Reflective meditation consists in the systematic investigation of some idea. We concentrate on a sentence, for instance, and pursue its implications systematically. Of course, as one does this, the idea associated with the sentence is empowered, given strength and vitality.
At some point during the mediation we will reach the stage of believing that we have exhausted the subject, covered its every aspect. Or we will become bored and want to do something else. Or we will feel that the subject lacks the importance we thought it had and start asking ourselves whether we should have chosen something else to meditate on. This is precisely the moment not to stop but keep meditating. This feeling of going up a blind alley often occurs just before achieving insight. If we go through and beyond this stage, our mind will shift onto a level at which the quality of thought is more lucid and meaningful. See a further description of this process in the attached Practice.
So, this type of meditation can be used for achieving insight into a subject, or to provoke the LEAP, the beginning of the state of Dhyana or the Illuminating Void.
But do not think that this is just a tool for achieving the leap. After we have finished our ten or fifteen minutes, we may think that the process has also finished. But it is only beginning. Our thoughts sink into the unconscious, which keeps working at them, elaborating, connecting, and developing. If we have been reflecting on "love", we may find that this reflects in our daily life.
We can then reflect on feelings and qualities such as love, or any of a number of these things:
Joy Vitality Wisdom Gratitude Simplicity Cheerfulness Love 0penness Loyalty Will Strength Peace
Courage Creativity Understanding Power Wonder Generosity Inclusiveness
Freedom Humor Clarity Risk Compassion Energy Truthfulness Cooperation Playfulness
As a subject for our reflective mediation, you may also want, as mentioned above, to choose a meaningful phrase such as one of the following:
"The greed for fruit misses the flower "-Rabindranath Tagore
"Gratefulness is heaven itself."-William Blake
"We are not troubled by things, but by the opinions which we have of things "-Epictetus
"It is in self-limitation that a master first shows himself." -Wolfgang Goethe
"A good runner leaves no tracks "-Lao-tse
"Love is the pursuit of the whole."-Plato
'The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."-Albert Schweitzer .
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."-Henry David Thoreau
'To be a whole and to live in the whole becomes the supreme principle, from which all the highest ethical and spiritual rules follow."-Jan Smuts
"One never loves enough "-Aldous Huxley
Thanks to Piero Ferucci for these examples, and for having introduced us to this and many other beautiful spiritual things in his book "What we may be".
PRACTICE
REFLECTIVE MEDITATION
Let us remember that that part of our mind that interferes with meditative practices, etc., is the ego-mind, under the control of the egos. There is a part of the mind, however, that we wish to make friends with, that is actually associated with the Being. This meditative practice uses this part of the mind, to reflect on ideas. Then we strengthen our relationship with the mind, as well as create, vitalize and strengthen an idea by thinking about it.
Thus by thinking about strength, love, or joy, we create strength, love, or joy in ourselves. The technique of deliberately picking a psychological quality and then thinking about it is called reflective meditation.
Reflective meditation is nothing more than systematic investigation of some idea. Let us say that we have decided to reflect on joy. We can think about the joyous people we have met in our life and the times when we experienced joy; the relationship of joy to a similar state, such as cheerfulness or humor; its origins and the hindrances to it; and so on. At some point our mind will be tempted to go off the track and think about something else. We then bring it clearly back to the subject of our reflection. Firmly but lightly, we bring all our power of focus, all the intensity of our understanding, to this endeavor.
1. Relaxation
2. Pranayama.
3. Choose a quality, such as joy, love, courage, calm, creativity, etc. Or
a) You may want to choose a meaningful phrase such as "The greed for fruit misses the flower", or "Love is the pursuit of the whole", "We never love enough", etc.
b) In any case, reflect on the quality or the phrase for 10-15 minutes.
c) At some point during the mediation we will reach the stage of believing that we have exhausted the subject, covered its every aspect. Or we will become bored and want to do something else. Or we will feel that the subject lacks the importance we thought it had and start asking ourselves whether we should have chosen something else to meditate on. This is precisely the moment not to stop but keep meditating. This feeling of going up a blind alley often occurs just before achieving insight. If we go through and beyond this stage, our mind will shift onto a level at which the quality of thought is more lucid and meaningful.
4. This is of course Dhyana! The beginning of the Illuminating Void! Follow this thought in this state! See where it leads you-Samadhi!
If the practice of concentration and meditation is correct, in an inner vision you will find much about your chosen subject. You will have used your mind constructively!