Everything Starts with the Mind
If you are a child of the 80’s, like I am, then you will remember the UNCF slogan ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste’. It is one of the most widely known, and oft quoted statements in history, but is rooted in the universal truth that how a person thinks, and processes their circumstances in this reality, directly impacts their lives.
Most religions, particularly those with metaphysical foundations, teach about the importance of maintaining a clear and positive mindset, although the methodologies and motivations differ. Science has now amassed a great deal of research regarding mental health as well, proving that the ancient concepts of consciousness are not only real but directly correlated to health, healing, and prosperity.
No matter how much you work, exercise, eat healthy, or pray, if you do not have a healthy mind and thought life, you will not be able to fully manifest all that is possible and available to you. It took me almost 40 years to learn this basic truth.
Christianity & Metaphysics
Christianity, as we know it in the west, is very focused on God being the active participant in creating mental transformation while the faithful are tasked with praying repetitively for the transformation. This is why there are so many Christians who are suffering silently in anxiety, depression, shame, and even fear. When their mental health does not improve through prayer alone, then their self-worth recedes, and mental negativity increases.
Jesus specifically instructed his disciples to meditate silently, in secret, and with minimal words (Matthew 6:6-8). Why? Because the Kingdom of Heaven is WITHIN YOU (Luke 17:21) and it is through meditation that you seek the kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and connect to the power of Christ in the temple because YOU ARE THE TEMPLE (I Cor 3:16). How does this differ from prayer? Prayer indicates a request to an entity outside of oneself. Prayer is a request, supplication, or plea. Meditation, specifically mystical meditation, is the practice of entering your inner consciousness, or temple, and connecting to the divine energy inside of you. This divine energy is referred to by many names. Metaphysical Christians refer to it as Christ Consciousness.
Jesus referred to this energy in Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness”. What I find comforting in this verse is that Jesus refers to this inner light as a lamp which is further signified as an eye. Not eyes, but a singular eye. It is telling as even non-Christian mystics believe that mediation opens a singular, third eye within your consciousness and mind which is also known as the ‘eye of the soul’. The understanding that you are an active participant in the ability to heal your mind and reprogram your thought life is liberating! Jesus and His disciples taught meditation and accessing Christ Consciousness. The fact that generations of congregations did not teach these methods is, well, frustrating. It is these practices that bring about healing and positive manifestations because you can access God’s Will directly when your conscious mind is properly prepared.
Next week I will continue this topic with a look at mental awareness and how it relates to meditation.
Blessings,
Jentle