This month we are looking at the breadth and depth of meditative practices.

Styles or types of meditation deal with the breadth of it…
The different styles of meditation usually emphasize different objects of meditation. These various types are all at the base level of
reality, and there is a great breadth of the number of such practices which are possible to pursue. Each of the following have
several health, religious, and artistic practices that claim them.
•        Sensations are experienced at the Base Realms stage.
•        Mechanics of breathing is at the Base Realms stage.
•        Emotional attitudes are at the Base Realms stage.
•        Reciting the syllables of mantra is at the Base Realms stage.
•        Visualized images are at the Base Realms stage.
•        Streams of pictures and words are at the Base Realms stage.


Stages of every one of those types of meditation deal with depth…
Each of the styles or types of meditation (above) align with the Gross level of reality, and their Gross form must be transcended if
one is to progress to the Subtler, deeper stages.
•        Sensation shifts to awareness of the instruments of sensation (the senses and mind itself).
•        Breath awareness is dropped as one encounters the underlying energy itself.
•        Emotional attitudes give way to serenity beyond the mind.
•        The syllables of mantra fade away, as one becomes absorbed in the deep feeling and meaning.
•        Visualized images give way to meditation on light itself, along with sense perception.
•        Streams of pictures and words are dropped, as the subtle elements are explored.

Actually, all of these methods can eventually take you beyond human influential areas. The point is that you must be seeking that
which is beyond these realms. Few realize that there is something “real” to seek beyond what is acknowledged by the health,
religious, and artistic practices. In a couple of months we will talk about “non-manipulative” opening of the door and seeking.

Okay then, in ordinary meditation where are you at any particular time?  
Well… let’s cover a few common ideas.

If you have read of the various “hosts” of a particular “realm” you will encounter when you are pursuing a deep internal “path” or
“meditation”, you simply must let go of the idea that they were “plotting the course” through the whole of the inner realms. Instead,
realize that they “created” an inner landscape and if a devotee desires to follow that person’s writings… they are “willingly
recreating” the fore-traveled landscape… not going past the broad depth of the base-er few realms. While this endeavor has it’s
purposes, it is not the point to seeking the “Kingdom of Heaven”.  While Kabbalists understand that they are constructing, to a
large extent, they feel they are doing so in an informed manner.

Indeed, by this same human ability, many fearful internal travelers have “created” awful and terrifying realms with all kinds of
boogie men… in a similar way to how they “create” their dreams when they sleep… unconsciously! There is more to be said in this
area, but it is a side issue to the point of “Finding the Door…” and I hope I’ve been clear that I am writing about seeking the
“Kingdom of Heaven” that is within.

Okay, but what about the reference in the last article about the method of  R. Yosef Karo… “In this way, your soul will become a
chariot within which the soul of the sage who is the master of that Mishna can manifest. His soul will then clothe itself within your
soul.” ?  Well, obviously for R. Yosef Karo, a large emphasis was placed on channeling… this is still not seeking the “Kingdom of
Heaven”. Generally, most Kabbalists do not believe in Yahshua as the Messiah (unlike us here at contact4life) and work at
connecting with a previous revered teacher.

Where you are within the "many mansions or realms" when you are meditating is determined by you. Like it or not, your intention
dictates or drives your travels. Notice, however, that Yahshua did not say "wander around until you find me"... did he?

Ultimately, the evidence of “going within” (in several ways and for several purposes) is a long standing part of intensive study and
growth. We did not even look at a teaspoon full of the documentation over centuries, across all cultures, that speak with an
assumed normality of deep internal activity, but it is there.

    Until next month... Dina
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