Download PDF - Stillness Speaks

Therefore a program of purification must accompany attempts tomeditate. "Pure" means uncontaminated. Theoretically substances can bepurified, but in practice nothing in nature, the non-Self, exists in a pure state;the three bodies, for example, are elemental aggregates. The Causal Body,the meditator's primary obstacle, is part of macrocosmic nature and can neverbe completely purified. Through diligent practice, however, it can becleansed to the point where meditation is spontaneous and deep. A purifiedCausal Body is relatively free of projecting and veiling energies, about whichmore will be said presently.The Subtle Body can be purified directly or indirectly. Directpurifications are peak experiences and epiphanies during which the mind islifted up and put in contact with the Self, the State of Meditation, by theapplication of a spiritual or religious technique, the presence of a spirituallypowerful person, the Grace of God, and unknown causes, positive andnegative. A great flood of spiritual energy, shakti, 74 flows like a powerfulriver into the Causal Body spontaneously purging vasana-generated thoughtand emotion, leaving the Subtle Body still and clear, a perfect surface inwhich to identify the Self as It reflects on it like an image in a mirror.Usually unsolicited and the source of great inspiration and faith, likeeverything in time, ephiphanies eventually wear off because unhelpfulvasanas extorvert the mind again.Indirect purification, the long-range view, aims to purify the mind byconsciously changing or removing samskaras, as illustrated below.Unhelpful vasanas dominate the mind pictured on the left completelyextroverting the attention factor and creating such a disturbance that the Selfis obscured. (note the small white arrows pointing toward “O,” “E,” and“T,” Objects, Emotions, and Thoughts) In the mind represented on the rightunhelpful programming has been largely exhausted (note the absence of“v’s” in the outer ring, the Causal Body) causing the centers turn inward,(the small white arrows pointing toward the Self) giving them a relativelyconstant perception of the Self.Programming, the vasanas, can be helpful or unhelpful. The type ofprogramming is determined by the attitude obtaining when the action thatproduced the vasana was performed. Vasanas are helpful when they produce74 The energy of Consciousness responsible for creating the universe.55