Light Meditation
Goals of Light Meditation
The true objective of meditation, in esoteric teachings, is to "illuminate" your heart to be able to see your real instinct (true self). It has to be an insightful process, meaning to free oneself from the creative, desire-filled mind in order to move in and see what a being is comprised of, and eliminate the obstacles obscuring truth so that one becomes holistically true. It is about spending time in the quest for Truth. It is about lighting up the whole being from the spirit to the mind and body.
Today, we seem to be bombarded with all kinds of meditation teachings that claim to be authentic and effective. Let us examine some of these claims to evaluate their truth and effectiveness.
For Relaxation
In order to relax effectively, one must become relaxed (L. laxus or loose), i.e. without any form of mind activation, and bodily loosened. In trying to achieve such a state, the energy forces that are the basis of the physical body and mind, and the cause of not being relaxed, are naturally aroused. The body will be fighting to loosen itself, and the mind will be filled with every thought and information thrown out from such energy activation. A relaxed state can only be come by when such energy forces (karma) are completely freed off. To start off, there must be a good understanding of the energy forces of karma and one must work very hard before being able to be truly relaxed.
It is impossible to feel completely relaxed until a long way into meditation training. It is likely that meditators overly concentrate telling themselves to relax and end up more tensed. In any case, a created effect of relaxation is very un-relaxing by nature.
Peace
Peace comes from "without-ness", which includes being without any normal doing and being without fear, realizing there is nothing to fear. Attempts at being "without" must allow for and will certainly trigger free-roaming karma. The mind-body becomes and remains very disturbed until the energy forces of karma are completely freed off, thus settling into peace. It is likely that the meditator in holding on very hard to a thought of peace gets a false sense of peace. In any case, attempt at creating peace ends up creating the input for turbulence.
Healing
The need for healing comes from the fact that there is a disease problem. Disease problems are caused by the obstruction of physiological functions by the energy forces of memory (karma). If an actual process for the elimination of such energy forces does not take place, healing cannot be effective. In this case, the sense of healing that comes about is merely a product of self-suggestion and will not have a lasting effect. Real healing arises only by being at peace with disease problems so that unloading can take place.
Regarding Concentration/Visualization
This powerful mind function deviates completely from the purpose of meditation. Concentration/visualization stresses the mind-body. Creates more karma, and makes the person an "un-being."
It does not matter what purpose a meditation system claims to achieve. What is quintessential for meditation is that it must be truthful, and practically the purported direction is attainable. The method or technique is a tool to enable insightful exploration. It must be able to reveal the energy forces of karma and remove them by going into the spirit.
It is necessary to adhere to certain common basic principles. Even with proper understanding of basics and fundamental principles, meditators easily get caught up by their habitual pattern of mental functions and soon deviate in their practice or methods. A good meditation system must foresee and prevent meditators from falling into such a trap. Guidance from an experienced teacher is crucial.
An Effective Meditation System
Letting-Go
Letting-go must occur in reality without the involvement of the mind. If the mind is involved, it becomes "thinking of letting-go" which is the opposite of actual letting-go. There should not be any holding back to prevent coming out of any ideas or concepts and going beyond the mind and body to reveal the spirit. It is the only way toward an effective meditation without which the spirit can never be revealed. Unless the method is effective, the meditation either becomes a fantasy-spree or stressful discipline.
The attaching/attracting nature of the energy forces of karma is revealed as binding strength. Detachment and perseverance generate the flow of "anti-strength" that counteracts and removes the karmic forces a little at time, and layer after layer. On the physiological level, the letting-go of attachments wakes the body up, cell after cell, muscle after muscle, and organ after organ. The related body loosens out with an increased activation and brightens up with spiritual light.
Detachment
Detachment means coming out from anything whatsoever—the mind, the body, ideas and concepts, even the idea of letting-go. Without detachment, letting-go will never happen. It is a continuous effort (of trying to be effortless) to come out from the normal attachments, desires, ideas and involvement of the mind and body. Perfection of detachment gives rise to equanimity that is without preference or involvement. When this happens, emptiness (Shunyata) arises.
Mind, Body and Spirit
When one attempts to come out from the normal and infinite doing-something state in the mind and/or body truly for the sake of nothing (Emptiness), spirit is unveiled. It is the basis of the mind and body. It carries heavy, burdensome and obstructive karma. Perseverance and tolerance (let it be, so be it) eventually allows the karma to break away gradually. Therefore, a meditator should maintain a willingness and happiness to face the punitive discomfort and burden of karma. Meditation is a process of uniting and harmonizing the mind, body, and spirit so that they function harmoniously.
Spirit
In Taoist literature, the meditation process involves the restoration of the primordial spirit to the mind and body having been stolen or absorbed by the cognitive spirit of thoughts and actions. When one disengages from the normal functions/involvement of thoughts, dreams, imaginations, concentrations, and actions (of the mind-body), spirit is unveiled naturally. Needless to say, the spirit is burdened with karma. By going beyond the karmic creation process (the use of 1st to 8th consciousness), a meditator connects with the purity of Tathagata-Garbha (9th consciousness), uses the Metta (merits) generated to radiate and dissolve karma.
Karma
In meditation, one switches to the spirit by going beyond mind and body. Energy forces of karma, the basis of mind and body, are revealed and should be felt and seen as such.
Time Off For Spirit
Time spent in meditation is for the purpose of switching to the spirit by going beyond the mind and body in order to unveil the nature and basis of your own self. One should not be engaged in the normal functions of the mind and body, for example, contemplating, concentrating, visualizing or voluntary actions. Without this clear comprehension, meditation attempts can become a quest for disasters.