The Healing Power Of Meditation

Alan L. Pritz

In this time of increasing body/mind awareness, no one would deny the value of having a good, nutritious diet nor that quality of thought affects health. Yet thought and food are really nothing more than energy, albeit forms vibrating at different levels. Both can be controlled with self-awareness and discipline. Both can effect different forms of healing. Yet another form of energy-based healing can also occur, in meditation. As a science and an art, meditation requires more than merely sitting still and logging time in order to progress. It requires putting out energy properly in prayer and concentration then sensitively receiving energy and consciousness back from Spirit.

According to yoga teachings, life energy comes from God and enters the human body at a non-physical (astral) gateway located at the base of the skull in the medulla oblongata. This force is automatically lifted to an energy center (chakra) in the brain and routed through the body/mind via an energetic nervous system called nadis (Indian) or meridians (Chinese). This force continuously responds to our mental and physical needs thereby keeping us alive. For meditation and related healing purposes we learn to control this life force through a science called Pranayama.* While unable to discuss this skill with depth at this time, here’s a bit about the process and a technique to practice.

During meditation, life force is consciously withdrawn from body/mind functions and re-directed to energy centers (chakras) correlating with higher spiritual awareness. The most significant of these centers resides in the brain. It’s at this point that one form of healing can be done. The brain is like a computer that holds grooved impressions of subconscious habit patterns and latent tendencies. When energy is directed to the brain, certain negative habit patterns and seed tendencies can be eliminated. By doing this we can “clean house” more swiftly than when standard change tactics are practiced. A technique to do this was taught by Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. It is as follows:

Meditate with a familiar technique to become inwardly concentrated. Then, close the eyes (if they aren’t already) and gaze deeply but gently into the spiritual eye center (3rd eye or 6th chakra) at the point between the eyebrows. Gather your mental forces and mentally affirm “I and my Heavenly Father are one!” or “I and my Divine Mother are one!” Do this repeatedly until a great joy fills your heart. Then inwardly proclaim “I command the Divine energy within me to cauterize all negative habit pattern grooves within my brain and all seed tendencies!” Do this repeatedly, each time trying to feel spiritual light bathing the brain. Then be still and sense the process at work. Don’t immediately test for results. Repeat the practice daily giving it plenty of time. Like planting seeds, just do the work, water them regularly, and over time the right plants will grow and the weeds die.

Despite the technique just given, the most important and ultimately healing element of meditation involves lifting awareness into superconsciousness, the state of soul awareness and oneness with Spirit. In that state one recalls their divine nature and can subsequently transcend or mitigate the impact of spiritual law, karma, which perpetuates both pleasure and suffering. This spiritual healing depends on our efforts in meditation and prayer plus divine grace. It can’t be forced, and, we must do our part. However, once the reality is experienced that we’re not the body nor mind, but undying Spirit, the illusion of mortality and limitation is shattered. Hence, “Know the truth and the truth shall set you free!” In the broadest context, what better healing can exist but from ignorance?

Understanding this, meditation takes on a value distinctly different from being merely a calming practice. Rather, it serves as a way to attain the ultimate healing and greatest expression of human potential, Self-Realization.

*Note: life force techniques can enhance physical, mental, and spiritual health but for safety’s sake, the services of a valid teacher must be engaged. It is nothing to fool with!