Regular readers know I frequently mention effortless meditation. This is because of the key role it plays in culturing the ground for enlightenment. Over time, I’ve come to see its value more and more deeply.

Yet there’s a key point about practices to make. Enlightenment isn’t caused by anything we do. It arises from the grace of the Divine. The purpose of spiritual practices is not to get enlightened but to prepare the ground. Then when grace arises, the shift is more likely to be smooth and supported. If the ground is not ready, grace will come as a profound but passing experience. Practices will also improve our quality of life and cleanse our old karma through purification.

Devotional recitation, contemplation, body awareness, and other techniques are each distinct with different benefits. But is there transcendence? This is the key for awakening.

Transcendence is going beyond the mind and into our source, our nature under all the noise of the mind and emotions. This is the Samadhi of Yoga and the Turiya of the Upanishad.

Why do we want transcendence? It does several things:

– the experience of source, our true nature

– culturing letting go for healing and awakening

– the settling of the mind settles the body leading to deep rest and healing

– the experience of going within makes the layers between the surface and pure consciousness gradually more conscious, refining perception, and culturing sattva

– transcendence triggers soma, a fine substance that increases refinement, purification, and the support of nature

An ideal practice for transcendence has 3 aspects:

1: a suitable vehicle for transcending into samadhi

2: the correct technique to create the conditions for transcending

3: the correct experience of correct technique

To explain:

1: a suitable vehicle for transcending into samadhi. Samadhi brings us to source and the experience of Yoga or union plus soma for refinement.

There are many ways of transcending. But the most common vehicle for going within is a mantra or sound. Sound is the most subtle sense and can bring us closest to source. Then we let go of the vehicle and transcend the practice into samadhi.

Such a mantra should be of known good effect and suitable for the lifestyle of the student. The classic Om, for example, is a renunciate mantra. This is unsuitable for most people and tends to cause relationships and possessions to fall away. Picking a random or generic mantra may not be beneficial for you. Don’t underestimate how potent mantras become at a deep level.

Mantras usually come from Sanskrit and an ancient science of mantra. For effortless transcending, we practice the mantra without meaning. Otherwise meaning engages the mind and we don’t go beyond it.

Some suggest using an Eastern mantra is praying to Hindu gods. Everything in Sanskrit is associated with a god, including your house, chair, and food. But in a simple, effortless meditation, the meaning or associations are not contemplated. That’s a different practice. (Devotional practices may diverge from this, but again that’s a different approach.)

2: the correct technique. As noted I recommend an effortless practice that leads to regular samadhi. Innocent attention on the mantra and allowing the mind to go where it goes. When it’s not preoccupied by its daily concerns, the mind naturally settles deep within as it is drawn by the greater power and happiness present on...