The Path to Love, Part 3 - Working Together

Exercises for 'Self Help' Spiritual Groups

Contents

Introduction
Exercise 1 Starting and Finishing
Exercise 2 Looking with Love
Exercise 3 Challenging Negative Speech
Exercise 4 Becoming the Light - a Guided Meditation
Exercise 5 A Game with Sai Baba Cards
Exercise 6 Zen Meditation
Exercise 7 Developing Intuition
In Part 4.
Exercise 8 Intuitive Verbal Healing
Exercise 9 Spiritual Healing
Exercise 10 Intuition Clinic
Exercise 11 Intuitive Writing
Continuing with the Group
After Word
Appendix Exercises in Nature
Further Reading

This is a Link to Part 4 ***

Introduction

The exercises described here are not difficult. If the instructions are followed carefully, they should not give rise to any problems. They are group exercises, because a group of people working together to find love generates wonderful feelings and a great deal of transformative power. The energy it gives off benefits the planet.

* Meet regularly

Get together with a group of your friends and have a regular meeting, every week or fortnight. You will achieve the best results if you follow the exercises roughly in the order in which they are given, but some of them need frequent repetition. The real value of the exercises emerges when you start putting some of their principles into practice in your daily life. That is a way of practising love.

 
* Love is the aim
Nowadays, some people become involved in many therapy-oriented groups. They think things are only 'successful' if there are loud explosion of emotion, which, after a while, they learn to manufacture. The aim of these exercises is to find and practise love, your Essence. Emotion will arise during the work, but is not its aim.
 
* Meditate first
All the exercises involve a guided meditation at the beginning and another one at the end. Do take these seriously. They aren't at all a meaningless ritual; they set the energy from which the work is performed and help to lift you from your everyday state, whatever that may be, towards love, the truth of who you are.
 
* Select a group leader
Somebody will need to lead these meditations and organise the energies in your group. Rather than being 'democratic' and trying to do this collectively, it is better to give one person the task for a whole evening. It's fine to discuss together what you'll do next week, but one person should be responsible. Don't leave anyone out; the task will help them to develop confidence in working with others, a most valuable skill. Divinity has no place for doubt or hesitation because it is all loving and all knowing. You have to practice your divinity and this means learning self-confidence. Of course, some people take much more easily to leading groups than others. If someone is finding it difficult and 'you know better ', it's a good exercise for you to restrain yourself and be patient — another valuable quality to learn.
* Share
After each exercise, share what went on quite intensively with your partner or partners. This involves learning to take seriously all the nuances of feeling you experienced and all the images you received. Do not allow yourself to regard them as trivial. The 'bull's eye' might be hidden in your impressions. Share ideas and impressions that arise about others in the group in a supportive way. Judgement, criticism and gossip, however, are worse than valueless.
* Be disciplined
If you feel the need to talk about all that's happened to you since the group last met, separate that from the group work itself. Why not be disciplined, and start your meeting with a spiritual sharing instead? What has recently come up for each of you that might help you on your path to love? It is not selfish to share your problems and successes in coming closer to love. Not only may you be given support, but you may give help to others by sharing. To seek Self is never selfish; but to preen self is selfish indeed.
* Give loving attention
Try very hard to pay loving attention to what others are saying, even if you privately think it balderdash. That way you will learn tolerance and begin to realise that everyone has their own way of expressing themselves; you will also learn that your way or pace is not necessarily best for them.
* Have attunements
Finally, start and end any time together with an attunement or meditation. It sanctifies your time, brings you fully present when you start, and helps you to assimilate what you have learned at the end.
* Get the atmosphere right
You will need a warm and comfortable room. It's much harder to do this work if your body feels uncomfortable. Personally, 1 like to work on the floor, with a lot of cushions and blankets, but it's also fine to use upright chairs. Sofas and armchairs are definitely not recommended since you need to be as alert as possible, and not half asleep! Meditation cushions, or 'zafu's are very appropriate; see the exercise on Zen. You'll also need candles. Some people like incense, but check first; a few are disturbed by it. Also, it is a good idea to provide plenty of paper handkerchiefs. Finally, why not have fun? God is the great joker; heavy, hyper-serious efforts will soon lead to pretension - a sure way back to egotism. You can be serious and light.
So here we go!

Exercise 1. Starting and Finishing

This is a guided attunement to start and close a group. (Of course, you've already selected someone to lead the evening's work and the person has done their homework and prepared these meditations.)
The group leader lights a candle as a point of focus. The group, unshod, stands or sits in a circle, holding hands. Some people like to join hands with left palm down and right one up. Or you can do it with the right palm down and the left one up. It makes for harmony to adopt one way or the other and keep to it. Taking your shoes off is a gesture of respect; and it introduces a feeling of 'specialness' because the day's dirt is not brought in with you.
Here are some 'model' phrases. As with other guided meditations in these exercises, try to find your own way of putting them. If you are nervous, use these for now. Later your own way of doing it will carry more conviction.
Let's close our eyes and become still … (Pause) Feel the hands holding yours, let them support you … Now visualise, or sense, an inner light at the centre of the circle, the light of love and wisdom. Its source is above you, but let it spread till the whole circle is filled with it… Now, let it enter you and fill you , until you and all in the circle are glowing in the light …
We ask for blessing for the work we shall do this evening today …
May everything come from the light and be in the light, from the highest source, for the entire time we are working together. . .
We give thanks that it will be so …
Now, gently open your eyes and spend a moment looking at each member of the group in welcome …
Thank you.

To close the group after a session, hold hands again. The group leader says (model words):

The group leader squeezes hands as a sign to finish and everyone else follows in turn, so the squeeze is passed round the circle.

Points to note
Silence is as powerful as words. Don't rush things but use the pauses to leave time for silence. On the other hand, don't drag, or people's minds will start to wander. It is crucial to emphasise working with the 'light' of love and wisdom; it needs to be reiterated before each exercise. Establish in your mind that you'll be in this 'special state' for the whole period involved, be it an exercise or an evening's work.
(Why not begin to invoke love at the beginning of your day — and night — too? It will keep you attuned to the best you can attain and lift you to even better!)
Right after the opening attunement is a good time for introductions (if there are new members in the group) or for a brief sharing .
Whatever you are doing, the opening attunement should, without fail, precede your time together. The aim of such groups is spiritual development, not curiosity or personal growth'. Spiritual development is, in fact, by far the easiest way to 'personal growth'.

Exercise 2. Looking With Love

Many teachers use a variant of this exercise because it is so important. 1 have found this way of doing it to be very powerful. Its effectiveness depends a little on the way it is introduced by the group leader, so the form of words is quite important.
The group is divided into pairs. (If some people don't yet know each other, encourage them to work with someone they don't know.) Each pair should keep as far apart from the other pairs as the room will permit, but they themselves should face each other and be as close together as they can comfortably be. Don't let people get away with sitting a metre apart; chivvy them closer, up to, but not over, their point of embarrassment.
Make sure that there is no talking during this exercise. It ruins the energy.
Partners must decide who is 'M and who is 'B' before the exercise starts.
Here are some model words for the group leader:

The next words are said very slowly and clearly, with marked pauses:

Slowly repeat from 'I see you' to 'I see you with unconditional love'. If you are confident, you can say:

After some time of looking at each other in silence, you say:
Now close your eyes and be with yourself again … Have any feelings come up, any impressions? … How was it to see or to be seen for you?

Repeat the rest of the words as before, with pauses. Don't shorten it or lose emphasis. After a similar time, you say:

Now close your eyes again and go inside …
Notice anything at all that comes up for you …
Is there a difference between 'seeing' and 'being seen'?
Give a pause for silent reflection … Then:
Now open your eyes again, thank your partner and share with them what you experienced.

Allow plenty of sharing time, but not so much that people start talking about the weather! Then bring the group together and see if there are experiences the whole group can share. This encourages togetherness and different perspectives.

Looking with Love in the Whole Group
The group stands in a circle with eyes closed. The group leader asks the members to open their eyes and slowly look at everyone in the circle with unconditional love. Then eyes are closed again for a short time to register the experience. It can be very moving.
 
Notes
This little exercise is really one of the most valuable of all. Of course, it is an artificial situation, but it introduces the idea that how you look at people is an act of volition; it can be under your conscious control. It can also be practised outside the group situation. All you need for enlightenment, is to look at everyone, everywhere, with unconditional love, all the time. So why not use the exercise as a starting point and practise it in your daily life? Soon you will realise that how you look at people is under your control. Even if it seems artificial at first, keep on! You are 'lifting' your own energy by doing it.
What is 'unconditional love'? It is not judging someone, nor expecting anything of them, but giving them compassionate attention. It is not indifference. nor the 'rational objectivity' of a scientist, for it involves feeling. Nor is it sloppy sentiment, but very calm. Words aside, everybody knows what it is, for they looked in that way at those close to them when they were babies, no matter how much they were 'disillusioned' afterwards.
In this exercise, being looked at involves surrender. All the defence systems we have will shout 'caution'. But, if somebody looks at you with unconditional love, there is no need for defence. For beneath all their problems and difficulties, illusions and confusions, everybody actually does look at you with unconditional love. If you can ignore all that is superficial, you are being seen by God and there is no need for defence. You can be confident and clear even though you are defenceless. That is freedom!
Naturally, people's reactions to this exercise vary. Some find it hard; some frightening; some may cry. It is good to notice all these reactions and talk about them, without judging them as 'trivial' or 'embarrassing'. Sharing is so important in all these exercises because it is a training in self-awareness. Watching oneself implies a viewer separate from the viewed. As long as judgement is taken away, that viewer is Love. Sharing helps to establish this sense of an observer in you, one apart from your personality. Gradually, you can become that loving observer and let the old identity go. That is happiness. Practise!
The task of the group leader — apart from speaking the words with conviction — is to keep aware of what is happening in the room. If people look away, quietly bring their eyes back to their partner's .If they cry, give them a paper handkerchief. If they start to talk, quietly stop them. You may be nervous at first, but try to trust God, remembering that during the meditation, you've put yourself in divine hands. God will not let you down. It's a wonderful experience to feel the energy in the room change as the group members invoke unconditional love.

Exercise 3. Challenging Negative Speech

Sun Bear, the American Indian teacher, first introduced me to this kind of exercise, also commonly used in workshops. The version used here is amended and expanded as a spiritual exercise.
The main purpose of the exercise is to increase your awareness of the 'tone colour' of your normal speech, enabling you to change it consciously. It also encourages you to let go of rational control — just a little bit — and might give you some information about your self-image, so that that too may be open to change.
The three parts of the exercise can be done one after the other or separately. If done separately, an opening meditation is necessary for each part, and the group needs to pair off again. Eye contact with the partner should be maintained throughout.
 
Part 1
Having sorted the group into pairs, each with an 'A' and a 'B', and encouraged each pair to take the maximum space the room allows, the group leader proceeds as follows:
Close your eyes, sit upright and get comfortable …
When you open them, one of you is going to talk for five minutes to the other. The other will listen carefully without interruption or commentary. The idea is just to talk without thinking, keeping the flow going for the whole time, if possible …
Now, let's bless the work …
May all this time together be blessed …
We ask that everything be from the highest, for the highest good …
Make a loving connection with your partner, one without judgement, a connection from the heart …
Now, open your eyes, look at each other and I'll tell you more …
B, I want you to talk about your partner for five minutes. You can say anything you like, anything at all. It doesn't even have to be true; give your imagination free rein …
The only condition is that there should be nothing negative or critical. As for you, A, listen carefully. Five minutes from .… now!
I have used the Bs to start the exercise, because the As would usually expect to begin, and have 'prepared themselves', but take your pick.
After five minutes:
Time's up. Both of you close your eyes without talking…
How was it for you? Could you keep the flow going?…
Was it hard not to be critical? Did you succeed? …
A, could you listen carefully? …
Now, open your eyes again. This time, A will speak in the same way for five minutes about B and B listens. Once again, anything is OK as long as it's not negative or critical. Five minutes from .… now!

Follow the same procedure, with quiet reflection on what has happened. If you stop here, the partners may share their experiences, but it's good to go straight on —with no talking at all — to part 2, as follows:

Part 2
Same partners, same position, eyes closed.
Group leader:
Get settled once more, relax …
This time, B is going to talk to A and A will listen as before.
But this time, B will talk about themselves …
Remember, nothing critical or negative …
Now open your eyes and off you go, B, for five minutes.
The exercise progresses as in Part 1, giving time for reflection with eyes closed after the five minutes, after which the partners swap roles.
Now go on part 3; if you are continuing directly from part 2, no talking should be allowed.
Part 3
Same partners, same position, eyes closed. Group leader:
Once again, after two minutes, the As are stopped and the Bs look for the positive in what they have said.
Now a final period with closed eyes:
Spend a few minutes reflecting on the three parts of this exercise and how you felt during each of them …
Remember not to judge yourself; just notice things … Now open your eyes, thank your partner and share what happened for you.

Allow plenty of time for sharing, then some time for the whole group to come together and share.

Notes

Most people don't have too much trouble with this exercise but it can be hard if you have a negative self image or are very judgmental of others. As with the previous exercise, you can 'practise live' in everyday life, using the exercise to help make you aware of how you speak about others and yourself, consciously determining to be less critical and judgmental, and more supportive in your comments. It neither supports you nor others to 'play along' with negativity because it creates a downward spiral of depressive energy.
Learning to let go and 'just speak, after meditation is a first step in opening to intuition, itself the key to the door of wisdom.
The exercise can be treated in a fairly light way, as an 'ice breaker' - helping people to get to know each other better.
For the Group Leader
Your job has both inner and outer aspects. On the outer, you are 'keeping the players playing according to the rules', encouraging them to continue if they stop, and halting chatter between the parts. You speak clearly and slowly, giving enough pauses for inner reflection.
But you are also 'holding the energy' in the room, observing what is going on carefully, reaching out with love to everyone. Sometimes you go over quietly to anyone who is stuck and just stand near them. Often, doing this is enough to free them to continue. Don't worry too much if someone is struggling for things to say. This may be a necessary step towards self-awareness, allowing them to identify what they need to change in themselves.
Don't get worried if someone cries a little; give them a hanky! If someone gets quite upset, you can put a hand on their shoulder and encourage their partner to hold their hands if they want that.
But always keep part of your attention with the rest of the group, 'holding the energy' for the whole room.
Don't forget to keep the time!
Don't feel worried by any situation that might come up. You won't be given anything that you can't handle. Thank you, God!

Exercise 4. Becoming the Light — a Guided Meditation

Sai Baba recommends this as a regular meditation for individuals. However, it is easy to adapt for a group. It uses your imagination to help you connect with your reality, and symbolises the three stages of the spiritual path: dualism, where God is seen as separate from you; qualified monism, where you seem a differentiated part of God; and monism, where you are pure divinity, having attained full truth. At this final stage you are free, perfect and the source of light itself.
In the group, this meditation can be done with soft background music, which enhances the atmosphere. Use contemplative, spiritual music. Try it first without music and then repeat with the music.
The group sits in a circle, facing a candle placed in the centre. The group leader then leads the following meditation. As in previous exercises, the following are 'model' words. The pauses are long.
Make yourselves comfortable, and breathe deeply and slowly, in … and out, in … and out …
Concentrate on the flame of the candle, a source of light … I see the light …
Now, close your eyes and imagine that this light is in you, an inner flame. ..
If it's hard, reopen your eyes and focus on the candle flame once more. Then try again …
The flame can be anywhere in you, it doesn't matter where: in your head; in your heart; in your belly; anywhere … The light is in me …
Now, imagine the light expanding till it fills you totally, there isn't any part of you that isn't filled by the light. . .
I am the light …
Now, imagine that, like the candle, you are giving light to the room …
The light shines from me …
Open your eyes and look at the candle again. Light is the great symbol for purity; where light is, there can be no darkness. In the light, Truth is revealed …
I see the light. I see Truth …
Now, close your eyes …
Imagine the light in you once again line light is in me. Truth is in me And now, expand the light to fill you completely
I am the light. I am Truth …
Imagine the light shining …
The light shines from me. I spread the Truth
Open your eyes again and look at the candle once more … If you know the Truth, you realise that Love is the underlying reality of the Universe. Look at the flame again.
I see the light. I see love …
Close your eyes and visualise the light in you.
The light is in me. Love is in me …
And now, expand the light until it fills you I am the light. I am Love
Be aware of the light shining
The light shines from me. I give Love to the world …
Now, open your eyes once more.

At this point, a sharing can take place as to how the group members experienced this meditation. But another piece may be added - in which case, instead of saying: 'Open your eyes', you can say:

Notes
It is interesting to note that a candle flame is not like a material object. If you give away a material possession, you won't have it any more. But if you put something in the flame, it will also burst into flame, without diminishing the original flame in the least. Love is like the flame, not like a material thing. However much of it you give, it will still remain with you.
Indeed, Love is more than the flame. It actually expands with use. So the more you give, the more you have. This is the practice of love and the path to your own Divinity.
At first, the candle flame helps to put you in touch with your essential Divinity. Then, soon, you will be able to imagine yourself filled with light, without a candle. The final step is to know that you embody the light (Love) in reality. At this point, imagination or visualisation are redundant. You will know when you have achieved it; if you want to know how it is, study the life of Jesus, the realised Buddha, or Sai Baba. Love alone becomes the wellspring of action.
 
For the Leader
The highlighted words are spoken slowly with emphasis. Bathe in the beauty that enters the room as the group engages in this meditation.
Note on 'Imagination'
Most children are encouraged to use their imagination. Stories of magical events are offered to us to 'believe' .In Britain, the story of Father Christmas filling the stockings with gifts on Christmas Eve is played out for many children.
As we grow a little older, cold reason steps in as the master, and imagination is displaced. But the world of 'imagination' has a complex connection with the world of 'reality'; carefully controlled visualisation — or 'sensing' — interacts with the 'real' world, to modify or to change it. Instead of assuming that the impressions of our normal senses are 'real' and those of our imaginary fantasy worlds 'unreal', it is better to see them as being merely different, not totally separate. Each is a reflection of truth, but not truth itself; and each can be used to help us become aware of truth, or, on the other hand, to multiply confusion.
Some people have a visual imagination; they 'see' pictures. Others 'sense' or 'feel' and, sometimes, people 'hear' .All these experiences are equally valid in terms of practising imagination. So it doesn't matter if someone says, 'now visualise a leg' and you can't see it! just sense it instead.
If you do this sort of exercise often, your imagination will increase in power. Always remember that you are its controller, not it yours. Never believe the classical fallacy that the world of the senses is real and that of imagination unreal. Both are unreal. You use them to find reality, that is, Love.

Exercise 5. A Game with Sai Baba Cards

A group of Sai Baba devotees in Glastonbury has produced a set of over 300 cards, each with a saying from Sai Baba on it. These beautiful cards are available from esoteric book shops. In this exercise, we demonstrate the presence of Grace, working through 'chance', and work playfully with our intuition. The exercise is in two parts, which should be separated by a little break. Each person needs a pen and some paper.

Part 1
The cards are laid out face down on the floor. The best way is to lay them close together in a spiral, starting from a candle in the middle. The group is in a circle on the outside, facing the candle. Then the group leader leads a meditation (model words):
Let's all sit comfortably upright …
Close your eyes and take some deep, slow breaths … Visualise a light in the centre of the circle. It spreads and fills us, so the circle shines and is united in the light … We pray and invoke that Sai Baba be with us in the circle, that all comes from Him, so we each may take the card most appropriate for us right now …
Now, in your own time, open your eyes and let your hand take whichever card it is drawn to.

When everyone has taken a card, the contents can be shared, and each person can venture comments on the relevance of their card, if they can see one. Other people can also comment on these comments, but not so a general discussion ensues. Everyone writes down the words on their card and it is returned to the pack. A moment is finally spent in silence to give thanks for the gifts received.

Part 2
The group pairs off. Each pair finds its own space and decides who is A, and who is B. Everyone has at hand the aphorism which they picked from the Sai Baba cards.
The group leader acts mostly as the time keeper in this exercise. He or she starts as follows:
Is everybody ready? Then close your eyes and take some calming breaths …
Feel a light, joining you and your partner …
Make a connection of non-judgement and unconditional love with them …
We ask that this work comes from the highest, from the light and that the highest good be served by it …
Now, open your eyes and A, show B the message you received from Sai Baba. When you have really understood the message, B, place yourself behind A, put your hands on A's shoulders, close your eyes and wait.

When all the Bs are behind all the As - this is done so that all can start at the same time (a big help in building harmonious energy in the room) - the group leader continues:

The group leader times the exercise. After ten minutes, he or she says:

The partners then change roles, and the procedure continues as before, with the Bs showing their card to the As and so on. When all is finished, the group leader says:

After a reasonable time, bring the group together, so that a sharing can take place in the whole group.

Notes
All great religious teachers use parables and stories to illustrate their spiritual dicta. They enlist imagination, feeling and humour as 'digestive aids' for what is being said. Great spiritual truths are hard to describe directly in words; by parable, story or analogy, they have meaning in common experience.
In the second part of this exercise, a deeper insight into the meaning of the saying on the card may be given, but the main purpose is to practise intuitive thought. If the exercise is set up as described, the story tellers won't have time to 'think out' a story; they are encouraged to 'let go' and allow their stories to unfold from whatever idea comes to them. The tone is set by the blessing.
On the spiritual path, we are seeking wisdom. We have to overcome the belief that rationality is the source of spiritual wisdom. Since our educational system trains us to be as rational as we can in order to slot us into routine jobs, our creative intuition is usually suppressed and ridiculed.
But if we meditate first seeking blessing and the highest — the preamble of all the exercises in this book — we will find, to our initial surprise, that Grace will be given and that our intuition will come up with exactly what is needed in any situation. The challenge is to dethrone reason, which is often like an inner doubt, saying such things: 'You can't without me' 'That's nonsense!' 'How do you know that's relevant?' 'You couldn't dare to risk saying that!' 'That doesn't follow' etc. .… But when unconditional love and non-judgement are invoked, blessing is asked, and all is done in the light of Divine Love, intuition will lead you beyond yourself towards the source of Love and happiness.
All the following exercises, with the exception of Zen, which is explained separately, involve two parts. One 'sets the energy', as described above. The other allows the intuition to flow from it. Gradually, you will become more confident in using intuition. Ultimately, Divinely inspired intuition will guide your life, and you will trust it more and more. At first, there are bound to be conflicts with rationality, which being linked to the ego, is reluctant to serve rather than to be served.
But now to Zen meditation, which will provide a deeper background to all the work.

Exercise 6. Zen Meditation

Zen is actually a variety of Japanese Buddhism, its most puritan form. Here, only an aspect of the meditation technique is introduced. The aim of the meditation is to be fully present, completely aware, but unattached. You choose a simple thing to do, 'just sitting', and make an affirmation to do that and that only.
Since you are sitting for a relatively long time, a good physical position is essential. I recommend half an hour to begin with, rising to whatever limit the group can take (about 45 minutes is probably maximum for bodily comfort without movement). You are not in search of visions or messages, just sitting; so you keep your eyes open, facing the simplest surface possible, preferably a blank, off-white wall, but whatever is available will do.
In practice, as soon as you begin to sit, you are beset with several groups of 'enemies', all intent on stealing your attention. First come the cohorts of sense impressions. How interesting, how varied a blank wall can be! What fascinating sounds can emerge in a quiet room! What aftertastes your previous meal can provide.
The next brigade come from the body. What a terrible itch! It demands to be scratched. How essential that the hair be pushed back! What agonies of pain in the joints! How the eyes want to close for just a little doze!
Then come the regiments of thoughts and feelings, from the most trivial to the most profound. And the whole army must be dealt with non-violently!
In the end, attention can always win. You may have sense impressions, but you are not them. You have a body, but you are not your body. You have thoughts and feelings, but you are not them. Each time these various 'gangsters' attack, simply be aware of them, but do not respond to their demands. Keep your eyes open and keep on sitting! Let thoughts drift by, like clouds in the sky. Do not follow them, or give them your energy; they will disperse. If you remember your poor mother and how badly you treated her, or she you, let the tears trickle down your cheeks; but keep on sitting!
As you can see, Zen is an enormously powerful meditation, for, just by being fully aware and doing only that which you have set out to do — just sitting — you will become real, while all your accoutrements become illusory. It requires you to be Yourself, Divinity, sitting, for half an hour. And, with practice, it will work, even if you can't believe it at first.
There are three sitting positions, discovered from long experience to be the most helpful for 'just sitting' .If you sit on a chair, it should be an upright one with a firm seat. No easy chairs, please. You sit on the front of the chair, not leaning against the back, so that your back is self-supporting and straight. Your legs are apart and the feet firmly on the ground in front of you. The part from hip to knee should have a slight downward slope. If you are tall, you can achieve this with an extra cushion on the seat. If you are short-legged, you may need a folded blanket on the floor to give your feet support. If you are too far back in the chair, its front will press on the blood vessels in your leg, causing discomfort. If you lean against the back, you will drift off to sleep.
For the second position, you kneel on the floor, knees apart, using a meditation stool or high cushion under your backside. If the stool is at the right height, you will make a nice triangle, with the knees and backside as the three corners. The weight is well distributed, with your back, of course, quite straight.
The third position is to sit on a cushion and cross your legs below the knees in front of you. The knees should be on the floor, not lifted, which means you will need a cushion which is high enough. If you are really supple, you will then be able to lift both feet onto your inner thighs (lotus position). If you are less supple, you might manage one foot 'up' (half lotus). Many people need to have both feet on the floor, at least at first. When you get into this stance, you will feel how stable it is, and that it encourages a straight back; it is the position of alertness. But if you are not used to it, this way of sitting can be hard to maintain at first.
Whichever position you adopt — and any one of these three is recommended — you should sit about one metre from the wall, facing it with your eyes open and looking slightly downwards, with your hands either one in the other in front of you, or separated on the knees.
As you get into position, shrug your shoulders, loosen the muscles in your neck by rotating your head, and loosen the jaw, so that you don't begin the meditation tensed up. In the beginning, it may help your concentration if you control your breathing, making it slow and regular, with pauses before each breath in and out, but this is optional and may be discarded with practice. The room should have subdued light — not as bright as full daylight — but it should not be dark.
The group leader for this meditation has the role of timekeeper, so he or she will need a watch to signal the start and end of the meditation. He or she is also responsible for checking the position of each participant before the start of the meditation, making sure that backs are straight and knees are on the floor, if the sitting position is used. During the meditation, be alert for drooping backs; it is a sure sign that someone is being conquered by the 'enemies'. Quietly go round and straighten them without words and without disturbing other people.
Twice in my experience, I have known people sitting on chairs to go to sleep and fall off them. If someone on a chair starts swaying, get there, quietly but quickly! (It is an advantage to sit on the floor rather than on a chair: you cannot fall anywhere!)
After the meditation, the group members should not rush into speech, but slowly stretch their legs and put the room back in order. Then, for the first meditation, and perhaps a few others, you can share 'experiences' .After a while, it is good to go straight into another exercise as soon as the group has reassembled, without talking.
As they start to do this kind of meditation, people often say that they have just spent an uncomfortable half hour battling thoughts, and that it all seemed pointless. But an experience of this kind actually 'lift' the energy of the group.
It is a good idea to do the exercise in the daytime, somewhere where there is immediate access to a garden or nature spot. Then the group leader can send the group out after the meditation — still no talking — to look at the flowers, trees or view. As a result of the sitting, you will see that your perception has become enhanced; this is a pleasant and practical demonstration of its transformative effect.
After Zen meditation has been learned, it would be most valuable if the group incorporated it into its regular meetings, both for its own sake and, at the beginning of a session, in order to enhance the effect of other exercises. It is also a wonderful technique for individuals to adopt morning and / or evening, to prepare for or to release the day. As Sai Baba says: "You are not the body, but the indestructible, eternal Atma (Essence) - Divinity itself."

Exercise 7. Developing Intuition

This exercise is an easy way to support the growth of your 'inner view', and each other at the same time. It depends on bypassing rationality and letting your inner wisdom speak.
At first, this is strange for most people, for they think of rationality as the only means of control they have. Beyond rationality is … what? All kinds of fears and anxieties come up. But, if you seek beyond rationality in the right direction, loving wisdom is to be found. How do you find the right direction? By preparing yourself for it in meditation. All this does not need to be ponderous, much less pretentious. The exercise can be treated very lightly.
You are going to describe your partner by using a house as the symbol. Talk about the house, without trying to interpret what comes to you at this stage. Your partner is going to write down everything you say about the house. But you are not going to go through a rational process, such as: this is what 1 think my partner is like; therefore this house would be most appropriate.
Instead, the exercise proceeds as follows: the group sits in pairs in a circle, with each pair facing each other. One partner, A, faces out, the other, B, faces into the circle. Each pair should be as far from the next as the room allows. (This exercise can be done outdoors, if there is a secluded, positive space, and it is a warm, quiet day. To discover' positive' spaces, consult the Appendix, Exercises in Nature.) Each person should have pen and paper available.
Here are some words for the group leader:
Close your eyes and sit comfortably …
Take a few deep, relaxing breaths …
Begin to visualise or sense a light, filling this room, filling each of us and the whole space . . .
We ask that all we do be from this light, from the highest and for the highest good …
We ask that this exercise be blessed for the whole time it is taking place and give thanks that it is so . . .
Now, make an inner connection with your partner, a connection of non-judgement and unconditional love, aware of all, yet judging nothing …
Each of you is of the light and in the light …
Now, B, open your eyes and take up your pen and pencil. A, keep your eyes closed and imagine B as if they were a house. As soon as a sense or image of a house comes into your mind, start describing it …
For instance, how does it look from the outside? What state is it in? How, does it stand in relation to other houses? Does it have a garden? If so, what sort? How do you get into this house? Then describe it inside. Go into more and more detail. Are there any rooms which are difficult to get into? Any cellars or attics? How is it furnished? Say everything you can, but don't wait till you have a full picture. Just start talking and allow your imagination to lead you. Don't bother with what it all means.
You have 15 minutes. Start as soon as you get an image.
The group leader keeps time. Some people find it easy and start talking at once; they often stimulate others. If someone is really having a hard time, you can go over to them and say (quietly), 'Any old house will do. Don't worry whether it's the right one', or something to reduce anxiety. Most people who hesitate are afraid of saying the wrong thing. If someone dries up and opens their eyes, encourage them to stay with eyes closed; 'Something more might come', or, 'See if you can get more detail about the house.'
After about twelve minutes, you can say:

If B has an y questions about the house, you can ask them now. A, keep your eyes closed.

After about fifteen minutes, you say:

Time's up. Finish what you're saying and both of you close your eyes …
A, did you say everything that came to you, or did you hold back at all? If so, notice why …
B, did you write down everything that was said, or did you leave something out? …
If so, try to remember it and write it down later …
Now, inwardly thank your partner and release them. Open your eyes, but don't talk, please.
A takes up pen and paper, and once more the partners close their eyes and the words of introduction are repeated. Don't skim over them, although you can reduce the number of 'specimen questions' if people have got the hang of it. The exercise then goes on as before. At the end, after 'inwardly thank your partner and release them', say:

Then everyone opens their eyes and the group leader instructs the Bs to move one more time round the circle. With their new partner, both A and B can share and discuss the 'house' they have received and if it means anything to them. The descriptions often contain surprising insights.

Notes
Most people find a house an easy symbol to work with. If the group enjoys the exercise, you can do it on another occasion, asking the 'readers' to imagine their partners with a circle of colours round them — their 'inner aura'. You can check if the colours are faint or thick, clear or cloudy, and so on. Perhaps the readers can attempt to interpret the meaning of the colours they see, again without 'thinking' about them.
If you do go on in this way, make sure that the group leader prepares the exercise beforehand and never leave out the introductory meditations and the giving of thanks afterwards. They are crucial, for they set the tone of what is being done.
Do not get hung up about what you will receive during such exercises. They may give you insights about yourself, but they are mainly to practise opening to intuition in a loving atmosphere. If you find yourself strongly resistant to something someone has said, there's a good chance it is important to you.
This is the kind of exercise that can lead to clairvoyant reading. Everyone is clairvoyant; but to give a good, clear, relatively accurate reading takes a lot of practice, so don't think you're a 'reader' after you've done it a couple of times.
The main purpose of this exercise is to open lovingly to intuition. Eventually, you'll feel able to trust it — the divine nature which guides your life. But don't rush! Allow yourself learning time with your friends, as you do these exercises together.
This is a link to Part 4
This is a link to the first Part (Guidance)
This is a link to the Starting Page