Reflective Meditation to Develop Spiritual Strength and Will.

adapted from Michal Eastcott,  " 'I' - the story of the Self".  Ch. 6. - The Silent Force.

Quest Books. Wheaton, Illinois, USA.

Work through this outline gradually, giving each step a few minutes, then moving the attention on to the next.  In this way you will keep alert and the meditation concise and dynamic, not rambling. Keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas which come, and to write answers in depth from time to time.  This prevents them becoming lost, and will enhance the usefulness of your meditation.  Include non-critical self-observation of your progress in your evening review to increase the benefits even more.  Repeated use is essential

1.       Sit comfortably, in a relaxed but upright position.

2.       Breathe deeply but quietly, gradually lengthening the breath to a slow, steady rhythm.  This will quieten the physical system, calm the emotions, and still the activity of the concrete mind.

3.       Lift up the consciousness as much as possible into the quiet areas of the higher mind.  Maintaining this level, reflect deeply upon the true nature of Will.  Seek to recognise and realise its nature as a pure energy, a vitalising force, an aspect of Creation, of the Source of Life, of God (find the words with which you are comfortable).  Be aware that this energy is neutral, like electricity, and that its effects are related to the kind of nature through which it is flowing at the time.  As we work upon ourselves and transmute our lower nature into the higher correspondences (eg. personal ambition into service of the whole), so we become able to handle this energy more safely and wisely.

4.       Reflect on the uses of this energy;  the ways in which it works, such as initiating some activity, in making decisions, in cutting away what no longer serves, (the “destroyer aspect”)  and in maintaining perseverance.

5.       Now consider the Will in connection with yourself.   Ask:

¨       How much will have I?  Not enough or too much?  What kind of a will have I?   Good, strong, or skilful? 

¨       Do I use it rightly?  With what is it aligned?  What purposes and goals do I serve?  Do I use it to be in charge of my mind? 

¨       What attitudes do I adopt as I pursue my goals?  Negative or positive?  Eg. Do I look for and talk about the good, or the bad?  Do I act with serenity or restless impatience?  Do I seek to meet the true needs of myself or others?  Do I seek what is fair to all in any situation?   Am I open to seeing my errors joyfully as I pursue my goals, to learning from my mistakes, and to joyfully self-correcting any blocks to love in me?  Do I maintain as wide a perspective as possible, trying to see the biggest possible picture in any situation?  Do I serve peace or conflict?

¨       Does 'my will' use me rather than me directing the Will wisely?  How much and in what areas of my life am I subconsciously 'willed by' my conditioning, by beliefs I have swallowed without much thought, by other people, by my desires, by impulsiveness, by my feelings, by emotional reactivity, by sub-personality patterns, by the physical condition of my body?  Where do I consciously choose, (perhaps going against the usual line of least resistance for me, against the ‘flow’, or contrary to my habitual tendencies)?

¨       Where do I need to invoke and develop the use of the will?  To set new goals and the appropriate attitudes? To abandon old habits and establish new ones which serve better?   To practise forgiveness regularly?  To de-structure patterns that no longer serve?  In my use of Time, Money,  Sexual Energy?  In my Work? Play? Home life? Self-improvement? Service?

¨       What kind of personal distortions or characteristics of the ideal will do I have which need to be sublimated?   (such as pride, sense of superiority, love of power, imposition of my way onto others, dominance, certainty of being right, arrogance, intolerance, destructiveness of people, harmfulness, ambition, ruthlessness, self-centredness, separativeness and isolation, impatience and irritability, criticism (of myself or others),  etc.,)

¨       What kind of qualities could counteract some of these tendencies: humility, service of the whole, acknowledging others and making way for them, letting others grow by giving them responsibility, learning from the points of view of others, patience (preparation of a state of readiness for future action), decentralisation of perspective from that of just my own point of view, group consciousness, serenity, approval of myself and others, the power to liberate from spiritual limitations, positive harmlessness, compassionate firmness ... etc.?

¨       Which of its characteristics or qualities do I need to develop?

(a)     Energy - Dynamic power - Intensity

(b)     Self-Mastery - Self-Control - Self-Discipline

(c)     Concentration - One-pointedness - Attention - Focus

(d)    Determination - Decisiveness - Resoluteness/resolve - Promptness

(e)     Persistence - Endurance - Patience

(f)      Initiative - Courage – Daring - Striving

(g)     Organization - Integration – Synthesis - Liberation.

¨     Which of its stages am I already proficient at, and which do I need to develop more?

(a)     Purpose, Aim, or Goal, based on Evaluation and adherence to my deepest Values, Motivation, and Intention.  Purification of Motive.  Essentialisation.  Prioritisation. {"Who dares to look into his purpose without knowing that s/he must ensure it is purified?"}.

(b)     Deliberation.  Selection of priorities.  Taking advice.  Meditation.  “6-Hat thinking” for maximum perspective (see Edward de Bono).  Balancing Love and Will.

(c)     Choice and Decision, including temporarily setting aside other less important goals and purposes for sufficient time to achieve the most important one.

(d)    Affirmation: the Command, or 'Fiat' of the will.  "I will to do this".

(e)     Planning and Working out a Programme.  Gathering resources.  Recognising and applying Right Timing.  Acknowledging one’s own emotions and inner resistances and using the skilful will and imagination to master them.

(f)      Direction and Supervision of the Execution of the Programme.

(g)     Review: Evaluation, What were the Lessons learned?  Self-forgiveness and Forgiveness of Others.  Re-visioning how to do it even better in future.

6.       Close by affirming:-

"I choose the quality of       ................................ and I will to cultivate it in my daily life."

(select the aspect that you decide you need most.  This may change from time to time.)

The main objectives in training the will could be:

1)       Sublimating and transforming the aggressive will, and phasing out its selfish and destructive aspects.  Letting go of what no longer serves the best potential in any situation.

2)       Evoking its positive, creative, initiating and sustaining energies.

3)       Transmuting its identification with the lower self into identification with the higher or spiritual will of the Higher Self, or Soul level of consciousness.          

4)       Developing the ability to call upon the will when required and use it with control.

5)       Bringing it into Right Relationship with the will of the Higher Self or Soul; the will of others, such as family, work group, neighbourhood, community and                 society in general; and the Universal Will, = the will-to-good, the good of the Whole, the inner laws of the Cosmic Order, the Purpose of Life as a Whole. 

The Good Will is also joyous.  Joy also lies deeply within sacrifice, or the 'will to make holy'.

Whole Life Endeavours. Wellness Education & Psychosynthesis. 81, Cambria St., Nelson, N.Z.