Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Beyond Human a direct link to the subconscious.

I agree with Jeff about the importance of a Teacher.

When I was learning TM, the teacher was critical. It's an uncanny thing, because the subtle things they do and say can make a very big difference in your experience.

Ok - to each his own. I meditate, too, and I love to meditate. But
personally, I simply can't follow someone's instructions regarding
meditation. I've tried, but the more I try to follow someone else's
recipe, the worse the results. Rather, I just do what is most natural to
me, and meditation then becomes very enjoyable, free, natural, and
effective.

Here's the thing, though ... I'm not sure launching into meditation for a
desired outcome (such as to gain superhuman abilities, the subject of this
thread) is the best motivation. If anything, it will result only in
frustration and eventual quitting. I've been meditating all of my life,
and, well, I certainly don't exhibit any objectively demonstrable
superhuman abilities. And I know of no one who can do such things in a
controlled testing environment. Yes, there are certain physical feats
which are quite impressive which monks have performed during a state of
meditation, but they are not "superhuman," unless by that you mean
something that most humans cannot do. But all these claims of developing
"paranormal abilities" like levitation, teleportation, telepathy,
clairvoyance ... well, yeah, I guess personal experience is king: try it
and see if you develop these things. When you succeed, please take me up
on my open invitation (which has been offered a very, very long time to no
response) to test anyone who claims such powers. I would be thrilled to
meet anyone who can genuinely exhibit such things ... but if you're a
sham, I'll figure you out very, very quickly.

Rather, meditate to find peace and serenity within yourself. And part of
that serenity comes in realizing and fully appreciating what you can and
cannot do.

hartreefoch,

When you say you've tried following instructors, have you had personal training? Like one on one, or do you mean from books and tapes and what not?

Teaching meditation is one of the most subtle forms of teaching, I think, and it involves meditating with an instructor as well as personal consultation and listening to talks about the process. A good instructor can pick up on your problems with the process by observing you meditate and talking to you one on one about it.

I personally found the personal approach much, much better. I was getting in my own way a lot and the instructor was able to get through my anxiety, worry, and effort and let me know how to do it. Once I got it, he recognized it, and said, "That's it!"

That simple confirmation did a lot. Like with every subject, we all have our own styles and needs as learners. For me, having a good instructor *really* helped.

I also had a bad experience with another instructor, and it was a nightmare and turned me off of meditating for a while. This guy's approach may have worked for some people, but I found him way too critical and domineering. The other (good) instructor was very permissive and affirming, which worked best for me with this particular subject.

The thing about meditation is, it will expand your consciousness. Not just one kind of meditation, but literally any kind of meditation, provided you actually practice regularly. You don't need to buy expensive courses or devote your life to a guru (although you can if you like). You only need to meditate.

Some meditation methods are expensive and offer complicated techniques. Some are the very definition of simplicity: follow your breaths, listen to your heartbeat, or if you like, repeat a mantra (any mantra, it need not be one you have to "buy"). Some count backwards from 100 or 50 or 20. Some use brain entrainment (mind machines and/or cds) for alpha or theta. Do whatever works for you.

You'll know you're meditating when things grow quiet, easy, and smooth. It's sort of like being in a boat--conscious mind feels a bit like choppy waters; meditation is like when you're gliding across glassy water, just you, your boat, and your reflection. Sometimes when you reach that state, you notice, and pop out--but once reached, you can always return.

Don't trust, or listen, to those who tell you that you cannot do this or that. We are capable of far more than what we normally expect. Don't even think (not for a minute) that clairvoyance, healing, and remote viewing are somehow "super" human. They aren't. It's just a part of ourselves we don't normally access.

But don't meditate for this alone. Meditate to grow, to quiet your busy mind, or if you like, to be with your deity. Many great spiritual teachers, in fact, consider such qualities as healing, telepathy, etc., distractions on the path. (I am not one of them, but some of my teachers are.)

Whatever you do, don't accept the limitations some would like to place on you. Whether it's in the name of religion ("work of the devil") or science or even lack of self esteem, don't let it stop you. We are who WE are, not who someone else wants to make us, perhaps because of their own hesitation and fear of the unknown.

If you're happy with who and where you are right now, that's fine too. That doesn't mean that those who continue to seek are somehow deluded or not quite up to some standard or other.

Apologies to Jeanne ... I hope my post didn't sound like "Science says such things can't be achieved w/ meditation." All I meant was that, "I've been practicing meditation all my life, and I have not achieved these things with meditation," and "I sure would like to meet someone who genuinely has." (... a sincere wish on my part.) So, yes, by all means ... meditate away ... and if you do achieve such things, please let me know.

Thanks for the pointer, babayada. Well, when the student (me) is ready, I trust the right teacher will appear.

I think what an experienced teacher can do for you is to accelerate your learning curve. If you pursue the the path of meditation, in my opinion you will arrive at the same place eventually although the time it takes is much longer.

One lesson my teacher taught me, it took him 18 years to learn it. He was able to teach it to me in two years. His experience through trial and error, and my willingness to learn shaved 16 years off of his learning curve. He also added to his depth of understanding by teaching this lesson once again to another. Maybe he could teach it even faster now.

very interesting indeed! Well, of course I will pursue meditation and seek maybe that missing factor that takes people 'beyond'. Thanks for all of your posts!

RichardS:

In my opinion the subconcious is a very complex and simple subject, on your first post you talk about to take charge of it, and to me that sounds like becoming it, i think there could be a diferent aproach to this, and to me the best way to eliminate the gap is just to have clear comunication and make alliances with it not to take charge of it but work together as a team just strengthen the comunication.

I say it's complex and simple at the same because of this:

complex: because you can't really comprehend how it works, where it is, what it is, it's like trying to understand something that has always existed(something that never started and doesn't have an end), our brain or at least mine can explain it, but can believe it, and i think its because we're humans and we are born and we die so our comprehesion is limited by time.

simple: you don't need to know all of the above to be able to use it, and thats what makes it so wonderfull to me, i don't bust my brain trying to figuring it out i just let it come and learn from it.

have you tried simple asking it to eliminate the gap? as i said you don't need to know how it did it, simply believe it can.

i just wanted to give my opinion, hope it's not out of context.

and sorry if my english has mistakes, hope my point is clear.

Pablo

Yes, Pablomx has a good point. I think the other-than-conscious is always linked to us
by way of our intuitions and feelings. Of course, sometimes it is wrong, but I have found
that it is usually right on the spot. I think meditation is a good way to strengthen the link.
And dreaming is another way the other-than-conscious "speaks" to us. The link grows
very strong during lucid dreaming, when the conscious and other-than-conscious are
able to directly communicate and interact with each other.

And, Pablo ... your English is fine