Post by Mysti on Jul 7, 2007 11:18:41 GMT -5
AdvLog29B-GapMed2-070402
THE GAP MEDITATION - Part 2
(How to use "Japa")
THE GAP MEDITATION
The GAP has several different names, more or less unique to each religious dispensation: "The Silence" or the "Shunyata" (which means emptiness or limitlessness in Buddhist tradition, or the "AIN" from Jewish mysticism And, I'm sure, there are similar words or phrases in any religious-mystical tradition.
If you remember, the Gap Meditation involes selecting a ten (give or take) word phrase or sentence. You recite this phrase , examining each word carefully, the shape of the letters, the meaning, etc. then the trick here is to go on to the next word in your phrase examining it in the same way, then quickly jumping back to the gap between the first two words. And then continuing on to the third word and jumping back while in the meditative state to the gap between the second and third word. And so on on through the whole sentence or phrase. Now, it is this "gap" between the words that we want to focus on. When you jump your mind focus back to the gap between the two words, for an instant or two you are in the gap, you are touching the absolute. Your mind for that instant is not thinking thoughts.
USING JAPA
Now, you will want to lengthen the time you are in this gap, touching the Ultimate. This Ultimate is the source of all creation. So, we use a technique thousands of years old, called "japa" in Hindu terminology. Japa is the technique of saying God's name or a very short spiritual phrase repetitively over and over again. You may chose to use "Ah" as your japa phrase. "Ah" is the creative sound found in the names of creator gods: God (GAHd), Krishna (Krish-nAH), Allah (Al-lAH ) Bramah (BramAH) and so forth. And, using this creation syllable may be very effective if you are seeking to manifest something (we'll get to that in a bit). Another sound you might use is "Om" which is the sound of gratitude. Or, you could use Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, Elohim or any name from your own path.
It works this way: When you make that jump backwards to the gap between two words, you start saying "Ahhhhhhh" repetitively (or the japa word or phrase you've picked for yourself) until you are aware that your mind is starting to think again. Then you move on to the next word (examining it carefully) then swiftly jumping back into the gap between that word and the previous one. The "japa" sound or phrase you have picked will tend to hold that contact with the Ultimate Source open a little longer than if you just are aware of the gap.
MANIFESTING IN THE GAP
Then as your ability to hold yourself in the gap for a few moments increases, it is relatively easy to send your manifesting request into the gap, sending it to the Ultimate Source.
So, as you go into meditation using this technique, you will have three items that you do keep aware of:
1. The phrase you have selected. Dr. Dyer uses the first ten words of the Lord's Prayer, but you might use the first ten words of the Armour of Light affirmation or you can use any other spiritual phrase that appeals to you.
2. The "japa" sound or phrase you have selected.
3. The image of whatever you want to manifest.
The whole secret to effective meditation is to still the mind. So, the technique of keeping your mental focus on these three elements and on the gap "jumping back" technique should keep your mind (hopefully) from its usual wandering of thoughts.
So to use the GAP method of meditation, we get into the meditative state in the usual way. Then we start our ten or so word phrase in our minds. You might see, visualize, the words as sort of passing before you on your mental screen. See them run slowly in your mind's eye. Then as you examine each word, you mentally jump back to the gap between the last word and the word you are currently examining. As quickly as you find yourself, your mental focus, in the gap, you start reciting "Ah" or "Om" or some word or sound that feels comfortable to you. All of this can be done silently or you may say the japa sound aloud. Try it both ways and see what works best for you. As soon as you are aware that your mind is moving -- thinking -- wandering -- then again, you go on to the next word in your ten or so word phrase. And you repeat the whole sequence -- examining those ten words you've picked -- over and over until the end of the meditation period. As you develop the ability to hold the mind in the GAP, you may then send an image of whatever you'd like to manifest into the gap. It's hard to describe, but you sort of mentally push this image into the gap. This is a powerful, but admittedly tricky, meditation technique.
If you want to follow up on this technique: The book by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Getting in the Gap is the book to read. It comes with a CD that you can play during the meditation. The CD is designed to be helpful in getting you into the gap.
OK QUESTIONS?
ImLadyAthena: When you put out what you would like to maifest, should it be one word?
GS: For myself, I just push the image of whatever I want into the gap. With practice in visualization, you should be able to hold the image of what you intend to manifest in your mind. But, yes, it might be effective (say you want a Rolls-Royce) to say "Rolls-Royce" repetitively as your japa word. My personal experience is that a single syllable (such as "Om") is effective.
QuantumSOFIA: Does the desire to manifest diminish as awareness increases?
GS: That's been my experience, Sofia.
Wdogstarr9: Can't this technique be used also to balance and heal chakra issues? Wrennie -- Healing and balancing chakras?
WrenOwl: Wdog, try it and report back
Wdogstarr9: Sure, just was going to tell you, " OM Shanti" is used in my yoga, and it brings about goosebumps, fueling in through the crown chakra.
Wdogstarr9: Grail, Wren, ever hear of these to say, "Ra, Sha, Na, Ta, Ba"?
GS: I've run into those sounds, yes.
WrenOwl: Yeah, Wdog.
Wdogstarr9: Those work well, to me at least. Then I say them backwards, etc.
GS: Oh, here is a message from Lady Eleanor (my spiritual teacher who has passed over):
.....................
Dear Ones, I am here at Lance's request. Though I have nothing in the way of urgent messages, I do want you all to know that you are under our wings. You are very special to us as you have gone much farther in your development spiritually than most do in a life time. So, I say unto you all, keep up the good work. That is all. I am Lady Eleanor of the Violet Flame and messenger to the Council of Twelve.
.......................
WrenOwl: It is true though, everyone in the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment who has participated in this chat has gone much further than you could if you were to try this alone. Finding a mentor or mentoring relationship helps facilitate and speed up growth
Wdogstarr9: Yes, just make sure and use your gifts of discernment, listen to your heart...and body.
HOMEWORK: Try the "GAP" meditation a few times in your daily meditation practice. Remember to write down the meditation phrase you have selected and your japa sound or word in your journal as well as how the meditation itself has worked for you. Don't forget your visualization exercises. And be good to the child within this week.
NEXT WEEK: We'll see what topic seems important. I'll ask Lady Eleanor what she thinks we should look at.
Log Entry: pubg400702099891757chat [Members - 0] 4/2/2007 09:32 PM
THE GAP MEDITATION - Part 2
(How to use "Japa")
THE GAP MEDITATION
The GAP has several different names, more or less unique to each religious dispensation: "The Silence" or the "Shunyata" (which means emptiness or limitlessness in Buddhist tradition, or the "AIN" from Jewish mysticism And, I'm sure, there are similar words or phrases in any religious-mystical tradition.
If you remember, the Gap Meditation involes selecting a ten (give or take) word phrase or sentence. You recite this phrase , examining each word carefully, the shape of the letters, the meaning, etc. then the trick here is to go on to the next word in your phrase examining it in the same way, then quickly jumping back to the gap between the first two words. And then continuing on to the third word and jumping back while in the meditative state to the gap between the second and third word. And so on on through the whole sentence or phrase. Now, it is this "gap" between the words that we want to focus on. When you jump your mind focus back to the gap between the two words, for an instant or two you are in the gap, you are touching the absolute. Your mind for that instant is not thinking thoughts.
USING JAPA
Now, you will want to lengthen the time you are in this gap, touching the Ultimate. This Ultimate is the source of all creation. So, we use a technique thousands of years old, called "japa" in Hindu terminology. Japa is the technique of saying God's name or a very short spiritual phrase repetitively over and over again. You may chose to use "Ah" as your japa phrase. "Ah" is the creative sound found in the names of creator gods: God (GAHd), Krishna (Krish-nAH), Allah (Al-lAH ) Bramah (BramAH) and so forth. And, using this creation syllable may be very effective if you are seeking to manifest something (we'll get to that in a bit). Another sound you might use is "Om" which is the sound of gratitude. Or, you could use Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, Elohim or any name from your own path.
It works this way: When you make that jump backwards to the gap between two words, you start saying "Ahhhhhhh" repetitively (or the japa word or phrase you've picked for yourself) until you are aware that your mind is starting to think again. Then you move on to the next word (examining it carefully) then swiftly jumping back into the gap between that word and the previous one. The "japa" sound or phrase you have picked will tend to hold that contact with the Ultimate Source open a little longer than if you just are aware of the gap.
MANIFESTING IN THE GAP
Then as your ability to hold yourself in the gap for a few moments increases, it is relatively easy to send your manifesting request into the gap, sending it to the Ultimate Source.
So, as you go into meditation using this technique, you will have three items that you do keep aware of:
1. The phrase you have selected. Dr. Dyer uses the first ten words of the Lord's Prayer, but you might use the first ten words of the Armour of Light affirmation or you can use any other spiritual phrase that appeals to you.
2. The "japa" sound or phrase you have selected.
3. The image of whatever you want to manifest.
The whole secret to effective meditation is to still the mind. So, the technique of keeping your mental focus on these three elements and on the gap "jumping back" technique should keep your mind (hopefully) from its usual wandering of thoughts.
So to use the GAP method of meditation, we get into the meditative state in the usual way. Then we start our ten or so word phrase in our minds. You might see, visualize, the words as sort of passing before you on your mental screen. See them run slowly in your mind's eye. Then as you examine each word, you mentally jump back to the gap between the last word and the word you are currently examining. As quickly as you find yourself, your mental focus, in the gap, you start reciting "Ah" or "Om" or some word or sound that feels comfortable to you. All of this can be done silently or you may say the japa sound aloud. Try it both ways and see what works best for you. As soon as you are aware that your mind is moving -- thinking -- wandering -- then again, you go on to the next word in your ten or so word phrase. And you repeat the whole sequence -- examining those ten words you've picked -- over and over until the end of the meditation period. As you develop the ability to hold the mind in the GAP, you may then send an image of whatever you'd like to manifest into the gap. It's hard to describe, but you sort of mentally push this image into the gap. This is a powerful, but admittedly tricky, meditation technique.
If you want to follow up on this technique: The book by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Getting in the Gap is the book to read. It comes with a CD that you can play during the meditation. The CD is designed to be helpful in getting you into the gap.
OK QUESTIONS?
ImLadyAthena: When you put out what you would like to maifest, should it be one word?
GS: For myself, I just push the image of whatever I want into the gap. With practice in visualization, you should be able to hold the image of what you intend to manifest in your mind. But, yes, it might be effective (say you want a Rolls-Royce) to say "Rolls-Royce" repetitively as your japa word. My personal experience is that a single syllable (such as "Om") is effective.
QuantumSOFIA: Does the desire to manifest diminish as awareness increases?
GS: That's been my experience, Sofia.
Wdogstarr9: Can't this technique be used also to balance and heal chakra issues? Wrennie -- Healing and balancing chakras?
WrenOwl: Wdog, try it and report back
Wdogstarr9: Sure, just was going to tell you, " OM Shanti" is used in my yoga, and it brings about goosebumps, fueling in through the crown chakra.
Wdogstarr9: Grail, Wren, ever hear of these to say, "Ra, Sha, Na, Ta, Ba"?
GS: I've run into those sounds, yes.
WrenOwl: Yeah, Wdog.
Wdogstarr9: Those work well, to me at least. Then I say them backwards, etc.
GS: Oh, here is a message from Lady Eleanor (my spiritual teacher who has passed over):
.....................
Dear Ones, I am here at Lance's request. Though I have nothing in the way of urgent messages, I do want you all to know that you are under our wings. You are very special to us as you have gone much farther in your development spiritually than most do in a life time. So, I say unto you all, keep up the good work. That is all. I am Lady Eleanor of the Violet Flame and messenger to the Council of Twelve.
.......................
WrenOwl: It is true though, everyone in the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment who has participated in this chat has gone much further than you could if you were to try this alone. Finding a mentor or mentoring relationship helps facilitate and speed up growth
Wdogstarr9: Yes, just make sure and use your gifts of discernment, listen to your heart...and body.
HOMEWORK: Try the "GAP" meditation a few times in your daily meditation practice. Remember to write down the meditation phrase you have selected and your japa sound or word in your journal as well as how the meditation itself has worked for you. Don't forget your visualization exercises. And be good to the child within this week.
NEXT WEEK: We'll see what topic seems important. I'll ask Lady Eleanor what she thinks we should look at.
Log Entry: pubg400702099891757chat [Members - 0] 4/2/2007 09:32 PM