An impression is the shadow of happenings received through the five senses and traced unconsciously upon the screen of the mind; while will power is the light which illuminates the thought, enabling thereby a coordination of colors, shapes and lines in a creative and intelligible image. Everything which is perceived through the five senses is stored deep down into the memory, yet in a scattered format when not actively called upon. However, when wanted, all pieces are again assembled, reconstructing thereby the original image, whereas in dreams, where the light of intelligence is on standby, and the power of the will is slumbering, the regrouping of the thought-pieces lacks complete coordination, which explains the unreality of things. The difference between dream and imagination is that during sleep it is called ‘dream’, whereas in a wakened state it is called ‘imagination’.
Concentration fixes the impressions received and also helps to secure the retention of the thought, which obviously explains why memory is so dependent upon correct observation of an image, as it also is dependent upon will power in view of creation of thought. And what is more, besides the impressions received through the five senses, there are much finer ones which vibrate within the feeling heart; and, like a magnet which holds pieces of metal by the power of attraction, in the same way, concentration can become very powerful when through it’s intensity thoughts are steadily fixed in the mind by means of the magnetic power of the feeling heart.
Concentration has the power to create positive or negative happenings either willingly or unwillingly, according to whether or not the concentration is intentional or whether one is obsessed by one’s own thinking, and in which case it is obvious that there is some danger in becoming a slave of the power of concentration; which is the case if one is not able to delete unwanted thoughts. For this reason it is obvious that holding and deleting, which are the two great powers of concentration, should be developed simultaneously. The holding thought is constructive inasmuch as it helps to bring about inner strength and steadiness of mind. Whereas the other power, the ability of deleting entangled thoughts, which helps to free the mind of worries and fears, could be called: de-concentration.
Besides inspiring images the most uplifting subject to concentrate upon is related to the personality of spiritual souls whom one idealizes and whose examples are inspiring either for a creative or for spiritual guidance, and whatever be the chose ideal, it is the intensity of one’s devotion that shall secure the beauty of the achievement. But when opening one’s heart to God, finding oneself face to face with the Divine Presence, at that very moment of self-redemption one then realizes that what one thought was oneself was only an illusion; yet paradoxically individual consciousness is at the same time God’s consciousness, alike the drop of sea water which is at the same time just only a drop and yet it is the sea itself in an individualized format. After concentration, this is the first and at the same time the ultimate lesson in meditation.
(can be done together with the breathing practices)
Focusing
Focus for x minutes upon a small image (dot) at a distance
Colors vary - shapes vary (geometrical)- sizes vary
Observing
Observe all particularities of an object (Candle holder)
(Size-shape-ornaments-material-color)
Visualizing mentally (eyes closed)
Reconstruct the image mentally in all details
Mental composition process (eyes closed)
Duplicate the image in numbers - construct visionary Scenarios - change the shapes and sizes
Transferring at a distance (eyes closed)
See the chosen object of concentration in its original condition, placed at a distant site (own home)
De-concentration (eyes closed)
Erase mentally, bit by bit, each parcel of the object of concentration till nothing is left.
Thought Vacuum (eyes closed)
There is no image left, but the atmosphere of the object is present (the light produced from the burning candle)
End Chapter 4