I. THE PREPARATION
You are about to take a journey. It will be the most wonderful experience of your life. The secret is not apparent to the casual reader. It reveals itself only to the person who is willing to follow the step-by-step instructions and will follow through with the mental exercise by himself in the days that follow.
Do not expect a miracle instantly. Results can appear quite soon, but because of individual differences, it may be a few days, a few weeks, sometimes much longer.
Be sure that you do not do this exercise for the purpose of feeling better or to get something out of it. That attitude destroys the effectiveness of the meditation and gives it a selfish twist. Do it to discover your true self rather than to feel better. Expecting some special effect ruins the spirit of discovery and can create illusion and frustration.
For the time being, put aside your fears, anxieties, guilts and worries, and give all your attention to understanding the author’s instructions to you. Repeat the meditation exercise by yourself many times a day, at least three if possible, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Careful: do not try to analyze why it works. There is a vast difference between concern and worry, analysis and understanding.
If you listen very carefully and do as you are told, you will experience periods of well-being and then periods of doubt, thoughts such as “Will it last?” or “Am I kidding myself?” Take advantage of your increased awareness to observe this out of your thinking. Be attentive in this special way and you will come to understand many things effortlessly. Analysis always substitutes for understanding and leads to worry and doubt, and doubt in turn will lead to confusion, emotion, depression and despair.
Although you cannot make yourself believe, you can observe the demon of doubt out of existence. You will see what is meant by this as you meditate.
Do not wait until you feel like doing your exercise; do it religiously. The object of the exercise, you see, is to lead the way you feel. Our feelings have subtle ways of talking to us and blocking us from doing what is wise. Therefore, if there is only one thing you must make yourself do, let it be to meditate. Once you have gotten past the mysterious reluctance and the resistance, you will be glad you did.
Be careful the exercise does not become a mechanical thing. Do it each time as if it were the very first time, so that it remains an observation exercise. There may be an uplifting, perhaps a “distant” feeling, lasting several days. As you become accustomed to this, you may start to worry, “Is it wearing off? I’m not getting anything out of my exercise. Am I doing it right?” The distant feeling is the awareness you have been seeking all of your life.
Most of us are accustomed to thinking from our feelings and being lost in them.We are used to living in a daydream state of escape. Continue with your exercise regardless of what happens. If you encounter an odd experience, don’t worry. Wonder,watch, observe, question,wait, and you will be safe. For goodness’ sake, don’t decide whether it is a good experience or a bad one. It is perfectly all right if you admit that you don’t know and begin to wonder; that’s how you will come to understand.
Never add any technique to what you have been taught. The meditation exercise is what the name implies. The exercise will make the subconscious subject to the conscious understanding.
Although the instructions seem to contain many suggestions, close examination will reveal but one principle.
Never (through lack of understanding) misuse the power you develop, giving suggestions to yourself such as “I will be brave,” “I will lose weight.” Don’t roll up your sleeves to deal with problems as you begin to understand what they are.Wait. Be patient. There is a time and place for everything that is to be said or done. The most important thing for you to experience is repentance, which is the sad gladness that is known when you see yourself in the light and you see your ego as part of the problem.
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