About Meditation

Meditation in The Infinite Way 

Joel said that meditation is the very foundation of our work in the Infinite Way and the most important practice, and he was very clear about the purpose of meditation:  

“Prayer and meditation are not for the purpose of reaching some God somewhere, but for the purpose of communion with God. Where is God? The kingdom of God is within you, so the purpose of meditation is not getting at-one with God, it is not seeking God, it is not trying to be worthy of God. The purpose of meditation and prayer is communion with the Father within you.”

“Meditation is our method of building a consciousness of truth, a new consciousness. Meditation is our mode of prayer. First, however, it must be understood that prayer is not what we say to God, but rather what God says to us. Because of the noise of the world, we do not hear the still small voice or receive the benefit of the presence, and therefore, we must learn to be silent and receptive.

“The purpose of meditation is to gain a conscious awareness of the presence of God–such a conscious awareness of our oneness with God that we may come into an actual realization of the truth of being.”

Joel’s Instructions for Meditation

These instructions are from the book Living the Infinite Way and from personal instructions given to Geri McDonald by Joel.

These are principles all teachers and practitioners follow and teach to their students.

  1. Make yourself comfortable. Sit erect, with your spine straight, your feet firmly planted on the floor, and your hands relaxed in your lap. Breathe normally. There is no mystical or occult reason for this. It is very simple.  When your body is perfectly comfortable, you are not conscious of it. Breathe in and out four or five times counting to quiet your mind. Breathe normally.
  2. Next, repeat silently or audibly, “I turn within to the Christ of my own being.” If thoughts enter, repeat this phrase. Always go into meditation by yourself. Never let another lead you into meditation.
  3. We will never be able to stop the mind completely. If human thoughts or concerns enter, do not fight them. Relax. Let the thoughts come and then let them go. As you practice, this interference will subside. Be patient.
  4. Now, move to the question “What is God?” You are not interested in another’s concept of God; you are interested only in asking “What is God?” and receiving the answer from God. The kingdom of God is within you, so the answer must come from within your own being. Sit quietly and ask, “Speak Lord, thy servant heareth, or “Father, I am here,  speak.”
  5. Assume a listening attitude as if you were waiting to hear the answer. Thoughts may come. Think about God as the source of our being; as omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.
  6. Someday, while meditating and pondering the idea “What is God?” you will suddenly find that you cannot think anymore. You have come to the end of thought about God and prayer. Then you will sit there quietly, at peace, with no more thoughts, no more questions, and no more answers. Just peace. Thoughts will be quieted.  The inner ear will open, and a long, deep breath like a sigh of relief or a sense of release will probably come to you. It is as if you were escaping from something, as if a burden were dropping off your shoulders. The release or relief will appear in many different ways, and when it comes, you will be so full of the Spirit that you will get right up and do the work that lies ahead for the day, or perhaps some work that has been neglected. With that release will come divine wisdom, divine guidance, and divine strength, for this reason: That deep breath, the click or release, was a God experience, the actual presence or activity of God in your consciousness.
  7. We never stay in meditation for more than 10 minutes at a time. It takes a long time to be able to stay in meditation for ten minutes or longer.
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Transcript		Printed
Transcript
0424AMeditation - Its Function and Purpose
From: 1961 Stockholm Closed Class
0475ATen-Second Meditations
From: 1962 Princess Kaiulani Open Class
Recording NumberChapter, Recording(s), Options
0424A

Meditation - Its Function and Purpose

From: 1961 Stockholm Closed Class
0475A

Ten-Second Meditations

From: 1962 Princess Kaiulani Open Class
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The Art of Meditation