An Easy Guide to Meditation by Roy Eugene Davis Page B

apprehend that we are but using mind and body while the reality of us, our spiritual nature, remains ever what it is. At the innermost core of our being we are individualized (though not independent) units of the omnipresent consciousness of God. Even partial, intellectual understanding of this primary fact of life can enable us to have a more clear, mature perception of ourselves and of our world, and provide us freedom to make rational choices and implement useful actions.
     
    While the primary purpose of meditation practice is to facilitate awakened spiritual consciousness, the side-benefits which contribute to our wellness and improved function are several:
    •Mental transformations and thinking processes become more organized as the result of meditative calmness and the influence of refined states of consciousness.
    •The body’s immune system is strengthened and physiological functions are encouraged to be more balanced and efficient.
    •Biologic aging processes are slowed. Older, long-term meditators are mentally and physically younger than their calendar years might suggest.
    •Stress symptoms are reduced. The nervous system is refreshed and enlivened, allowing awareness to be more easily processed through it.
    •Regenerative energies are awakened. These, directed by innate intelligence, vitalize the body, empower the mind, and have restorative and healing influences.
    •Intellectual skills are improved, causing delusions and illusions to be dispelled. Intuition awakens, allowing us to directly know whatever we desire to know and to experience a vivid sense of unerring inner guidance.
    •Appreciation for living is enhanced.
    •Creativity is stimulated.
    •Innate spiritual qualities awaken, enabling us to be more insightful, and functionally skillful.
    •Rapid, more satisfying, authentic spiritual growth is nurtured because body, mind, and awareness is beneficially influenced by refined superconscious states.
    Spiritual growth is authentic when it can be validated by its obvious, beneficial influences and when we can easily demonstrate higher understanding and unrestricted functional abilities. As the defining characteristics and vitality of a living plant can be known by examining the characteristics and quality of fruit it produces, so our states of consciousness and degree of higher understanding can be determined by how we are living our lives and the personal circumstances that prevail. What we do and what we experience has a direct correlation with our habitual states of consciousness and mental states. The more spiritually aware we are, the more harmonious and fulfilling are our lives.
     
    I am not suggesting that we measure spiritual growth by material standards; only that when we are spiritually aware we should spontaneously demonstrate soul-empowered aliveness and enhanced functional abilities. We should have fewer delusions (fixed, erroneous beliefs) and illusions (misperceptions), and be able to function more skillfully. It cannot truthfully be said of us that we are spiritually awake if we continue to exhibit characteristics common to clouded states of awareness, deficiencies in intellectual skills, addictive personality disorders, almost constant frustration of desires, and other kinds of limitation. We may “love God” and feel ourselves to be committed to spiritual growth—and (perhaps) presume ourselves to be quite holy—but if results are not unfolding in constructive, everyday circumstances, we would do well to admit that we have problems that need to be solved and we will not really be fulfilled until they are.
     
    If you are primarily interested in experiencing the life-enhancement benefits of meditation, proceed with dedicated intention; spiritual growth will follow. If you are more focused on spiritual growth, accept the side-benefits as they unfold. Doing so can only make life better and more enjoyable.
     
    Regular meditation is of value to anyone who is able to learn it and