The True Nature of the Mind

The New York Times had in interesting article on its Sunday review pages last December. It was titled The Power of Concentration. The writer, Maria Monnikova, brought out meditation – and in particular mindfulness – as a way to increase the effectiveness of the mind and to literally change the neurological connections in the brain.

Monnikova used Sherlock Holmes as an example of a character who is very good at using his mind in a one-pointed manner. The result of this is that he is far superior a detective compared to his contemporaries that rely on the usual method of running around in circles searching for physical clues. Sherlock merely centers his attention on a single element at a time.
If you wish to read the full article you can go here.

As I was reading the article another angle to this subject emerged; by and large there is still a very superficial understanding of the true nature of the mind. Mindfulness does touch the reality of it, but there is another more effective way. There exists an ancient and time-proven method to Ascend the mind to higher levels of functioning through systematically turning it inwards. There, deep inside of us the mind settles into its true nature which is absolute stillness and peace.

This may not strike you as a completely new concept. However, there is much confusion in how to directly experience this still nature of the mind. It is not through concentration or effort. Rather, when one has a vehicle sufficiently powerful for the inward journey of the mind, the mind will gradually and effortlessly settle into its true nature, the Absolute stillness.

The byproduct of having such a mind is what Monnikova described in her article: a one-pointed mind capable of miraculous feats from the perspective of the scattered waking state mind. But that is hardly the beginning to what is the actual potential of a mind that is coherent, one-pointed and focused on a singular object of attention.

If you are intrigued by the potential of your own mind, you might have an interest in the ancient wisdom of the Ishayas and their Teaching of Ascension. They are not merely suggesting a general direction to reach for what we speak of here, but a very simple way to actually practice restructuring your mind, your brain and your consciousness so that it serves you and others in marvelous ways.
We don’t need to run around in the mad chase for solutions (that don’t really exist on the plane that the problems were created). Consciousness acts decisively and with great efficiency. We are that consciousness. We all have the potential to realize the true nature of what we are.

Nataraja Ishaya

Stress Reducing Techniques vs. Meditation

A study was just published (January 2013) that compared two methods of reducing stress: a mindfulness meditation-based approach and a program designed to enhance health in ways unrelated to mindfulness (such as supportive social interaction, expert instruction, or learning new skills).

The study suggested that mindfulness techniques may be more effective in relieving inflammatory symptoms than other activities that promote well-being.

The authors of the study pointed out that significant portions of the population do not benefit from pharmaceutical treatment options, and that some of these patients suffer from negative side effects of drugs.

"The mindfulness-based approach to stress reduction may offer a lower-cost alternative or complement to standard treatment, and it can be practiced easily by patients in their own homes, whenever they need [it]." Rosenkranz says.

MSI said in Ascension!, “The most serious consequences of our waking state Universe are the stresses that lodge in our subtle bodies; these are released during Ascension…. Ascension is a gradual unfolding of knowledge through experience.  Each of the courses offers techniques which are more advanced than the preceding…..

“They are systematic. They are simple to understand and practice. They involve no changes of beliefs or lifestyle. They involve no beliefs! And they are wonderfully effective at removing the stresses that block the perception of inner reality. Regular practice of Ascension produces manifold changes in life, based on personal, direct experience.”

Meditation in the Military and in Universities Higher Education

January 2013 marked an era of new beginnings.  The Marines and the University of Virginia are have both begun what may be continual offerings of meditation mindfulness (aka mindfulness meditation) courses!

Camp Pendleton School Infantry-West will offered an eight-week course in mindfulness starting on Tuesday (January 22, 2013) to about 80 Marines. The plan was to give Marines a tool to regulate their own stress levels before they lead to problematic behavior: "We have doctors, counselors, behavioral health scientists, all sorts of people to get help for Marines who have exhibited stress type symptoms but what can we do before that happens? How do we armor Marines up so they are capable of handling stress?"  said Jeffrey Bearor, the executive deputy of the Marine Corps training and education command at its headquarters in Quantico. (1)

Adding to behavioral issues while in the military, veterans by the thousands are seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress. A record number are committing suicide, causing the military to search for ways to reduce strains on service members and veterans.

Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training" or "M-Fit" was designed by former U.S. Army Capt. Elizabeth Stanley, a professor at Georgetown University who found relief doing yoga and meditation for her PTSD. (“Mindfulness” includes practices that emphasize non-judgmental active attention to keep the mind in the present.)

Stanley, who is also involved in studies for the Army, said the techniques can help those in battle think more clearly under fire when they are often forced to make quick decisions that could mean life or death, and help them reset their nervous systems after being in combat.

"If indeed that proves to be the case, then it's our intention to turn this into a training program where Marines train Marines in these techniques," Bearor said. "We would interject this into the entry level training pipeline - we don't know where yet - so every Marine would be trained in these techniques."

The growing movement of mindfulness courses, as well as student interest in the topic, is being spurred in part by research showing how stress affects the ability to learn. The University of Virginia offered ‘Mindfulness as a Tool for Learning and Living,’ for the January 2013 term.  The course included a number of contemplative exercises as well as a dozen guest speakers who taught the class a variety of contemplative practices, including yoga, nia and t’ai chi. (2)

UVA’s new Contemplative Sciences Center, to be launched in April, will also offer a 180-person class this spring on ‘Buddhist Meditation and Modernity’ that will cover mindfulness. There are 50 students already on the wait list.

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(1) http://www.13abc.com/story/20632304/marines-test-adding-meditation-stretching-to-training)

(2) http://anniemurphypaul.com/2013/01/colleges-begin-to-offer-meditation-101/#

Is There Time to Meditate?

One who is always on the move does not really learn to appreciate being still. Our conditioning from early on has created the idea that we are doers and movers and that is the measure of our worth. In that world, there rarely is time for such a thing as meditation. Meditation as an activity is not producing results in the sense that we could easily relate to in this physical world.



Meditation is the polar opposite of how we are used to using our minds. Another way to describe meditation could be an inward moving mind. And that movement – instead of keeping the wheels turning in the outward movement – actually slows us down until we arrive at the very center where even the slightest movement of the mind ceases. This is meditation.

To truly appreciate and experience life, we need to learn this inward movement – meditation. From the inside out, we will realize that time is vastly different from our conception of it, and that only the meditative mind truly has time, because awareness is present to experience the Now. To be functional and effective in this world happens most effortlessly through a mind that is one-pointed and coherent: a mind in meditation. It takes far less energy to work at deeper levels of the mind; and this alone changes the way we move through daily life. If ever you feel that time is moving too fast and you can’t keep up with the pace – there is a different way to experience life.

Meditation Myth

It is a myth that just because someone meditates they are a religious person or have strong religious affiliations or belief systems. Mediation works for anyone regardless of any particular beliefs held.

A true meditation practice does NOT preach a set of dogmas to follow. To meditate effectively and receive the benefits of turning the mind inward, one does NOT have to behave in any certain way or look a certain way or be a certain race or age or sex. A truly effective meditation practice will charm your mind inward and present you with the opportunity to develop a relationship with that aspect of You, which has been patiently waiting for you to rediscover It within your own self. That Aspect has no need to convince you of any right or wrong, good or bad or anything else for that matter. However, if studied and focused upon, It can lead to mind-boggling discoveries that far surpasses any words or pictures that can be painted.

A truly beneficial and effective meditation practice leads to Self-discovery from the inside out. A truly effective meditation practice leads to endless growth and expansion that is infinite in potential for each individual practitioner.

Why Meditate?

There are endless benefits to having a regular meditation practice. The list starts from simple stress release to inner peace, and spans the spectrum of resolving any and all of life’s troubles or downsides. Even the healing of our planet can be a by-product of enough of us making our individual choice to regularly meditate.

When asked how one can help a starving man, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi suggested that the answer was to teach the man to meditate; then he would be a happy hungry man.  The point being, when we take regular moments out of our often hectic lives to turn our minds inward and discover the truth of who we are, we naturally find our bliss even in the midst of chaos. The more we tap into this bliss the more we begin to find endless creativity to life’s seemingly problematic moments. The problems cease to rule our minds and naturally a new life unfolds before our eyes, showing us the power of our choices. We become more efficient and successful and more happy quite automatically as a result of briefly turning our minds inward during meditation.

There is a great deal of mystery and often confusion wrapped around what it means to meditate and or why any one would do it. We will share here our growing experiences and knowledge with you in hopes of dispelling any mysteries and clearing any confusion. It is also our sincere desire to inspire you to seek and find a regular meditation practice that helps you to discover your bliss, to continuously learn and develop your power of choice, and to experience first hand your life working for you.