The power of thought, visualisation and meditation

 Hari Aum.

Sivananda has written a fascinating book called 'Thought power'. It outlines the various capacities of the mind and how to use them for spiritual progress. In this book, he says that your thoughts are actual things. Just because you cannot see them, does not mean that they are some airy-fairy fleeting thing that does not impact the material universe. No, that could not be further from the truth. 

In this book, Sivananda says your thoughts are a tangible substance. They exist in a realm known as 'manas' or mind-stuff. Your thoughts, whatever their quality, affect you on many levels- they directly impact your body, they impact your character, they impact the quality of your consciousness. They affect you very powerfully. 

Not only this, they affect others too. Sivananda writes that your thoughts are transmitted to the rest of humanity; he says we are all swimming as it were in an 'ocean of thoughts'. 

Birds of a feather flock together. Similarly thoughts 'of a feather' flock together. What does this mean? Sivananda writes that people whose minds contain similar thoughts, actually 'absorb' each others thoughts; this is a bit like a radio that is tuned to pick up certain frequencies. And by absorbing each other's similar thoughts, their own thoughts of the same nature become further strengthened.

He therefore advises us to watch our thoughts, and think noble, good thoughts as much as possible. Of course we are not spiritually perfect yet and cannot have noble thoughts all the time-- but we need to try our best. 

Sivananda says that:

1. A noble thought is thrice blessed: it blesses the one thinking it, it blesses those who 'absorb' it, and it blesses the whole of humanity (by raising the overall vibration of the collective human consciousness).

2. A lowly thought is thrice cursed: it harms the one thinking it (it takes one away from one's true, pure, divine nature), it harms others who absorb it and who it targets, and finally it harms humanity as a whole (by lowering the overall vibration of collective consciousness).

Thus, he says, take responsibility for your thoughts. They can make or mar you. They can lead you God-ward or downward.

Now, on a practical level, it is not always easy to entertain spiritual holy noble thoughts 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year for one's entire life. Especially as a spiritual seeker who is yet to attain God. Purity and impurity exist side-by-side in our nature. 

When the lowly mind rebels powerfully against the higher spiritual nature (as it will many times on the spiritual path), one can feel in spiritual danger. At such times, one's spiritual practice, one's established connection with God and Guru will save one. When in any danger, spiritual or material, one needs to turn to God in humility and ask for help. One cannot succeed in spiritual life on one's own, His/Her grace and protection is needed at every step. 

Mantra japa also plays a vital role in the management of one's thoughts. The word 'mantra' literally means 'that which protects the mind'. 'Man' (pronounced 'mun') in Sanskrit means 'mind'; and 'tra' is the verb root meaning 'to protect'. So, that sound of God, which is one with God, which protects the mind, is known as mantra. 

Now, by protecting the mind and thoughts, one's speech and actions are also automatically protected. Because it is our thoughts that lead to speech and action. And action produces karma, and karma results in joy and suffering. So you see how the mantra, by protecting the quality of our thoughts, protects all aspects of our lives. And, it not only protects our present and future actions or karmas, it also has the capacity to destroy the effects of our past negative karmas due to its tremendous purifying nature-- as it is none other than God Him/Herself in sound form.

So, having talked a little about the power of thought, let us now look at the power of visualisation.

Visualisation involves utilising your creative power when it comes to thoughts. It involves creating within one's own mind certain images, certain sights, sounds, shapes, colours, smells and tastes. These may or may not be based on what you have seen in 'reality', in the waking state.

Visualisations are a type of thought. So the laws of thoughts described above apply to these too. Noble visualisations produce good results. Ignoble ones produce lowly results. Again, we have to simply try our best here (perfection is not expected from us but the commitment to try our best is expected).

The ability to visualise forms the basis of many types of meditation. As you know, meditation is a state that results from deep contemplation or rather, deep concentration, upon a single thought. So, we are really practicing concentration, with the aim of entering into the state of meditation (a bit like lying down in bed with the aim of falling asleep; you cannot make yourself sleep, but you can create circumstances that lead to it. Similarly, you cannot make yourself meditate, but you can create a mental situation, namely concentration, that leads to it).

You can visualise sights, sounds, colours, shapes, tastes, smells, feelings, emotions, actions and more. When you use your creative power of visualisation to think of God or to contemplate a divine subject, you are concentrating upon God. When you concentrate deeply upon God, you are able to enter the state of meditation or nearness to God. When you enter deep meditation, you can enter the state known as 'samadhi' or a state of oneness with God. Becoming established in samadhi is said to lead to 'moksha' or spiritual liberation or God-realisation as is said to be characterised by great peace, bliss and wisdom including recognition of one's true, immortal, divine nature.

Sivananda and other Gurus actively encourage their students to freely use their creative powers of thought in spiritual life. I can say from my experience that visualisation certainly helps to create a closer, more intimate bond with God. When one visualises being in the presence of one's favourite form of God, and walking, talking and worshipping Him or Her, a strong feeling of closeness is undoubtedly created. 

One feels like one has 'met God', hung out together (like one would do with a friend or beloved), had a chat. The yogis also tell us that God appreciates us taking time to spend time with Him/Her in this way. Even in human life, people appreciate it when others think affectionately about them. Similarly, God too is said to feel our love when we make an effort to think of and be with Him. And, as the yogis tell us, He is not very far away. No, not at all. He is right here. I mean, within you, within me, within all. In the heart. Closer to you than your very breath as they say. Very close, very very close. You do not have to go far to find Him. Only thing is, our thoughts need to turn to Him. When that happens, we connect to Him, and we feel His closeness to us.

As I walk the spiritual path, I realise more than ever, that every moment when I am able to concentrate on God, feel devotional, feel interested in Him, is the result of His grace alone. It is not because of our cleverness or specialness that we are able to think of and feel interest in God. It is due to His grace, and His grace alone. (I am therefore very grateful to Him for the moments when, in the midst of the madness of this world, I am actually able to focus sincerely on Him, even for a little while. Those moments are very precious, priceless.)

That is why the yogis say that your call to God is actually His call to you. When you long for Him, that is actually Him longing for you. The rebellious, turbulent mind cannot be conquered except by His grace. When He is on our side, when we connect with Him, the mind will gradually become serene and a feeling of joy arises from within (not connected to any of the five senses or anything else). 

So, feel free to visualise and use your creative power of thought on your spiritual path. Do not be too formal with God as He/She is your very own, your relative, your friend, your beloved. Do not constantly worry about 'offending' Him as many people like to emphasise; focus rather, on developing a loving affectionate bond (Of course, it is fine to apologise to God at times if you feel you have made a mistake, but do not get too fixated on this and give up worship out of fear of His wrath as some people end up doing).

Formality and love/intimacy do not go well together. Informality and love do. Obviously, as He/She is the great Lord/Goddess of the universe, there will be a sense of awe and wonder along with the love. And that is fine, it is natural and appropriate. Of course, one cannot help but respect the great Power that has created us, all beings and this universe. 

But this Power is also lovable, playful, humorous and kind (not merely a strict dispenser of justice as is often emphasised). And this great Being likes to relate to us in a friendly, intimate, loving way as we are also His/Her very own. So let us connect with Him/Her, who is worthy of being loved, respected and adored, using all of our powers of thought, including the wonderful power of visualisation.

Before I conclude, I would like to make one suggestion. Visualisation is often recommended by yogis and Gurus as a way to invoke the grace of God upon, not only ourselves, but also the entire world. It does not require much intelligence to see that the Earth today is in a sad state. And that this is mostly thanks to the actions of the human species, whether it be due to the never-ending wars and hostilities that we have with each other, or our harmful, environmentally-destructive conduct. 

According to the yogis, visualisation is a powerful tool to harness the power of the mind to connect with God and help to reduce the impact of some of the negativity that we and others have inflicted upon our home, this planet, known in the yogic tradition as Mother Earth.

So I would like to suggest a method of visualisation that is popularly recommended by many Gurus of various spiritual traditions to invoke the grace of God upon ourselves and the entire planet (this posture and technique can also be used for personal meditation upon God)

The technique is broadly like this (feel free to adjust it or alter it based on your own connection with God, on what feels right and comfortable to you):

1. Sit comfortably with your spine straight but relaxed (sit cross-legged or on a chair etc, keeping your ankles crossed. Crossing the limbs is said to contain the energy or 'prana' within you so you can direct it better). Keep your hands upon your knees or in your lap, whichever feels comfortable. Close your eyes if you are comfortable with this (it can help concentration). If you prefer to keep your eyes open, and look at a picture on an altar etc, that is also fine.

2. Invoke God. Use a mantra, phrase, prayer or say something that feels comfortable to you. Say it verbally or mentally as you like. Invoke God, with or without form, using the name of any spiritual tradition that appeals to you, such as Krishna, Jesus, Allah, Moses, Buddha, Durga, Mary and so on. If you don't like any specific name, you can just connect with the Supreme Being, Supreme Intelligence or Higher Self, or Truth.

Tell Him/Her that you would like to be His/Her instrument, invoke His grace upon yourself and all beings, that you are asking for His/Her protection for yourself and all beings.

3. Visualise:

i) Bring your attention to the space just above your head (this is known as the 'crown chakra' in yogic anatomy; don't worry if you are unfamiliar with this term). Meditation on this space is often used to 'draw in' cosmic energy or God's light into one's being.

ii) In this space, just above the very top of your head, visualise the presence of God (if you are a devotee, visualise the feet of your deity). See God as a radiant Being of divine light.

From this God presence (which exists everywhere), visualise a beautiful white light emanating downwards towards you. 

Visualise this light, gently cascading onto you, entering your physical body through the top of your head. See it travel downwards and fill your entire body. Feel that you are a being filled with divine light. Feel the connection with God. Ask Him/Her to heal you, your physical body, your mind, emotions and thoughts. 

Ask Him/Her to cleanse you, of all that is undesirable spiritually; ask for forgiveness for any mistakes made. Ask Him/Her to bless you with all that you need spiritually. Ask that you may be an instrument of the Divine, that your will may be merged with that of Him/Her. 

iii) Now, visualise the Earth in front you, in front of the centre of your chest, at the level of your heart, in miniature, around the size of a tennis ball. 

Keeping your shoulders relaxed, and your elbows by your sides, raise your hands and place them lightly with palms facing either side of this mini-Earth that represents our planet. Keep your eyes closed and stay connected to the Divine. 

iv) Bring your attention to the centre of your palms (this space contains the 'hand chakras', places from where spiritual energy can be projected outwards). 

While asking God to bless the planet and all beings, and especially those who are suffering greatly and in urgent need of help, visualise the white divine light streaming from God above you, through your body and out through both palms of your hands. 

See a beam of this divine healing light, like that of a brilliant torch, leaving each of your hands and bathing the mini-Earth in front of you. 

Visualise this light enter the Earth and fill it to the core. See the entire Earth filled with this divine light. See this light expand outwards and envelope the outside of the Earth (a few inches above the surface). Continue to remain in a prayerful state, connected with the Divine, throughout. 

Ask God to grant dharma (righteousness) and bhakti (devotion) to all beings (as when this is attained, all else is automatically attained. All peace and bliss come with dharma and bhakti; all strife and discord come from the opposite). Let the planet be healed, let our minds and hearts be healed. Let us always remain on the path of righteousness, let us be instruments of the Divine here and hereafter. Thus, let our lives be blessed. 

Stay with this visualisation for a few minutes until you feel satisfied that you have done what you needed to. Then, bow down and thank the form of God that you have invoked for this healing, for allowing you to be His/Her instrument in this meditation.

And repeat this as often as you can, ideally once a day, or at least a few times a week.

Note- while you are visualising, if you wish, you can verbally repeat a favourite mantra or prayer if you have one. This is not mandatory but can help you feel connected to God during this process.

This type of visualisation opens the 'heart chakra', it helps our connection with other beings and thus with God. Concern for other beings is a win-win situation; it is excellent for our own spiritual progress and benefits others too. The more we do this sort of meditation, the closer we will draw to God and earn His/Her grace.

With that, I will leave you for now. I wish you every success on the wonderful path of using your power of visualisation to connect with the Divine and thus benefit yourself and all beings.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Om Sri LakshmiNarayanabhyam Namah.

Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya

Hari Aum Tat Sat.