TBA
CONTENTS
Other great impacts/uses, but this is the biggest
Thoughts as not being real
The metaphorical representations in the great wisdoms
What to meditatively contemplate
OTHER GREAT IMPACTS, BUT THIS IS THE BIGGEST
While meditation is effective in increasing certain abilities that are very useful in life, it is the use of meditation at the highest level that best fits the ultimate highest purpose of it.
Since we "live in our thoughts", since "our thoughts determine our emotions", and since we experience the quality of our lives through our emotions, it is the altering and upgrading of our thoughts through meditation that meditation's highest impact can be achieved.
The most basic tenet of all philosophy and psychology is that our thoughts are not "real". The fact that those are central to our efforts in both of those disciplines magnifies and underlines the importance of learning and practicing that.
The only question (an admittedly big one) is how to achieve and operate under this realization.
THOUGHTS AS NOT BEING REAL
In meditation, meditators practice that tenet so that we better learn that thoughts are not actually of sufficient substance to be scared of. We practice "seeing" thoughts as they pass virtually randomly through our brain and saying to ourselves "that's just a thought", implying that it is of "no substance". The latter is an alternative statement we can make when we see a thought.
I would recommend for everyone Vipassana Meditation, which facilitates one's ability to observe thoughts and hold them as just thoughts and not to react to them as if they are real - as a result, the sources of agitation begin to lessen and then disappear. Only through eliminating those sources can we attain peace of mind!
As we practice this, it becomes a natural mantra in our mind, so that when we are confronted with fearful thoughts in actual situations we are able to get them into perspective as not being something that is actually a threat, turning it into a "manageable" series of bits of data coming from our brain because they match up with something similar from the past.
THE METAPHORICAL REPRESENTATIONS IN THE GREAT WISDOMS
In various disciplines, metaphors like the following are often used:
The Power Of The Elephant Vs. The Wisdom Of The Master
We are but small intelligent beings riding of the back of elephants, the huge amount of thoughts and emotions they cause. We need to train those elephants to do as we want them.
We Are As Small Children Frightened Of Ghosts
We are as small children who believe that the ghosts and monsters we see in our dreams are real. We let them scare us, frighten ourselves for our very existence. Yet they are but illusions that we contrived in the first place - so how foolish it is to believe our own contrivances. Yet we repeat this and repeat this, until it becomes life itself, until it becomes so real that it is indisputable. And this is how we create great suffering. And please don't mistake this point that it is all of our own creation - ALL of it!
WHAT TO MEDITATIVELY CONTEMPLATE
I would suggest themes that you'd like to develop more power on, e.g. self esteem, gratitude, any topic on this site that strikes you as one you'd like to become more centered and grounded about. Look at some of the contents sections and list those of which you could derive the most from contemplating and meditating about.
In meditation, we practice that tenet so that we better learn that thoughts are not actually of sufficient substance to be scared of. We practice "seeing" thoughts as they pass virtually randomly through our brain and saying to ourselves "that's just a thought", implying that it is of "no substance". The latter is an alternative statement we can make when we see a thought.
Meditation (or any form of "thinking of") is often more useful when it follows a format that is directed in some way.
Questions provide opportunities for stimulating thought into the right direction.
Why do I believe this? What is its use to me? Is this legitimate and logical? What seems to make more sense around this? Why have I not been able to believe what makes more sense? Do I have other reasons to hold onto the old belief? What serves me for my greater good? Is there more to learn? Where and/or to whom shall I go for more knowledge and wisdom?
We can even write on paper whatever we want to remember...and we can deal with some of it outside of our meditative state.
Of course, in meditation, you absolutely will not entertain stories or random thoughts. You'll be highly aware. You'll not be compulsive or driven. You'll let what rolls in, just roll in for the time being. (Polish it up later if you choose, which means you would use the option of writing down what you thought was important.)
MEDITATING QUASI-MEDITATIVELY
Using this variation, you are simply engaging in an almost sleep like, relaxed state and letting wh
