Reading 281–13
When an individual then enters into deep meditation:
It has been found throughout the ages (individuals have found) that self-preparation (to them) is necessary. To some it is necessary that the body be cleansed with pure water, that certain types of breathing are taken, that there may be an even balance in the whole of the respiratory system, that the circulation becomes normal in its flow through the body, that certain or definite odors produce those conditions (or are conducive to producing of conditions) that allay or stimulate the activity of portions of the system, that the more carnal or more material sources are laid aside, or the whole of the body is purified so that the purity of thought as it rises has less to work against in its dissemination of that it brings to the whole of the system, in its rising through the whole of these centers, stations or places along the body. To be sure, these are conducive; as are also certain incantations, as a drone of certain sounds, as the tolling of certain tones, bells, cymbals, drums, or various kinds of skins. Though we may as higher thought individuals find some fault with those called savages, they produce or arouse or bring within themselves—just as we have known, do know, that there may be raised through the battle-cry, there may be raised through the using of certain words or things, the passion or the thirst for destructive forces. Just the same may there be raised, not sedative to these but a cleansing of the body.
“Consecrate yourselves this day that ye may on the morrow present yourselves before the Lord that He may speak through you!” is not amiss. So, to all there may be given:
Find that which is to yourself the more certain way to your consciousness of purifying body and mind, before ye attempt to enter into the meditation as to raise the image of that through which ye are seeking to know the will or the activity of the Creative Forces; for ye are raising in meditation actual creation taking place within the inner self!
When one has found that which to self cleanses the body, whether from the keeping away from certain foods or from certain associations (either man or woman), or from those thoughts and activities that would hinder that which is to be raised from finding its full measure of expression in the inner man (inner man, or inner individual, man or woman, meaning in this sense those radial senses from which, or centers from which all the physical organs, the mental organs, receive their stimuli for activity), we readily see how, then, in meditation (when one has so purified self) that healing of every kind and nature may be disseminated on the wings of thought, that are so much a thing—and so little considered by the tongue that speaks without taking into consideration what may be the end thereof!
Now, when one has cleansed self, in whatever manner it may be, there may be no fear that it will become so overpowering that it will cause any physical or mental disorder. It is without the cleansing that entering any such finds any type or form of disaster, or of pain, or of any dis-ease of any nature. It is when the thoughts, then, or when the cleansings of group meditations are conflicting that such meditations call on the higher forces raised within self for manifestations and bring those conditions that either draw one closer to another or make for that which shadows [shatters?] much in the experiences of others; hence short group meditations with a central thought around some individual idea, or either in words, incantations, or by following the speech of one sincere in abilities, efforts or desires to raise a cooperative activity in the minds, would be the better.
Then, as one formula—not the only one, to be sure—for an individual that would enter into meditation for self, for others:
Cleanse the body with pure water. Sit or lie in an easy position, without binding garments about the body. Breathe in through the right nostril three times, and exhale through the mouth. Breathe in three times through the left nostril and exhale through the right. Then, either with the aid of a low music, or the incantation of that which carries self deeper—deeper—to the seeing, feeling, experiencing of that image in the creative forces of love, enter into the Holy of Holies. As self feels or experiences the raising of this, see it disseminated through the inner eye (not the carnal eye) to that which will bring the greater understanding in meeting every condition in the experience of the body. Then listen to the music that is made as each center of thine own body responds to that new creative force that little by little this entering in will enable self to renew all that is necessary—in Him.
First, cleanse the room; cleanse the body; cleanse the surroundings, in thought, in act! Approach not the inner man, or the inner self, with a grudge or an unkind thought held against any man! or do so to thine own undoing sooner or later!
Prayer and meditation:
Prayer is the concerted effort of the physical consciousness to become attuned to the consciousness of the Creator, either collectively or individually! meditation is emptying self of all that hinders the creative forces from rising along the natural channels of the physical man to be disseminated through those centers and sources that create the activities of the physical, the mental, the spiritual man; properly done must make one stronger mentally, physically, for has it not been given? He went in the strength of that meat received for many days? Was it not given by Him who has shown us the Way, “I have had meat that ye know not of”? As we give out, so does the whole of man—physically and mentally become depleted, yet in entering into the silence, entering into the silence in meditation, with a clean hand, a clean body, a clean mind, we may receive that strength and power that fits each individual, each soul, for a greater activity in this material world.
“Be not afraid, it is I.” Be sure it is Him we worship that we raise in our inner selves for the dissemination; for, as He gave, “Ye must eat of my body; ye must drink of my blood.” Raising then in the inner self that image of the Christ, love of the God-Consciousness, is making the body so cleansed as to be barred against all powers that would in any manner hinder.
Be thou clean, in Him.
Reading 281–27
(Q) [540]: Please interpret the experience I had on Friday night, May 29th, in which I saw colors and heard a voice speak within me.
(A) Much might be given as to colors, as to voice, as to the experience that came to thee. As has been given, these experiences come as warnings, as strength, as might, as power, that ye may be comforted in those experiences that at times would overwhelm thee and make thee doubt even thine own self. Know, then, that the lights, the voice, are as the power of the Christ in thine life, attuning thee that thou may be a greater help, a greater blessing to others; at the same time encouraging thee, lifting thee up to a more perfect knowledge of the glories of the Lord as He worketh in and through thee.
The lights are as the spirit of truth; the voice as the oneness with Him, that must be maintained if thy strength would maintain thee.
(Q) [585]: Please explain just what took place the night I heard what sounded like a large top spinning—felt a strong vibration sweep through my body and when I spoke saw a bluish spark close to the top of my head and it felt like electricity.
(A) As hath been indicated for the group, for members of same, there is that line, that connection, that point of contact in the body-physical to the spiritual forces as manifest through same. There are the centers of the body through which contacts are made, or are physically active, that at times, at all times, produce a sound. It may not be heard, it may not be always experienced by the individual, but finds expression in emotions of varied centers, varied characters. Thus the experience is that of the broader contact. Thus there are the vibrations of the electrical energies of the body, for Life itself is electrical—it manifests itself in its contacts in a physical being in much the same manner. Thus the experience in self of the emotions-physical being contacted by emotions-spiritual manifesting in the body.
These are, then, as experiences. Learn ye to use them, for they will give expressions