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READING 281-13 PARAPHRASED
Prayer and meditation are similar, but they’re not the same thing. Prayer is about lining yourself up with something bigger than you—getting your thoughts, feelings, and intentions focused in a positive, spiritual direction. Sometimes prayer happens in groups, but it only really works when people are sincere and focused, not when they’re trying to impress others. If someone prays just to look good or sound important, they might feel proud for a moment, but nothing deep actually changes inside them.
Real prayer isn’t about long speeches or perfect words. It’s about being honest and humble, even if that means quietly admitting your mistakes or asking for help from the heart. The most meaningful prayer happens inside, when you stop worrying about how you look and just open yourself up to grow and change.
Meditation goes even deeper. Meditation is like prayer turned inward. Instead of talking, you’re listening. You’re calming your mind so your inner self—your thoughts, feelings, and sense of purpose—can connect with something higher. While prayer is reaching out, meditation is letting something good and meaningful reach into you. Both help you grow, but meditation helps you understand yourself and your values from the inside out.
When someone goes into real, deep meditation, certain things naturally start to happen inside them. It’s not just a mental experience—there are physical changes too. The body becomes active in a quiet way, especially through imagination and inner impulses. This happens because the person is letting go of everyday distractions, habits, and urges that usually control their thoughts. By shutting out those surface-level concerns, the deeper parts of the mind are able to wake up.
As this happens, something important shifts inside. The focus moves away from the outer personality—the version of yourself shaped by habits, roles, and expectations—and toward your individuality, the deeper and more real part of who you are. This inner place is where the soul connects and grows. Whether someone meditates alone or in a group, the process works the same way: when the mind quiets and attention turns inward, real inner change begins naturally.
If a person clearly sets a goal or inner image for who they want to become—using their imagination and inner drive—and that image is based on their highest values, then something powerful happens. That image becomes like a guide or blueprint inside them. It doesn’t just shape who they are on the inside; it also affects how they connect with people, energy, and opportunities around them.
When that inner image is focused on love, goodness, truth, or selfless growth, the person is said to carry the “mark of the Lamb” or “the Christ.” These names all point to the same idea: living from your highest, most loving self. By holding that kind of inner standard, a person can connect directly with the creative force inside them—the part that gives life meaning, direction, and purpose.
Some people end up hurting themselves on the inside by misusing their thoughts and mental focus. Instead of forming a clear, positive inner image that helps them grow, they create “scars” that limit them. Because of this, the only impulses that rise within them are tied to basic urges and physical desires, not deeper purpose or meaning. Their inner image doesn’t develop very far, because it stays focused on surface-level needs instead of higher goals.
This process starts deep inside the body and mind, especially in areas connected to life energy and creativity. These forces are powerful—they’re the same ones that give energy, drive, and vitality to a person. When they’re guided well, they support growth and balance. But when they’re driven only by impulse or misuse, they don’t rise to their full potential. This is why both inner choices and outside influences matter so much: what you focus on shapes how your energy develops and how fully you live.
Your spirit and soul live inside your body, almost like your body is a temple that holds them. When a positive inner image or purpose is awakened through meditation or focus, that energy begins to move upward inside you. It travels through a pathway connected to the center of the brain, spreading awareness and energy to both your mind and body so everything works together more fully.
People may notice this movement as a feeling in the middle of the head, the forehead, or just above the bridge of the nose—sometimes called the “inner” or “hidden” eye. These descriptions aren’t meant to be confusing or overly technical. They’re just ways of explaining where people often feel these inner changes happening. The main idea is that when your inner focus is clear and positive, it activates your whole being—mentally, physically, and spiritually.
When someone goes into deep meditation, people throughout history have discovered that some kind of preparation really helps. What that preparation looks like can be different for everyone. For some, it means washing the body with clean water, practicing calm breathing, or making sure their breathing and circulation feel balanced and steady. Others find that certain scents help them relax or focus, while letting go of heavy distractions, strong urges, or unhealthy habits helps clear their mind. All of this is about creating a clean, calm space inside the body so positive thoughts and energy can move more easily.
People have also used sounds to prepare—like repeating certain words, humming, chanting, or listening to drums, bells, or steady rhythms. Even though modern people sometimes judge older or tribal practices, these methods clearly worked to awaken strong inner states. Just as shouting or intense words can stir anger or aggression, sound and rhythm can also cleanse, focus, and uplift the body and mind. The goal isn’t excitement or escape, but clarity and readiness.
That’s why the old idea of “preparing yourself before something important” still matters. When a person takes time to calm, clean, and focus themselves, they become more open to insight, guidance, and deeper understanding. Meditation works best when the whole person—mind, body, and intention—is ready to receive what comes next.
Before you try deep meditation, it’s important to figure out what helps you feel clear, calm, and focused—both in your body and your mind. Everyone is different. Meditation isn’t just imagining things; it’s actually creating change inside yourself. So preparing matters. When your body and thoughts are clean and balanced, the inner image or purpose you’re focusing on can rise more clearly and strongly.
For some people, this preparation means avoiding certain foods, stepping away from unhealthy relationships, or letting go of habits, thoughts, or activities that pull them down. The goal is to remove anything that blocks your inner self—the part of you that directs your thoughts, emotions, and actions. When that inner center is clear, meditation can spread healing of many kinds through focused thought. This is powerful, especially because words and thoughts can affect others more than people often realize.
When someone prepares themselves well, there’s no need to worry about meditation causing harm. Problems only happen when people rush in without mental or emotional cleansing, or when group meditations are unfocused or conflicting. That’s why group meditation works best when it’s short, simple, and centered on one clear idea, sound, or intention—often guided by someone sincere and calm. When everyone is aligned, meditation becomes cooperative instead of chaotic, helping people grow closer rather than creating confusion.
Here’s one simple way—just one option—for someone who wants to meditate for themselves or for others. Start by cleaning your body, like washing with water, and then get comfortable sitting or lying down in clothes that don’t feel tight or distracting. Take slow, steady breaths in a balanced way, switching sides as you breathe, so your body and mind can settle. Then use something gentle to help you focus—soft music, a repeated word, or a calming phrase that helps you sink deeper into awareness and connect with feelings of love and creativity.
As you relax and focus, imagine that positive energy spreading inside you—not through your physical eyes, but through your inner awareness. Let it bring clarity, understanding, and calm to whatever challenges you’re facing. Stay quiet and notice what you feel. Over time, this practice helps your mind and body respond in healthier, more balanced ways, helping you renew yourself from the inside out.
Before you begin, make sure your space feels calm and clean—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. Let go of anger, grudges, or unkind thoughts toward anyone. Holding onto negativity blocks the process and can eventually hurt you more than anyone else. Meditation works best when it’s done with a clear heart, a calm mind, and honest intentions.
Prayer and meditation work together, but they do different things. Prayer is when your everyday thinking mind makes an effort to connect with something higher—whether you’re doing it alone or with others. Meditation is different. Meditation is about letting go of the thoughts, habits, and distractions that block your inner energy from flowing naturally. When done the right way, meditation helps your body, mind, and spirit work better together and actually makes you stronger, not weaker.
Even though daily life can drain you mentally and physically, meditation is where you recharge. When you sit quietly with a clear mind and honest intention, you open yourself to a deeper kind of strength—one that doesn’t come from food or rest alone, but from inner connection and peace. This kind of strength helps you live better, think clearer, and act with more purpose in the world.
The key is making sure what you’re connecting to is truly loving and positive. When you focus on compassion, truth, and selfless love—what Cayce calls the Christ-consciousness—you’re filling yourself with something that protects and strengthens you from the inside. Clearing your thoughts, your intentions, and your heart allows that energy to flow freely. Simply put: stay clean in your thoughts, honest in your intentions, and open to growth—and meditation becomes a powerful source of renewal.
READING 281-13 PARAPHRASED/EXPLAINED
This reading explains that prayer and meditation are important inner practices, but they need to be approached carefully. They affect not just thoughts, but the body, emotions, and inner life. When done in a healthy way, they help a person feel stronger, clearer, and more connected to what is good. When done carelessly, they can feel confusing or overwhelming.
Prayer and meditation are not the same thing. Prayer is about turning your attention toward God or the highest good and honestly expressing what’s in your heart. It can be done alone or with others. What matters most is sincerity. Prayer that is done to look impressive or gain attention stays shallow and doesn’t truly change a person inside.
Meditation is different. Meditation is about listening rather than speaking. It happens inside, when you quiet everyday thoughts and become aware of something deeper. Instead of working through the part of you that reacts and worries, meditation connects you with a steadier part of yourself. This deeper part isn’t your moods or habits, but the part of you that stays the same even when life changes.
When someone enters deep meditation, real changes happen inside the body and mind. Energy and attention begin to move differently. What you focus on during meditation matters a lot. If your attention is centered on love, goodness, or Christ-like qualities, the experience helps you grow. If it’s focused on ego, desire, or selfish goals, it can stir confusion instead.
Because meditation is powerful, preparation is important. This preparation is called cleansing. Cleansing doesn’t mean being perfect. It means helping your body and mind settle before turning inward. This can include bathing, resting, breathing calmly, letting go of anger, avoiding negative thoughts, and staying away from things that overstimulate or distract you. When the body and mind are calmer, meditation is safer and more helpful.
Imagination plays an important role in meditation. What you picture and hold in your mind helps guide your inner experience. Imagination isn’t about making things up or escaping reality. It’s about giving your attention a clear direction. When imagination is guided by good intentions, it helps bring clarity and focus.
The reading also explains the difference between personality and individuality. Personality is the outer part of you—your habits, emotions, reactions, and social roles. Individuality is the deeper part of you—your core self, conscience, and inner awareness. Meditation is meant to help you live more from your individuality instead of being controlled by moods or impulses.
An important part of meditation is choosing an ideal. An ideal is the kind of person you want to become, such as someone who is loving, honest, patient, or helpful. The ideal you choose shapes your meditation. When your ideal is caring and Christ-like, meditation supports growth and healing.
The reading also mentions sounds, music, or repeated words. These can help calm the mind and focus attention. Different people and cultures use different methods, and what matters is whether it helps you settle and stay centered. Words and thoughts have power, so they should be used thoughtfully.
Meditation affects the body as well as the mind. The reading describes energy moving through different centers of the body and into the brain. This isn’t meant to be confusing or scary. It simply means that deep focus affects your whole system. When done properly, meditation helps balance and strengthen both mind and body.
Group meditation can be helpful, but only when everyone shares the same purpose. When people have different intentions, group meditation can feel uncomfortable or confusing. Short, simple group meditations with a clear focus are best.
When prayer and meditation are done with care, they help restore energy that daily life drains away. They make a person stronger, calmer, and more able to handle challenges. They are meant to support real life, not replace it.
The reading ends with a strong reminder: always approach prayer and meditation with honesty, kindness, and a clear heart. Holding onto anger, resentment, or harmful thoughts while meditating can cause harm instead of help. A clean body, a calm mind, and loving intention create the safest and most meaningful experiences.
READING 281-13 EXPLAINED
This reading is trying to help people understand that prayer and meditation are powerful inner practices, not just relaxing habits. When you turn inward deeply, you’re affecting your thoughts, emotions, body, and sense of self all at once. Because of that, the reading emphasizes responsibility. The goal is not to have intense experiences, but to become steadier, clearer, and more grounded in everyday life.
One of the main points is the difference between prayer and meditation. Prayer is about direction. It’s how you aim your heart and mind toward God or what you believe is most important. Prayer can include asking for help, expressing gratitude, or choosing a direction for your life. Meditation, on the other hand, is about listening. Instead of talking or thinking, you quiet yourself so deeper understanding can surface. Both matter, but they serve different roles.
The reading also explains why preparation is important. When you slow down and turn inward, whatever you’ve been carrying inside tends to come forward. If you’re overwhelmed, angry, or scattered, meditation can make those feelings feel stronger instead of calmer. That’s why the reading talks so much about cleansing. Cleansing means helping your body and mind settle—through rest, calm breathing, honesty with yourself, and letting go of resentment. This isn’t about being perfect; it’s about creating safety and balance before going deeper.
Another key idea is focus. The reading says that imagination guides meditation. What you focus on shapes what you experience. If your attention is centered on love, kindness, or Christ-like values, meditation helps you grow in those qualities. If your focus is selfish or driven by ego, the experience can become confusing or unhelpful. The message is that intention matters more than technique.
The reading makes an important distinction between personality and individuality. Personality is the part of you that reacts—your moods, habits, and social roles. Individuality is the deeper part of you that stays steady, even when life changes. Meditation is meant to help you live from that deeper place instead of being controlled by impulses or emotions. When meditation feeds ego or drama, it’s missing its purpose.
Ideals play a big role in keeping meditation healthy. An ideal is the kind of person you want to become. When your ideal is something like love, honesty, or service, it gives your inner work direction. Without an ideal, meditation can turn into self-absorption. The reading stresses that growth should show up in how you live, not just in how you feel during quiet moments.
The reading also talks about sounds, affirmations, and group meditation. These are tools, not requirements. Some people find music or repeated words helpful for calming the mind. Group meditation can be powerful, but only when everyone shares the same intention. When intentions conflict, things can feel uncomfortable or confusing. The emphasis is always on simplicity and clarity.
When the reading mentions energy moving through the body or spiritual centers, it’s describing how deep focus affects the whole system. Strong emotions and attention don’t stay only in the mind—they affect breathing, muscles, and awareness. When meditation is done carefully, it brings balance and strength rather than stress or overload.
The reading ends by reminding people that prayer and meditation are meant to give life, not take over life. They should make you more patient, more loving, and better able to handle challenges. If meditation makes someone feel disconnected, unstable, or obsessed, it’s a sign that something needs to be adjusted—usually by slowing down, simplifying, or focusing on kindness and honesty.
Overall, the reading teaches that prayer and meditation are not about escaping the world or gaining special abilities. They are about becoming more whole, more responsible, and more aligned with love. When practiced with care, they help people live better, not just feel different.
THE SPIRITUAL CENTERS
The reading explains that when a person meditates deeply, something real happens inside them—not just in their thoughts, but in their whole system. Edgar Cayce describes this process using the idea of spiritual centers. These centers are not buttons to turn on or special powers to unlock. They are places in the body where awareness, emotion, and attention are often felt most strongly. Cayce uses this language to explain how inner focus moves and affects a person’s mind and body.
The reading says that meditation begins deep within a person, connected to what Cayce calls the life forces. He describes this by saying that meditation energy “rises from the glands known in the body as the lyden… and through the reproductive forces themselves, which are the very essence of Life itself.” What this means is that meditation starts with basic life energy—motivation, desire, and the drive to live and act. It doesn’t start in the head. It starts in what moves a person to do things at all.
Because meditation begins at this deep level, Cayce warns that what rises during meditation depends on what a person is already carrying inside. If someone is full of anger, fear, or selfish desire, meditation will stir those things. If someone is aiming toward love, kindness, and responsibility, meditation helps lift those qualities upward. This is why the reading places so much importance on preparation and cleansing before meditation.
Cayce then describes this inner energy as “rising” through the body. He says it moves upward “along that which is known as the Appian Way, or the pineal center, to the base of the brain.” This does not mean something is physically traveling like electricity. It means that attention and awareness shift from basic reactions toward reflection and understanding. As awareness rises, it affects how a person thinks, feels, and responds to life.
The reading also says that this rising awareness may be felt “in the center of the brain system, or in the forefront of the head, or just above the bridge of the nose.” Many people recognize this feeling when something suddenly makes sense or when they feel clear and focused. Cayce calls this the hidden eye, but what he is really describing is insight—the place where understanding comes together.
A key part of this process is imagination. Cayce explains that the image a person holds in their mind directs what kind of energy rises. He says that if the image raised in imagination matches the person’s highest ideal, then the meditation helps them connect with love, truth, and what he calls the Christ or divine presence. In simple terms, imagination works like a steering wheel. What you focus on shapes what meditation does to you.
The reading also warns that when imagination is shaped by ego, desire, or unhealthy habits, meditation can stir confusion instead of clarity. Cayce says that some people have “scars, rather than the mark,” meaning their inner focus has been distorted by past misuse of thought or emotion. This is why meditation should never be rushed or forced. It should always be grounded in honesty and care.
This leads to Cayce’s strong emphasis on cleansing. Cleansing does not mean being perfect or pure. It means helping the body and mind settle so meditation doesn’t overload the system. Cayce mentions things like bathing, calm breathing, rest, avoiding resentment, and letting go of harmful thoughts. In modern language, he is saying that meditation amplifies what is already happening inside you, so it’s important to be emotionally and mentally steady before going deeper.
When meditation is done with preparation, Cayce says the rising awareness strengthens the whole person. He explains that energy moves through all the centers of the body and “is disseminated to those centers that give activity to the whole of the mental and physical being.” In other words, meditation affects how you think, feel, act, and live—not just what you experience during quiet moments.
Cayce also explains that meditation should never be approached with anger, grudges, or harmful thoughts toward others. He warns that entering meditation while holding resentment can eventually cause emotional or physical harm. This is not meant to scare people, but to emphasize responsibility. Inner work should always be guided by kindness and humility.
The reading makes it clear that the purpose of meditation is not to chase sensations, activate centers, or feel special. The purpose is renewal. Cayce compares meditation to food, saying it restores strength that life uses up. When done properly, meditation makes a person steadier, clearer, and more able to handle everyday challenges.
In the end, Cayce reminds readers to focus on love and Christ-like qualities when meditating. He says that raising this image within the self helps protect the body and mind from harmful influences. Whether someone uses religious language or not, the message is the same: meditation should always be guided by love, honesty, and care for life.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL CLEANSING
Cleansing, in the way this reading talks about it, isn’t about being perfect or “pure.” It’s about helping your whole system settle so that turning inward doesn’t overwhelm you. When you slow down and pay attention, whatever is already inside you tends to come forward. Cleansing is simply the process of making sure what comes forward is manageable, honest, and healthy.
Physical cleansing means taking care of your body so it isn’t overstimulated or tense. This can be as simple as washing your face or hands, drinking water, getting enough rest, wearing comfortable clothes, or breathing calmly for a few moments. When your body feels safer and more relaxed, your mind usually follows. Physical cleansing helps your nervous system calm down so meditation or quiet reflection doesn’t feel uncomfortable or stressful.
Mental cleansing is about clearing out cluttered or aggressive thoughts before turning inward. This doesn’t mean stopping thoughts completely. It means letting go of grudges, worries, or angry loops that keep replaying in your head. If you try to meditate while you’re stuck in frustration or fear, those thoughts can get louder instead of quieter. Mental cleansing is the act of noticing what you’re carrying and gently setting it down for a while.
Spiritual cleansing has to do with intention and honesty. It means checking in with yourself and asking why you’re turning inward in the first place. Are you trying to escape something, prove something, or control outcomes? Or are you looking for clarity, peace, and a better way to live? Spiritual cleansing is choosing kindness, humility, and honesty before you go quiet. It’s letting go of resentment toward others and toward yourself.
All three types of cleansing work together. When your body is tense, your thoughts usually race. When your thoughts are angry or scattered, your intentions can become unclear. Cleansing doesn’t fix everything at once, but it creates enough space for awareness to feel safe. This is why the reading says cleansing should come before meditation. It’s not a rule—it’s protection.
Cleansing also doesn’t have to be complicated or intense. Even a short pause, a few calm breaths, or a quiet moment of honesty can be enough. The goal isn’t to empty yourself completely. The goal is to approach stillness without carrying too much weight inside.
When cleansing becomes a habit, meditation and quiet reflection feel more supportive instead of overwhelming. You’re less likely to feel confused or emotionally overloaded, and more likely to feel steady and clear. Cleansing prepares the ground so whatever grows next has space to grow in a healthy way.
RIGHT USE OF IMAGINATION
In Reading 281-13, imagination is treated as something very important, not as pretending or daydreaming. Cayce explains that imagination is the way attention and energy are directed during meditation. Whatever a person holds in their imagination becomes the pattern that shapes what rises inside them. This is why imagination needs to be used carefully and responsibly.
The reading explains that when a person becomes quiet, normal thinking slows down, and imagination becomes more active. At that point, imagination works like a guide or steering wheel. It doesn’t create energy by itself, but it directs the energy that is already there. This means imagination doesn’t add something new—it shapes what comes forward from within.
Cayce warns that imagination will always raise something, whether a person is aware of it or not. If imagination is filled with fear, anger, ego, or selfish desire, those qualities will be strengthened during meditation. In that case, meditation doesn’t bring peace or clarity. It simply makes inner confusion stronger. This is why the reading stresses preparation and cleansing before meditation—so imagination is not pulled by unhealthy thoughts or emotions.
The right use of imagination, according to the reading, is to focus on an ideal. An ideal is the kind of person you want to become, such as someone who lives with love, honesty, patience, or service. When imagination is centered on a loving and Christ-like ideal, meditation helps lift awareness toward clarity and compassion instead of stirring lower impulses.
Cayce describes this ideal as the “image” a person raises within themselves. This image is not about seeing pictures or having visions. It is about holding a clear inner direction. Imagination becomes a way of aligning your inner life with what you believe is good and true. When used this way, imagination opens awareness rather than distorting it.
The reading also makes it clear that imagination should never be forced. Trying too hard to visualize or control inner experiences can create tension or imbalance. The right use of imagination is gentle and steady. It stays connected to humility and honesty, not excitement or ego.
In simple terms, the reading teaches that imagination magnifies whatever is already inside you. Used carelessly, it can deepen confusion. Used wisely, it helps guide awareness toward growth, balance, and love. This is why Cayce emphasizes choosing your focus carefully—because imagination is not neutral. It always shapes what meditation becomes.
Overall, the right use of imagination means choosing a loving ideal, staying grounded, and allowing inner awareness to rise naturally. When imagination serves clarity instead of control, meditation strengthens the whole person instead of overwhelming them.
PERSONALITY VS INDIVIDUALITY
In Reading 281-13, one of the most important ideas is the difference between personality and individuality, especially when it comes to meditation. Cayce explains this difference because meditation affects these two parts of a person very differently, and confusing them can cause problems.
Personality is the outer part of you. It includes your habits, moods, reactions, fears, likes, dislikes, and the roles you play in daily life. Personality is shaped by experiences, stress, relationships, and emotions. It changes depending on how you feel and what’s happening around you. Most of the time, this is the part of you that reacts quickly, worries, gets defensive, or seeks approval.
Individuality, on the other hand, is the deeper part of you. It’s the steady core that doesn’t disappear when emotions change. Individuality is connected to conscience, inner knowing, and your sense of right and wrong. It’s where purpose, values, and meaning live. Cayce describes individuality as the level where the soul operates, not just the mind or emotions.
The reading explains that meditation should work through individuality, not personality. When meditation is done correctly, it helps you move out of constant reactions and into deeper awareness. It quiets the noisy, emotional surface so the steadier inner self can come forward. This is why meditation often feels calming and clarifying when done in a healthy way.
Problems happen when meditation feeds the personality instead of the individuality. If someone meditates while focused on ego, power, control, fear, or desire, those personality traits get stronger instead of quieter. Cayce warns that in this case, meditation doesn’t bring peace—it amplifies inner conflict. This is why preparation, cleansing, and intention matter so much.
Cayce also explains that imagination plays a role here. When imagination is guided by personality, it tends to chase excitement, validation, or emotional intensity. When imagination is guided by individuality, it stays focused on ideals like love, service, truth, and growth. Meditation guided by individuality feels steady and grounding, not dramatic or overwhelming.
The purpose of meditation, according to the reading, is not to erase personality. Personality isn’t bad—it’s just not meant to be in charge. Meditation helps personality come into balance with individuality. Over time, this leads to better choices, calmer reactions, and a stronger sense of self that isn’t easily shaken by stress or emotions.
In simple terms, Cayce is saying that meditation should help you live from your deeper self, not be controlled by moods or impulses. When meditation strengthens individuality, you become more whole, more grounded, and more responsible in daily life. When it strengthens personality instead, it can lead to confusion or imbalance.
The reading’s message is clear: meditation is meant to bring clarity, not chaos; stability, not drama. By keeping meditation focused on individuality—your inner values and conscience—it becomes a tool for growth rather than something that overwhelms or distracts you.
ORIGINAL READING 281-13
GC: You will have before you the psychic work of Edgar Cayce, present in this room, the information that has been and is being given from time to time, especially that regarding meditation and prayer. You will give, in a clear, concise, understandable manner just how an individual may meditate, or pray, without the effort disturbing the mental or physical body. If this can be given in a general manner, outline it for us. If it is necessary to be outlined for specific individuals, you will tell us how individuals may attain to the understanding necessary for such experiences not to be detrimental to them.
EC: Yes, we have the work, the information that has been and that maybe given from time to time; especially that in reference to meditation and prayer.
First, in considering such, it would be well to analyze that difference (that is not always understood) between meditation and prayer.
As it has been defined or given in an illustrated manner by the Great Teacher, prayer is the MAKING of one's conscious self more in attune with the spiritual forces that may manifest in a material world, and is ORDINARILY given as a COOPERATIVE experience of MANY individuals when all are asked to come in one accord and one mind; or, as was illustrated by:
Be not as the Pharisees, who love to be seen of men, who make long dissertation or prayer to be heard of men. They IMMEDIATELY have their reward in the physical-mental mind.
Be rather as he that entered the temple and not so much as lifting his eyes, smote his breast and said, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"
Which man was justified, this man or he that stood to be seen of men and thanked God he was not as other men, that he paid his tithes, that he did the services required in the temple, that he stood in awe of no one, he was not even as this heathen who in an uncouth manner, not with washed hands, not with shaven face attempted to reach the throne of grace?
Here we have drawn for us a comparison in prayer: That which may be the pouring out of the personality of the individual, or a group who enter in for the purpose of either outward show to be seen of men; or that enter in even as in the closet of one's inner self and pours out self that the inner man may be filled with the Spirit of the Father in His merciful kindness to men.
Now draw the comparisons for meditation: Meditation, then, is prayer, but is prayer from WITHIN the INNER self, and partakes not only of the physical inner man but the soul that is aroused by the spirit of man from within.
Well, that we consider this from INDIVIDUAL interpretation, as well as from group interpretation; or individual meditation and group meditation.
As has been given, there are DEFINITE conditions that arise from within the inner man when an individual enters into true or deep meditation. A physical condition happens, a physical activity takes place! Acting through what? Through that man has chosen to call the imaginative or the impulsive, and the sources of impulse are aroused by the shutting out of thought pertaining to activities or attributes of the carnal forces of man. That is true whether we are considering it from the group standpoint or the individual. Then, changes naturally take place when there is the arousing of that stimuli WITHIN the individual that has within it the seat of the soul's dwelling, within the individual body of the entity or man, and then this partakes of the individuality rather than the personality.
If there has been set the mark (mark meaning here the image that is raised by the individual in its imaginative and impulse force) such that it takes the form of the ideal the individual is holding as its standard to be raised to, within the individual as well as to all forces and powers that are magnified or to be magnified in the world from without, THEN the individual (or the image) bears the mark of the Lamb, or the Christ, or the Holy One, or the Son, or any of the names we may have given to that which ENABLES the individual to enter THROUGH IT into the very presence of that which is the creative force from within itself - see?
Some have so overshadowed themselves by abuses of the mental attributes of the body as to make scars, rather than the mark, so that only an imperfect image may be raised within themselves that may rise no higher than the arousing of the carnal desires within the individual body. We are speaking individually, of course; we haven't raised it to where it may be disseminated, for remember it rises from the glands known in the body as the lyden, or to the lyden [Leydig] and through the reproductive forces themselves, which are the very essence of Life itself within an individual - see? for these functionings never reach that position or place that they do not continue to secrete that which makes for virility to an individual physical body. Now we are speaking of conditions from without and from within!
The spirit and the soul is within its encasement, or its temple within the body of the individual - see? With the arousing then of this image, it rises along that which is known as the Appian Way, or the pineal center, to the base of the BRAIN, that it may be disseminated to those centers that give activity to the whole of the mental and physical being. It rises then to the hidden eye in the center of the brain system, or is felt in the forefront of the head, or in the place just above the real face - or bridge of nose, see?
Do not be confused by the terms that we are necessarily using to give the exact location of the activities of these conditions within the individuals, that we may make this clarified for individuals.
When an individual then enters into deep meditation:
It has been found throughout the ages (INDIVIDUALS have found) that self-preparation (to THEM) is necessary. To some it is necessary that the body be cleansed with pure water, that certain types of breathing are taken, that there may be an even balance in the whole of the respiratory system, that the circulation becomes normal in its flow through the body, that certain or definite odors produce those conditions (or are conducive to producing of conditions) that allay or stimulate the activity of portions of the system, that the more carnal or more material sources are laid aside, or the whole of the body is PURIFIED so that the purity of thought as it rises has less to work against in its dissemination of that it brings to the whole of the system, in its rising through the whole of these centers, stations or places along the body. To be sure, these are conducive; as are also certain incantations, as a drone of certain sounds, as the tolling of certain tones, bells, cymbals, drums, or various kinds of skins. Though we may as higher thought individuals find some fault with those called savages, they produce or arouse or bring within themselves - just as we have known, do know, that there may be raised through the battle-cry, there may be raised through the using of certain words or things, the passion or the thirst for destructive forces. Just the same may there be raised, not sedative to these but a CLEANSING of the body.
"Consecrate yourselves this day that ye may on the morrow present yourselves before the Lord that He may speak through YOU!" is not amiss. So, to ALL there may be given:
FIND that which is to YOURSELF the more certain way to your consciousness of PURIFYING body and mind, before ye attempt to enter into the meditation as to raise the image of that through which ye are seeking to know the will or the activity of the Creative Forces; for ye are RAISING in meditation actual CREATION taking place within the inner self!
When one has found that which to self cleanses the body, whether from the keeping away from certain foods or from certain associations (either man or woman), or from those thoughts and activities that would hinder that which is to be raised from FINDING its full measure of expression in the INNER man (INNER man, or inner individual, man or woman, meaning in this sense those radial senses from which, or centers from which all the physical organs, the mental organs, receive their stimuli for activity), we readily see how, then, IN meditation (when one has so purified self) that HEALING OF EVERY kind and nature may be disseminated on the wings of thought, that are so much a thing - and so little considered by the tongue that speaks without taking into consideration what may be the end thereof!
Now, when one has cleansed self, in whatever manner it may be, there may be no fear that it will become so overpowering that it will cause any physical or mental disorder. It is WITHOUT the cleansing that entering any such finds ANY type or form of disaster, or of pain, or of any dis-ease of any nature. It is when the thoughts, then, or when the cleansings of GROUP meditations are conflicting that such meditations call on the higher forces raised within self for manifestations and bring those conditions that either draw one closer to another or make for that which shadows [shatters?] much in the experiences of others; hence short group meditations with a CENTRAL thought around some individual idea, or either in words, incantations, or by following the speech of one sincere in abilities, efforts or desires to raise a cooperative activity IN the minds, would be the better.
Then, as one formula - not the only one, to be sure - for an individual that would enter into meditation for self, for others:
Cleanse the body with pure water. Sit or lie in an easy position, without binding garments about the body. Breathe in through the right nostril three times, and exhale through the mouth. Breathe in three times through the left nostril and exhale through the right. Then, either with the aid of a low music, or the incantation of that which carries self deeper - deeper - to the seeing, feeling, experiencing of that image in the creative forces of love, enter into the Holy of Holies. As self feels or experiences the raising of this, see it disseminated through the INNER eye (not the carnal eye) to that which will bring the greater understanding in meeting every condition in the experience of the body. Then listen to the music that is made as each center of thine own body responds to that new creative force that little by little this entering in will enable self to renew all that is necessary - in Him.
First, CLEANSE the room; cleanse the body; cleanse the surroundings, in thought, in act! Approach not the inner man, or the inner self, with a grudge or an unkind thought held against ANY man! or do so to thine own undoing sooner or later!
Prayer and meditation:
Prayer is the concerted effort of the physical consciousness to become attuned to the consciousness of the Creator, either collectively or individually! MEDITATION is EMPTYING self of all that hinders the creative forces from rising along the natural channels of the physical man to be disseminated through those centers and sources that create the activities of the physical, the mental, the spiritual man; properly done must make one STRONGER mentally, physically, for has it not been given? He went in the strength of that meat received for many days? Was it not given by Him who has shown us the Way, "I have had meat that ye know not of"? As we give out, so does the WHOLE of man - physically and mentally become depleted, yet in entering into the silence, entering into the silence in meditation, with a clean hand, a clean body, a clean mind, we may receive that strength and power that fits each individual, each soul, for a greater activity in this material world.
"Be not afraid, it is I." Be sure it is Him we worship that we raise in our inner selves for the dissemination; for, as He gave, "Ye must eat of my BODY; ye must drink of MY blood." Raising then in the inner self that image of the Christ, love of the God-Consciousness, is MAKING the body so cleansed as to be barred against all powers that would in any manner hinder.
Be thou CLEAN, in Him.
We are through for the present.
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