SELF STUDY

MONTHLY FOCUS~

Active Meditation

… in meditation, the idea is to actively and continually ask only for God… ask for God, ask to experience God, ask to know God, ask to hear and see God. As we do this with sincerity, real openness, and persistence, it is truly amazing what begins to happen for us.

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 6 “ACTIVE MEDITATION”~

In active meditation, we consciously and continually hold the desire to find God at the highest levels and to avoid being led into anything else. Holding this desire during meditation is like the paddling of our swimmer as he strives to move upstream; and with this focused desire, we hold to the inner spiritual current no matter what colorful, interesting, or seemingly meaningful distractions arise along the way. When we develop our “strength” through the practice of concentration, we’ll have all that we need to awaken into Spirit and to awaken into our own soul.

There is an ancient saying that, “we become like that upon which we meditate,” and as we select God as our point of focus, we do indeed become more like Him. So, in meditation, the idea is to actively and continually ask only for God. With the opportunity available to find Him within us, why ask for things in the world? Why ask for relaxation or for understanding by themselves? Instead, we can ask for God, ask to experience God, ask to know God, ask to hear and see God. As we do this with sincerity, real openness, and persistence, it is truly amazing.  In God, there is no lack, and in terms of the things that we really need,

… your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [Mt 6:32-33]

Through our practice of concentration and contemplation, we learn to discern the current of the “river.” And we develop the ability to hold a focus in the flow of His loving radiance. In active meditation, we then follow this loving energy, allowing it to lift us ever higher into Him.

Again, this is something that is hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it, but the power and potential of active meditation are truly awe-inspiring. Through its practice, so much that has always been theory will be proven to us as fact. We will come to really know His living presence within us. We will come to know of our oneness with Him and all life. We will have the direct experience of God. How can that possibly be described in words?

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 6 “CONCENTRATION EXERCISE SUMMARY”~

To summarize this meditative exercise, find a quiet, comfortable place, and then:

1) Light a candle, close your eyes … and ask inwardly to be uplifted into Spirit.

2) Relax as fully as you can … focusing on your breathing if necessary to bring you into a place of quiet and rest.

3) Open your eyes and rest your vision upon the candle flame, then close your eyes and imagine a candle flame at the spiritual eye center … hold your attention in strict concentration on this single point of focus.

4) Avoid physical, emotional, and mental distractions … by gently returning to the image of the flame.

5) Maintain the “role of the observer” as you begin to go within … and actively hold your loving focus on God.

MONTHLY FOCUS “GOING HOME WORK”~

1. Do two and a half hours of daily active meditation, and then listen to Brian and Jim’s talks: BEGIN THE INNER QUEST | 03/19/2017.
2. Listen to the active meditation by Brian: BEGIN THE INNER QUEST | 03/19/2017  (link at the bottom of the page)
3. Journal: After your daily active meditations, journal your experiences of them.