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    BASIC MEDITATION TECHNIQUES

         Part 1 of 3 Parts

             May 1987

                by

             Bill Witt
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         NEW ATLANTIS BBS

           301-632-2671

    Member of the ParaNet system

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   This is the first part of a
three part online course in Basic
Meditation Techniques

   The course is devided into three
sections. Section one deals with
what meditation is and how it plays
a part in the lives of those who
use it. Section two will go into
the techniques and tools of
meditation. Section three gives
suggestions on how to use what
you've learned, in everyday life.
A list of books for further reading
on the subject, will be given at
the end of section three.

   This material may be reproduced
and distributed only if the header,
by line, and BBS info remain part
of any such reproduction.

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   Webster defines meditation as
"The act of meditating; close or
continued thought; the revolving
of a subject in the mind."

   To meditate is to focus mentally
on one thought, idea, or concept.
It may also mean, to revolve an
idea in your mind so as to change
the way in which you think of that
idea. Meditation is therefore, a
tool with which you may manipulate
thought in an organized manner.

   Many people view meditation as
a very difficult thing to learn.
In reality though, we do it often
without even knowing it. When you
daydream or find your mind fixed
on one thought, that is a form of
meditation. Have you ever watched
a bird in flight, or stared up at
the clouds in the sky, or maybe
even found yourself watching a
stream of water flow by? If you
have and at that moment the rest
of the world around you has seemed
removed, then you were in a state
of meditation. The real key to this
practice, is to be able to exercise
control over your thoughts and
awareness of the world around you.

   There are many groups of people
for whom meditation is an everyday
ritual. Others use it at special
times as a means of relaxation and
"mental house cleaning." It allows
the individual a freedom unlike no
other freedom. The freedom to look
inside oneself and learn just who
you are. Some use it as a way of
being closer to nature or God. No
matter how you wish to use it, you
will find it a healthy and very
rewarding experience.

   Most all religions practice
meditation in one way or another.
Eastern philosophies such as Yoga,
and Buddism are not the only ones
to view meditation as a way of
looking for the Truth found in
one's own consciousness. Even in
Christianity meditation finds a
place of value. The Bible itself
mentions the value of meditation.
In writing to the Phillippians,
the Apostle Paul tells them this.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and
if there be any praise, think on
these things." (Phil. 4.8)

   So you ask, what can it do for
me. Well, beyond just being a good
way to really relax, which we can
all use in this hectic world, it
can be a doorway to the Truth
inside yourself. It is a way of
gaining wisdom. Knowledge has
always been fairly easy to come by.
Wisdom on the other hand, is a bit
harder to grasp onto.

   In "The Task" by William Cowper,
the following line is found.
"Knowledge dwells in heads replete
with thoughts of other men: Wisdom,
in minds attentive to their own."

   For me, meditaion becomes a way
of "grounding" myself, of reaching
a place of peace and stability,
where I can find how I fit into the
universe.

   In many philosophies, meditaion
is viewed as a necessary skill. All
those who are students of these
philosophies must learn the ways of
meditaion early in their training.
Although the techniques may vary
from one group to another, the most
basic concepts remain the same.
The ability to be able to focus on
one thought and selectively block
out all others is the foundation
upon which many more advanced
skills will be built. These skills
may range from telepathy to the
ability to move objects with only
the mind.

   It is well known that Yogi
adepts can lower their breathing
and heart rates to near death
levels. This is something you
should not try as it takes years
of practice to learn and can be
quite dangerous. Still, these
yogis are proof of the type of
power the mind can exercise over
the body through meditation.

   In some cultures, the use of
drugs to achieve a meditative
state is encouraged. The american
indians for example, used drugs
derived from various plants to
put themselves into an altered
state of conciousness. This was
usually done as a religious
practice and as an event marking
the change from one state of life
to another. A good example would
be the ceremony marking the coming
into manhood of a young boy. Today
there are still many, who advocate
the use of drugs to achieve these
altered states. It is my opinion
that such measures are neither
necessary nor good. You can reach
an altered state of conciousness
without the use of drug induced
"highs". It takes practice, but it
can be done.

    In New Age philosophy, the
art of meditaion is highly valued.
We also find another well developed
skill which is called "creative
visualization". This is the idea
of visualising what you want to
the point of it becoming reality.
A good example would be a salesman
visualizing himself as successful
and prosperous. The concept is
simple, if you can visualize a
personal reality, you can change
or bring that reality into being.
"Positive Thinking" is a very
similar idea. The technique of
creative visualization goes beyond
positive thinking however. It deals
with the premise that we all create
our own reality and therefore have
the power to change many aspects of
that reality. The idea of "personal
reality" is a lengthy one and we do
not have enough room to cover it in
this course.

   So far we have looked briefly
at what meditation is and how it
is used. By no means have we
touched on all the aspects of this
practice. There are many books on
the subject which cover it in much
more detail. My purpose is to give
you an overview of the many facets
of meditation in the hope that you
will wish to learn more.

   In the next section, I will give
you insructions on how to meditate
and achieve an altered state of
conciousness. Also a list of aids
to meditation will be given and
their use explained.

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           End Of Part 1
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