THE DIVINE SCIENCE Daily Spiritual Practice

2011

Daily Spiritual Practice

Itisoftenstatedonourwebsitethatourschoolputsthegreatestemphasisonactualpracticeand directexperience,insteadofsimplytheoreticalknowledgeandthedevelopmentofopinion.Inthe divinescienceoftheurgythereismuchtolearnandstudy,itistrue;butintheend,onlydirect experiencecaneverserveasthevehiclewhichcarriestheaspiranttowardsGod.Inordertocreatethe properconditionsrequiredtocausetheseexperiences,spiritualpractice(calledaskesis)isrequired. Ideally,spiritualpracticesshouldbelearneddirectlyfromateacherwhohasacceptedyouasa student.Therefore,wemustalwaysstronglyencourageourreaderstoseektutelageundertheguidance ofaninstructor,evenifthatguidanceisnotwithus.Nogeneralcourseofinstructionorlistof techniques,nomatterhowgreatorthorough,iseverareplacementforalivingteacherwhocan observetheprogressofthestudentwithspiritualeyesandthewisdomofpersonalexperience.Eventhe basiccourseofpracticetobegiveninthisarticleisonlyacornerstone,roughandunspecific.Itisgeneral enoughthat,forthemajorityofreaders,itshouldworksufficiently.Eachpracticegivenhereis foundational,andmustbepracticedinsomeformoranotherinanylegitimatespiritualpath.Nonethe lesstherewillbesomewhofinditverydifficulttopursueandmaintainevensosimplearoutinewithout thedirectguidanceofateacher. Thepurposeofthisarticleisnottoreplaceateacher.Thepurpose,instead,istoprovidethereader withabeginningpracticeroutinethatwillintroducehimtotheconceptofdailymeditation,and familiarizehimselfwiththepracticeswhichareessentialtoanytruepath.Thatway,whetherthereader shoulddecidetopursuetheurgyorsomeothersystem,theexperiencegainedfromthesepracticeswill assisthiminproducingresultswhereverhemaygo.Inotherwords,thesepracticesdonotreplacea teacher,butaremeantinsteadtosimplysatisfythewouldbestudentandgivehimavalidmeansof makingprogressuntilateachercanbeobtained.

Preliminaries:TheAltarandMeditationSeat
Beforebeginningthepathofspiritualevolution,theearnestseekershouldtakethetimetoacquire whatmightbeseenastheonlytwopreliminariestothepracticeofmysticism:analtarandaseat. Thealtar,orbomos,isthePlaceofPower.ItwastraditionallyalsocalledtheHieron,orHoly Place,atermwhichcouldbeappliedtothealtar,ortoaplacewheremeditationisdone(thespace surroundingthealtar).Thealtercanbeassmallorlargeasonewishes,andasdecoratedorbareasis preferred.Uponit,theaspiringmysticwillplaceastoreofincense,somecandles,andrepresentations Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 1

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ofthedivinewhichsynchronizewithhisunderstandingofGodandtheuniverse.IfyouareChristian,for example,apictureofJesusshouldbeputasthecenterpieceofthealtar,andshouldhavethemost prominentposition(slightlyraisedaboveanythingelseonthealtar,andwithitsviewunobstructed).If youareHindu,picturesofShiva,Vishnu,Krishna,etc,accordingtoonessect.IfBuddhist,thenGautama Buddha.Whateverthereligionortheologicalpreference,themainrepresentativeofdivinityshouldbe centeredandraised.IfonedoesnothaveapreferrednameorimageforGod,thensomething consideredaformlessrepresentationshouldbehad,suchasalingam,animageofsacredgeometry, thesun,etc.Somethingshouldbehad,sothatthemindcanproperlybetrained.Withoutadepictionof somekind,thelowerselfwillhaveahardtimefollowingyourwilltowardsGod. Flankingtheprimarysubjectofthealtar,oneisatlibertytodisplaywhathepleases.Traditionally, imagesofsaintsandmastersfromoneslineagewouldbeuponthealtar,inordertohoneinonthe evolutionarycurrentwhichthoseadeptsarestillprovidingformankind.Holyobjects,relics,sacred offerings,andthingswhichhavebeenblessedcanalsobekepthere,tohelpsaturatethespacewith spiritualizedenergy.Takeasmuchlibertywiththecreationanddesignofyouraltarasyouwant,and makeitsomethingmeaningfultoyou,whichisthemostimportantthing.Imightalsoaddthatanytable orsurfacespacecanbemadeintoanaltar;thereisnoneedtoconstructonefromscratch. Withthebomoscreated,thestudentshouldseetosettingupakathedrosorseatofpower. Theurgistsholdthatthistermhasadoublemeaning,basedonahiddenetymology.Intheonesense,it issimplytheplaceonesitsdown(kata)totakeaseat(hedros).Butbymovingtherand introducinganiwhilestillkeepingthesound,itbecomestheplacewhereonepurifies(kathar)his ownspiritualimage(eidos). Thekathedroswillbetheseatthatthestudentwilluseforhismeditations.Itmaybeeitherachair, oruponthefloor;neitherpreferencewillmakeagreatdifference.Betweenthemeditatorandthechair orfloorshouldbeeithercotton,linen,orsilkcloth.Ifmeditatinginachair,forexample,drapesilkover theseatandinfrontofit,sothatwhileyouaresittinginit,nopartofyouisdirectlytouchingthefloor orchair.Thiswillhelpinsulatetheenergiesofyourmeditations,whichwhilenotveryrelevantinthe beginning,isagoodhabittodevelopforlateron.Intime,justtouchingthispieceoffabricwillsenda burstofspiritualenergyintothebody,puttingtheaspirantintoahigherstateofawareness.Thiscloth is,intruth,thekathedrositself.Whereveritis,thebenefitsofyourpastmeditationwillbealso. Thereforekeepitsacred,andoutofthesightandreachofothers.Thosewhoarenotpracticing spiritualityactivelyshouldneitherseenortouchit.Thosewhoare,mayseeit,butshouldnottouchit. Theseatshouldbesetupcomfortablyinfrontofthealtar.ThepicturesorimagesofGodandsaints onthealtarshouldberoughlyheadlevel,neithertoofarlow,norhighenoughtoobstructyourvisionof itall.Donotworryaboutgettingitallperfect.Thereisnosingledesignwhichgovernswhattheideal altarshouldlooklike.Fromthemosthumbletothemostelaborate,allarelovedbyGod.Whatmatters is,firstly,thatthealtarmakessensetoyouandyourreligiousbeliefs.Secondly,thatyoufeelconnected toitandwhatitrepresents. Theseatshouldbecomfortable,butnotsocomfortablethatitwouldencourageyoutofallasleep. Ideallyyoushouldbesupportingyourownbodyweightasmuchaspossible,meaningyouarenot sinkingintoacushionorreclinerorthelikes.Havingbacksupportisperfectlyfine,aslongasyoudonot slouchsignificantlyagainstit.Thespinedoesnothavetobeperfectlystraight,butgoodpostureshould bemaintainedasfarasiscomfortable.Whensittingtomeditatethehandsshouldrestcomfortablyin thelap,orinsomepreferredhandgesture.Thechinshouldbegenerallylevel,sothatyourneckisnot Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 2

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slouchingforwards,butneithershoulditberigid.Stayrelaxed.Whensittinginyourmeditativeposture, itisgoodtoridealinebetweencomfortandattention.Berelaxedenoughtobeabletosinkintoa meditativestatewithoutbeingdistractedbyyourbody,butbealertanderectenoughthatyoudonot becomedrowsyorlean.

StartingtheDay:TheSecretsoftheSun
Whenfirstsettingfootuponthespiritualpath,themajorobstaclewhichconfrontstheaspirantisa matterofselfperspective.Theaspirant,whohithertohasbeenenamoredbytheworld,andhasbeen bothinandoftheworld,mustnowdefinehimselftobeinit,butnotofit.Inotherwords,aparadigm shiftisnecessary.Thespiritualseekermustdoawaywiththeimagethatheisamundanepersonliving inamundaneworld,leadingamundanelife.Instead,activestepsmustbetakentowardsrealizingones selfasaspiritualbeingtemporarilyencasedwithinabody,whoselifeismuchlargerandgreaterthana physicallifespan.Realizingthis,itwillbeabsolutelynaturalforthestudenttodevotegreatattention andtheutmostcaretotheserviceofhisimmortalsoulanddivinespirit.Untilthisisexperienced, however,theadjustmentwillbeadifficultoneformostpeoplejuststartingout. Themastersofthetruehermeticsciencehavetaughttheirdisciplesformilleniathatthemorningis, psychologically,ofthegreatestimportance.Justastheaspirantisinthedawnofhisspiritualpath,so thedawnofthedayholdsgreatswayoverhissuccess.ThesunisourimmediateArchonorspiritual king,andoverseesourdevelopmentduringourentirejourney.Inthedawnofourspiritualcareer,itis themorningsunintheEastwhichholdsthegreatestpoweroverus,andwhoseenergieswemustmost carefullytendto.Asweadvance,thearcofthesunasitpassesthroughtheceilingoftheskyinthe hourssurroundingnoonbecomerelevant,wheretheaccomplishedaspirantbeginstounderstandthe sunsimpactonourlives,andtheimportanceofitsraysinspiritualevolution.Passingintothegatesof initiation,theInitiatelooksoutatthesuninitssettingintheWest,thedirectionoftheHeroesasthe ancientsreveredit.TheInitiatehaspassedintothesunsetofhisouterlife,andprepareshimselfforthe greaterinitiationswhichoccurinthegreatestsecrecy,andholdthegreatestpower.Finally,whenthe sundivesbeneathitshorizon,theadeptstudentofmagicdelvesintotheabyssofpureconsciousness, achievinghisliberationandunveilingthesparklingraysoftheMidnightSun.Yesindeedthisisa metaphor,aparablehandeddownbyourteacherscontaininghigherteachings.However,inaliteral sense,thestudentdoeseventuallylearnhowtointeractwiththeraysofthesuninitsdifferentstations asheadvances,allthewayuntilliberationisachievedandbeyond. Westronglyrecommend,inthebeginning,thatthestudentbeginthispsychologicaladjustment, andpreparetomeetthesun,byrisingoutofbedearlierthanheisprobablyuseto.Thehourbeforethe momentofsunrise,andthehouseimmediatelyproceedingit,havealwaysbeensacredtotheinitiates ofallmysteriesinallplaces.Itwillthereforebenefittheaspirantgreatlytoariseinthemorning,anhour beforethesunappearsonthehorizon,andjoininthetraditionofthemysticsofallculturesand religions.Insodoing,heshouldconstructasuitablemorningritualforhimself.Thismaybeassimpleas gettingupfrombed,stretchingforafewmoments,takingashower,thensittingdowninapersonal prayerormeditationspace.Thosemoreinclinedtodosomaytakethisfurtherandwriteapersonal prayerforbeginningtheday,directedtowhatevernameyouuseforGod.Tomakethetasksomewhat easier,Iwillprovideasimpleformula,whichthereaderisbynomeansconfinedto:

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1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

Wakeup,immediatelytakingamomenttositupinbed,closetheeyes,andspendamoment orientingonesselftoaspirituallife.Themindisrampantinthemornings,havingbeenthe subjectofanightslengthofdreams.AnextramomenttothinkaboutGodandyourdesire forselfrealizationwillhelptrainthemindinthesehighlyimpressionablefirstfewmoments ofwakingconsciousness.Whatyouthinkherecanhaveadramaticimpactonyourentire day. Cleanlinessandpurityhavealwaysbeentheattendingmaidensofspirituality.Arisingfrom bed,theaspirantshouldevacuatethebodyofitswastes,shouldtendtoallmattersof hygiene,andshouldbathe.Ifyourbathroomistobeapartofyourmorningritual,asthis stepwouldmakeit,thenyouwillnaturallywanttokeepitclean.Analogyisalwaysanaid. Whentheaboveisalltakencareof,thespiritualseekerwillprepareforthemorningpractice session.Inancienttimes,asmallspoonfulofhoneywastakenasthefirstthingtotouchthe aspirantslipsandenterthebody.Asmallamountofhoneymixedinequalproportionwith hotwatercreatesagentlesalveforthethroatandhelpsopentheairways,preparingonefor prayerorintonations.Aspirantswhoareinitiatedintothemorningsolarpracticeswould oftenmixthisdrinkwithasmallsprigofmint,oradropofmintoil.Thiswouldcoolthe bodysenergies,sothatthenervesstayedcalmwhenthesolarenergyfloodedthem.Those whodonotknowsuchpracticesmaystillfindtheeffectsofthemintverycalmingand soothing,whilealsochasingawaydrowsiness.Thiswouldallbepartoftheaspirants preparationofthebody,whichcouldincludelightstretching,simplephysicalpostures, and/ortheconsumptionofalchemicaltinctures. Withthebodynowemptied,cleansed,andopened,thestudentwillturnattentiontothe careofthemeditationspace.Incenseshouldbelit,andasmallcandleifthesunslightisnot yetcominginthroughthewindows.Thealtershouldbesetintheeastifpossible,butthisis notofgreatimportanceifitcannotbedone.Theaspirantshouldperfumetheentire meditationspacewiththeincenseofchoice,butpreferablyfrankincenseormyrrh,ora combinedfragranceusingthetwo.Theseatofmeditationshouldbespreadoutand perfumedalso,ifitisnotalreadyout. Havingdoneallofthis,theaspirantshouldnowopenhismeditationsessionwithaprayer. Traditionally,onewouldfirststartwiththeopeningprayerofhisparticularsystemortemple, andthenmoveontoahymntothesun.Inplaceofanopeningprayer,itisperfectlyfine simplytopraytoGodintheuniversalform,askingforguidanceinyourspiritualjourney.This done,theattentionshouldbeturnedtothesun.Forgreetingthesun,botharmsareheldout totheside,makingacross.Theaspirantinhalesdeeply,feelingthattheraysofthesun permeatehimdeeply,andthenrecitesaprayergreetingandpraisingthesun.Thishymnmay beoftheaspirantsownconstruction,or,ifpreferred,maybeatraditionalhymnsuchas thoseprovidedintheOrphicHymns.Intheancienttimesofthistradition,eitherbeforeor aftertheprayer(oroftentimesboth),themysticwouldsalutetherisingsunwithIePaean, IePaean,IePaean.Todothisthreefoldsalutationatthebeginningandendwouldcreatesix repetitions,themysticnumberofthesun.ThisphrasemeansHail,greatHealer!Itinvites thehealingandwoedissolvingpowerofthesunintoourlives,andspecifiesthesolarrayswe needasthosewhichreleaseusfromsuffering,unchaintheclaspsofignoranceandillusion, andhealoursoulofthedamagedonetoitbyalifeofmaterialexistence.Whentheprayer andsalutearefinished,bringthearmsinandgentlytouchthesternum,attheapexofthe Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 4

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6.)

solarplexus,andbowyourheadinreverencetoGod. Havingthuscleansedthebody,cleansedthemeditationspace,andconnectedtoGod throughthevisiblelightoftheSun,theaspirantwillbeginhismeditations.

Theabovesixstepformulaforbeginningthedayisbynomeansnecessaryinitsentirety.Idofeel, however,thattheaspirantwillbenefitfromthisprocess.Itistimetested,anditspracticewilluniteyou withthetimelesscurrentofpowercreatedbythemanywhohavegonebeforeyou,thathavebegun theirmorningsthesameway.Anyaspectisofcoursechangeable.If,forreligiousreasons,onedoesnot wanttousethesolarpraiseIePaean,thiswillnotdetractfromtheexperience.Simplyemploya suitablesalutationofyourowncreation.Paeanwastraditionallyusedbecauseofitsassociationwith thatpartofthesunwhichcleansesusofdarknessbyrisinginthemorning,andhealsusofthesorrows ofaworldlylife.Anythingwhichcapturesthisbasicideaisinterchangeablewithit.

FourPointsofTraining:Thought,Emotion,andBreath
Thisarticleisnotintendedtoprovideafulllineoftraining,byanymeans.Itisinsteadfocusedon preparingyouforreceivingactualmysticalmeditations,andforreceivingagoodteacherwhowill providethem.Therefore,whatwemustfirstfocusonarethosethingswhichshouldbepreliminaryto anytruespiritualpursuit.AsIamwritingthisarticlefromtheperspectiveofthelineageIamapartof, andwhichIammakingapieceofavailabletoyou,Iwillprovidethreepointsoftrainingwhichare preliminaryforallstudentsofthisschool.Forthemostpart,thefollowingfourexercisesarethefirst techniqueslearnedbyaprobationertothisschool.Bethatasitmay,Iamabsolutelyconvincedthat theywillservethestudentinhisapproachtoanyvalidsystemoftrainingandmysticalinitiationinthe world.Theyaresosimple,thattheirprinciplescannotbebasedonanythingotherthanthemost fundamentalanduniversaloflawswhichmustbeappliedinallsystems.

ThoughtObservation
Thepracticeofobservingthethoughts,andthemechanismsofthemindingeneral,hasbeenthe firststeppingstonetowardsspiritualitysincetimeimmemorial.Itisfoundinallcultures,inallformsof mysticism,whicharerootedintruth.Inoursystem,itisgiventhehonoredpositionofthefirstandlast meditationeverdone.Inotherwords,itissaidthatthefirstmeditationtheaspirantwilldowhen beginningthepathtowardsenlightenmentisthoughtobservation,andthatthelastmeditationhewill bedoingwhenhefinallyentersintoenlightenmentisthoughtobservation.Inaway,allother meditationsinbetweenaresimplymeanttocomplimentandenrichwhatoccurswhenweturnour mindsinwardsuponourselves. Theactivityitselfisdifficultlysimple.Inotherwords,itissosimple,thatitwillbeoneofthehardest thingsformostpeopletodo.Sitdownonyourkatherosandcloseyoureyes,facingthealtar.Fora moment,justpayattentiontotherhythmicpatternofyourbreath.Thistendstohaveahypnoticeffect onthemind,andwillhelpcalmitdownfromtheday(or,ifinthemorning,fromthenightsdreams). Afteraminuteortwo,whenyourbodyfeelsrelaxed,turnyourselfinwardsbytryingtowatchyour thoughts. Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 5

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Thisisaradicalchangeinperspectiveformostpeople.Mostofourlives,weareaninternalwatcher observingexternalthings.Therefore,allofourmentalenergieshavebeentrainedtolookoutwardsand engagetheenvironmentandthesenses.Haveyoueverhadadreamabouttheinsideofyourmind, whereyouwerewatchingthoughts?Notlikely.Buthaveyouhadadreamwhereyouwerewatching somethingexternalhappen?Ofcourse.Yourmindissotrainedtoobserveitsenvironment,always lookingoutwards,thatevenintheobscurityofdreamsitdoesnotoccurtolookinwardsuponitself.In thepracticeofthoughtobservationweareturningtheenergiesofoursensesinwardsandinstead,are watchingourinternalmentalprocesses. Letthethoughtscomeandgo.Takeapassiveattitudetowardsyourmind;donottrytoforce thoughtsout,orforcefullyenterintoastateofquietness,atfirst.Justwatch.Thoughtswillrise,andas theydo,recognizethemastheirownseparatethings,anddetachfromthem.Detachfromthedesires whichwerebehindthosethoughts,also.Atfirstthiswillbedifficult,becauseyoursensesandenergies arenottrainedtoinspectthemind.Therefore,youmayinitiallyfeellikeyourmindisveryquiet,orlike nothoughtsarebeinggenerated.Itisjustbecauseyouhavenotdevelopedyourintrospectivefaculty enoughyet.Withpractice,youwillbegintobeabletodetectthewavesofthoughtswhichstirinthe mind. Asyougooninthisway,watchingthethoughtspassby,anddetachingfromtheminsteadofbeing caughtupinthem,youwillalsonoticethattheywillbegintosubsideandquiet.Thethoughtswillcome lessandlessoften.Afterfifteenortwentyminutes,youmayevenhavecomparativesilence.Whenthe silencecomes,baskinitforaslongasyouwish.Thiswilltrainyourmindtounderstandmentalsilence, whichitwillnaturallyprefertothenormalnoise.Theentirepracticesessionneedonlylasttenminutes orsotoseedailyresults,butitisgoodtotryandextendthepracticetotwentyorthirtyminutes,as onesschedulepermits.Afterseveralmonthsofpractice,youmaybegintotryandshortentheamount oftimeyouspendwatchingthoughts,bygainingcontrolofyourmindandsilencingit,andthensitting foranextendedtimeinthatsilence.

EmotionalCharacter
Intheurgyitistaughtthatourcharacteriscomposedoftheinfluencesofmanyfactorsuponour souls.Theraysoftheplanetsandtheirrelationstothestarsproducepeculiarinfluencesuponus,as doesthesuninrelationtotheconstellations,theseasons,thewaningandwaxingofthemoon,etc,to makementionofjustafewesotericfactors.Tothiswemustaddtheevenmoresizableinfluenceof othersaroundus,ourfriendsandfamily,andthosewhohavebeenrolemodels,goodorbad.Starting out,theaspirantisameltingpotofdifferentemotionalenergies,throwntogetherbypeopleand psychicforcesalike,andsculptedbythepassingofyearsandtheactivityofrawhabit. Theancientsinstructedthatthesecollectiveemotionalforcescloudourinternalintellect,andour abilitytoaccesspureconsciousness.Collectively,theyweredepictedasagreatstorm,alwaystossing andturningthewavesoftheocean.Herethestormrepresentsourpassions,andtheoceanrepresents ouremotionalnatureasawhole.Becauseoftheseverityofthestorm,tossingwaves,kickingupdust, andstirringeventhedepthsofthewaters,wecannotpossiblyunderstandtheoceanitself.The aspirant,subjectedtothesemanyinfluences,andunconsciousofhisownemotionaldevelopmentover Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 6

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hislifetime,haslittleideawhohetrulyis.Oratleast,littleideaofwhohewouldbeifheactedashe chose,insteadofactingaccordingtohabitandconditioning. Therefore,oneofthefirstthingstheaspirantmustsetouttodoisknowhimselfintheemotional context.Inotherwords,tohaveanideaofhisactualcharacter.Mostpeople,busyturningtheirenergies outwardsandexaminingothers,haveneverthoroughlyexaminedthemselves.Thoughtheycouldlistoff fiftythingswrongaboutsomeonetheydontlike,theycouldnotcomeclosetofindingthesamenumber ofthingswrongwiththemselvesfromanobjectiveperspective.Ifyouaredesirousofaspirituallife, thenoneofthefirstthingsthatmustbedoneistoinspectyourselfforachange. Foralifetimeyouhaveletotherpeopletrainyoutobewhotheywishyoutobe,andacthowthey wishyoutoact.Now,youmustmakethechoicetobewhoyouwanttobeforachange,andtrain yourselftobecomewhoyouwanttobecome.Ifyouwishtobecomeathief,thenyouwillemulatethe qualitiesofathief,anderadicatethosequalitieswhicharecontradictory,suchascompassionand selflessness.If,however,youdesiretobecomeasageandatruemystic,thenyoumusttargetthenoble virtuesandcharactertraits,andworkonerasingthosewhichcontradictaspirituallifestyle.Decidewhat youwouldbe,andthendowhatyoumust. Inbeginningthistask,wehavethepracticesofintrospectionandretrospection.Thinkabout yourself.Howdoyouact?Whatareyourcharactertraits?Ifyouhadnopreviousknowledgeofyourself, butwerethenforcedtospendadaywithyou,howwouldyoudescribeyourself?Whatmightbe someonesfirstimpression,ifthatpersonwasjudgmentalandcritical?Youmustbecomeyourown critic.Writedownonapieceofpapereverythingyoufindthatisgoodaboutyourself,andeverything youfindwhichisbad.Breakthemdownintospecificqualitiesandsubqualitiesifyoucan.Ifyounotice thatyouareselfish,areyouselfishasageneralrule,oronlyinsomeparticulars?Whymightthisbe? Scribblethisdowninnotestoyourself.Itisnotenoughjusttolistvirtuesandvices;wemustgothe extrasteptotryandunderstandhowtheyactwithinus. Onceyouhaveasuitablelistofatleastfiftyqualitieswhenyouaddupbothgoodandbad,thenset yourselftoslowlytransformingbadintogood.Gradually,aimtoaddonetoyourvirtues,andremove onefromyourvices.Thisisalifetimeswork!Sodonothurry,oryouwillmissthegoal.Pickavice,and workonitsteadily,whetheritbeweeksoryears,untilitisthoroughlyundercontrol,andyouhave acquiredtheopposingvirtue.Gradually,youwillsublimateyourpassions.Bydoingthis,becausevirtues areinclinedtonobleandintellectualthings,whilevicesareinclinedtothesensualandworldly,your energieswilltakeonamorespiritualcharacter.Theenergieswithinyourbodywillflowmoresmoothly andwithgreaterpurity.Yourmindwillbecomenaturallyquieted,becausethestormofthepassionswill havesubsided.Inallareasofyourlifeandyourmeditation,youwillseeprogressandevolution.Slowly youwillbecomewhatGodwishesyoutobe,insteadofwhattheworldhasmadeyouinto.

Breath
Priortobeginningaspirituallife,breathseemstobeoneofthemosteasilyforgottenpartsoflife.It happensvirtuallyautomatically,andsoweneverbothertothinkaboutit.Afterbeginningtruespiritual meditation,however,breathbecomesoneofthemostimportanttoolsontheroadtosalvation.

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Breathisthegatewaytoourinternalenergies,ourorgans,ournervoussystem,ourbrain,andvia ourbloodtoourentirebody.Bylearninghowtocontrolandpurifyourbreath,wepurifythebodyand itsenergeticcomponents.InancienttextssuchastheOrphica,orintheteachingsofancientEleusis, breathcontrolpracticeswereverycomplex.Bypurifyingthebreath,theinitiatesareabletoholdtheir breathsforoftenincrediblelengthsoftime,andthereforesometraditionalbreathingtechniques requireratiosoftimeimpossiblefortheaverageperson.Theyteachthatitisonlytheimpuritiesofthe organsandthebloodwhichforceustobreathesomuchandsoquickly,andthatthereforeas meditationprogressesandthebreathwithinuspurifies,itbecomeseffortlesslyextended. Inthemeantime,itwouldbeagoodideafortheaspiranttobegintoacquainthimselfwiththe powerofbreathcontrol.Forthis,asimpleexerciseissufficient,anditisquitepowerfulinexpandingthe consciousnessandcalmingthemind.Takingupthemeditationpostureontheseat,andfacingthealtar, closeyoureyes.Withyourbackstraightbutcomfortablyrelaxed,andyourshouldersrelaxedsothat theyarejustslightlydownandforward,restyourhandsinyourlap.Atfirst,justconcentrateonabasic breathingratio.Inhaleforsixseconds,holdthebreathforsixseconds,andexhaleforsixseconds.There isnoholdingthebreathbetweentheexhaleandtheinhaleonceyoufinishexhaling,gostraightbackto inhalingagain.Six,tosix,tosix.Formanypeoplethiswillbesurprisinglydifficultatfirst,andthatis perfectlyfine.Withpractice,yourbreathwillpurifyandyourbodywillcalm,sothatthebreathing becomeseasier.Performthisthreefoldevenbreathforjustfiveminutesatfirst.Asitbecomeseasierto doso,trytoextendthebreathingpatterngraduallyto777,then888,etc.Whenyoucanreach1212 12comfortably,makingforathirtysixsecondlongrepetition,youhavereachedtheidealbreathratio. Again,forsomethismaybecomparativelyeasy,forothersquitehard.Doyourbest,andasthe breathingbecomeseasier,alsobegintoextendhowlongyoupractice.Pushthepracticetotenor fifteenminutes,orlongereven,asyourschedulepermits. Youwillnoticethatyourbodywillbegintosweatprofusely,orwilltingleallover.Thisistheadded oxygenationofthebloodwarmingthebodyandbreakingapartmorecellularenergymolecules.More energywillbereadilyavailableforyourcellsandforyourbodilyprocesses.Thebrainwillreceivemore oxygen,aswillthemusclesandorgans.Inshort,yourentirebodybenefitsjustfromthissimple breathingpractice.Inaddition,afterseveralminutesofpractice,youwillnoticeyourmindbeginningto calmdown.Theancientstaughtthatbreathfollowsthought,andthoughtfollowsbreath.Whenone becomesstill,sodoestheother. Whenyouarecomfortablewiththispractice,itistimeyouaddamoredirectlyspiritualdimension toit.Asyouinhale,imaginethatyouareinhalingallthatwhichisdivine.Youdonothavetovisualize anything;justfeellikethebreathitselfischargedwithpuredivinityandsacredness.Whenyouholdthe breath,havethefeelingthatthisinhaleddivinityisexpungingyourentirebodyofitsnegativities, includingnegativepassionsandemotions.Finallywhenyouexhale,affirmtoyourselfthateverything whichisnotdivineisleaving.Inotherwords,inhaleGod,andexhalenotGod.Thisisassimpleastrue transmutation,asinneralchemy,gets.Yetdonotbefooledbyitssimplicity:greatbeingshavereached thegatesofliberationusingthisexactsamepractice,justasyouwillbepracticingit.Withthis,itisthe qualityoftheunderstandingwhichwillensuresuccess,notthelengthofthebreath.Lengtheningthe breath,however,willhelpinternalpurification,whichinturnwillmakeiteasierforthemindtograsp ontodivinethingsandletgoofthemundane. Thissimpleguideshouldbesufficientfortheearnestaspirantwhoisseekinginitiationand liberation,untilsuchatimeasheseeksoutateacher,ortheuniverseprovidesonebysomealternative means.Whoseverdedicatesthemselveshonestlytothepracticeofmysticism,theuniverseshall Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 8

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certainlyprotectandwatchover.Bypursuingdailypractice,themessageshallbesentoutthatthe studentisreadyforateachertotakethemtherestoftheway.Nomatterwhichschoolortraditionyou mayultimatelyfindyourselfbelongingto,thesesimplepracticeswillassistyouindevelopingtheright stateofmindforveritablesuccessinyourspiritualcareer. Thesepractices,thoughsimple,shouldbethecornerstoneofeveryaspirantspracticeuntiltheyare replacedbyhighertechniqueslateron.Indeed,onceliberationishad,theadeptshalllikelymusethat thesesimpleapproachesneveractuallyleft,butsimplytransformed,andwereultimatelytheimpetus whichensuredsuccess. Practice,practice,practice.Successshallbeyourproof. ~RamoseDaskalodos

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