Many different potential benefits can result from meditation. Some are obvious, others not so obvious. Some are even downright subtle to the point of being almost imperceptible. These in particular can be immensely powerful though. The obvious benefits and even some of the not-so-obvious ones are fairly common and universal regardless of the technique or type of meditation. The ever-so-subtle, almost imperceptible ones are far less common, even exceedingly rare. These are a potential result of meditation on the Self. Let us discuss them all, shall we?
Some of the more obvious and common benefits are things like a sense of calmness, ease, and relaxation. These are easily attainable simply by establishing a consistent meditation practice. As mentioned earlier, the length of time set aside for meditation is not as important as the consistency. If one adds persistence to the mix, over time and with diligent practice, there is the potential for even more benefits. With consistent and persistent meditation, one becomes increasingly grounded in the here and now. This means less time and attention given to the mind which, in turn, means less dwelling on the past and less projection of possible futures. This leads to a reduction in fear, worry, and anxiety as well as remorse and regret, all of which are consequences of giving too much attention to the mind. The increased grounding coupled with the reduction of these intense, sometimes even crippling, or paralyzing emotions can potentially produce another benefit: ever-increasing emotional stability. This means that one is not so easily taken over or swept away by overwhelming emotions. A sense of detachment or space between you and the emotions gradually develops, allowing for the witnessing of the emotions without the need to necessarily respond unless a response is appropriate. Emotionally charged, knee-jerk reactions are gradually replaced by thoughtful and rational responses because the responses are no longer ruled or dictated by emotions. Note that the emotions are not avoided or suppressed; they are simply witnessed as passing events. Freedom from the cloudiness and murkiness of overwhelming emotions can foster yet another benefit: mental clarity or the ability to see and understand things more clearly. The two actually work in conjunction with one another. The less emotionally overwhelmed one is, the more clear their perception, and the more clear one’s perception is, the more effectively they can deal with emotions. Mental clarity may be listed here as one of the more common and more easily attained benefits, but it also provides a bridge to the aforementioned less common, more subtle ones.
If all that is sought from meditation are these common, easily achievable benefits, then that is fine. They alone will improve one’s life considerably. The sweet irony of this though, is that consistent, persistent meditation, and the mental clarity it provides, can bring about a deeper understanding and the more subtle benefits all by itself without them being sought. With more clarity and understanding, one’s self-perception and, subsequently, their perception of the world will undoubtedly change which, in turn, will drastically affect their entire life experience.
Mentioned in the first part of the chapter was the development of the ability to drop the body sense. While this may seem like a relatively small or subtle thing, make no mistake, it is not. It is immensely powerful and the repercussions of it are life-altering. To begin with, dropping the body sense means one is no longer bound by the perceived limitations of bodily existence. This means, in part, that one’s perception of Consciousness, initially recognized as sentience in the body, abruptly and dramatically expands to fill the entire space, almost like an explosion. Indeed Consciousness flows through the body, but the body, in fact the totality of all manifestation, exists in Consciousness as its content. One can realize in an instant that they are not a “person” or a body with Consciousness, but Consciousness with a multitude of bodies, the particular body being one of many. The body ceases to be the focal point of one’s sense of Self. In essence, one’s definition of the terms “I” and “Self” radically change. Where once these terms were seen as singular, resulting from the ego identity or individual perception, it is at once realized that they represent the totality. The body is then seen as what it truly is; an instrument for carrying out life’s activities. Then, all bodies or all “others” can be recognized as different manifestations of the same Consciousness, of the same Self. Remember, different does not mean separate. Differences in the various manifestations help to provide a rich and varied life experience whereas, separation is an illusion brought about by body identification and the resulting ego identity.
As mentioned, this shift in self-perception also changes one’s perception of the world. Where it was once believed that one is an individual living in the world, it is again at once realized that it is merely the body that exists in the world. As Consciousness, the world exists in you. The world is your projection or an expression of you. The world and the events that unfold in it are perceived much like a play on a stage or a movie appearing on a screen. Only it is a movie or play that employs all five of the body’s senses, not just two, which is why it is so alluring and believable. With this shift in perception though, like a play or a movie, the world and the unfolding of life’s events are seen as appearances and are simply watched or witnessed. Everything that appears and everything that happens is recognized as the content of Consciousness; all just temporary objects and passing events. There is no longer the personalization of anything that happens. Incidentally, this personalization is a source of much of one’s suffering and struggle in life. The “person” who would have previously personalized such things is recognized to be nothing more than a concept; a misperception created through body identification. With the correction of this misperception, the “person” is seen as an actor in the movie or play, merely a role being played in the performance. The “letting go” of personalization makes life effortless and endlessly enjoyable as everything flows harmoniously, without interference or interruption. Judgments or likes and dislikes, a telltale sign of ego identity and yet another source of much suffering, are dropped as well and the entire life experience is embraced as one. One may think or argue that this impersonal nature leaves one cold, aloof, and uncaring but I assure you, quite the opposite is true. The sense of lacking and incompleteness brought about by the individual perception and its perceived limitations is what has always distorted love, twisting it into selfishness. It is this selfishness that creates all types of harm and suffering by limiting or putting conditions on love. With the body sense dropped, and the self-perception corrected, love is restored to its abundant and all-embracing nature. The love for the Self, for oneself, is the love for all, as the Self includes all.
Getting back to meditation, the final potential benefits I wanted to discuss deal specifically with meditation on the Self. When consistent and persistent meditation on Consciousness is practiced to the point where all content of Consciousness has been released or has fallen out of the field of attention, and nothing but Consciousness remains, some interesting things can happen. When meditation on Consciousness is happening, it is Consciousness that is giving attention to Consciousness. This makes Consciousness both subject and object, thereby dissolving or collapsing the perception of duality. Simultaneously, with the dropping of all content from the field of attention, nothing or no-thing remains for Consciousness to be conscious of. Mind you, this is difficult to describe in words as I am venturing beyond their limits. With no duality and no content for Consciousness to be conscious of, it’s as if Consciousness sort of folds in upon itself or dissolves, reverting to unbound Awareness. This leaves only a sense of nothingness, or no-thingness, or the absence of manifestation entirely. What remains is pure potential which is one’s point of origin; one’s true Self. Keep in mind though, that this is all a matter of shifting perceptions. Nothing dissolves or disappears. The body and Consciousness are still present, though outside the field of attention so it seems as if they are gone. This creates the unique opportunity of being one’s true Self while still having knowingness available to record knowledge of being one’s true self as an experience. One cannot be conscious of this as it is happening but rest assured, after meditation ends, the experience will be there.
Throughout all of this, I have repeatedly and continually used words like “potentially” and “can” to emphasize the fact that none of these results are guaranteed. Indeed the more common results are highly probable with the implementation of a consistent meditation practice. However, the more subtle aspects, especially those that can happen only if the shift in self-perception happens, are exceedingly rare. Once the individual perception is dropped, all that happens, or doesn’t happen, is entirely spontaneous. The shift in self-perception itself is, in fact, exceedingly rare. For a multitude of possible reasons, most are unwilling or incapable of letting go of the ego identity. I had mentioned once that I doubt anyone is too keen on being unmade but that is exactly what needs to happen for that shift to take place. The illusion of who or even what one thinks they are; of who or what they’ve always believed themselves to be needs to be challenged and ultimately released or dissolved for the truth to find its way to the surface. The seeking of results in and of itself is yet another stumbling block here. Results-based thinking is driven by selfishness and the desire to get rewarded for “your efforts”. It is a very subtle way in which the ego identity clings and tries to sustain and support itself.
Once again, do not let any of this discourage you. Rather than seeking results, simply see the need for meditation and the infinite possibilities that are available through it. Through investigation and discernment, one’s illusions can be revealed and this, along with consistent meditation, is all the preparation there can be. Please understand that while none of this is guaranteed, as the potential results are beyond one’s control, it is all entirely possible. It absolutely can happen, as it already has happened. All that has been expressed and shared with you here is the result of direct insight and experience and, if it can happen for one, it can happen for all. As you can undoubtedly see, meditation is a powerful tool, and I can assure you, the truth wants to be revealed. Living in illusion, in distorted perception is the source of all your suffering and, despite whatever misperceptions you may still be plagued with, ultimately you love yourself. I can think of nothing more loving than simply being who you truly are, free from illusion and misperception, living in harmony and Oneness. Meditation is the instrument through which the potential can become the actual. It is through meditation that all these possibilities can become reality.
Well done, well written. 😘