3.4 How is it possible to transcend the thought process?

Everything that you experience, each moment of every day, is the externalised and objectified thought process of the one, universal, all-embracing mind, which alone exists. Your own sense of specific individuality and separateness from all else that exists is an illusion based on ignorance of the true nature of reality. The path to attaining enlightenment is the process of breaking out of, or transcending, the illusion that this is an objective reality.

The true nature of mind, that is to say, the true nature of that. which is one and the same as the true nature of your own mind, is a qualityless, unconditioned awareness simultaneously incorporated in, and transcending, space, time and karma. For now, you will have to accept this as a received truth. In time, through sustained practice of the meditation techniques begun in this chapter, you will understand the truth of this through direct experience.

If you are following this meditative system from a religious point of  view, realisation of that can be understood as realisation of God’s love and as bliss in awareness of God. From the secular point of view of  Implicate Technology, God is understood as the first manifestation of that in conditioned existence. From a religious context, that is understood as the Godhead, from which springs God, the source and object of all religious devotion.

It is purely a question of temperament whether you seek unity with God or realisation of that, mind in its unconditioned state. For some people, the religious path of devotion and surrender to God is the more meaningful; for others, this secular Implicate Technology path of knowledge of reality is the more attractive. It is six of one and half a dozen of the other – so choose a path according to your natural inclination. The most important activity in conditioned existence is to make progress along a spiritual path appropriate to your nature.

Your mind in its true nature is that; but at present it is shrouded in ignorance and sees only this. Diligent practice of the exercises begun in this chapter will progressively cleanse your mind of its ignorance. You once knew all that you are about to learn, but have forgotten it long, long ago.

The advanced meditative exercises in this chapter bring you to a realisation of the mind’s inherent stillness and tranquillity. This is done by a graded series of exercises which develop your capacity to understand the workings of the thought process itself, as opposed to your current concern with its contents. Once you have become familiar with the process of thinking itself, you will be ready to begin the analysis of the nature of reality, as taught in chapter 4.

Do not attempt to rush through these exercises, and do not try to miss out any of them. Remember: to attain the gift of samadhi you must live your life in harmony with the flow of reality, as taught in chapter 2.

As you practice the meditation, take care of your bodily needs. Eat simply, healthily and regularly. You will still have to fulfil your duties and obligations to those who are part of your life.

In time, when your understanding of the thought process is sufficiently developed, you will attain a stillness of mind, a natural tranquillity, which transcends the thought process. But before you can attain that spontaneous serenity, you must understand how, and with what consequences, thoughts are formed. You begin by using thoughts to inhibit the process of thinking.