July 26, 2009: Each desire generates two perspectives (Meditation teleclass)
A key to transforming our life is recognizing that each desire we have generates two perspectives. Simply stated, the two perspectives are what we want and what we don't want with respect to a particular desire. We tend to focus on what we do not want. Instead, we need to train ourselves to focus on what we want -- on the forward looking, on the positive.
On their surface, most world spiritual tradition have a negative message about desiring. They confuse contentment with a reduction of desires. Desires are bad, desires lead to disappointment, happiness is about having fewer desires, etc. It is uncommon to find a person who is not a little conflicted about his or her desires.
Is desiring bad and non-desiring good? This is a bad question because we do desire all the time! We all want to have a better life, a richer experience, enough money in the bank, a loving home to come back to after work, a job to look forward to in the morning, a healthy body, etc. We can suppress or ignore a desire and pretend that we do not have it but it does not take it away.
Our attraction-based universe responds to our desires. What we focus on tends to increase in our life. But it does not work well if we are not clear about what we want or have conflicting desires. If we project a wish for more money or happiness, it will begin happening. If we broadcast an "I don't have enough" message, the "don't have-ness" will intensify in our life.
Any desire simultaneously points to what we desire and implies the present condition we want to move away from. We are trained by society and by human nature to focus on what we do not want. This organizes the universe around us to bring more of what we do not want. This is not bad as it will only lead to make the desire stronger. Yet, if we learn to focus on what we want -- on the forward looking, on the positive -- the universe will respond accordingly making our life will be richer, better, more fun.
All transformation meditation techniques are methods that help us open ourselves to a new focus. As a meditation exercise, take a desire you have and have a good look at the negative and then the positive aspects of it. We tend to mingle the two together. Separate them and acknowledge them both. In this meditation teleclass, we will explore these two perspectives further.
Copyright (c) Dr. Anatole Ruslanov
