbellylaugh,andthatisthewayIendmostofmyown
meditationsessions.ImeditateuntilIstartlaughingfromtheharacenter.ThenIknowIam
cooked!
Agentler,lessrigorousapproachtothismethodistomentallyrepeatthequestion,Whatis
thisballofconsciousness?aboutadozentimeswithoutvocalization.Thissmallamountof
repetitionwillenhanceandcenteryourconsciousnessratherthandullit.Formanystudentsthis
softerapproachisallthatisneeded.
Wordexercisesarenotforeveryone.Ifyoutrythemandfeelnothing,thenconcentrateon
othermethodsfirst.Asyouslowlychangeyourmethodswillchangewithyou.Amethodthatis
unusablenowmaybeofgreathelptoyouinthefuture.
MirrorGazing
Somestudentsfindthattheuseofamirrorvirtuallydoublesthepoweroftheirmeditation
sessions.Sitinfrontofamirrorandgazeintothereflectedimage,settingyourfocusjustabove
theheadsothatyouviewthewallbehindyou.Lookingdirectlyatthefaceoreyesmaybetoo
intenseanexperienceformanystudents,andmayleadtosillyconcernaboutpersonal
appearance.Usingthistechniqueoneonlyviewsthephysicalbodyasashadowyperipheral
silhouette.Continuegazingfortwentyminutes,allowingtheeyestodeeplyrelaxtheirfocus.
Enjoythemirrorgazingfortwentyminutes,thenstandfortwominutes,maintainingthe
heightenedawarenessasyouchangeposition.Thenresumesittinginquietmeditationfora
furthertwentyminuteswitheyesclosed.Thismirrorgazingtechniquetakesfortytwominutes,
butmaybeextendedtoonefullhourifdesired,witheyesopenandeyesclosedsections
remainingequal.Pleasepracticethismirrorgazingmethodnomorethanonceaday.Strong
meditationtechniquesaremedicineandyoushouldnotoverdose.
Mirrorgazingisaformoftratak,theancientyogicpracticeoffixingone'sgazeonanobject
withtotalintensity.Youmaypracticetratakbystaringatacandle'sflame,adistanttree,the
pictureofanenlightenedteacher,oranyobjectthatispleasanttoview.Whilepracticingtratak,
onemustremainmotionlessandallowoneselftobecometotallyabsorbedbytheobjectyouare
viewing.
EyeGazing
Topracticethistechniqueyoumusthaveapartneroftheoppositesex,preferablysomeone
youlove.Itissimilartothemirrorgazingtechniquedescribedaboveexceptthatyoulookinto
theeyesofyourlovedone.Sittogether,staringsoftlyintoyourpartnerseyesfortwenty
minutes.Thenstandsilentlyfortwominutes.Thensitinquietmeditationwitheyesclosedfora
furthertwentyminutes.Thistechniquecanreadilyleadtoromanticintimacy,sopickyour
partnercarefully.
CatharticDancingMeditation
CatharticDancingMeditationisacosmicpowerhousethatcanbepracticedbystudentsin
goodhealthwithanormalcardiovascularsystem.Asitisaphysicallystrenuousexercise,one
shouldgetacompletephysicalexaminationbyacompetentphysicianbeforeexperimenting
withthistechnique.Explainthemethodtoyourdoctorandaskifitwouldbephysically
dangerousforyoutodo.Heprobablywon'tunderstandyourmotivesforwantingtodoit,buthe
cantellyouifhethinksyourheartcanhandleitsafely.Aswithjoggingormountainclimbing,
youmustpracticethismethodatyourownrisk.
CatharticDancingMeditationissimilartoRajneeshDynamicMeditationbutissimpler,
easiertodo,andismorelikelytokeepyouinterestedmonthaftermonth,yearafteryear.
Neithermethodisreallynew.Sufis,Druids,andcountlessotheresotericandtribalcultures
haveusedsimilartechniquesforcenturies.MoststudentswillbenefitfromdoingCathartic
DancingMeditationdailyforaperiodofbetweenonetofiveyears.Afterfiveyearsithas
usuallydoneitsjob,andthestudentcanthenconcentrateonmoresubtlemeditationmethods.
CatharticDancingMeditationchangesyoufromheadtotoe,andbenefitsalltheother
meditationmethodsyoupractice.Italsohelpsdevelopapowerfulharacenter.Iamreluctantto
bringupthesubjectofkundalinibecauseofthecommonmisrepresentationsofits
manifestations.[Seethedefinitionnearthebottomofthepage.]Ifeelcompelledtoinformyou,
however,thatthisphysicallyvigorousmeditationmethodisthemostpowerfulkundalini
awakeningtechniqueIknowof.CatharticDancingMeditationhasthreestagesandlastsfor40
minutes.
Stage#1(tenminutes)Startbystandingwithyoureyesclosedandbreathedeepandfast
throughyournosecontinuously.Ifyouareonlyphysicallycapableofdoingdeepbreathingfor
fiveminutes,thenreducethelengthofthefirststage.Rememberthatyouaredoingthismethod
tohelpyourmeditation,nottophysicallyinjureyourself.Allowyourbodytomovefreelyas
youbreathe.Youcanjumpupanddown,swaybackandforth,oruseanyphysicalmotionthat
helpsyoupumpmoreoxygenintoyourlungs.
Stage#2(twentyminutes)Thesecondstageisacelebrationofcatharsisandwildand
spontaneousdancing.Totallyletgoandactasanancienthumandancingintribalcelebration.
Energetic,nonverbalbackgroundmusicisrecommended.Africantribaldrummusicworks
especiallywell.Youmayrollonthegroundanddostrangespontaneousbodymovements.
Allowyourbodytomovewithinthelimitsofnothurtingyourselforothers.Screamingis
encouraged.Youmustactoutanyangeryoumayhaveinasafeway,suchasbeatingtheearth
withyourhands.Allofthesuppressedemotionsfromyoursubconsciousmindaretobe
released.Ifatanytimeduringthesecondstageyoufeelthatyourenergylevelisstartingto
decline,youcanresumedeepandfastbreathingtogiveyourselfaboost.
Stage#3(tenminutes)Thisstageiscompletequietandrelaxation.Flopdownonyourback,get
comfortable,andjustletgo.Beasifadeadmantotallysurrenderedtothecosmos.Enjoythe
tremendousenergyyouhaveunleashedinthefirsttwostages,andbeasilentwitnesstoit.
Observethefeelingoftheoceanflowingintothedrop.Becometheocean.
Thisspontaneousdancingmeditationtechniqueisintendedtogrowwiththestudentand
changeasthestudentchanges.Afterafewyearsofvigorouslypracticingthismethod,thefirst
twostagesofthemeditationmaydropawayspontaneously.Youmaythenbeginthemeditation
bytakingafewdeepbreathsandimmediatelyenterthedeeptranquilityofthethirdstage.If
practicedcorrectly,thismethodishealthgivingandfun.
AlmostallWesternersareheadorientedandemotionallyrepressed,soachaotic,
spontaneous,andemotionallycleansingtechniquelikeCatharticDancingMeditationisvitalfor
seriousprogresstobemadequickly.Thephysicalbenefitsofthistechniqueobviateanyneed
forhathayogaortraditionalkundaliniyogamethods.IstronglyrecommendthattheCathartic
DancingMeditationtechniqueonlybeusedincombinationwithtraditionalquietsitting
meditationmethods.Whileactivemeditationmethodscanbeveryhelpful,theyarenot
completesystemsinthemselves.Ifyouonlypracticeactivemeditationtechniques,youwillbe
doingonlyhalfoftheinternalworkthatneedstobedone.
WARNING:Obviously,onemustpracticeCatharticDancingMeditationinasafelocationand
notneartheedgeofacliff,oronahardsurfacewhereonemightfallandbreakone'sskull.A
largeroomorhallwiththickcarpetingisgood.Outdoorsintheearlymorningonasoftand
welltendedlawnwithgroupparticipationisbest.Doitonanemptystomachandavoidfalling
intodangerousobjectssuchaswindows.Itisallowabletobrieflyopenone'seyesoccasionally
tomaintainyourlocation.Createasafetyzonearoundyourdancingandspontaneousbody
movements.Becourteoustoneighborsanddeletethescreamingifitwillbeheardbyothers.
TotalAwareness
Thisadvancedmethodisrecommendedforthosestudentswhohavepracticedother
meditationtechniqueslongenoughtoattainafeelingoffloatingbodilessness.Beginthis
methodbysittingwitheyesfullyopen.Softlygazeatablankwall,ormorepreferably,lookout
awindowatadistantvista.Withthemind'seye(theeyeofconsciousnessbehindyourbody's
purelyphysicaleyes)defineyourfieldofvisualconsciousnessasacircle.Imaginethetopof
yourfieldofconsciousnessasthe12o'clockpositiononaclock,andthebottomofyourfield
ofconsciousnessasthe6o'clockposition.Withyourmind'seye,notyourphysicaleyes,slowly
sweepyourattentionclockwisefromthetop12o'clockpositiondowntothe6o'clockposition,
thenontothe9o'clockposition,andthenuptothe12o'clockposition.Repeatthisprocessin
thecounterclockwisedirection.Mentallystraintoobservetheveryouteredgesofyourvisual
fieldofconsciousnesswherethelightofconsciousnessturnsintothedarknessofemptyspace.
Goonrepeatingthisprocessuntilyoufeelyouhavehadenough.
Thisisanpowerfulawarenessexercise,notaneyeexam,andthatiswhyitisrecommended
onlyforstudentswithanumberofyearsofexperienceinmeditation.Afterpracticingthis
methodforsometime,youcanbegintotransformthemethodintooneofsuddenexpansionof
awareness.Youcangaintheabilitytoperceivethecomplete360degreesoftheouteredgesof
yourconsciousnessinonejump.Thisfeelslikesteppingback,literallyoutofyourownmind,
andlookingbackintoyourmindfromacloseandfriendlydistance.Youbecomeidentified
withtheVoid,andtheperceptionofdeepspacearoundtheflameofconsciousnessmakesthe
flamegrowbrighter.Thisesotericmethodisdifficulttofullyexplain,andthereareaspectsofit
thatyouwillhavetolearnonyourownthroughpractice.
Onediscoversfromthistechniquethatourvisualfieldofconsciousnessisroughlyfootball
shaped,withgreaterwidththanheight.Thisisbecauseourbrainsevolvedoutofaneedtolook
forfoodanddangermoreonthehorizontalaxisthanontheverticalaxis.Tosurviveyouneed
tobeawareofwhatisonyourrightandleftmorethanwhatisdirectlybelowyourfeetorabove
yourhead.Thispowerfulawarenessmethodhasadeprogrammingeffectthatallowsoneto
appreciatetheplayofexistenceasaneverchangingdrama.Youfeelasifyouareinit,butalso
outofitandbeyondit.
HowlongshouldImeditate?
Thetimeapersonneedstospendinformalmeditationsessionstogainmaximumbenefit
dependsoneverchangingindividualcircumstances.Ifyouaremeditatingwithagroup,you
willgainfromthegroupenergyandgofurtherwithlesseffort.Ifyouarefortunateenoughto
belivingclosetoanenlightenedteacher,youmaybeabletoabsorbsomeofhishighenergy
withoutanyeffortatall.Ifyouaremeditatingalone,withoutsupportfromothers,thenyouwill
havetodoalltheheavyliftingyourself.
Mygeneralrecommendationisthatasinglefortyminutemeditationsessionpracticedevery
dayisaminimumeffort,andscientistshavefoundthatamountofmeditationisenoughto
physicallyenlargeportionsofthebraininvolvedinawareness.Meditationonlyworksforthose
whoarehungryforit,andifyoucannotsparefortyminutesadayyouwillprobablynotgain
substantialbenefits.Ifyouwishtogofaster,withclearlyrecognizableprogress,thenIsuggest
twoorthreeformalmeditationsessionseveryday.Aspecificrecommendationforyoung,
physicallyfitbeginnerswouldbetopracticeCatharticDancingMeditationinthemorningand
oneofthequietsittingmeditationsatnight.
Itisofparamountimportancetopracticemindfulnessthroughouttheday.Tobeofanyreal
value,meditationmustbecomeafulltimewayoflivingratherthanastrictlysegregated
activity.Choosemethodsthatmakeyoufeelmorepositive.Meditationshouldbeaformof
cosmichedonism,notapenanceonemustperformasanobligation.
Thewantingmechanism
Whatkeepsusdivertedfrommeditationinthehereandnow?Lookinsideyourmindand
findthewantingmechanism.Thewantingmechanismcontinuouslyconstructsimagesofnew
experiencestheminddesires,derivedfrommemoriesofthepast.Themindbecomesenamored
withthesenewfantasyimagesandisdivertedawayfromwhatactuallyis,hereandnow.The
eternalcosmicconsciousnessexistsrightnow,neverinthefuture,andneverinthepast.Future
andpastareillusoryanddonotexistinanyrealphysicalformoutsideofprojectionsofourown
minds.Whatexistsnowiseverything,andyoualreadyownit.
Wantingispartoflife,creativity,familybuilding,wealthcreation,andthesurvivalinstinct.
Inthesenseofpreservingthehumanraceonplanetearth,wantingisaverygoodthing.Inthe
senseofanindividualbecominganawakenedBuddha,wantingisahindrance.Wantingcreates
duality,thewanterandthatwhichisdesired.SiddharthaGautamataughtthatdesireisaroot
causeofsuffering.Thequestionsis,howmanyofuscanandshouldtakethelaststepsto
enlightenmentbydroppingthewantingmechanismentirely?
Notwantingmeansnotwantinganything,notjustdroppingthedesireforsex,money,and
power,butalsodroppingthedesireforjustice,family,andnation.Itisnotwhatyouwantthat
matters,itisthewantingmechanismitselfthatisthebarrier.Deepmeditationisagiantleap
beyondlogicandthenormsofsociety.Itisdissolvingintoinfinityandoblivionandnotcoming
back.Veryfewhumanshavebeenabletomanagethatradicaltransformationtotally,andthatis
whyenlightenmentwillalwaysbeanextremelyrarephenomena.Endingthewanting
mechanismbringstimetoahalt,annihilatesthefutureandthepast,andexpandsconsciousness
tothefarreachesoftheuniverse.
Ifeveryoneintheworldsuddenlybecameenlightened,inmyopinion,thehumanracewould
cometoanend.Therewouldbealackofsufficientdesiretokeeppeoplemotivatedenoughto
havefamilies,raisechildren,growcrops,andprotectsocietyfromallthenaturalthreats,from
diseasetoecologicaldisaster.Thatsaid,Icertainlybelievethatenlightenmentisadesirable
goalforthosewhoreallywantit,butyoucanseetheimpossibilityofthesituation.Whenyou
wantenlightenment,yourwantingmechanismisstillactiveandenlightenmentwillnothappen
toyou.Sowecanallbreatheeasythateveryoneintheworldwillnotbecomeenlightened,allat
thesametime,anytimesoon.
Askyourselfthesequestions:
1)Ifyouwantsomething,howcanyoustopthinkingaboutit?
2)Ifyoudon'twantanything,whatistheretothinkabout?
3)Ifyoudon'twantanything,isthereanythingtobeangryabout?
4)Ifyoudon'twantanything,isthereanythingtomakeyouunhappy?
Rocksandotherinanimateobjectsdonotwantandtheydonotsuffer,buttheyare
unconsciousanddead.Howdoesalivinghumanbeingenteranowantingstatewhilefully
consciousandfilledtothebrimwithlifeenergy?Thatistheincrediblecontradictionand
difficultyofbecomingenlightened.
Atsomepointinyourpracticeofmeditationyoumayseethatwantingisabarriertofurther
progress.Onlywhenyoucanperceivethisveryclearlyshouldyoutrytostepbackfromthe
wantingmechanism,otherwiseyouwillsuppressdesiresandleadafalselife.Steppingback
fromthewantingmechanismisaformofintenseselfobservation,notsuppression.Youdrop
desireswhenyourealizetheyarepainful;theyareliterallycausingyoupain.Youfindcomfort
andsafetyintheVoid,itscertaintyandindestructibility.
Thingstodo,thingstoavoid,andthingstoconsider
Workingroupswhenpossibleasgroupenergycanmultiplytheenergyofanindividual
manytimesover.Rememberthatmeditationisanescapetoreality,notanescapefrom
reality.Avoidanyguruorgroupthatasksyoutodenytruth.
Don'tlimityourselftojustoneteacher.Thesingleguruapproachcanleadtocult
thinkingwithitssmallmindednessandusvs.themsyndrome.
Hathayogacanmakeyoumoreenergeticandfitforlongmeditationsessions,butdonot
takeittooseriously,orbecomeobsessedwithextremegymnastics.Theeasyandbasic
hathayogaexercisesworkbest.Extremekundaliniyogaexercisesthatinvolvefast
breathinginbizarrepositionsmaybedangerousandarenotrecommended.Turningthe
temperatureofyouryogaroomupto100degrees,acurrentyogafad,isasillywasteof
energy.Menshouldneversitwiththeirheelspressedbehindtheirtesticles,assome
yogisandBuddhistmonksinstruct,asthispracticeisunhealthfulandcancausesterility.

Havingaseparateroomusedexclusivelyformeditationcanbeveryhelpful.Itis
possibletobuildupavibrationinaroomsothatthemomentyouenterityourmind
becomessilentandreadyfordeepmeditation.
Avoidfads(seeNewAgetherapistskillgirl)andcomplicatedphilosophiesthatgiveyour
mindmoretothinkabout.Meditationisastepbeyondthethoughtprocess.No
philosophycanadequatelydescribeman'splaceintheuniverse.Concentrateon
meditationinthismomentandnotonancientscriptures.Manyoldscriptureswere
writtenbymadmenandfools,andhavegainedrespectfromsocietysimplybecausethey
aresooldanddusty.
Foodshouldnotbemadethefundamentalbasisofyourpractice.Itisessentialto
maintainanutritionallyadequatedietwithoutbecomingafoodfanatic.Mostpeoplefind
thatasemivegetariandietsupplementedwithdairyproductsandeggsisgenerallybest
formeditation,butnotessential.MostTibetanlamasandAsianZenmonkseatmeat,so
obviouslymeatconsumptionisnotaseriousobstacletocosmicconsciousness.Thereis
noscientificevidencetosuggestthatavegetariandietextendslifespanorimproves
health.Nationswiththehighestlongevityrates,suchasJapan,Sweden,andAustralia,
areallpopulatedbyavidmeateaters.
Fastingisawasteoftimeandwillweakenyouphysically.LiketakingLSD,fasting
createsstrangelyentertainingshorttermexperiencesbutproducesnolongtermbenefits
andcancausepermanentneurologicaldamage.Whenyoufastyourbodyliterallyfeeds
 uponitself.Ifyourbrainneedsproteinforrepairwork,yourbodywillbedirectedtoeat
awayitsownownmuscles,orworse,yourownperipheralnervecells.Peoplefast
becausetheirheadsfeelclutteredwiththoughtsandtheyhopeplannedstarvationwill
purifytheirminds.Thehumanbodyismadeofmud(wateranddirt),sotheideaofa
perfect,spirituallypurifiedphysicalbodyismisguided.Thewaytoendthecluttered
feelingistochangethewayyourbrainandenergybodyfunction,andthiscanbe
accomplishedthroughtheuseofmeditationtechniques.
Idonotrecommendsolitarymeditationretreatslongerthansevendaysduration.To
maintainhealthonemusteatabalanceddietandgetrigorousphysicalexerciseevery
day.Tomaintainfullbrainfunctiononemustalsogetmentalexercisethrough
interactionwithotherhumanbeingsandthroughproblemsolving.Ifyoumeditatein
isolationformonthsoryearscontinuously,yourbodyandbrainwillbecome
deconditionedandatrophy.Youmaydevelopstrangehallucinationsanddelusions,and
comebackphysicallyweakerwithameasurablylowerIQ.
Avoiddrugsandalcohol.CarlosCastanedawasatalentedfictionwriterwhomisled
manypeople.Drugsarenotaneffectivepathtoenlightenment,buttheyareaquickpath
tomiseryandinsanity.
Havesexwhenyouwishanddonotforcecelibacyuponyourselfinthehopesthatitwill
leadtoenlightenment.Tomeditateonemustbeinaverynaturalandrelaxedstateof
mind,withoutrepressionortension.Celibacycanonlybeofvalueifitoccurs
spontaneously,withouteffort.Themajorityoffamousguruswhohaveclaimedcelibacy
publiclyhavepracticedintercourseprivately.Whymakesexabigsecret,andwhyhave
twofaces?Manyfullyenlightenedhumanshavehadsexualrelationsevenafter
enlightenment.
Practicechoicelessawareness(oneobjectvision,mindfulness)throughouttheday.
Meditationmustbecomeascontinuousandspontaneousasbreathing.
Don'tmakemeditationacompetition,anddropanyhiddenagendayoumayhavetouse
ittocontrolothers.Legitimatemotivesformeditationarethedesirefortranquilityand
ecstasy,freedomfromsuffering,andtheadventureofselfexploration.
Don'tturnyourmeditationintoabusiness.Peoplewhomakeaprofitfromintercourse
haveturnedsomethingbeautifulintosomethingugly.Thosewhomakemoneyfrom
meditationhavetransformedanoblepathintoasordidbackalley.Whetheryouarea
sexualprostituteora"spiritual"prostitute,thefundamentalqualityofyourmindisthe
same.
Becompletelyhonestandhavejustoneface,nottwo.
Oneofthemostdangerousthoughtsyoucanhaveistothinkthatyouhavelostyourego!
Foreveryactionthereisareaction,notjustintheoreticalphysics,butinordinaryhuman
lifeaswell.Whenyoucreatepositiveactionsyouwilleventuallyreappositivereactions
foryourselfandforothers.Inthiswaywhatwecallethicsandmoralityarewoveninto
theveryfabricoftheuniverse,rightdowntothesubatomiclevel.
Mygeneralrecommendationisthatmeditationshouldbeusedasapositiveadditiontoa
normalfulllife,notasareplacementforanormalfulllife.
Enlightenment
Itismypersonalbeliefthatfull,dramatic,historic"enlightenment"islargelyabiological,
DNAdrivenqualityofthebrainthatcannotbeachievedbyanyamountofeffort.J.
Krishnamurtioncestatedthathewasbornempty,whileotherswerebornfull.Hisstateof
cosmicemptiness(theVoid)wasnottheresultofmethod,butwasafreegiftofnature.Ialso
believe,however,thatyoucanincreasethepowerofyourconsciousnessinthesamewayyou
increasethesizeofyourmusclesthroughexercise.Thehighenergyofmeditationachievedby
themajorityoffamousTibetanlamasandZenmonkscomeslargelythroughdeterminedeffort
andpractice,notfromapurelynaturalborngift.
Thefastestwaytomakeprogresstowardaconstantstateofcosmicconsciousnessistolive
inthecompanyofanenlightenedhumanbeing.Enlightenedteacherscanexpandyour
consciousnesswithouttheslightesteffortonyourpart;allyouneedtodoistobeopentothe
spontaneoustransferofenergy.Fullyenlightenedhumanareveryrare.Theremayhavebeenas
fewassevenfullyenlightenedteachersinthenowpast20thcentury.Idonotknowofanyfully
enlightenedteachersstilllivingtoday,butthatdoesnotmeantheydonotexist.More
enlightenedteacherswillbecominginthefuture,anditisyourchallengetofindthemwhile
avoidingthemanyfakes.
Whenitcomestogurus,evenfullyenlightenedgurus,takethebestandleavetherest.No
humanbeinghaseverbeenperfectandwithoutmajorflawsandlimitations.Onlymythscan
giveyoutheillusionofperfection.Thatiswhymostofsocietycontinuestoworshipinvented
mythsratherthanacceptrealityasitis,wartsandall.Enlightenedhumansarevastlyexpanded
humanbeings,notperfecthumanbeings.
Itismyeducatedopinionthatthetraditionalgurudisciplerelationshipisnowpassand
inappropriateforWesternstudentsofmeditation.TheEasthasalwayshadanimperialand
authoritarianmodelfortheteacherstudentrelationship.TheWestmustdevelopitsownmore
democratictraditionsbasedonscienceandfact,notonmythandtradition.Beadevoted
disciple,butmakeyourguruthetotallifeexperienceitself,notjustasinglefalliblehuman
being.Usehumanteachersastemporarytoolsonyourpathtoexpandedconsciousness,butdo
notallowyourselftobecomethecaptiveservantofonefalliblehumanmind.
*Definition:kundalini(kndeln)nounofHinduorigin.TheancientHindusdefined
kundaliniasaprocesswherebysexualenergythatliesdormantnearthebaseofthespine,in
the"Muladharachakra,"isactivatedanddirectedupwardtothetopofthehead.Ascientific,
neurologybasedexplanationforthekundaliniexperiencehasnotyetbeendiscovered.Myown
unproventheoryisthatallofthe"chakras"andthekundalinichannelitselfmayresidewithin
thehumanbrain,withonlycorrespondingpointslocatedinthelowerbodyandspinalcolumn.
Thereal"Muladharachakra"(sexcenter)mayresideasabundleofnervesinthebrain,and
kundalinipracticemaysimplytransfertheneuralenergyofourpowerfulsexdriveupwardto
thehighercentersofthebrainwhichcreatecosmicconsciousness.Thiswouldexplainwhy
doctorshavenotbeenabletofindanyphysicalevidenceofchakrasinthelowerbody.The
latestresearchshowsthatthe"subtlebody"thatmysticsclaimis"immaterial"isjustanillusion
createdbythematerialhumanbrainitself.
*Note:ChristopherCalder'swebsitenolongerexists,andthispageisarchivedhere.
*Note:Opinionsexpressedonthispagemustbeviewedastheideasofanordinarystudentof
meditation.WhileItrulybelieveeverythingIsay,youshouldnotbelieveanythingunlessyou
seeit,feelit,andknowitforyourself.Imakenoclaimsofinfallibility.InfactIabsolutely
claimfallibility.Also,thisauthorsuffersfromdyslexia.Ifyoufindanyspellingorpunctuation
mistakesinanyofmyessays,pleaseletmeknow.
AddendumThewantingmechanismenlightenmentphenomenamess
Areaderaskedhowyouknowifyouareenlightened.Hepointedoutthatmanydepressed
peoplehavelostallwantsanddesires,buttheyarenotenlightened.Thereaderalsowondered
howenlightenedpeoplecansurvivewithoutdesires.Myanswerispastedbelow.
Yourquestionisveryaptandspotsaholeinmyessay.Youhavetosetasidethewanting
mechanismtoexperiencesatori,aglimpseofenlightenment.Peoplewhoarefullyenlightened
areessentiallybornthatway.Fullenlightenmentisageneticoddity,notaresultofgreateffort.
Theenlighteneddohavewantsanddesireseveniftheydonotfeeltheirownegos.Theiregos
arehiddentothem.
Weallneedanegotosurvive.PerhapsIshouldaddaparagraphortwotofurtherexplain
this,butitiscomplexandcontradictory,andsofarIhavenotbeeninspiredtowadeintothat
mess.Thebrainfindsawayforthebodytosurvive,enlightenedornot.Thebrainislikea
plant;itchangesshape,form,andfunctiontocontinuelife,likeavinegrowingaroundan
obstacletoreachthelight.
Inmyopinion"enlightenment"andthefeelingthatyouare"enlightened"isanegotrip.
Thosewhothinktheyareenlightenedhavebecomepretentiousanddelusional.Rajneesh
thoughthewasagreatthinkerbecausehewassospacedout,buthewaswrongaboutalmost
everythinganddrivenbypersonalambitionandgreed.Hewasfullofenergyandlight,butthat
doesnotequalwisdomandvirtue.EnlightenmentintheEasternsenseofthewordisarare
brainphenomena,nota"spiritual"phenomenaatallbecausetherearenospirits.AsU.G.
Krishnamurtisaid,"Thereisnoonetheretotellyouthatyouareenlightened."
Anotherreaderasksaseriesofquestionsaboutsoul,themeaningoflife,andhowonecanbe
freeoffearandego.
Idon'tthinklifewilleverbeconvenientforyouorforanyofus.Weareallinthesameboat.
Ifyougetridoffear,thenwhatmechanismwillkeepyoualive?Willyoustandinfrontofa
speedingcarbecauseyouhavenofearofdeath?Fearisaneededdefensemechanismtoprotect
yourcolonyofcells.
Theideaof"ego"hasbeenblownwayoutofproportionbyphonygurusandpsychiatrists.
Youcanbreakdownthebrainintotermsofindividualcells.Yourbrainisacolonyofcells,just
astherestofthebodyisacolonyofcells.Cellswanttosurvive.Abladeofgrasswantsto
survive.Egoisaprojectionofmanycells,allwantingtosurvive.Alivingcellhastowantto
live,otherwisewhatwillprotectit?Whatwillfeedit?
J.Krishnamurti,Rajneesh,MeherBaba,Gurdjieff,allhadkingsizedegos.Youcannotget
ridofegoexceptthroughphysicaldeathofthebrain,orthroughamassivestrokethatputsyour
brainintoacoma.Gurushavegoneonandonaboutthehorribleego,butwithoutegowedie.
Thegurusthemselveshavebeentremendouslyegocentric,greedy,dishonest,hypocritical,but
theegolesshypetheyprofessisagreatwaytogetmoneyfromdisciples.Weallhaveegos,and
itiseasytomakeusfeelguiltyforhavinganegoandselfinterest.Whenyoumakedisciples
feelguilty,itiseasiertosqueezemoneyfromthem.Rajneeshevenusedthemythof
egolessnessasawaytoseducewomen.Heclaimedthathavingintercoursewithhimwould
helpthemattainegolessnessinafuturelife.Thereisnofuturelife,andthereisnoegoless
state,onlystatesofmindwhereyoudonotnoticeyourego.Egoisthere,whetheryoufeelitor
not.Hiddenegosaretheworstegotrapofall.Jesus,Siddhartha,andalltheothergreatleaders
hadbigegos,andtheyneededbigegosfortheirownselfpromotion.Thatispartofwhatmade
themfamous.Theyallpromotedthemselves,soldthemselvestothepublic.
TheenlightenmentoftheBuddhadidnothelphimfindtruth,onlycosmicconsciousness,
whichisanexperience,nottruth.Cosmicconsciousnessislikeagiantexclamationpoint(!).It
makeseverythingseemrealerthanreal.Youcangetasimilarheightenedsenseofrealityfrom
takingdrugs.EvencheapstreetdrugslikemethmakepeoplefeellikeGod,asiftheyarein
controlofeverything.Enlightenmentisnotacureall,andthewordsofthe"enlightened"have
almostalwaysbeenwronganduntrue.Wisdomismorethanjustanexclamationpoint,itis
manysentencescontainingprovablefactsthattellyouhowlifeworks.
Youneedtocombinebothobjective,scientificallyvalidatedfactswiththeopennessand
relaxationofcosmicconsciousnesstogetclosertoreality.Ifyoujustrelyoncosmic
consciousnessandpullideasoutofyourass,orborrowthemfromoldscriptures,thenyouwill
becomeasillyfoollikeRajneesh.Thethingshesaidandreallybelievedwereridiculous.The
ancientscripturesare90%worthlessaswell.
ThereisnopositiveevidenceforeitherGodorsoul,butbillionsofhumananimalsbelievein
both.Whyshouldanyonebelieveinsomethingwithoutashredofpositiveevidencein
support?Peoplebelieveinthosemythsbecauseitmakesthemfeelgood,butfindingtruthis
aboutfindingoutwhatreallyis,notindevelopingconvenient,selfservingliesthatmakeus
feelbetter.Theideaofsoulisatremendousromanticegotripinitself.
Youhavetodecidewhatyouwant,therealtruthormentalopiumtotakethestingoutofthe
factthatexistencehasnootherpurposethanpureentertainment.Ifwearenotbeing
entertained,thenthereisnopointinanyofusbeinghere.Wefindlifesomehowentertaining,
despiteallthesuffering.Movieswithoutsufferingandconflictaresoboringtheyputthe
audiencetosleepanddon'tmakemoneyattheboxoffice.Religionisphony,inventedtheatrics,
andlifeitselfisorganic,biologicaltheatrics,butthereisreallynomeaningorpointtoanyofit,
otherthanthefactthatitisengrossingandentertaining.Itisanovelthatyoucannotputdown,
andthatkeepsmostofuswantingtolivedespiteitall.
Sincerely,Christopher