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Mastering Brainwave* for Insight, Healing, and Creativity

innn wise

U.S.A. $24.95 Canada $33.95

RHim yisE The High- Performance Mind presents cinating

how

a fas-

and enlightening breakthrough on

to achieve the ultimate state

efficiency, well-being,

of human

and balance through

"brainwave training."

Drawing from some of the

latest scientific

research and dozens of case histories, author

Anna Wise shows us how brainwaves— beta, alpha,

the four kinds of

and delta-

theta,

communicate with one another

to pass

information between conscious and unconscious mind. Mastering these brainwaves

through meditation and therapeutic tech-

niques can help us heal ourselves from serious illness, enter creative states at will,

become more solvers at

effective leaders

home and

at

and problem-

work, and improve

our inteq)ersonal relationships.

The combination

of brainwaves the

author defines as the "awakened mind" pattern allows us to utilize levels

all

aspects and

of consciousness to benefit our health. (Continued on back flap)

«H,()1

.

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2012

http://www.archive.org/details/highperformancemOOwise

THE HIGH-

PERFORMANCE MIND

mva ¥\,-.

MASTERING BRAINWAVES FOR INSIGHT, HEALING, AND CREATIVITY

ANNA WISE A

JEREMY

P.

TARCHER

/

PUTNAM BOOK

Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons

New

York

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Putnam Book

Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons Publishers Since 1838 200 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016

©

Copyright

1995 by Anna Wise

All rights reserved. This

may not be reproduced

book, or parts thereof,

any form without permission.

in

Published simultaneously in Canada

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Wise, Anna.

The high-performance mind and

healing,

:

mastering brainwaves for insight,

creativity /

Anna Wise.

cm.

p.

Includes index.

ISBN 0-87477-806-9 1

bulk

promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs.

Biofeedback training.

modification.

2.

Success

4.

BF319.5.B5W57

Alpha rhythm.

— Psychological

Behavior

3.

aspects.

I.

153—dc20 1

>esign by Fritz

Illustrated

Printed 1

in

3

This book

5

is

Metsch

by Barbara Walsh

the United States of

7

9

Title.

95-9249 CIP

1996

10

8

6

America 4

2

printed on acid-free paper.

®

This book son,

is

dedicated with enduring love and gratitude to

John Michael Wise, and

my mother all my

William Wise. Thank you with

support, help, and understanding.

kept ness.

me I

Your

and

father,

my

Anna and

heart for your love,

belief in

me

has often

going. You've celebrated the light and shared the dark-

love

you "to

infinity."

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I

would

like to

acknowledge and honor

my

Maxwell Cade, without

friend, the late C.

not have been possible;

his

who

Geoffrey Blundell,

two decades. I would also like

mentor, teacher, and

whom my

work would

wife and fellow teacher, Isabel Cade; and

has provided technical genius and support

for

John

to give appreciation

being with

me on

and acknowledgment

journey and for twenty-

Elizabeth

St.

five years

of friendship, healing, and support.

My

for

this

deepest appreciation and gratitude also go to

spiritual teachers,

body and

soul

—

to

my healers and me together

too numerous to name, for keeping especially

Mary

Simpkins, Richard Lipfield, Seka

Maud Haimson Nerman,

BearHeart, Swami Satyananda Mother Meera, and Reverend Cecil Williams. There are many people who have supported me on this path. My deep gratitude goes to Steve Miller and Yvonne Schell for your love, support, and all that you have given. Special thanks also go to MariNikolic,

Saraswati,

anne and Bob Palmer for your understanding and abiding friendship.

My

appreciation and thanks go to

derful people at Esalen Institute

valued assistance.

I

would

students and clients over the years, nity to practice doing

my my

what

work, and without you, students in Boulder

—

a

and

like to

Nancy Lunney and to C. Jay

won-

Bradbury for your

recognize and thank

who

the

have given

me

all

of

my

the opportu-

You have been the life's breath of would not have been possible. And to special thank you. My acknowledgment I

love.

it

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS goes

who

well to the people

.is

me

have assisted

In

the past on

my

Osborne and the late Indigo Moracknowledge and thank everyone who contributed personal stones, quotes, and experiences to my writing. Ybu helped make this book complete. offer niv respect and appreciation to Joe Kamiya for your inspirateaching path, Including Shyama rison.

I

would

also like to

1

tion; also

cock

m\ acknowledgment and your work with the

for

my

Han-

appreciation to Neil

Mind Mirror

III;

and

a

very special

recognition and thank you to Terry Patten for your contributions to this field, for

your support and friendship, and for being there

needed you. There are others

I

have been part of I

hank you,

my

Patricia

life

in

I

would

like to

ways too many and diverse to

book

specify.

Rick Ranum.

Appreciation and acknowledgments go to everyone this

who

Neeb, Ursula Grey, Anna Halprin, Michael

Skipwith, Linda Johnson, Regina Waterspirit, and

bring

when

acknowledge

to realization.

Thank you

to

who

Jenny Blaker

helped

for

your

dedicated help with copyediting. Finally a note

without

whom

of special appreciation to

this

been extraordinary

book would not

—and

be.

my

book would not be what

it

Joy Parker, your help has

editor, is

—

Jeremy Tarcher, without Thank you for your faith. to

whom

this

CONTENTS

I.

You and Your Brainwaves

1

The Body Connection

23

III.

Meditation and Higher States

52

IV.

Meditation and the Material of the Mind

84

II.

V. Healing VI. Creativity,

VII.

VIII.

124

Learning, and the Awakened

Mind

156

Brainwaves in Relationships: Empathy, Intuition, and Connection

198

Full Circle

—Conclusion and Commencement

218

Epilogue

235

Appendix: Kundalini

239

More Resources from Anna Wise

261

Bibliography

263

Index

265

.

THE HIGH-

PERFORMANCE MIND

YOU AND YOUR

BRAINWAVES

high-performance mind

A

consciousness that

given circumstance.

is

one

that can enter at will the state

most beneficial and most

is

Once

of

desirable for any

the aspiration of only a devoted few,

mental, emotional, and spiritual development has taken the West by

storm. In the final stages of the twentieth century, an abundance of

developmental techniques drawn from

and stress

They

rationales has arisen.

many

cultures, belief systems,

address creativity, mental clarity,

management, emotional and physical

health,

and personal

spir-

With the techniques described in this book, cultivating one's mind power has reached a new level that will carry us well into the ituality.

twenty-first century.

Combining tive tools,

my

the science of brainwave measurement with meditalate

mentor,

Max

Cade, and

examining and developing optimum

I

states

developed

a

method

for

of mind. This book

is

designed to help you achieve the specific brainwave patterns that are ideal for you.

While many people may often believe that

it

is

desire the

high-performance mind, they

not possible to control their

sciousness, except perhaps

states

of con-

with years of training or meditation. They

form of self-mastery as beyond the reach of normal indinot want to spend hours every day in a contemplative practice. But the marriage of meditation and technology has created a new approach to mind mastery, one that involves learning

view

this

viduals

who do

the details of brainwave development for specific purposes.

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

he theories, exercises and techniques offered in this book will take the reader on a journey that ranges from taming out-of-control thoughts to experiencing pleasurable excursions into vivid sensory I

imagery

Liter

chapters will

show them how

applied beneficially to their

st.ues

mind power can be

this

lives.

The high performance mind possesses

mum

readers have

producing their optimum brainwave pat-

learned the techniques for terns.

Once

mind's deepest core.

to diving into the

of consciousness for greater

a potential for

using opti-

creativity; self-healing; better

management; solving emotional the workplace; understanding and

general health, relaxation, and stress

problems; more productivity in

improving relationships; greater self-knowledge;

spiritual

develop-

ment; and the nurturing of one's children's inner world. After read-

good understanding of his or to intentionally alter them

ing the book, the reader should have a her

own

states

how

of consciousness and

for these specific purposes.

Practicing the exercises

and techniques in

this

book over time can

ultimately enable the reader to develop the brainwave pattern called the awakened mind. This state of mind

more

flexible than ordinary states.

is

clearer, sharper, quicker,

Thinking

feels fluid rather

and than

Emotions become more available and understandable, easier to work with and transform. Information flows more easily between

rigid.

the conscious, subconscious, sight,

and unconscious

mal consciousness. With an awakened mind, visualize

and imagine, and to apply

one's creative processes in

many

areas.

greater feeling of choice, freedom,

THE

all

will

in

this

As

and

you must

first

be working with. Your brain

it

becomes

easier to

increased imagination to

a result

of all

this,

one has

a

spiritual awareness.

understand the building blocks

producing electrical impulses These currents of electricity, or brainwaves, are meaamplitude and frequency.

the time.

sured

Intuition, in-

LANGUAGE OF BRAINWAVES

lo begin this journey,

we

levels.

and empathy increase and become more integrated into nor-

2a

is

— YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES The

is

the power of the electrical impulse, measured in

is

the speed of electrical undulations, measured in

amplitude

micro voltage.

The

frequency

cycles per second (or hertz).

of brainwave

The frequency determines the category and delta. The combination of these

beta, alpha, theta,

categories determines or underlies your state of consciousness at any

given time.

Each

state that

symphony of brainwaves, own characteristic part. Out of these

you experience

with each frequency playing

symphonies come the

art

its

entails a

of Picasso, the dance of Martha Graham,

the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the theories of Einstein.

This finely woven, intricate interrelationship of brainwave quencies delicately determines your

you

are rarely

mastering your mind,

it

its

own

helps to

categories separately. This will

become

assist

that will

pattern

it

you

time, each

familiar

with the individual understanding their

will describe a state

I

be familiar to you and connect

it

of

with the brainwave

represents.

From Normal Thought after

E S

to Panic

thought keep colliding in your brain. You can't stop

them, and you can't seem to slow them

on

at a

characteristics. In

later in

BETA BRAIN WAV Thought

and

qualities

combinations. In the next four sections,

mind

of consciousness. While

state

producing only one type of brainwave

category of brainwaves has

fre-

down long enough

to focus

one of them. Your heart is racing, temples are pounding, is rapid, and you can't think straight. Your mind seems out of control, and your beta brainwaves have run riot. The brain usually produces beta brainwaves in its normal waking just

breathing

states,

but excessive amounts of beta can lead to great psychological

discomfort.

When

functioning

beta waves are associated

at their best,

with logical thinking, concrete problem solving, and active external attention. Beta

but

we

them

also

waves help us to consciously function in the world,

need

effectively

to

know how

and not be

to master

them

at their mercy.

3b

so that

we

can use

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

C. Maxwell Cade, grandfather of British EEG biofeedback, defines beta as "the normal waking rhythm of the brain associated with

on the outside world or solving concrete problems. The strength of the signal is increased by

active thinking or active attention, focussing

anxiety and reduced by muscular, activity.'*

1

Beta

increased blood flow and increased metabolism,

with higher

is

and

associated with is

an active

state

of cognitive processing, complex thinking, and

levels

decision making.

ALPHA BRAIN WAV E "I get lost in Your eyes

are probably closed.

S

daydreams ..." Uninvited

flashes

dance across the visual screen of your mind,

of imagery vividly

as real as if

you were

Your attention may jump from scenario to scenario, settling to follow one path in detail and then shifting, seemingly without warning or reason, to another. The array of images and other sensory input doesn't have to make sense. The outside world actually there.

falls

away and you

are

absorbed in reverie with your alpha brainwaves.

Alpha brainwaves are present during daydreaming, fantasizing, and visualization.

They

are

also

associated with

awareness and with a receptive mind.

much of these middle-range a

Some

a

relaxed,

frequencies and might experience

haze of daydreaming and fantasy, perhaps even enjoying

from more ordinary

detached

people produce too

this

life

in

escape

reality.

The most common problem with alpha brainwaves is not having enough of them in conjunction with other brainwaves. Alpha provides the bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind. Without alpha, you will not remember your dreams when you awaken, even though you recall that they were strong, vivid, and meaningful. Without alpha, you will not recall your meditation even though you know you went to a great depth and had many insights. When alpha is

missing, the link to the subconscious

is

broken.

Cade states that alpha is the brain rhythm with the "least apparent meaning unless the associated [brainwave] rhythms are also known." 2

4

YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES Alpha, however, was the

brainwave that people were able to

first

learn to identify and control.

Joe Kaniiya, the grandfather of EEG in the United States, discovered in his early groundbreaking research at the University of Chicago in the

late

1950s that he could train individuals to discriminate

the presence or absence of alpha. Continuing his research at the

University of California, Kamiya trained people to speed or slow

by giving them higher- or lower-pitched

their alpha

feedback, thus initiating

EEG

biofeedback.

Cade,

who

of higher

These simple but

more complex

ginnings were the forerunners of the

clicks as aural

be-

vital

investigations

levels

of consciousness.

Kamiya's work was revolutionary in the tude that developed

later

sixties.

The popular

atti-

unfortunately overemphasized the impor-

tance of alpha, hindering the progress of brainwave training and potential for manipulating states of consciousness.

was portrayed

as a

truly succeeding to

be meditative,

that state

Many

if you

The

neurophysiologists,

could produce alpha, you were

produce an "ultimate"

creative, or

EEG

its

Alpha eventually

kind of be-all and end-all of brainwaves.

general misconception was that

somehow

of

researched brainwave biofeedback for the development

state,

whether

simply an altered one.

and

technicians,

in-

clinicians

volved with the brain understood that some people could produce alpha easily, perhaps simply by closing their eyes or even while

watching TV, while others could not. They concluded traordinary magic and

be

true.

The

power

that the ex-

attributed to alpha could not possibly

unfortunate consequence of this situation was that

EEG

monitoring and feedback for consciousness was devalued and netook years for brainwaves to begin to regain their proper

glected.

It

status as

an important reflection of an individual's

THETA BRAIN WAV 66

You

feel a

It

came

to

me

E

state

S

out of the blue!"

kind of niggling in the back of your mind,

indefinable nagging that

go no further

a persistent

but

you there is something wrong but will what it is. You may experience this sensa-

tells

in defining

of mind.

5

BRAINWAVE PATTERNS HEMISPHERE

LEFT

RIGHT HEMISPHERE 38 hertz

BETA

high frequency

A

>

ALPHA THETA DELTA

0.5 hertz

low frequency

AMPLITUDE

ID

DELTA

1

E

AWAKENED MIND

The drawings

portray brainwaves measured in frequency and amplitude.

hemisphere

shown on

is

the

left side

The

left

of the drawing, the right hemisphere on the

EEGs, the frequency is measured on the vertical axis the top of the axis and the lowest at the bottom. The range of frequencies on the Mind Mirror EEG is from 38 cycles per second at the

right side. Unlike traditional

with the highest frequencies

at

down to 0.5 cycles per second at the bottom. Amplitude is measured on the horizontal axis in microvolts. Amplitude measurements start .it m the center. The farther out to the left edge the line goes, the higher the amplitude in the corresponding frequency in the left hemisphere. The farther out to the right edge the line goes, the higher the amplitude in the corresponding frequencies in the right hemisphere.

top

From

this

you can see

that Figure

1A

portrays the strongest amplitude in the high

frequency beta range* of 38-14 Hz. (cycles per second). Figure IB illustrates the middle frequency range that

is alpha (14-8 Hz.). figure U: shows the lower frequency brainwaves of theta (8-4 Hz.). figure 11) illustrates the very lowest frequency brainwaves that make up delta

Hz.). ire

If-

illustrates the

delta that unite to I

he

rest

combination of frequencies from beta, alpha, the awakened mind brainwave pattern.

theta,

and

make up

of the

illustrations

in

the

book

are

drawn using combinations of

brainwaves from one or more of these four frequencies.

YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES you from within, some kind of knowlis locked away deep within the recesses of your psyche. Sometimes you may even get close enough to it to feel an overwhelming sense of spiritual awakening, an inexplicable burst of creative insight, a cavernous sense of pain, or a dawning awareness of the possibilities of what might be hidden within your mind. When you experience these sensations, your theta brainwaves are trying to tell you something. Theta brainwaves can be thought of as the subconscious, that part of our minds that forms a layer between the conscious and the unconscious. Theta holds a profusion of memories, sensations, and tion as something pushing at

edge that wants to get out but

Though

emotions.

these experiences

may be

scious mind, they can nevertheless affect

inaccessible to the

and even govern your

and behaviors. The adult

tudes, expectations, beliefs,

con-

who

atti-

cannot

remember childhood abuse continues to seek out abusive people his or her mind that produces theta waves is

because the part of

driven to release that deeply held secret.

Theta brainwaves can ity

and

inspiration.

also

They

be the repository of suppressed creativ-

are active

during dreaming sleep and deep

meditation, and they are particularly strong during so-called peak experiences, spiritual insight, and high-functioning brain

While

theta

is

with creative

associated

rhythms are needed to bring mind.

A

this

activity,

creativity into

combination of additional frequencies

is

states.

other brain

your conscious

needed

to access

the profound potential of theta.

D E LTA "I feel as if I

You know

BRAIN WAV

E

S

read people's minds. know what they are going to say before they say it."

the telephone

is

I

going to ring before

it

rings.

You know

what your friend/lover/spouse/child is feeling because you feel it too. Sometimes you are even confused about whether the feeling you are experiencing belongs to you or to someone else. You desperately want to reach out to someone to contact him or her but you are

—

—

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Somehow you

afraid.

know your

the person contacts

it,

Your

)'(>//.

delta

mind and before you brainwaves have become

personal radar, sending and receiving messages on an un-

own

conscious

level.

make up

Delta brainwaves

deep

reach out with your

sleep, they are

what

is

the unconscious mind. Present during

turned on

still

when

the rest of your

brainwaves turn off Delta provides the restorative stages of sleep.

may

Delta

other waxes.

also

be present

like to

1

waking

in a

think of delta

as a

state in

kind of radar that seeks out

and receives information on an instinctive amplitude delta

combination with

level.

People with high-

waves are often intuitive and, through

trial

have learned to trust their sixth sense, simpiy because

present

m

who

in the

so often is

often

helping professions.

ability to access delta

have

a

may sound

like a blessing,

but for those

high degree of these brainwaves, especially people

don't understand what I

It

error,

large quantities in psychotherapists, healers, counselors,

and others

The

it is

High-amplitude delta creates strong empathy.

correct.

and

often see people

who

is

happening to them,

are

it

may

who

feel like a curse.

overwhelmed by their receptivity to other some cases, they need to

people's feelings, needs, and thoughts. In

be taught to screen out the seemingly continual barrage of input

They need

they are picking up on an unconscious level.

to learn

to develop healthy boundaries

and to determine the difference be-

tween which

and which

feelings are theirs

rightfully

belong to other

people.

HOW BRAINWAVES COMBINE

TO GIVE US

OUR EXPERIENCE We

have

now

looked thoroughly

at

the four

brainwave pattern: beta, alpha, theta, and sciousness that

you

are in at

any time

is

a

components of your

delta.

Every

state

of con-

combination of these four

By examining how these categories interact and work we can learn much about what is happening in our minds

categories.

together,

and why certain experiences occur. While the popular consensus of the seventies was that alpha held

8

YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES the answer for those seeking higher states of consciousness, in the

and

nineties theta

Some

moved

delta have

New Age

into the

scrutiny.

current purveyors of meditation fads claim that theta and delta

more important than beta or alpha, if not the higher states. Others in the pop culture teach that there is a

brainwaves are

answer to

at least

hierarchy of brainwaves, ranging, in order of importance, from beta

do not even address

to alpha to theta to delta. Others

considering them irrelevant or impossible to measure. the matter

but that

is

all

that

no one brainwave category

work together

in a variety

wide range of mental, emotional, and Within the broad categories of beta, is

actually a range

is

states

alpha, theta,

shift

and flow. The

become almost

them

a

delta, there

own it is

signature pattern,

changing

as

our

different frequencies can

symphony. Sometimes the com-

cacophony.

a

powerful, and harmonious

music, mastery of the notes build

and

melodious, smooth, and flowing. At other times, the

discordance can full,

a

spiritual states.

even though

to resemble itself

be thought of as musical notes in is

truth of

of several frequencies. These vary from person to

of consciousness

bination

The

better than any other

of important ways to create

person, with each individual having his or her

which continues

delta waves,

symphony of

our key,

is

Our

as

goal

to create a

is

brainwaves. As with

well as learning

into meaningful combinations that accomplish

how

to

what we

want.

LEFT

HEMISPHERE VERSUS

RIGHT HEMISPHERE Popular conception often has is

it

that the left

hemisphere of the brain

the logical or thinking side, the right hemisphere of the brain

the creative or artistic side, and other. In reality, the brain

constant use.

The

left

oriented and the right

is

we

are usually using either

more

spatially

is

more

linear

and

detail

oriented and concerned with

the big picture, but both functions are needed for fully in the

one or the

an integrated whole with both sides in

hemisphere function is

is

you

to

perform

world. Optimally, both hemispheres operate symmetri-

9a

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

an asymmetrical pattern frequently occurs. Meditation and

cally, but

improve the balance between hemispheres. both left and right hemispheres and you create in

brainwave training

You think both

left

ple to right,

in

and right hemispheres. The

more

fuller,

.1

will

lv.it

her

creative state

could be viewed

it

as

shift that

is

not

a

occurs to bring peo-

movement from left down

to

an expansion from up to

beginning with the thinking waves of beta and adding the creative aspects of alpha, theta, and delta in both hemispheres simultaneously.

AWAKENED MIND

THE "Ah-ha!

I

moments

I

Everything makes sense now. For a few completely and totally understood. Why can't I be like this all of the time?" ^ot

it.

you know

you know! You have a sense of understanding on all levels. Perhaps this sudden awareness is leading you to thoughts and acts of extraordinary creativity. Your intuitive insight into old problems makes them seem simple and easy to handle, possiExhilarated,

bly even insignificant.

so obvious!"

that

"Why

didn't

may be your response

an unanswerable question.

Or

I

to

think of that before?" or

what

at

one time seemed

"It's

like

perhaps your experience takes the

You have a feeling of greater knowledge of the universe maybe even a sensation of being surrounded in light. You are experiencing an awakened mind. The awakened mind brainwave pattern is a combination of all four of form of increased

spiritual awareness.

—

the above brainwaves

When

you produce

all

beta,

alpha,

theta,

and

delta

simultaneously.

of these frequencies together in the right

proportion and relationship with one another, you experience the intuitive,

empathetic radar of the delta waves; the creative inspira-

tion, personal insight,

and spiritual awareness of the theta waves; the bridging capacity and relaxed, detached, awareness of the alpha waves;

and the

thought.

,///

,//

ability

the

of the beta waves to consciously process

same time!

10

YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES

DISCOVERY OF THE AW A KENED MIND The gist

C. Maxwell Cade was

late

a

distinguished British psychobiolo-

and biophysicist and one of the few nonmedical members of the

prestigious

Royal Society of Medicine. Cade grew up with

tion of meditation and

Zen

As

training.

a tradi-

his scientific abilities devel-

oped, he became interested in finding out whether the brainwaves of

people

who were

be measured.

experiencing higher

If so,

would he be

going on in the minds of these teach others to

more

states

of consciousness could

able to better understand

Would

select people?

easily enter these states?

He

this

what was help

him

was already teach-

ing a variety of forms of meditation techniques with the aid of electrical skin-resistance

biofeedback meters. Finding a way to mea-

sure people's brainwaves

To

was the next

logical step.

end, Cade, along with electronics expert Geoffrey Blun-

this

developed an electroencephalograph (EEG) designed

dell,

cally to

accomplish

Mirror.

It

differed

this goal.

from

They named

analysis to simultaneously

their invention the

EEGs

traditional

specifi-

in that

it

Mind

used spectral

measure eleven different frequencies in

each hemisphere of the brain.

Max

took the

Mind Mirror

and advanced meditators whose lated.

When

of swamis, yogis,

to a variety states

of consciousness people emu-

common

he measured them, he found the

which he had been

searching.

He

healers,

observed

a

thread for

recurring pattern of

brainwaves in both hemispheres that he called the awakened mind.

Cade continued

to find confirmation

of this lucid

evolved minds that he studied, and learned

develop

When

I

of

to help his students

returned to the United States in 1981, after eight years

my own

Max Cade

investigations.

pattern was produced at the less

highly

it.

of studying and working with ducting

how

state in the

a person's spiritual

I

found

moment dogma,

in

London, I began conawakened mind

that the

of creative inspiration, regard-

belief,

or tradition.

The musi-

cian composing, the choreographer creating a dance, and the artist

11

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE painting I

produced

.ill

combination

this

he mathematician solving

the midst of an experiment

CEO

making decisions

difficult

a

at

times of peak creativity.

equation and the scientist

also display this

in

in

brainwave pattern. The

boardroom and the homemaker

the

keeping an exquisitely appointed house both

may produce

this pat-

tern.

most people, the awakened mind

comes only sporadically, in Hares of inspiration, perhaps only for a second or so. You have probably experienced at least one, if not many, of those moI

01

ments of i

and lucidity in your

clarity

you enjoy

ertain activity that

dip into

own

that helps

mind

For others, the awakened

easily.

state

life.

Perhaps there

you create

this

mental

is

a

state

provides a rare and treasured

Whatever your current it, you can master your own brainwaves and awaken your

desired but rarely attainable high.

a

of consciousness and your level of control over

state

now

begin

to learn to

mind. In this

book we

will ultimately dissect the

wave pattern, learn what makes tor

developing

it.

But

first, let

it

awakened mind brain-

work, and look

at

building blocks

us look at a variety of mental starting

and the brainwaves that accompany them.

places

COMMON Figures 2A, B, and

STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS C

illustrate

the brainwave patterns for states of

consciousness that you might experience during your waking hours.

Because you

may have them

frequently, these patterns are likely to

which you start, that more advanced states. As you

contain the building blocks with

will help

to learn to master other,

learn mastery

you

techniques, these basic states provide a language of consciousness

through which you can understand your experiences. In

a

waking

Figure 2A). ure 2E),

If

state,

you

most of us produce what I call splayed beta of the awakened mind pattern

refer to the picture

you can see

that the beta displayed there

is

at a

much

lower frequency. Splayed beta can be experienced as an overabundance of mental activity the parts of our mind that are busy con-

—

stantlv

commenting, planning, judging, or

12

criticizing.

Some

call it

— YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES

BETA

ALPHA THETA DELTA

2A

2C

2E

SPLAYED BETA

CONNECTION

or the

2D AH-HA! NEAR-AWAKENED MIND

AWAKENED MIND

the committee list

—

2F

that part

of us that continually

REPRESSED CONTENT

talks to ourselves

maker. Splayed beta can also be experienced

worry, anxiety, or just

Many

ALPHA BLOCKING

2B

a

as

panic

vague sense of uneasiness and tension.

people can successfully operate out in the world producing

only, or at least primarily, this brainwave pattern. Apart

somewhat uncomfortable mental conscious

state, either.

How

state,

splayed beta

from being

is

not

interesting that the conscious

13

a

a

fully

mind

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE waves

beta

can

thought of

be

as

not conscious.

Gurdjieff has called "waking sleep." In pure beta

we

what not awake

This arc

is

to ourselves. Wo are not awake to our innermost being, our subconscious, our unconscious, our intuition, our deeper sense of spiritual-

and our

ity,

mind

is

latent creativity a\k\ potential.

is

hooked up

show

I

Mind Mirror in a group, ask the volundo a number of tasks to show the changing

a

to

I

always give

When

problem.

they will

him or her

a

asked then to solve

very difficult multipli-

it,

can guarantee that

I

reaction of splayed beta. Their beta flares out the

instant they see the

problem, showing their mental reaction to sud-

denly being faced with such

on

what the awakened

demonstrate the

I

brainwave patterns.

are

is

about.

When teer who e.ition

This

display in front

a

of the

complete the problem, using

demanding rest it

task, especially

of the group.

I

while they

rarely ask

instead to demonstrate the

them to immedi-

acy of their beta brainwave reaction.

Many

people desperately want some kind of mental input in addi-

tion to the thought processes fuller,

more complete

know how information

state

to get there. as

of beta brainwaves. They

of consciousness

The reaching out

that a

but they don't

for a different kind

of

well as for a different state of being frequently takes

place in the unconscious, in the

understanding

exists;

know

is

form of delta waves. The

desire for

so strong that the unconscious radar extends out-

ward, creating the pattern seen in Figure 2B. This hourglass pattern

comprised of high-frequency beta, the thoughts and conscious

is

observations of the mind, and extremely low-frequency delta, the radar of the unconscious. Because there

the bridge

is

nothing in between

to

connect

sometimes called alpha

blocking. Alpha provides between the higher frequencies of the conscious mind

the two, this pattern

is

and the lower frequencies of the subconscious and unconscious and it

is

significantly missing.

The person exhibiting this alpha blocking pattern really wants to know what is going on. Both his conscious and his unconscious are seeking input and information, but neither

is

aware of the activity of

the other. I

up

frequently see this pattern in clients to the

Mind Minor. Next

when

they are

to splayed beta, this

14

is

first

hooked most

the second

— YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES

common

pattern that

especially

when

normal waking

see in people in a

I

state

they are in the unfamiliar position of having their

brainwaves monitored.

When

an individual

time, he or she

strong beta. In

ance of

delta,

is

wired up to the

is

Mind Mirror

usually thinking fairly strongly, so

fact,

would be concerned

I

however, indicates

deep

a

if

level

I

didn't.

I

of

for the

first

expect to see

The

appear-

what we

interest in

are doing.

When is

I

losing interest

delta

am

know my client's brainwaves, in what am saying when I see

get to

I

begin to withdraw. At that time

I

can

saying and bring her delta level back

up

engagement

sessions, the delta

in

is

what

often very strong

as

tell if

she

her normally strong I

again. In other words,

I

—

a

kind of active non-

During

taking place.

is

can often

the energy of what

shift

can keep her unconscious interest level high verbal

I

intense therapy

she searches for insight with

her unconscious mind. I

usually keep

every session for

my

clients

this reason.

hooked up

to the

Mind Mirror during

get valuable information about

I

what

is

taking place inside their minds by watching their shifting brainwave patterns, often seeing changes in consciousness

If you are creating this beta it

as a

normal thinking

—

searching to truly

having.

state,

a desire to reach

and

delta pattern,

may

is

being done on

you may experience

but with an added sense of underlying

out to or into what you are involved

know and fathom the meaning of Remember that delta represents the

searching

ing

of which they them-

unaware.

selves are

a level that

also serve to protect

is

not

the experience

you

your

unconscious, so that self- aware.

in,

are

Alpha block-

people from thoughts they just can't

consciously handle right now.

Alpha blocking

is

not always stable but

may be accompanied by

continuous or short bursts of alpha waves (Figure 2C).

When

these

occur, you are beginning to have a connection between your conscious

and your unconscious minds. The more frequent and longer

the flares of alpha, the stronger that connection.

more aware of

When

this state

and empathy and be more in touch with his deeper feelings and needs. Although he is probably experiencing more vivid imagery and a occurs, an individual might feel

15

his intuition

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

of imagination than he had previously, he may sense

hotter use

something ence. For

w

state

is

missing.

still

2D shows what

Figure

a

commonly

is

what you understand, hut you wall

running through you that often just as quickly,

you

it

you

tells

gone

is

You may not know

exactly

have that almost physical

still

that

this

thrill

you do understand. And

—and you wonder what

was

it

that

experienced.

just

mind

These brief near-awakened

and

"ah-ha" experi-

called the

brief period or even longer, the person experiencing

have found that missing piece.

ill

that

often

are

characterized

patterns can

happen frequently

very brief (split-second)

as

flares

or

enough and long enough, the between conscious, subconscious, and unconscious minds so that the con-

Hashes o\ insight. If they are strong

mind the

enough time

has

for the information to flow freely

tent of the insight penetrates

memory

conscious

frequently, the flare for this to lost

it.

minute soon content of

if

levels

you

left

and

theta,

able to be retained in

is

brainwave

of beta, alpha,

happen. You are

Often

all

after the brief

flare

and

delta

is

just too brief

with the sense that you had

your

stop, close

of

after the passing

it

but just

and turn inward

eyes,

for a

you can recapture the

this flare,

it.

When describing Figure 2D, called Why "near" and not the real thing? To I

it

a

near- awakened mind.

see the difference, look at

Figure 2E. Notice that the beta in the awakened at

has ended. Just as

the top. If

you

are experiencing

mind

curves inward

an insight while in the

state

of

consciousness represented in Figure 2D, the splayed beta will also give

you

a sense

of distraction, or excess thoughts. You could

nately experience these

accompanying symptoms

overexcitement, anxiety, attempts internal preoccupation.

I

at analysis,

have seen the pattern

times in very successful executives,

cant

who

alter-

lack of focus,

some other form of in Figure 2D many

have the insight but just

go of the anxiety.

let

When briefly,

or

as a

the

awakened mind of Figure 2E is experienced even is one of focus, clarity, and unity, with no

the sensation

extraneous or unnecessary thoughts or distractions. Figure 2F shows the brainwave pattern of beta, theta, and delta, but it is significant that the alpha is missing. An individual in this

>

16

YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES might experience some discomfort,

state

strong.

The

or positive.

especially if the theta

theta content of the subconscious

No

matter what that content

is,

mind may be

is

negative

you may experience

it

as

you from underneath. With no alpha to bridge the gap to is no way for you to consciously know or understand what it is that is pushing at you. Because we are somepushing

at

your beta waves, there

times strongly influenced by

unknown

contents of the subconscious,

our behavior can be affected without us knowing why. able to

add alpha to our brainwave patterns,

we

nation for certain actions and attitudes

we

When we

are

often find the expla-

have exhibited. This gives

us a greater level of choice over them.

The one

state

who

represented by Figure 2F

may be experienced by some-

has repressed psychological material stuck in his or her

subconscious.

It

may be

manifested

as a

driving inner force. This

pattern can be accompanied by high levels of frustration

—

urge or impulse trying to be expressed but not making scious manifestation. This individual needs alpha

One

client

of mine

who

outside, to be the healthiest in his

and

work, content in

clear

with

his past.

a creative

it

to

on the

exhibited this pattern appeared,

and happiest of men.

his relationship,

When

I

saw

con-

development badly.

He

was successful

and emotionally comfortable

this pattern,

however,

I

began

asking questions and trying to ascertain what might be trapped in his

subconscious.

He

relationship with spiritual quest

quickly revealed that he had not been happy in his

God

for

some

time.

The need

was welling up from within,

filling

some kind of him with a pres-

for

and dissatisfaction that he didn't understand and didn't know what to do about. When I used his brainwave pattern to explain what was happening, he was greatly relieved and, with my help, began learning techniques to make his subconscious needs more sure

conscious.

Another

client

with

a similar pattern

was

a victim

of childhood

Her memories were deeply repressed, and her state of mind was very painful. With many sessions of work, she could retain enough alpha to begin to confront and heal what had happened to abuse.

her.

17

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

HOW DO So

we have

far,

about

talked

brainwaves behind them in m.i\

have

a

of consciousness and the

states

conscious waking

may

—what brainwaves you you develop the to

skills

also

are

By now you like to

your

much of the

state

time.

of consciousness to be where

be whenever you want to?

DO YOUR WORK INSIDE Brainwaves are

much

FIRST

easier to learn to control

and develop when we

of deep relaxation with our eyes closed.

are in a state

The mid-

frequency waves, alpha and theta, are immediately more accessible

soon

the individual turns inside.

as

be

now So how do

have some idea of where you are

producing

to shift

state.

you would

better idea of the brainwave states

able to produce. You

you want

a

CHANGE?

I

when we

produce these brainwaves

We

ultimately

want

to

as

be able to

are relating to the outside

world

as well.

how we already may experience some of who practice some form of meditation may be very accustomed to your inner world. But whether we meditate or not, we all have inner states with which we are familiar. Sometimes when we close our eyes and go inside, nothing But

first, let

us look at

these inner states.

changes.

We

Those of you

are so

preoccupied with our thoughts that our normal,

open-eyed, splayed-beta with

this

experience

state

remains the same.

times

at

perhaps get something off your the thoughts keep right

You may be

when you would mind but

are so

familiar

like to relax

absorbed with

on coming. Nothing you do seems

it

and that

be change your mental state. Refer back to figures 2 A or 2B to see what your brainwaves look like. If your goal is mental stillness, to

able to

clarity,

sorbed

much

and relaxation, you may find in the

static

this state

uncomfortable. Ab-

contents of your beta waves, you

may experience too

— too much

intensity

and

distraction. If you are

preoccu-

pied with thoughts that are negative or worrisome, you may feel anxious or tense. Even if your mind is filled with positive, exciting,

18

YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES or creatively challenging thoughts, you

may

and uncomfortable because you can't get

nonetheless feel agitated

all

these thoughts out of

your mind.

The less

ultimate goal

is

of their content.

to learn to master one's mental states, regard-

It is

just as important to learn to control the

positive as the negative.

'But

How

don't have a long time to meditate.

I

can

I

do

work inside effectively in a short period of time? want to get rid of these restless thoughts." happens What when we have all the good intention in the world to practice meditation, but somehow something always gets in the way the

I

—work,

the kids, our relationships, our hobbies and sports, the

shopping, the cooking, the cleaning

on the

performance mind? The answer

as

.

idea of self-mastery of internal is

.

?

.

states,

Do we

have to give up

of developing the high-

resounding no.

a

Even

a

few minutes of meditation, or going

once

a

week can have an impact on your brainwaves and

your experience of

much

an hour

as

relaxation.

a

much

people

try

soon

it

for a

flags

At

they have to dedicate

as

few days or even

a

few weeks. But

because they simply do not have that

consistent free time in their busy schedules

yet decided inside themselves that this ity to

feel

therefore

day to receive any benefit from meditation or

They may

their determination

Many

life.

inside, as infrequently

is

—

or they have not

an important enough prior-

rearrange their busy schedules. perhaps, guilt sets in. They make a few more efforts. Then becomes uncomfortable, so they decide that meditation is

first,

the guilt

not for them.

They put

the practice of learning to master their states

of consciousness into their past instead of their present.

What

these people don't understand

contemplation, or relaxation

reflection,

even

a little

will then

is

time to

this

that any time spent in inner is

beneficial.

If they give

experience, they will feel the rewards, which

encourage them to repeat

19

it.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

BRAINWAVES OF EMOTIONS

THE One of the

most frequent questions

brainwaves for love, anger, hate, joy, is

am

I

asked

fear,

is,

"Arc there

specific

and so forth?" The answer

not easy, because each of us Ins his or her

own unique

brainwave

pattern for each emotion.

For example, one person's anger might involve an increase

amplitude of

all

frequencies

—

a

in

burning rage causing large amounts

of electrical activity to be generated in the brain. Another person

might experience quencies

as his

dramatic reduction in the amplitude of

a

all

The anger of a

anger causes him to withdraw.

person might generate one specific frequency of brainwave, such burst of beta waves, as out-of-control thoughts kick in, or

waxes,

as his

memory

rage stimulates a

Your brainwaves might react or they

may respond

enough

times,

all

buried in his subconscious.

differently to different kinds

types of anger in the

I

would eventually be

at

the expression

on your

face

—because

your particular patterns. But again, there

same

the

am

I

it.

is

\

had

when you

I would come to know no generic pattern that is

for everyone.

If there

is

something that makes you angry

The

how you

may

still

benefit of changing your brainwaves

enable you to alter your experience of the anger,

and

I

—without even look-

you should have dealt with ten years ago, you with

If

not saying that you can always control your anger by control-

your brainwaves.

ling

of anger,

same way.

able to recognize

were angry by watching your brainwaves alone ing

as a

of theta

watch your brainwave patterns on the Mind Mir-

the opportunity to ror

to

fre-

third

handle

is

need

that

to deal

that this can

how you

manifest

it,

it.

low. then, can you use brainwave mastery to temper your anger?

The

next time you get angry, really

mentally.

Use

the

descriptions

notice

what you

of the

are experiencing

different

categories

of

brainwaves and the different combinations of those categories found throughout this book to help you begin to understand what brainwaves you are producing and what your personal patterns

Then

use the various forms of brainwave mastery

20

m

are.

and self-control of

YOU AND YOUR BRAINWAVES internal

that

states

you

learning in

are

change those

order to

brainwaves into ones more in keeping with what you would like to

have

You want

the time.

at

will

to

when you

ability to intentionally

takes a

little

once but

And

the

Before

is

is

are

change an undesired

more time and a gradual

outcome

we

when you where you want

soon come to recognize

be and

effort.

are not

to be.

where you

Gaining the

state to a desired

This process does not happen

and evolving one

that unfolds as

you

one all at

practice.

well worth the effort.

close this chapter,

I

would

like

you

to try a short medita-

tion. After you have read through these instructions, sit comfortably where you can be relaxed and undisturbed for about ten minutes.

With your eyes closed, allow your mind

few minutes

just

to clear of all thoughts.

and

focusing on your breathing

Mentally travel through your whole body, relaxing each part Starting with the muscles of your face, neck,

the

way down

Allow yourself

to

to

Spend a

relaxing.

and

in

turn.

shoulders, relax

all

your feet and toes.

experience your internal

From a place of deep peace and

stillness, silence,

and

serenity.

relaxation, allow yourself to find

image or a symbol which represents where you are

in

your

life

an

right

now. You may see a color or a visual image,

sound or even a voice

where you are

in

in

feel

your head, or

a physical sensation, hear a

just

have a sense of knowing

your personal journey.

Bring that experience back with you

when you reawaken from your medi-

tation.

Make it

as

a

note of what your symbol was, so that you can remember

you move forward through the book. You may wish to check how you relate to this symbol whether your

—

back, over time, to see

21

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

path has remained the same or

oping on

lias

changed, and

Cultivating

a

high-performance mind involves many

rewards can be great, even from the beginning. basic language with

alpha,

theta,

which

C. Maxwell

to continue to learn

own optimum

states

facets.

You now have

The the

mastery of your beta,

of consciousness.

Cade and Nona Coxhead, The Awakened Mind (New York:

Delacorte Press/ Eleanor Friede, 1979), 24. 2.

are devel-

and delta brainwaves, ultimately combining them to

give you access to your

I

how you

it.

Ibid.

22

THE

BODY

CONNECTION

is

essential at this point that

we look

at

the role your

body

plays

Itin altering states of consciousness for the high-performance mind. Biofeedback

is

often used to help an individual learn to control

body states. We will now see how biofeedback can be used to help you learn to control mental states as well. Biofeedback is simply the feeding back of one's biology. You cannot consciously change something of which you are unaware. If you can be made to be aware of a certain body function, then you can learn to alter it. Biofeedback instruments measure some function in the body, giving you information about it. Armed with that information, you have the power to then change it in some way. The most common example of

a

household biofeedback instrument

is

a mirror.

You

you your appearance. You can then comb your hair or make some other change that will be noted by the mirror, so you know that you have improved and look more the way you would like to look. Another familiar biofeedback machine is the bathroom scale. Al-

look

at

though

the mirror

which

scales are often

feeds back to

not used in the most effective way,

possible to lose weight through biofeedback by simply

it

is

weighing

morning and having the intention to move the needle on the scale down. If you have a watch with a second hand on it, you can learn to

yourself each

raise

or lower your heart rate taking your pulse and counting the

number of

beats for a

few minute. Using

23

fifteen- to thirty-second

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

You can

Increments, count your heart beats.

Speed Up your heart while count. Biofeedback

not

is

There

watch and

thinking process. Just allow the change to the decision with your

your lower frequency alpha and theta waves take over

let

change.

to effect the

biofeedback instrument for almost every body function

a

is

intentionally slow or

to look at the

Once you haw made

take place within you.

beta waxes,

a

you continue

can be measured. Electrical skin resistance meters (ESRs) or

that

galvanic

skin

response meters

arousal or relaxation of the

(GSRs) feed back the amount of

nervous system and are used for teaching

management. Electromyographs (EMGs) feed

relaxation and stress

back muscle tension and can be used for both teaching relaxation

and

damaged muscles. EEGs, of

retraining

brainwaves, and the right kind of brainwaves. There feeds

th.it

You

is

even

a

EEG

back

acidity!

probably not be using a biofeedback instrument while

practicing the exercises in this book.

show you

feed

biofeedback instrument that you swallow

back the amount of stomach

will

course,

can be used for training

that there are

However,

chapter will

this

ways to receive biofeedback directly from

your body. Every time you become consciously aware of a change that takes place inside

you while you

are practicing the exercises,

note the sensation. This feeling or experience will

biofeedback and nize use

you where you

When

become your

you learn

to recog-

the internal language of your body's biofeedback,

you can

tell

each experience

as

a

landmark

back to you and help you deepen tools that help

you reenter desired

are.

to feed

your brainwave

states at will

state

one of the and remain in them

Biofeedback

it.

is

longer.

Learning to manipulate brainwaves to develop deeper consciousness and the high-performance

you

.ire

relaxed than

when you

your teeth, clenching your jaw, making to

"visualize!"

mastering the

and you will see what ability to relax the

mind

is

much

are tense or aroused.

body

24

easier

I

of

when

Try gritting

and ordering yourself mean. Meditation means

a fist,

as

states

well as the mind.

.

BODY CONNECTION

THE

AROUSAL

IS THE OPPOSITE OF RELAXATION

The of

body does not necessarily differentiate between different causes

arousal, such as

These

all

might

note, however, a

such

arousal,

as

worry, excitement,

fear,

anger, or exhilaration.

body sensations. You can usually marked difference between the body sensations of

result in similar

increased heart rate, faster breathing, anxiety, ner-

vousness, or panic, and the

body

sensations of relaxation, such as

tranquility, calmness, lightness, or serenity.

In the

first

situation the body's sympathetic nervous system

turned on, and regardless of the reason, the result

is

second, the body's parasympathetic nervous system the result

To

1

see

is

activated,

and

relaxation.

what

arousal feels like, try these exercises:

Hyperventilate by breathing heavily for a few seconds. (Please be careful not to

overdo

it.

If

you

start to feel faint, stop

Stop. Close your eyes. Notice

mental note of

2.

is

is

arousal. In the

Run

all

what your body

Make

a

of the sensations.

place for a minute or two.

in

3. Think

about something very upsetting.

4. Think

about something very exciting.

After

immediately.)

feels like.

each one of these, stop and notice what

is

happening inside your

body.

more difficult to arouse the body quickly while doing the last two exercises, because they involve thinking about emotional states instead of doing something physical. Heavy physical activity often causes a more immediate reaction of arousal. It For some people,

is

it is

often easier, moreover, to return to a state of relaxation

25

when

the

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

when

arousal was caused by physical activity than

the arousal was

caused by mental activity. Arousing the body by imaging certain cmotion.il states may take a little longer, and once you have succeeded,

tins

type of arousal

many accompanying

the

When

you

often harder to get rid of because of

is

physical- changes.

are aroused

in

way, you are activating what

this

is

Certain physiological changes are

called

the fight-or-flight response.

likely,

including increased oxygen consumption, heart rate, blood

pressure and muscular tension. level

You

experience

will also

higher

a

of adrenaline and cortisone in your bloodstream.

When

you

are aroused,

your blood supply tends to move away

from the periphery of your body and into the major muscle This

is

why you might

when

get cold feet

areas.

faced with a frightening

or exciting event.

When

prepared for action!

That action may be running,

your body undergoes these changes,

it

is

fighting, or using

extraordinary physical abilities in

some other way. Under extreme

pressure or fear for a loved one's

life,

exhibit

amazing

people have been

of strength, such

feats

as lifting a car

known or

to

moving

other large objects.

The its

act

normal

of running or fighting eventually helps the body return to state

many people

of balance. But

are left

sure, adrenaline,

when

such action doesn't take place,

with an increased heart

creased risk for stress-related diseases. first

becomes

high blood pres-

The

at greatly in-

fight-or-flight response

habitual, then dangerous. state

of arousal to an extreme, some people become

stress,

using the outpouring of adrenaline and other

Taking the addicted to

rate,

and tension, which put their bodies

physical changes to help

them meet

They may

their deadlines.

find

themselves lacking the energy to create without the additional push they get from their feel

stress

excited and alive,

pressure jobs

—

it

responses.

can

When someone

become

like a drug.

the stockbroker, the writer

on

needs

Those

a deadline,

—

stress to

in high-

the emer-

gency-room worker, the high-powered executive may routinely have these experiences. Even without a high-stress situation, we can create this type of pressure for ourselves simply

by leaving tasks until minute, refusing to delegate responsibility- properly, overscheduling our time, and expecting too much of ourselves. Many the

last

people

who

continually rush, push, and live 26

-

life

in a state

of tension

BODY CONNECTION

THE have no idea that that

met

who

the person

what they

is

You may have actually when you say, "Relax,"

are doing.

or her teeth

grits his

and snaps back, "I am relaxed!"

One way

to handle the buildup

sciously create the action ble,

needed

however. In the middle of

of

stress in

to reverse

This

it.

body

the

isn't

is

to

con-

always possi-

disagreement with your boss, you

a

cannot just excuse yourself to go run around the block. The alternative

of fighting with him

yourself into activity to

even

is

work

less

acceptable.

off the stress

is

Even throwing

not always an available

or appropriate answer to a charged nervous system.

The answer

is

to

be able to

consciously deactivate the fight-or-flight

response and activate the relaxation response. It is

hard for most people to learn to

while experiencing

The

this fight-or-flight

states

and physical sensations you experienced during and

feelings

your biofeedback.

after the arousal exercises represent

remember how

this felt

If

and identify the next time you

sensations in your day-to-day state

brainwave

alter their

condition of physical arousal.

you

life,

feel these

know when you

will

you can are in a

of physiological arousal. The relaxation training that follows

will teach

you how

to begin to master these states

of arousal and

let

go of them.

To see what relaxation feels way through first, as usual):

like, try this (read

Close your eyes and exhale deeply.

head gently and loosely for

until

you

all

the

Let

your shoulders drop. Rotate your

find

a comfortable balanced position

your head, neck, and shoulders.

loose. Relax your lips, tongue,

the exercise

and

Let

throat.

your jaw relax and hang Exhale deeply again and

let

go. Continue to breathe easily, slowly, evenly, and deeply for one or

two minutes ... Stop. Notice sensations.

what your body

Compare

feels like.

Make

a mental note of

these to the sensations you noted

all

of the

when you

did

the arousal exercises.

This

is

your

of release and

biofeedback.

restfulness,

Whenever you you

will

know

activate relaxation.

m

27

m

feel these

that

you

same sensations

are

beginning to

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Unlike the physiological changes yon experienced while in a state of arousal, now your oxygen consumption, heart rate, blood pres-

and muscular tension are decreasing. Less adrenaline and cortisone are being pumped into your bloodstream, and you will

sure,

eventually feel an increase in the temperature of your hands and feet.

Try these simple exercises and

stantly

a

number of

and relaxation. You can use these

sensations associated with arousal feelings

and perceptions

as

your biofeedback mechanism to give you

immediate information on which and how

state

your body

experiencing

is

intensely.

'WHICH STATE Arousal

between the physiological

notice the difference

easily

times until you can in-

BETTER?"

not inherently better than relaxation, or vice versa. Both

is

states are

IS

important

at certain times.

What

is

optimum

choose the level of relaxation or arousal that you

produce that at

will.

Once

we

again

are

is

want and

be able to

to

to

be able to

back to self-mastery and

choice.

Don't get the mistaken idea

that arousal, tension, or quick re-

is bad. You can be too laid you can be too hyped up. Think about the individual met him) who is lazily crossing the busy road. When he

sponse to stimuli from the outside world

back just

as

(we have

all

sees the car bearing

down on

him, the correct response

is

not to

continue to amble along. Perhaps you have had an experience with the person for

something when being on time

a

plane

is

late,

flight, for

example.

The

is

vital

who

is

individual, even

doesn't even realize that he

is

or

when he knows he

just pokes along, unable to get himself moving faster, until

eventually arrives after the meeting has started or the flight has

He

late

—an important meeting

he

left.

not taking charge of his activation

response and that he could live his

life at a faster

pace, yet

still

stay

healthy and stress free.

We

need

vigorously

to

be able to activate our nervous systems quickly and

when

appropriate and when we choose

to.

We

need

also to

he able to deactivate our nervous systems and activate the relaxation

28

THE response just

as

quickly and intentionally. Practicing the conscious

movement between

how

BODY CONNECTION

the

two extremes

following

is

a

deep relaxation

been very

effective

exercise.

The method

niques for relaxing the body. has

of necessity.

to have that choice in times

The

an excellent way to learn

is

when

I

There

are

tech-

practiced in a seminar or individual

brainwave training or biofeedback session. You have options regarding

many

have put together here

how you might

wish to use

this

a

number of

and

all

of the

meditations and exercises in this book.

OPTIONS FOR PRACTICING THE EXERCISES

THIS

IN

BOOK

ONE Read through the exercise or meditation from beginning to end. Make a mental note of the general idea of what you hope to accomplish during the meditation. Don't try to remember this goal word for

word, but rather get

a feel for

it.

If

you understand and deeply

you won't have

your beta you may want to pick out key images, or stepping-stones, to help you remember the order of the instructions. Then close the book, close your eyes, and take the appropriate position either sitting or lying. Allow yourself to re-create inside what you have just read. Try not to talk to internalize the instructions,

waves to

tell

yourself what to do. If

to activate

appropriate,

it is

—

—just allow the meditation

yourself or use words to instruct yourself to happen.

TWO You may wish

to read the meditation verbatim into a cassette re-

Having the voice gently droning in the background gives you something to lean against that often lets you go deeper inside yourself. Be sure to speak slowly and corder and then play

clearly,

with

a

it

back to

yourself.

relaxed tone of voice. Also, allow yourself many long

29

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

pauses with no instructions, so that you can have plenty of time to feel the experience inside. Initially, some people are disturbed by the

sound of their the recording

own a

voice. This should pass after

you have

listened to

few times.

THREE lave

1

friend read the meditation to you.

a

the same instructions to speak with

a

Be

sure he or she follows

relaxed voice and allow you

ample quiet time. You may even wish to start caking turns while one person reads and the

a small

group meeting,

rest are

meditating.

FOUR I

have

made

To purchase

professional cassette tapes of

many of these

these, see information in the

meditations.

back of the book.

WHAT POSITION SHOULD

I

IN?

BE

For most of the exercises in the book, you will want to be in position that will allow

may be

sitting

on

a

sitting in a chair,

you

to achieve

a

deep physical relaxation. This

cushion cross-legged or with legs outstretched, or

or lying on

a flat surface.

(Be sure you are lying

symmetrically on your back, with your spine in alignment.) Reclining chairs are also sleep,

sit

up

sit

instead. If sitting, have

on the

to sleep,

Deep

to meditate in. If lying

keep your spine

against, but

to

good

sit

down

puts

something comfortable

you

to lean

Often people

like

floor leaning back gently against a wall. If this puts

you

up

straight

as straight as possible.

without leaning against anything.

relaxation will help

you enter the mental

which

state in

actuating the lower-frequency brainwaves of alpha and theta

much

easier

down,

if possible. It

is

better to avoid lying

simply because the body has a deeply ingrained tor sleep

you begin and

just

is

a

and more natural phenomenon. Practice the following

relaxation lying

bed

to

to

and

will

go deep

is

a bed,

memory of using

tend to send you in that direction

Lying on the floor

on as

just unfamiliar

the

soon

as

enough

uncomfortable enough to keep you awake. To prevent back 30

BODY CONNECTION

THE

you may wish to place a pillow or rolled-up towel under your raise them slightly. A pillow under your head or neck might

strain,

knees to also

be helpful.

Make side

sure the room

the right temperature. If necessary, fault

is

of warmth. Lying

in a

may even

relaxation and

room

you

give

tendency to

a

too cold

heat, since too

A

asleep.

fall

body warm during relaxation. Timing is an important factor stay

is

is

on the

not conducive to

increase your tension as your

Don't just hike up the

cold.

that

body

fights the

much warmth might

light blanket will

As long

also

keep your

you can present and maintain conscious awareness, the slower you go,

the better.

giving

When

them

laxations,

my

would

you may find the need

anticipate.

When

voice naturally pauses

tween sentences.

(*)

=

(**)

=5

(***)

=

With

practice,

I

have marked those pauses with

I

to speak

more

lead meditations and re-

at specific places

a

—not

just be-

code:

2 to 5 seconds to 10 seconds

10 to 30 seconds

you

will find

your

own

sense of timing and specific

needs.

DEEP RELAXATION The next

thirty

minutes

a journey inside

to

is

a time

for yourself,

calm, soothe, heal, and relax

your body, mind, and

spirit.

(**.)

Begin by closing your eyes.

Allow your mind

to clear of all thoughts, (*)

and focus on your breathing. Breathing easily and deeply easily

as

reading these meditations into a tape recorder or

to another person,

slowly than you

in relaxation.

(**)

...(*)

and deeply ...(*)

breathing relaxation into your body, 31

(*]

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

and breathing away any

tension, (**)

breathing relaxation into your mind

and breathing away any Very gently begin •

.

to

(*)

thoughts. (**)

withdraw yburself from the outside environment

1**1

•

Withdraw

yourself from your surroundings

Withdraw

yourself from

Withdraw

yourself into yourself

Into

your

Into

your

Into

your

And

own silence own serenity own peace. (**) .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

(**)

.

(**)

(**)

.

(**)

.

relax.

your forehead,

your eyes your .

(**)

.

.

any remaining thoughts

Allow the muscles of your face

.

.

lips, all

.

.

(*) .

.

the muscles

.

.

[**)

.

around your eyes,

(*)

the muscles behind

(*)

tongue,

(*)

to relax

(*) throat, (*)

and jaws ...(*)

deeply relaxed. (**)

Allow the relaxation

to

flow

down

through your neck

...(*)

into

your

shoulders. (**)

Allow

it

to

down

flow

both arms

...(*)

the

all

way

to

your fingertips.

I") Allow the relaxation

to

...(*)

flow into your chest

and down your back and spine ...(*) .

allowing the muscles of your back to

.

.

You

let

let

go

.

.

.

(*)... go

.

Take the relaxation

And allow

it

to

... you

(**) .

let

go

.

.

just let

go. (**)

(**)

... you

.

.

down

go deep

through your torso. into

your stomach

right into the

very center of your body

right into the

very center of

.

(*] .

.

...(*) your being ...(*) 32

just (*)

.

.

.

BODY CONNECTION

THE Allow the relaxation

flow

to

and down through both

way

the

all

...

to

so that

legs

down through your ...(*)

your feet and toes

deep

.

.

within yourself, you can visualize

and

very

.

.

Deep

.

within yourself, you can visualize

and your

.

Deep

.

.

.

and experience your emotions as

(**)

as peaceful. (**)

spirit

within yourself, you can visualize

mind,

(*)

emotions,

and

(*)

Experience the relaxation

.

(pause

Very gently allow yourself .

and experience your mind as

(**)

calm and clear .

.

.

taking

and experience your

...(*)

still

still.

pelvis (*)

(**)

within yourself, you can visualize

quiet .

and

(**)

.

whole body as completely relaxed.

Deep

hips

.

body,. (*)

harmony. (***)

.

may be to

and experience your

spirit (*) in

several minutes)

begin

to find

a closure

for

your meditation

("j of the time that

all

Find an image,

you need

symbol,

(*)

to

word,

(*)

come

(*)

to

completion inside. (***)

or phrase

(*) that

describes

how

you are feeling right now. (***) Begin

back

to

allow yourself to return

to the outside

Allow yourself .

.

.

feeling alert

and

and allow

(**)

return

...(*)

(*)

yourself to stretch

Take a full-body

.

refreshed. (**)

Take several deep breaths

and allow

.

space. (**)

reawaken and

to

.

— beginning with your fingers and

toes. (*)

stretch, (***)

yourself to return to a sitting position. (***)

Before you resume your normal activity, take a few moments to reflect on

your experience. Remember your image, symbol, or words at the end.

Remember what

it

felt like

to

be so deeply relaxed, and once again

relate that feeling to the representative

33

symbol or words you chose.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

I

he next tunc you want to relax,

the images or words, you can

recall this cue.

recall the

body and mind and reenter the

state

memory

By remembering

of relaxation

of relaxation

in

much more

your easily

and quickly.

GROUND

THE MEDITATION Immediately take the proper steps to ground your experience by bringing it consciously into your beta waves. Write down or speak loud the keys and landmarks that you noted. You can write your 01 experience in a journal, draw or paint it, speak it into a tape recorder, tell it to a friend, or simply tell yourself, making it conscious in your own mind. These landmarks are the biofeedback that you can use as a guide to help you return to this state of relaxation more it

quickly and easily next time.

SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCES — FINDING THE " How can

The

I tell

LANDMARKS

where I have been without biofeedback equipment?"

table entitled "Subjective

Landmarks"

information about the relationship between jective experiences

is

designed to give you

number of sub-

a large

you may encounter during your meditation and body states that accompany each experi-

the probable brainwave and

ence. At

first,

simply read through the main column listing subjective

experiences. These are the most that

common sensations and perceptions

people have reported during their meditations. They have been

collected over years of research with meditators.

I

have built on both

the research by Terry V. Lesh at the University of

Oregon on

re-

Maxthen added my own

sponse patterns to meditation and the years of research by C. well

Cade

in

London with

his students.

I

have

observations from the past twenty years to complete this chart. ever, the

landmarks

in this chart are

by no means

all

How-

of the sensations

or experiences people have while meditating. Just use them to try to get a general feeling for your subjective landmarks in each category.

34

—

SUBJECTIVE LANDMARKS #

Subjective

May have difficulty stilling the mind Mind racing out of control

25

or

Itchy, distractible, inattentive state

A

feeling

of

"Why am

I

doing

1

feeling of "settling

Foggy

Continuous

often with

20

flares

waves

this?"

Possibly intermittent

down"

alpha

20

state

Somewhat reduced

to

beta, but

Sensations of going under an anesthetic

16

present

Occasional feeling of nausea filled

with everyday

avoidance of inner

A A

some

of other

Feeling dizzy

Mind

beta,

to

Just beginning to relax

A

EEG

ESR

Landmarks

still

Intermittent but

affairs

—almost

as

an

stronger alpha

stillness

feeling of scattered energies

sensation of drifting off to sleep or being pulled

back from the edge of sleep 2

Scattered energies beginning to collect

Beginning

to feel calmness

Uninvited vivid

flashes

and relaxation

of imagery

16

Reduced

to

Stronger alpha

14

could be

Childhood flashbacks

continuous

Images from distant to immediate past

Intermittent (low-

frequency) theta

Attention not very sustained

A

feeling of being in

beta

between

states

Transitional state

3

Greater sense of

Well-defined

14

stability

state

Pleasant bodily sensations of floating, lightness,

Continuous alpha

11

Possibly

slight

more

continuous theta

swaying, or rocking

Occasional

Highly reduced beta

to

rhythmical

movement

with increased

Concentration easier and stronger

frequency and/or

Increased and clearer imagery

amplitude

Increased ability to follow guided imagery

4

Extremely vivid awareness of breathing

11

Highly reduced beta

Extremely vivid awareness of heartbeat, blood

to

Continuous alpha

8

Increased theta

flow, or other bodily sensations

body boundaries Sensation of numbness in limbs Feeling of loss of

Sensation of being

full

of

air

35

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

becoming

Sensation ol growing to great size or vei y small

Sensation of great heaviness or lightness

Sometimes

alternating

between external and

interna] awareness

5

\n\

lu< id state

of




they

their having difficulties getting

It

and more rewarding medi-

important to recognize and

is

and road

validate these Category 4 experiences as being signposts

marks on your deepening meditation journey. Allow yourself to be /////)' immersed in your physical sensations, then let go even more.

m

Only

this

way can you move through

this state to

an even deeper

one.

The key

Category 4

to success in

is

while losing body awareness. Achieving into

Category

5.

The

to maintain se//~-awareness this will lead

of self-awareness might

loss

you quickly

result, again, in

sleep.

CATEGORY

When

the barrier

is

5

broken between 4 and

5,

there

is

a

sense of

awareness, lucidity, and serenity not experienced in the previous

Herein

categories.

lies

the

awakened mind. You

brainwave characteristics of

this

will note that the

category include beta mastery. This

you can produce beta when you want to and let go of it to. Therefore, this state is either one of deep continuous meditation without beta or the awakened mind with beta. The difference between these two states can be found in the content of

means

that

when you want

the meditation. If there

is

any material that you are processing, devel-

may be necessary, and awakened mind state will result. If, on the other hand, the meditation is one simply of intense alertness, calmness, and detachment, with no content, then the beta is not needed and the brainwave

oping, creating, or healing, then beta waves the

pattern

is

Many

one of deep meditation.

people

know when

rience a feeling that this stare

is

is

they are in

this state

because they expe-

lacking in the lighter meditation

states.

Once

entered, the meditator tends to settle here for the remain-

der ot the meditation, and the fluctuations and vacillations of the

previous categories are forgotten.

may

The only

things that

commonly

arouse you from this state are disturbances from the outside,

40

BODY CONNECTION

THE such

as

the telephone or doorbell, or disturbances from the inside,

from the content on which you are working; these bring your beta back into play. Otherwise, this state has a very

such

as insights arising

stabilizing effect

on your meditation

process.

CATEGORY Entry into

this

next category

is

6

not nearly

as

easy as entry into the

previous five categories. This does not imply that those are enter. Usually only

any length of time. There are several brainwave

company 1.

this

all

easy to

long-term meditators experience Category 6 for

experience

may

states that

ac-

(see figure):

The awakened m/W.What

differentiates the

awakened mind

Category 5 from the awakened mind in Category 6 experience and the fact that

is

in

the depth of

is less content oriented. There are what an awakened mind pattern feels likely to be of a low amplitude and low

it

few, if any, words to describe like in this state.

The

beta,

frequency, will contain very

little

personal processing.

You

rience, instead, a sense of processing information that

is

will

expe-

universal in

nature. 2.

Optimum

meditation pattern. In

Category

6, this

pattern repre-

sents the ultimate meditation. 3.

Very

little electrical

brain activity. If

straight lines that are indicative

well

as

of

an individual displays the two

this lack

of

electrical activity, as

the experiences described in Category 6, he or she

may be

having an out-of-body experience. In such a case the brainwaves do not accurately

reflect the state

of consciousness because somehow

between the brainwaves and the subjective perception of the has been diminished or even severed. I have also seen individu-

the link state als

display this pattern with awareness during times

of extreme

fear or

unexpected shock. 4.

Evolved mind.

tual practitioner

What happens when

who

lives

in

meditate and go higher? Most

the

the yogi or advanced spiri-

awakened mind

state sits

down

to

spiritual traditions describe a state of

41

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND Category 6

POSSIBLE BRAINWAVE PATTERNS

AWAKENED MIND

1

OUT OF BODY

3

has

EVOLVED MIND

4

the very highest awareness or evolution itself

become

MEDITATION

2

where the unconscious mind

conscious. In other words, the unconscious

ceases to exist as a place

mind

of separation. There are no longer any

bottlenecks or divisions between the conscious, the subconscious,

and the unconscious. In

this state,

one

feels a

unity with

all

the

universe.

who

have not met anyone

I

ever,

I

have seen

a

lives in this state

number of people

attain

it

approximations of it, or patterns that appear to

developmental process of tor an

this state.

One

extended period of time during

my

a

continuously;

briefly.

me

I

how-

have also seen

to be stages

of the

student attained this state

meditation on pure con-

streaming

down

her \acc during the meditation and was unable to speak for

some

sciousness in

one of

workshops. She had

time. Afterward, the only

I

only

he .is

list

a

of subjective

word she could

say

landmarks presented

guide. Although they are the

42

tears

was

"bliss"

in this chart

.

.

is

.

meant

most frequently reported

THE

BODY CONNECTION no means the

experiences, they are by

only subjective experiences

available.

Within any experience

all

particular brainwave category,

you do not need

of the sensations on the

be in the brainwave

list

to

to

You may experience only one or two in each category. Several may occur at once, or they may come in succession, one after the other in random order. You may become state that

familiar

they describe.

with

all

of the sensations or with only

few.

a

shown above, may skip

Likewise, with the different brainwave categories

you may experience them

in the order

I

have

listed,

or you

Remember, your brainwaves are constantly moving. Though they may stay in one state for a period of time, they may also jump from state to state. around.

BODY-MIND RELATIONSHIP how does the relaxation states we are producing? The So

of our bodies easiest

way

for

consciously control their brainwave states this

does not always occur, nor

major concept

that needs to

is it

is

brainwave

relate to the

most people with

to begin to

a relaxed

body, but

always desired or essential.

be understood here

is

how

the

The body

and the mind work together to determine your psychophysiological state.

This process

is

illustrated in the

Mind-Body Graph

(page

44).

In this graph, the horizontal axis represents the body. side represents the

body

at its

most

relaxed,

and the

The

far left

far right side

body at its most aroused. The vertical axis represents the mind a continuum of consciousness from beta down to delta. For simplicity's sake, we can say that an overly aroused mind is at the top of the vertical axis while a very relaxed mind is at the bottom. Arranged this way, the chart's four quadrants represent four mindbody relationships: represents the

—

1.

2.

3. 4.

mind and aroused body relaxed mind and aroused body relaxed mind and relaxed body aroused mind and relaxed body aroused

43

Mind-Body Graph

44

THE

BODY CONNECTION

There is no place on this graph that is bad o\i wrong. What is important is to learn how to be where you want to be, when you want to be there. The more familiar you become with the experiences that

occur in each quadrant of

mastery over your location

at

this chart,

the greater will be your

any given time.

QUADRANT AROUSED MIND AND AROUSED BODY 1

In the top right-hand quadrant,

waking

we

:

find our

normal

(or

most

typical)

The brainwaves

state. are primarily beta, and the body is somewhat aroused. Taken to its greatest extreme, this state of mindbody arousal results in panic, shown in the upper right-hand corner. When the mind and body are overly aroused, your thoughts go crazy, your heart pounds, and your body-mind becomes stressed to the limit. If this experience becomes habitual, stress-related diseases will occur more easily and more frequently. (And how many illnesses aren't in some way stress related?) Most people spend the majority of their time meandering around this quadrant.

QUADRANT

3:

RELAXED MIND AND RELAXED BODY The next quadrant in which we spend the most time is number 3. Where we typically sleep is marked by a rectangle. The mind moves between the deep-sleep brainwaves of delta and the theta brainwaves of REM (rapid eye movement) dream states on the vertical brainwave scale. The sleep period for many people ranges between about 13 to 17 on the horizontal body-relaxation as

scale.

This

down

into

tion that involves deep psychophysiological relaxation

more

relaxing to the

people on waking in all

is

not nearly

body could be while sleeping. It is possible to go the deep relaxation that would be found below 5. Medita-

relaxed as the

is

often

much

body than the typical sleep states. In fact some the morning feel that they have not truly rested

night, that their bodies have

been

sleep.

45

active or tense

during their

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Meditation can take place anywhere in the lower two quadrants, where alpha and theta brainwaves are Located. However, the more you want your body to receive the stress-reduction benefits of the meditation, the farther to the left in Quadrant 3 you should go.

QUADRANT 2: RELAXED MIND AND AROUSED BODY I

same brainwave

h is quadrant contains the

some

alpha, theta,

have seen

body

is

earlier,

and delta it

is

—

states as

Quadrant 3

the brainwaves of meditation. As

often easier to learn to meditate

relaxed; however,

it

by no means

is

we

when the many

essential. In fact

forms of meditation take place while the body

consciously and

is

moving meditations (except perhaps take place somewhere in this quadrant.

intentionally aroused. All of the

the slowest forms of yoga)

Martial aikido elicit tial,

arts,

such

specific action

the meditation state.

that these

kung (or

as tai chi, chi

on the

call

It is

qi gong),

and arousal

judo, karate, and

in the

body

to help

therefore appropriate, indeed essen-

forms of meditation practices are carried out in

quadrant. Sufi whirling and trance dancing likewise use

this

movement

to actually access the altered state.

Sports like skiing, tennis, and bicycling can also altered state

move one

of consciousness. Whether the altered

state

is

into an

the pri-

mary goal or not, this by-product can still be enjoyed by the practitioner. Dancing certainly belongs in this quadrant and has long been used to reach altered states of consciousness. Sex also gives us access to altered states.

Quadrant

1

Any and

as well,

all

of these

activities

can take place in

with reduction or elimination of the meditative

quality.

QUADRANT

4:

AROUSED MIND, RELAXED BODY

We

find ourselves

Quadrant 4 when we

are reading,

some other thought-provoking

activity that

most often

studying, or performing

in

does not involve the arousal of the nervous system. fortable place to reside temporarily,

46

Quadrant

4's

Though

a

com-

deep physical

re-

THE taxation can

BODY CONNECTION

draw the mind down into the

sleep

of Quadrant 3

at

inappropriate times.

Consider the student

sitting in the lecture hall

lecture with every intention of staying

awake and

who

listening

begins the

and learn-

ing. The body gets very relaxed and the mind soon follows. It may become hard to think or concentrate on the complex information

being offered. Several sharp, deep breaths to

may be

attain physical arousal

way to draw the mind back to a beta state, where you want to be. Quadrant 4 can also house forms of insomnia. Have you ever lain in bed at night, physically exhausted and wanting to sleep, but with your mind on fire, perhaps worrying or excited? This can be an if that

the most effective

is

uncomfortable place to be and

may

indicate a

body-mind

split.

BODY-MIND SPLITS 1 and 3 illustrate the body and the mind working together same mode. Quadrants 2 and 4 represent what may happen

Quadrants in the

when the body and the mind are moving in different directions. If you want your body and your mind to be operating in the same mode and you find yourself unable to extricate yourself from either Quadrant 2 or Quadrant 4, you may have what is called a body-mind split.

Sleepwalking, or somnambulism,

is

perhaps one of the most ex-

body-mind split. The mind is asleep and body is active and moving around. Some forms of insomnia also into this category the mind is exhausted and wants to sleep, but is unable body tense and to let go. treme examples of

this

—

the fall

the

IT POSSIBLE TO BE IN DEEP MEDITATION AND THINK THAT MY BODY IS RELAXED, WHEN IT ACTUALLY ISN'T? COULD BE MISSING THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF MEDITATION WITHOUT REALIZING IT?" Some people have a mistaken idea that meditation and relaxation are synonymous in terms of the beneficial effect on the body. Not so!

"IS

I

47

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE Without the

of biofeedback instruments to measure your body's

aid

response to meditation, is

it

is

quite possible that, although your

mind

experiencing deep meditation and you are producing the brain-

wax

e patterns

of meditation, your body

fected by your inner journey.

remaining tense and unaf-

is

You may be thinking you

are receiving

the generally accepted benefits of deep relaxation when, in

another form of body-mind

aren't

you

If

are meditating in

The sympathetic nervous system

autonomic nervous system on

fixed

mind

split.

Quadrant 2 without an intentional physi-

your meditation, you can enter into what

cal aspect to

sympathetic tone.

The body

go.

is

that activates

in a state

able to meditate. This

is still

body, such

to a relaxed

as

you

fact,

with

of persistent

—

the pleasant

body

of the

reactions

stress

to

—

is

however, the

arousal;

why you need

is

called a fixed

is

that part

watch

for keys

sensations of floating,

rocking, and lightness, and the release of muscles.

Fixed sympathetic tone can be experienced in other ways

Sometimes

a

person might awaken from the meditative

Quadrant 3

ing from

normal waking

state

to

Quadrant

of Quadrant

.

by mov-

of going directly to the

2, instead 1

state

as well.

This experience can be strange

and frightening without guidance. The body

is

awake and may even

shoot into the high-anxiety range of the fight-or-flight response, and the

mind

is

still

from the depths.

in

deep meditation, seemingly unable to emerge

When

this occurs, rather

than try to drag the

mind

out of its altered

state forcefully, relax the body once again and return Then start your arousal process all over again, this time bringing your mind along with your body. to

Quadrant

3.

Another form of body-mind parasympathetic tone.

split

occurs in Quadrant

4,

The parasympathetic nervous system

with

is

fixed

that part

of the autonomic nervous system that activates the relaxation response.

ens

An extreme example of this

suddenly or violently from

released

some

remains

in

teels

a

split

occurs

if

your mind awak-

deep meditation that perhaps

disturbing content from your subconscious. Your body deep relaxation. The mind is panicking, and the body

move out of the state of move from Quadrant 4 up

paralyzed, unable to

release. Rather body to to Quadrant 1, the best action you could take would be to relax your mind again and return to Quadrant 3. When you are ready, start your arousal

than force your

process once again, this time bringing your

48

>

body with your mind.

BODY CONNECTION

THE

JOURNEY FROM NORMAL WAKING

THE

STATE TO MEDITATION IN THE BODY AND THE MIND The

meditator's journey

waking

state

down

is

rarely a simple direct line

to meditation.

from

a

normal

You might wander throughout

the

four quadrants, sometimes meandering around in one, or sometimes

jumping abruptly from one to another. If your meditation deepens, you may end in Quadrant 3 and rest there for some time before reawakening. The graph on page 50 illustrates a potential journey into meditation. Initially, the meditator relaxes the body and mind together a little bit. Then the mind takes a dive into deeper alpha and theta states. The body starts to catch up, but the mind arouses a little. From here, the body and the mind again relax together, and a pleasant state of meditation tator

is

may then become

attained for a very brief period.

self-conscious, thinking,

I'm meditating!" and shoots out of the meditating

waking state to begin the journey again. Each time you go down into a meditative

The medi-

"Oh my state

goodness!

back up to

the

will

be

a little different.

With

1

Quadrant

to

your experience

practice, the meditator finds the jour-

ney more under conscious control and

from Quadrant

state,

3.

is

able to

move more

directly

As you gain self-mastery, you will this chart and recognize the

be able to go anywhere you want on physical

and mental sensations

that

an awakened mind

state

When

entire vertical range

accompany being is

attained,

of brainwaves from beta

it

there.

encompasses the

down

to delta.

With

enough mastery, you can maintain this state of consciousness, whether your body is in deep relaxation, high arousal, or moving

somewhere

Now across

the

first

between

look back

at

(see

page 44).

the table of Subjective Landmarks and read

four columns. If your body and your mind are relaxing

all

column column

in

column

indicates the

number of

gives the subjective experience

together,

the category, the second

you may be having, the

third

gives the relaxation level likely for that subjective experi-

ence, and the fourth

column names

correlate.

49

the brainwaves that most often

Mind-Body Journey

50

1

BODY CONNECTION

THE

Hand

temperature can also be

a

very helpful source of body-mind

When you relax deeply, your hands generally become When you are aroused, they become cooler. There are

information.

warmer.

exceptions to every rule, however. Using hand-temperature biofeedback,

I

have

known

experiencing

a state

people to have extremely

warm

of relaxation or meditation

people have an awakened mind

state,

new

at all.

hands while not have also seen

I

insights, or

peak experi-

ences while retaining very cold hands. Practicing mastery of arousal and, especially, of relaxation of your

nervous system

is

and your internal

a

major

states

step

toward the mastery of your brainwaves

of consciousness.

tion with conscious relaxation,

body

You

you

If

you begin your meditamore assurance that the

will have

will also get the physiological benefits that relaxation brings.

will find relaxation helpful in developing the different categories

of brainwaves, regardless of whether you have excess in some and deficiency in others. the brainwaves

We

need

to find a neutral

may grow. With

this in

mind,

development of the brainwaves of meditation.

51

ground from which

we

will

move

into the

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES

Meditation

is

different

commonly

perhaps the most

accepted altered

state

definitions,

talked about and

of consciousness, yet there are many methods,

philosophies,

dogmas,

and

techniques. Although attitudes about, approaches to, and uses for the

mental time,

meditation vary with the popular trend of the

states called a

recurrent and

consistent

theme runs underneath all of The theme is that meditation,

the changing variables of meditation.

done properly, provides mal waking states.

a higher state

of consciousness than our nor-

WHAT DOES "HIGHER" MEAN? To many the word "higher" (as in "higher states of consciousness") means more spiritual, more attuned to some form of God-consciousness or to a higher power. To others it means greater creativity, productivity, and the ability to access imaginative, original, inventive,

and ingenious

ideas.

And

to

still

others

it

means increased

mental and physical health and well-being, accessing powers of

self-

healing or personal growth.

"SO HOW CAN WE DEFINE MEDITATION WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERING OPINIONS?" When discussing meditation, the most useful way for us to find a common Language to talk about it in terms of the brainwaves that is

>

52

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES when

people produce

they are meditating. Interestingly, despite the

differing descriptions, spiritual backgrounds, religious beliefs, pur-

poses,

and methods of meditation, there

of brainwave frequencies that underlies

all

common

a

is

combination

of them. With

slight varia-

the brainwaves of meditation are alpha and theta

tions,

without

delta,

Figure

depending on the

1A shows

style

that the brainwaves

The

than the theta.

or

of meditation. of meditation

both hemispheres and that the alpha

cal in

—with

is

are

symmetri-

stronger in amplitude

theta provides the depth of meditation

—

the

subconscious inner space from which the creativity springs, or the spiritual

connection

is

the body. Theta gives

made, or the self-healing

is

programmed

you the experience of profundity

in

your

in

meditation. Alpha provides the link, or bridge, to the conscious

mind so that you can actually remember the contents of the theta. If you meditate without alpha, producing theta alone, you will not remember your

meditation).

Remember,

theta

is

the subconscious, and

theta waves generally occur below conscious awareness.

below

that takes place

that line will

So anything

remain subconscious unless the

brainwaves that bridge the subconscious to the conscious are active.

When

form

acting as a bridge, alpha waves provide a clearer, sharper

of imagery through which the contents of the theta can be

There

are

many

different

words for types of trance

states.

filtered.

Medita-

contemplation, concentration, prayer, hypnosis, guided fantasy,

tion,

visualization,

and deep relaxation

are the

ones most often used.

brainwave patterns are the same or very similar for

of trance

tions

state.

The

difference

is

all

found primarily

of induction and the goal while in the

state,

The

of these variain the

method

rather than in the state

itself.

There

are exceptions to this rule,

pose of the meditation beta

is

added to

is

however. Sometimes the pur-

active, requiring analysis

this pattern.

or thought.

Then

For example, problem-solving medita-

tions often ask that the meditators enter a deeply relaxed state

of

meditation, then use particular imagery techniques to access solutions to

predetermined

issues or

problems. This form of meditation

usually requires that the meditator add beta brainwaves to the already existing meditation state of alpha

wave pattern can be surprisingly This

illustrates

why

and

theta. In this case the brain-

close to the

awakened mind

pattern.

certain forms of active meditation are used in

53

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

Conscious

Bridge

ALPHA

Subconscious

Unconscious

1A

MEDITATION BRAINWAVE PATTERN

ZEN

1C

2A

1

B

CATHOLIC PRIEST

MONK

ZEN MASTER

2B

WITH RELAXED TONGUE

awakened mind brainwave training to add the beta to the brainwave pattern once a stable alpha and theta meditation pattern has been established. I

here are strong similarities between the brainwave patterns of

meditation and prayer, but there are also ple, there

is

a

some

differences.

marked difference between the pattern of

priest in a state

of prayer and

a

Zen monk

in a state

For exama

Catholic

of meditation.

measured the brainwaves of a Catholic priest from the East Coast who was interested in finding out how he could make his prayer I

54

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES deeper and more spiritual. He was going on a residential retreat for a month and wanted my input so that he could make the most effective use

that

of the time he was away. In looking

at his

brainwaves,

I

saw

he did indeed have an awakened mind brainwave pattern. But

you can

see

asked for

from Figure IB,

my

advice about

"Fewer words!" he laughed and This individual really

He

brainwaves are very top-heavy!

his

how

and when

to pray,

said

as

suggested

I

he knew exactly what

I

meant.

connection with active theta

felt his spiritual

brainwaves and maintained awareness during his prayer with open alpha waves. However, the bulk of his prayer was conducted by

subvocalizing words

On

—hence

the other hand, a

his large beta.

Zen monk

practicing simple sitting with

no

thought might have the brainwave pattern in Figure 1C. Here there is

no beta

at all

—no words or thoughts

can see that the delta

is

very active.

scious awareness to the meditation. a

But you This person has added unconin this person's head!

The

practice of Zen

nonverbal experience, awareness of whatever

is

is

essentially

being the main

Hence the Zen practitioner is likely to have less beta and potentially more delta than a person in active verbal prayer. One longtime Zen master whom I monitored had an awakened mind pattern (Figure 2A) with the exception of the high-frequency beta flares. The beta rounded out (Figure 2B) as soon as I told him to tenet.

relax his tongue. This that

was an extraordinary idea for him, and he

he "couldn't wait to

revolutionize his

tell

my

students about this," that

it

said

would

way of teaching.

"IS FOLLOWING A GUIDED FANTASY REAL M E D TAT ION?" I

If the

guided fantasy makes you produce very

strong alpha and theta waves, the answer

response to the guided fantasy

is

is

a

to think

little

beta waves and

resounding

yes. If

your

and analyze instead of

allowing the images to simply be present without consciously creating or changing them, then the answer is

a

is

no. In

fact,

guided fantasy

very good entry into the experience of meditation for most

people.

Some

traditional meditators

55

may

argue that guided fantasies

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

that the purpose of meditation is to empty the argument from the perspective of content. Not so from the perspective of state, The state of meditation is one of alpha and theta brainwaves. Anytime you are producing those brainwaves till

in

mind and

the

mind

i^ood

a

combination without producing many beta waves, you are

state

iheta

a

of meditation. Guided fantasy can lead you to these alpha and brainwaves potentially much more quickly than sitting and until, hopefully,

watching your thoughts

'HOW

they disappear.

GUIDED FANTASY BEST USED

IS

AS A M (

in

E

D

I

TAT ION?''

ruided fantasy for the purpose of meditation should have several key

elements.

some form of

there should be

First,

tener's

body and mind

down and begin to

to

reducing the

alter his

state to that

begin to

stress levels in

relaxation to allow the

relax.

the

lis-

Slowing the breathing

body help the

listener to

or her brainwaves from the normal waking beta

of meditation.

Second, imagery helps the listener produce alpha waves. Hence the fantasy actually begins to help produce the waves that will bridge

you into the meditation

state.

Third, the guided fantasy should have suggestions that will take

you deeper into

And

fourth,

you ample time

yourself, into the theta

once you

are there, the

in silence to

waves of the subconscious. guided fantasy should give

experience the

state

of meditation with-

out external input. If the

may be

guided meditation follows these principles, then the listener able to enter a state of meditation even

attempts. This doesn't

mean

that

he or she will be able to

however. The way that the meditation consistent

during the

ability

first

few

stay there,

develops in even

a

generally in brief flares or flashes. The brainwaves are constantly moving, shifting, and changing somepractitioner

is

—

times radically, sometimes gently. Often during the meditating, no matter

which entry method

passes through

of meditation several times.

a

state

56

is

first

attempts

at

used, the practitioner

Any number of

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES things

may happen

of

to shift the pattern quickly out

meditation soon after

it is

The most common

attained.

a state

are beta waves, thoughts that interrupt the inner stillness.

problem

losing the alpha waves, so that

is

conscious.

another problem

Still

The key

you

are

still

of

distractions

Another

awake but not

falling asleep.

is

to successful meditation

is

to recognize

and

validate those

when you are meditating. You may have an urge to denigrate that moment of clarity or insight as something that you "just imagined." Or you may tell yourself that it didn't count because

periods of time

it

went away

Don't do

so quickly.

insight, every flare

that to yourself. Validate every

of subconscious imagery that

rises to

conscious-

this

moment of internal stillness and peace. Know that when happens, no matter how briefly, you are meditating. If you do

this,

you

ness,

to

every

will find that those

come more

moments of clarity and meditation begin

frequently and stretch for longer and longer periods.

THE TECHNIQUE IS NOT THE MEDI TAT ION.

—

You may hear someone say, "I have to go meditate" when what they mean is they have to go practice a particular breathing system they have learned.

Many

people think that they are meditating be-

cause of some particular technique they are using or a set of instructions they follow. Rather, they

may be

without any entry into the meditative

wonder why they don't

A man

came

mean

to see

me

that

sitting,

he

felt

supposed to make you meditate are meditating.

that he had meditated for an Although he enjoyed the time he

once saying

hour a day every day for twelve

spent

is

you

They may Remember,

whatsoever.

get anything out of meditation.

practicing a certain technique that

does not necessarily

simply sitting and thinking state

years.

he was missing something. From talking to other

felt that he must be doing something wrong because he had none of the experiences that he had heard others describe. I measured his brainwaves while he was "meditating" and discovered

meditators, he

that he had spent those twelve years simply thinking! state

The

alpha-theta

of meditation was actually unfamiliar to him. Within three

57

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE sessions

he

first

guided him into the experience of deep meditation.

I

reached

it,

he

bolt upright with a big grin

sat

on

When

his face

and

cried, "I got it!"

Granted, this

his ease

was

extreme; but various manifestations of

a rare

misconception about medication are more

people would care to think. There

Many

an inherent danger in getting

people carry some form of secret apprehension that they

not be doing

it

right or

may not even be doing

they really want to meditate, they

try even

vicious cycle.

The more

You cannot

meditate.

they

try

the

try,

less

it

zeal.

at

all.

Because

practicing their

harder,

technique with even more determination and

allowing,

than most

of the meditation.

locked into the technique instead

may

is

common

This can begin

a

they seem to be able to

to meditate. Meditation

is

a

process of

not trying.

You can

tell

in several

ways

if

you

are meditating. Signposts exist

along the paths of entry into meditation that will help you understand

what brainwaves you

are

producing and where you

relationship to the alpha-theta brainwave state

studying the chart on page 35

(in

you

are in

are seeking.

Chapter Two), you can begin

By to

understand what brainwaves your experiences may be reflecting. Your journey down into meditation might involve some or all of the

Exam-

those experiences, but not necessarily in that particular order. ples

of brainwave

states as

you journey into meditation may include

the following:

CONTINUOUS BETA WITH POSSIBLE FLARES OF OTHER FREQUENCIES This pattern often occurs following

a

at

the very beginning of a meditation or

disturbance during the meditation.

encing sensations from Category

0.

58

You might be

experi-

.

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES

REDUCED BETA WITH INTERMITTENT BUT STRONGER ALPHA Here you may be beginning your descent into meditation. The periences are often those of Category 1

ex-

REDUCED BETA, STRONGER ALPHA (COULD BE CONTINUOUS), INTERMITTENT (LOW-FREQUENCY) THETA This

is

tions

often experienced

as a transition

predominantly from Category

into meditation, with sensa-

2.

HIGHLY INDUCED BETA, CONTINUOUS ALPHA,

MORE CONTINUOUS

THETA, WITH AMPLITUDE AND/OR FREQUENCY INCREASED POSSIBLY

These brainwaves show as

a light

but relatively stable meditation, such

those experienced in Category

3.

59

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

HIGHLY REDUCED BETA, CONTINUOUS ALPHA,

INCREASED THETA Hiese brainwaves

and may deeper

also

state.

show continuing and strengthening meditation

he experienced

The

as

another transition phase into an even

sensations are often those of Category 4.

STRONG BETA MASTERY, CONTINUOUS ALPHA (USUALLY LOW-FREQUENCY) AND CONTINUOUS THETA one of deep, strong, stable meditation. Sensations can occur from both Category 4 and Category 5.

This pattern

is

VERY LITTLE BETA, VERY LITTLE ALPHA,

STRONG THETA AND OFTEN STRONG DELTA We

can subtitle

this

asleep." Experiences

brainwave pattern

may

as "I

was gone, but

I

wasn't

include a sensation of spacing out or disap-

pearing from the environment and/or your body, very

little

memory

of the experience but the knowledge that you were aware at the time. Images are dreamlike and often dark and hazy, sometimes tinged with blues and purples.

You may have 60

the sensation that

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES something important has happened or

know what

it is.

happening, but you don't

don't know where you when you return, it's as

You

weren't asleep; and

is

were, but you know you if

from

a

very long way

away.

DELTA You probably have no memory of you

return,

it is

the experience at

quickly, with a startle or a jerk.

BETA, ALPHA, THETA, Here we have the awakened mind. In all

this state

asleep!

you may experience ability to think.

You may have any of the experiences from Category

61

and when

AND DELTA

of the sensations of meditation, with the added

strong intuitive insight.

all;

You were

5, especially a

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

BETA, ALPHA, THETA,

AND DELTA WITH

FEW OR NO BOTTLENECKS This

is

from

(

transcendent state and

a

Category

often accompanied by experiences

is

6.

WHAT

THE BEST PATTERN TO HAVE? This series of brainwave patterns should not be viewed as a hierarchy. Who is to say that having theta is more important or better than having beta? Even having an awakened mind might not be something you truly want to experience all of the time. So, what is best?

The only

real

IS

answer to that question

is

that

it is

best to be able

to

have

you want to have when you want to have them. In other working toward being able to alter your state of con-

the brainwaves that

we

words,

are

sciousness at will in accordance with your needs at the time.

DON'T MEDITATE, BUT HAVE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES DESCRIBED AS M E D TAT ION!"

''I

I

I

Remember that

the fellow

who

he was thinking instead?

place.

A young woman came

ing and sults

stress

of early

thought he was meditating but found

The to

exact opposite of this can also take

me

supposedly for relaxation train-

management. She was, childhood

trauma,

in fact, suffering

and we

considerable time working through that as

from the

ended up

we developed

re-

spending her theta

first session she told me she had never mediShe was even unfamiliar with the word. I hooked her up to the EEG and took her on a guided fantasy. Almost immediately, her

brainwaves. During the tated.

62

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES beta reduced dramatically, and her alpha, theta, and delta in a beautiful meditation pattern. After the relaxation

came out

was over,

I

new experience. She said, "Oh no! feel this way all of the time when sit in a field of flowers." Some people who know nothing about the concept and definiasked her

was

if this

a

I

I

tion of meditation spend time frequently, even daily, in a state of

deep meditation without knowing what

it

is

called (and

without

They may think they are just daydreaming, resting, sitting, listening to music, or on the active side tending the garden, caring).

—

—

walking to work, running, arranging flowers, cleaning the house, or painting.

In terms of your brainwaves, the combination of alpha and theta

without beta

is

which

meditation, regardless of

activity

gaging in to get you there. For the purposes of defining meditation

as

any

still

you

are en-

this chapter,

form of contemplation and

I

am

relaxation that

produces those brainwaves.

A Before

wave

THETA-ACCESSING MEDITATION

we go any

training,

I

further with the theory of meditation and brain-

would

access theta brainwaves.

most lacking

in people

like to give

These

this

meditation

found

it

more

participants try a meditation

ory about

it

when

Have

afterward. This

they are

first

w ay T

their

doing

it.

fun!

Please note that * indicates pause:

(*)

=

(**)

=5

(***)

=

2 to 5 seconds to 10 seconds

10 to 30 seconds

63

first

why we

effective to

workshop theory

meditation designed to

are the brainwaves that are usually the

discussion that follows will explain

are doing. I've always

a

and consequently the ones

immediate work. Practice

The

you

first,

that

need the most

before reading on. are

doing what

have

my

we

clients or

and then learn the the-

minds

are not cluttered

with

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

I

note longer tunes. Use

will

this as a

the instructions and to meditate.

and silence only

as

long

as

you

period of silent time to follow the place of stillness

Initially, stay in

are comfortable. If your

wander, or you become bored, or you rations, move on to the next phase.

are finished

mind

starts to

with your explo-

HOUSE OF DOORS Let

your mind clear, and focus on your breathing.

Spend

at least five to ten minutes relaxing before continuing. (You

may

wish to refer back to the relaxation beginning on page 31 as preparation for this meditation.)

And now, from in

this

place of deep relaxation and peace,

your mind, create an environment.

(*)

(*)

Imagine or create an environment outdoors, somewhere pleasant you. It

could be the mountains, the country, the beach

See

it

for

(*)

...(*)

clearly. (**)

Walk around in your mind. (*) Using as many senses as possible, explore it

this

environment carefully.

Experience the colors, the shapes, the textures, the sounds, the smells.

I"!

What Feel

is

the time of day, the atmosphere, the temperature?

them with your mind. (**)

Make any changes and secure

for

that

you would

like in this

environment

you.

(pause for one or two minutes)

Now,

within this environment, place a house.

Don't

go

inside yet; just see

it

from the outside.

We're going

to

So, going

through the front door,

in

go on a journey through

this

(*)

and passing through an entrance hallway, you find yourself in a room covered in mirrors.

64

(*)

house.

(*)

(*)

to

make

it

safe

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES Mirrors

all

around you.

You notice your image, your

Now, you

reflection, in these mirrors. (***)

passing through the room of mirrors,

find yourself in

a long hallway,

(*)

a seemingly endless corridor with rows of doors on either side.

And each

of the doors

You walk down

this

is

a different color.

(*)

(*)

hallway, passing door

.

.

door

after

.

.

.

after

.

door, (**) until

you come

to stop in front of

a door on your

left.

You notice the color of the door.

And on If

so,

the door, there

you see

When

a label, an image, or a symbol.

you are ready, you open

behind Take

may be

and understand.

it

all

it.

(**)

door and go

this

into the

room

that

is

(*)

the time that

you need

to

explore

this

room and

its

contents very

thoroughly.

(pause for one minute)

While you are that

in this

to make any changes make any changes you wish to

room, you have the power

you want. Take the time now

to

make. (pause for one minute)

In

a few moments you are going

So allow yourself

to take the time

to

leave

now

to

this

room.

(*)

complete anything that you are

doing here. (***)

You can always

return at

any time

if

you would

like to

spend more time

here. (***)

And now, when you

are ready, leave

this

room behind and go back out

into the corridor. (**)

Close the door behind you, but don't lock wish. (**)

65

it,

so that you can return

if

you

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE And

continue your

way on down

the hallway,

again passing door

after

door, (***)

you come

until

to stop in front of

a door on your

Again, notice the color of the door is

.

.

.

and

right. (*)

the label or symbol,

if

there

one. (**)

When

you are ready, open

Take as long as you need

this

to

door and explore what

very thoroughly explore

is

this

behind

it.

(**)

room.

(pause for one minute)

Remember to make

that

at

you have the power

all,

to

make any changes

that

you want

within this room.

(pause for one minute)

Now when

you are ready, begin

to

complete what you are doing

in this

room. (***)

Remember

And now

Go

that

leave

back out

it.

And

you can always

this

return here

room behind.

you wish. [***)

(**)

into the corridor, close the

door behind you, but don't lock

[**) this time,

came.

back down the hallway the

retrace your steps

first

door

Notice any changes

in

you entered.

that

Back through the room of

Back out the into

your image. (**)

reflection, (*)

front door. (*)

your environment. (**)

Making any changes

that

a comfortable place

you want to

sit

.

.

Meditate on what you experienced

and what

(**)

mirrors. (*)

your

Back through the entrance hallway.

find

way you

(*)

Back past the

Back

if

it

might

mean

to .

make and

within your environment,

to meditate. (**)

in

the house of doors (*)

to

two minutes)

to you.

(pause

for

one

66

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES When find

you are ready,

a few "keys"

(*)

to bring

back with you when you reawaken,

(*)

remind you of where you have been, what you have experienced, and

to

what you have gained from

may be

These keys

words, or phrases experience present

your

In

.

.

.

even

.

.

anything that

tastes, smells,

will

help you

remember your

sounds, and textures that were

your meditation.

in

own

.

that experience. (*)

images, symbols, body sensations, colors, emotions,

time,

when you are

ready, begin to allow yourself to find a

closure for your meditation. (***) In

your

n

back

own

when you are

time,

to the outside

Allow yourself

to

feeling alert

.

.

space. (**)

reawaken and .

ready, begin to allow yourself to return,

and

return, (*)

refreshed. (***)

Take several deep, rapid breaths, (**)

and allow

Open

yourself to stretch, beginning with fingers

GROUNDING When

toes. (**)

you do

this

THE EXPERIENCE

meditation you might want to have a pencil and

paper handy. You have probably had this

and

your eyes and reenter the outside space.

meditation that will

(a)

give

a

number of experiences within

you information about yourself and

remember what the meditation state of consciousness felt like so that you can re-create these experiences and return to this state more easily next time. You may also have some unfinished business in the house that you would like to go back and finish in a (b)

help you

subsequent meditation.

Because

it

is

the nature of meditation brainwaves to be near or

below the conscious border, meditators experience

—tend

—

especially those

to lose or forget the content

67

with

less

of the exercise very

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE easily.

Remembering

ability to

meditate

of the experience will help build the

details

in the future, reinforcing this state as a familiar

brainwave pattern.

So how do we bring back content?

you were producing

If

a

true

meditation pattern of theta and- alpha, you will have already created the bridge that allowed

ence while

it

you

however, the material will Because nothing it

be aware of the content of the experi-

to

was happening.

is

drawing

If

it

is

low

in frequency,

only halfway along that bridge.

strongly

around and

will literally turn

your alpha

travel

slide

enough toward consciousness, back

down

into the subcon-

you know that you had the experion the tip of your tongue, but emerge from the subconscious.

scious (Figure 3A). In these cases,

ence, and

it

even

feels as if

you can't quite get

What you need

to

it is

it is

a tool to

there

bring your experience into

full

con-

you emerge from the meditation state. To bring it all the way up into your beta waves, you must put it into thought form (Figure 3B). The best way to do this is through scious awareness immediately after

words. Writing or speaking about the experience immediately after it will draw the contents up into your beta mind you can retain them consciously. If you are practicing this meditation alone, you may put it into words by writing it down. Write down your "keys" first. Then go back and fill in the details. Recount as many particulars as possible. The more minute observations you can remember, the more the

you have completed so that

meditation will stay with you. into a tape recorder, so that If you are practicing these

Or you may

you have

a

speak

record of

it

out loud, even

it.

meditations with a friend or in a group,

you can describe the experiences to one another. Don't analyze or discuss the meaning at any length until everyone has had a chance to

make

their content fully conscious.

waves) about

you

someone

else's

If

you

talk

(using your beta

experience before you report on yours,

your content, because analyzing their story

are also likely to lose

may break

the link of your conscious mind to your subconscious mind. Sometimes that link is so tenuous that the effort of activating your beta waves for discussion will pull you out of your alpha and theta, and the details of your own experience may fade. After every-

one has had

a

chance to share

discuss freely and interact

at least his

or her keys, then you can

without fear of losing your experience. 68

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES

BETA

ALPHA

Conscious Border

THETA

DELTA

3A CONTENT UNABLE TO BECOME CONSCIOUS

Activate Beta

content

N */ V

"

J

i

:/

*».

*

•% 1

i

content

3B

3C

DRAWING THE "KEYS" UP

RIDING THE "KEYS"

69

DOWN

Conscious Border

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

HOW

DOES WRITING DOWN KEY WORDS OR IMAGES HELP YOU RETURN TO THE MEDITATION STATE?

Meditation

is

.1

combination of sensations experienced on

sense, a

felt

many different lewis. By using your beta brainwaves to verbalize and make conscious the different ingredients and sensory experiences you had during your meditation, you will have to

content and to

its

how

it

feels to

time you want to meditate,

be in

a

a greater access

meditative

state.

down and remember

sit

both

The next

this felt sense.

drew up the contents your conscious mind, subconscious mind to you can simply your of reverse the route and ride those keys back down (Figure 3C). Using By making

use of the landmarks, or keys, that

you can find yourself once again in the meditationbrainwaves state. You have opened up the channels. The more you now use these channels deepen them, broaden them, and keys,

the

—

—

strengthen

them

meditation

state at will.

the easier

it

will

These keys can be many and

become

An

diverse.

for

is

surrounding me.

And

then

I

am

with descent.

my

knot in I

have

stomach

a sensation

is

floating in peace." Several

The words

this

my

down,

untwisting.

of

to reenter the

example of someone's

personalized experience might be "I'm going are dropping, the

you

falling

A

down

shoulders

soft darkness

a

deep

well.

of the keys here have to do

meditator might bring back are

"down," "untwisting," "floating,"

"soft," "dark," "falling," "deep," "well," and "peace." Choosing the three most personally evoca-

more

remember them all equally. (Once "dark" is remembered, "soft" may well immediately follow anyway.) So this meditator's keys might end up being "down," tive

often

is

effective than trying to

"dark," and "floating."

Another example rising

and

toward the

feel

is

light.

am flying on

"I I

hear

a

the back of an

the wind blowing through

my

hair."

immense

eagle,

around

me

The key words

are

kind of heavenly music

all

italicized.

Or,

briefly,

beautiful

Or

"I feel

pool" Or

myself sinking to the bottom of

"I feel

"I see the sun rising

myself opening,

high above

70

me

deep,

like a flower in full

and

feel the

dark,

bloom."

warmth on

my

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES skin."

Or

"I

am

surrounded by

a vast tranquil nothing."

It

could

simply be "the color blue," "a sensation of emptiness," "a feeling of expansion," "the sound of the waves."

Although each person's experience

is

unique to him or her, many

common, shared experiences are almost archetypal in nature. Findown personal keys, generated inside the experience, is usually much more meaningful than having external keys imposed upon

ing your

you. However,

if

you

are

having trouble getting deeply into

a felt

sense of meditation, using any of the above phrases might help you.

THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS OF

BRAINWAVE TRAINING So

far

you have looked

at

the body's relationship to meditation and

You have

the importance of relaxation.

also

experienced theta devel-

opment through the House of Doors meditation. In subsequent chapters, you will continue your brainwave training by learning how to reduce beta waves, access alpha waves, access theta waves, stabilize delta

priate

waves.

You

will also learn

amount of beta waves

how

to experience

an awakened mind pat-

tern and develop a high-performance mind. Although into this process at any level,

opment can be

I

and

to develop the appro-

have found that

you can

link

a step-by-step devel-

the most useful for most effectively mastering your

for,

is why the exercises follow a particular order Once you understand each technique, what it is used and how it affects you, you may find that changing the order to

suit

your particular needs

brainwave pattern. That in this

book.

will

be

useful.

Through

have found that diving into theta development lier stages

is

years of practice,

I

helpful in the ear-

of brainwave training.

ACCESSING THETA The key

—

to accessing theta

into your

own

is

to find a

subconscious.

The

theta brainwaves are those that take

71

way

to

go deeply into yourself

types of images that best access

you on long journeys. The

actual

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE image

itself

doesn't matter;

brainwaves that in

is

is

the effect the image has

help to access theta brainwaves.

deeper you tend to go. 1

it

on your

important, [mages that take you down, through, and

The more

Remember

you make, the

changes

the experience in the

House of

)oors meditation above. After stimulating alpha waves with the sen-

sual

imagery

m

the outdoor environment,

you went

front door, passing through an entrance hallway,

in

through the

and through

into

a

mirrors, down a long hallway, and into a room. Then the deepened your brainwaves even more by repeating it on the

room of process

opposite side of the

To help deepen under, over, around,

hall.

theta waves,

and

you can

You can

up.

also use

create your

images that take you

own

theta-accessing

meditation by developing imagery using these directional movements.

For example, allow yourself to go

.

.

.

— down —down and around long — an archway — tunnel and down ground — narrow passageway — big wrought-iron — up — square — of blocking hidden sanctuary — center of an octagonal space stairs

a

spiral staircase

under

deep into the

into a

along a

through a

gate

a steep incline

inside a large

over a pile into

structure

bricks that

a

is

the exact

Once you have

arrived at the

end of your journey, you need

have something to meditate about. that

you

will experience or find

It is

good

to

to set an expectation

something valuable once you arrive

in that state.

This expectation accomplishes two things:

it

you a structure lean, and it offers

gives

around which to meditate, something on which to you an opportunity to experience content in your subconscious, thereby building more theta waves. If you just arrive at the end of your journey and do nothing further, you might still continue to produce some theta, but you might also stop producing theta as soon as

you stop your journey. Having some 72

sort

of content

at

the end of

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES your journey gives your theta waves something on which to focus. This content in turn stimulates more theta waves, allowing you to

own inner workings. This of self-discovery cannot take place unless you continue

continue to learn something about your process

produce

to

waves

theta

in

proper

with

balance

your

other

brainwaves.

WHAT KIND OF CONTENT SHOULD USE? I

The content can be your

life,

or

it

specific to a particular situation or question in

can be general and simply focused on

broad cate-

a

gory. Examples of specific contents might be:

—which of two job you should —how design problem on drawing board work —how handle communication problem with your spouse —where money going come from Christmas —how your exam —what write magazine the

accept

offers

to solve the to

the

a

at

delicate

the

for the

to

is

presents

to pass

The

final

for the

to

you

possibilities are endless. If

specific question,

solve

article

are seeking the

answer to

a

however, you must guard against using beta to

your problem.

When

you

are trying to develop

an awakened

mind pattern, you need beta. When you are trying just to meditate, you don't want to engage your thoughts. So how do you meditate on a specific topic without activating your beta brainwaves? You

set

up your meditation

in advance. Sit

and get ready to begin, but before you still your mind and empty it of beta waves, think about what you would

down,

close

like to focus

your

eyes,

your meditation on.

If

you have

a specific question or

like those listed above, set an intention that you will get some information or guidance during your meditation. Then forget it!

problem

go completely and begin your meditation. Later, when you complete your journey down and get

Let

it

73

to the

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

place of stillness and meditation,

let

the information you are seeking

well up from your subconscious theta waves.

Don't analyze, think

about, or even try to understand what yon are experiencing.

saw

for later,

that

when yon ground

Yon can

the meditation back in your

beta waxes.

Answers can come in many different ways. One client, an airline flight attendant, wanted to know how to reduce stress in her life. She asked that question of herself and then forgot about

She was enjoying meditating, surrounded by serene and peaceful inner meditation room, gantic nose of

"Take

a

a

a lovely

when

completely.

it

image of her

suddenly the gi-

747 airplane burst through one wall and shouted,

vacation!"

complex managerial question about company. His meditation imagery was set up outside in the country. A gigantic eagle swept down, landed next to him, and asked him to climb on its back. The eagle then flew my very surprised but enthusiastic client to a small island, where he saw an image of the problem being solved. If he had refused to get on the eagle's back or had thought, "This has nothing to do with my question," and eliminated the imagery, he would have lost both the beautiful journey Another

client asked a very

his

and the solution

to his

problem.

Images are not always

come through amused

this distinct

just a sense

several times

and sensory. The answer may

of knowing what to do.

by people (myself included)

who

I

have been have confi-

dently stated after a meditation, "I really didn't need to meditate

we

didn't

on

knew the answer all the time!" Of course we did, but know we knew it before the meditation. We needed the

problem.

that

I

meditation to unlock that knowledge from our subconscious minds so

we could be aware of

it.

NONSPECIFIC CONTENT You Yon

end of your journey down into the meditation state. actively producing alpha and theta brainwaves and very little

are at the are

beta waves.

do

to stay m this state and meditate. What do you happen without working on a specific issue?

You want

to allow tins to

74

— MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES you have no focus, only the assignment of meditation, it is you will have a deep, meaningful, spiritual meditation experience. It is also possible that you will have a relatively contentIf

possible that

free

period of quiet

stillness. It is

further possible that your

wander. The squirming of the worm in the brain will get bored. You will fall asleep. Or you will

mind

will return. start

will

You

thinking

perhaps planning what you are going to do after your meditation.

Try

it

and see what happens.

meditation

which

state,

then

to focus will

it

is

If

you have trouble holding the

probable that having some content on

be helpful to you.

It

will simply provide

some-

thing for you to lean on, an anchor to hold you in the state of

consciousness you have achieved through your journey down. If this is

the case, give yourself a general topic

You might want

on which

to focus.

choose from the following:

to

—connecting with your higher power —connecting with your higher — —healing —expansion —withdrawal —energy Appendix on — self

self-healing

others

kundalini)

(see

love

—light

There

are

many

possibilities.

you. If a certain focus

of content helps hold you in the meditation

state better

than others, use

completely.

You may

it

to

until

you

are comfortable letting

go

always find that having a focal point like this to

your meditation will give you

meaning

Try out several and see what works for

something

logical exercise in stress

that

a greater

depth of experience and add

might otherwise become

management.

75

just a physio-

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

COMPLETING THE MEDITATION Don't just suddenly

say,

the meditation. This

is

"Oh,

I've

comfortable way to conclude. the end of the

got to stop!" and

a recipe for

memory

You can

jump up

loss, as

well

as

use the guidelines

House of Doors meditation

for

I

out of an ungave

at

grounding any medi-

tation. First, before you leave the meditation state, find a few keys to help you remember where you are and what you have been experiencing. Crystalize your experience into a few images, symbols, colors, sensa-

tions, or

words. As you reawaken, bring those keys into your beta

mind by writing them down, speaking them, or at least thinking about them. Reactivate your body slowly. You want your reemergence

to

be pleasurable and complete. Start with the periphery,

moving, stretching, and wiggling your fingers and

toes,

and

turn slowly into a full-body stretch. Take several deep and

let that

somewhat

rapid breaths. Notice what

it feels

like as

you reawaken! This will give you important

biological feedback that will

meditation

state

show you

and the waking

state.

the difference between the

The more you can become aware

of the difference in these two states and the sensations of the journey between them, the more you can learn

"BUT If

I

to

master that journey.

ALREADY KNOW HOW TO MEDITATE!"

you have

use

it!

book

a method of meditation that works for you, by all means Refer to the descriptions of subjective experiences in this

to get an understanding

of what brainwaves you are producing while you are meditating. These descriptions relate to the state of meditation, not the

method of entry

into that state or the content of

the meditation. If

you wonder whether another method of entry might give you a your state, perhaps you can try it

different perspective or slightly alter

76

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES without giving up your normal practice. Alternating techniques works for some people. Perhaps just adding a new method occasion-

you some additional insight and inspiration. No matter which approach to meditation you use, which philosophy or theology you follow, or whether you are a beginner or a ally will

give

long-term meditator, there are certain

common

problems that you

might, on occasion, encounter. Solutions to these

can

difficulties

often be found by understanding the brainwave activity behind

them.

SOLUTIONS TO COMMON MEDITATION

"PROBLEMS" If

you are meditating and

still

have

a

hook

outside world, what can you do about

into the it?

You know you

are meditating, but at the

you

involved, inappropriately and against your wishes, in

that

is still

same time there

is

a part

of

form of pure thought, such as making in your head; mental conversations; or thinking about something you ought to be doing, want to be doing, don't want to the outside world. This can take the

list

be doing, are

afraid

of doing, or are excited about doing. In other

words, you are thinking on top of your meditation.

Sometimes,

when you

tions into the past

manage

successfully

and the

by turning the thought onto the meditation

might be thinking about that

still

itself.

sneak back in

In this case

you

are doing, thinking about the fact

you are not thinking about the past or the future, or worrying

about the

all

you are going and contortions

fact that

marvelous twists In

how you

to turn off the projec-

problem can

future, this

of these

situations,

to

think.

Beta waves can get into

to stay active!

your higher-frequency beta waves

are the

culprit. If you find that no matter what you do with the content, some form of beta pops back in, begin to pay attention to your tongue. It could end up being the most important key to getting rid

of those thoughts.

77

m

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Every time an unwanted thought comes through, breathe relaxation your mind, and

consciously relax your tongue as you exhale.

you truly get the experience

until

of relaxation into

into

Exaggerate

it

your tongue. At the same

time that you are breathing the tension out of your tongue as you exhale,

away

breathe any thoughts

There

outside world.

Some

meditation

state.

a

a

hook

into the

low-frequency, high-amplitude beta waves are

below thought

actually experienced

were going on, or

too.

ways than thoughts to keep

are subtler

You may

almost

level,

buzz that won't

mental

static

fully into

your

as if a

you enter

let

experience these waves

also

wanted awareness of the outside world, something impossible for you to quite

as

that

an un-

makes

it

go of your perception of the room

let

around you. Because these experiences happen below the

common

frequencies

of verbalization and subvocalization, relaxing the tongue may not

my

clients

is

The

problem.

easily solve this beta

best solution

Going

very deep relaxation.

eliminate these holdout beta waves.

It is

have found with

I

into a deep theta state helps

important to ensure that

also

you won't be interrupted. If we are unsure of whether our meditation might be disturbed or violated in some way, our innate survival mechanism may be what is

your meditation space

is

safe

and

that

producing that low-frequency beta hook. Put out the

I'm not kidding

cat.

—

the sudden jolt to the system of

an unexpected heavy object landing on you in deep meditation

enough is

a possibility that

phone (and turn housemates

on

it

most experienced meditator

to give the

know

you have

if

might happen

it

again.

you

are

I

—lock your door and put

plagued by

a

hook

don't want to give the impression that

necessary to take such elaborate precautions.

be able to

sit

in the

be able to do just first

we

deep

hooks

is

a

is

there

meditation

as

a sign

into the outside it.

it

will always

would be optimal

be to

New

York City and you could at home. But

have to learn how.

Sacrificing alpha to get rid

possible.

It

middle of Times Square in

as

if

Turn the ringer off on the

world, these precautions will help you to alleviate

But

hook

on the answering machine). Let

off the audio

not to disturb you to. If

a beta

to

For

of beta:

A

go so deeply into trance

many people

to

do 78

way of dealing with beta state that beta is no longer initially, however, it would

surefire

this

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES require almost a loss of consciousness.

It is

so important for

you

to

begin to experience yourself without the beta that you may be willing for

time to sacrifice your conscious, clear

a

memory of

the

meditation so that you can get to the depth you are seeking. Lie

down

Don't try to remember the meditation. Use muyou have an appropriate one) a guided relaxation to lean on. Go as deep as possible without worrying about staying conscious or remembering content. Once you have learned to really let go of the sic

or

beta,

again

to meditate.

(if

you can deal with bringing back the alpha waves and once becoming more consciously aware of your experience.

WHAT

IF

THERE ARE NOISES THAT DISTURB YOU AND KEEP

YOU FROM MEDITATING? you hear an unwanted sound from the take you deeper inside as you withdraw yourself

Use them. Anytime outside, use

away from

to

it

it.

they actually

I

that

know

cause

it

tion.

"The sound of

gives

people

who

have gotten to the point where

welcome a disturbance such them an opportunity to get to the noise

is

outside

—in here."

as a

a

phone

ringing, be-

deeper level of medita-

—out

there.

I'm inside

myself

HOW CAN YOU

WHEN YOU ARE

STAY CONSCIOUS

ACTIVATING YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS? The answer

in terms

of brainwaves

your beta inactive while you this practically (seen, for

tion)

to use

is

imagery

present in your theta.

is

to

keep your alpha active and

are developing

your

theta.

A way

to

do

example, in the House of Doors meditato activate the alpha.

mind while you

are

Hold

that

imagery

going deeper and activating

For example:

healing room — your mind and meditation room, experience very —Using many help your alpha room, and allow your—Find comfortable within After clearing

relaxing, visualize a

sanctuary).

(e.g.,

senses as possible,

as

will

waves.)

activate

place to

a

self to

go into

a

it

sit

this

deep meditation. (Activate 79

theta.)

clearly. (This

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

Inserting this meditation within

a

meditation will help you estab-

the alpha necessary to maintain the bridge to your subconscious

lish

mind before entering

the deeper part of your meditation.

HOW CAN YOU REMEMBER YOUR

MEDITATIONS?

The information above about grounding the experience portant

them

—

But you have to

do

finding keys to

i.e.,

into the beta waves,

this.

A

have finished

remember

very im-

is

the experience, bringing

and verbalizing the content

some way.

in

be able

to have the alpha present as a bridge in order to

period of quiet reflection about if

will help. In

the meditation before

you

other words, create a definite transition

period. You are no longer in the contents of the meditation and yet you have not yet completed the meditation. Go back to the imagery that you originally set

up

—

the healing room, meditation room, or sanctuary.

Sec yourself there once again (alpha) and meditate on the meaning of your experience.

HOW CAN YOU

KEEP FROM FALLING ASLEEP? It is very important not to go into pure delta when you are meditating in other words, fall asleep. If you are a sleeper, it may help

—

you

to sacrifice the

depth of meditation for the

Then

meditation while staying awake.

Some is

people

fall

asleep almost as

soon

ability to

a light

as

they close their eyes. If this

you, don't close them! Meditate with your eyes open, using an un-

focused gaze resting lightly on an

producing alpha

from

at first,

but

object.

You may have more

this difficulty

is

worth

it

probably keep you from falling asleep.

go deeply into meditation while

to focus

since

if

trouble

keeps you

it

falling asleep.

Sit upright without leaning back against a chair or wall.

to

have

gradually learn to go deeper.

The

trick

sitting upright.

This alone will

now

is

Now

to learn

you need

even more strongly on learning to produce theta waves,

you no longer have

sleep to rely

state.

80

on

as

an alternative altered

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES

SNORE, DOES

MEAN

I'M ASLEEP? workshop there will be two or three people who are snoring very loudly. Afterward, someone invariably comments, "O.K., who were the sleepers?" No one answers. No one has experienced themselves as being asleep. If the IF

No, not

I

necessarily.

Sometimes

snorers are pointed out, they

may have been aware

IT

in a

may

that they

express complete surprise, or they

were making

a noise

deep in meditation to want to do anything about Snoring

and nose

is

a

function of

you breathe.

as

how

It

If relaxation

are producing.

has nothing to

it.

mouth complete and your body is in

the air passes through your is

a particular position that constricts the passage

quite likely.

but were too

of air, then snoring

is

do with what kinds of brainwaves you

Most people who

find themselves creating this noise

while they are producing beta or even sizable alpha waves are uncomfortable about

from happening.

so they shift their

it,

person

If a

is

body position

to prevent

it

producing theta without an alpha

bridge, he or she probably won't even be aware of snoring because, in a strong, pure theta state,

he or she will not be conscious of

anything. People producing strong theta and a

enough of

a

Often they

are so

feel like

little

alpha

may have

bridge to the conscious to be aware of their snoring.

deep in meditation, however, that they

doing anything to stop

it

really don't

because they don't want to

alter

their state.

Snoring does not detract from the meditation

state as

long

as it

does not make you se/f-conscious if there are others in the room. It may bother the other people, however. Use it as a form of biofeed-

back

telling

you

check up on the

that

you

are very deep. If

you hear yourself

snore,

of your consciousness. Are you asleep or are

state

you awake? Are you conscious of the content of your meditation? Slightly shift your state if necessary to be more where you want to be.

HOW CAN YOU Producing alpha waves have seen,

if you close

KICK START YOUR ALPHA WAVES? is

physiologically linked to your eyes.

your

eyes,

you

81

will

As we

produce alpha quicker and

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE stronger than

if

yon keep them open.

you

//

roll

your eyes upward

in

your heady you will produce alpha even more.

Try

this exercise:

—With

your eyes closed, inhale and gently raise your eyes

to look

toward the center of your forehead.

—When you exhale, — Repeat several

lower your eyes.

times.

(Note:

Do

not strain your eyes.

If

you

any

feel

discomfort, stop immedi-

ately.)

Now

—With

try

it

this

way:

your eyes closed, exhale and gently raise your eyes

to look

toward the center of your forehead.

—When you

inhale, lower your eyes again.

Most people find the more effective. However,

first

a

method more

few have

difficulty

natural

and therefore

method know which works

with the

but swear by the second. Try both and you will

first

for you. I

suggest

you use

this exercise sparingly.

After a few minutes,

its

alpha-producing quality diminishes. Also, the eye muscles are very delicate

and easy to

tire,

and creating eyestrain would be counter-

productive to what you are trying to do. the most

—

at

A few breaths—five to ten at

the beginning of the meditation

would be most

effec-

tive.

A

NEW GATEWAY TO AN ANCIENT PATH

The

state

are.

With

of meditation

available the state as

is

nothing

the development of

new

—only

these descriptions of it

modern technology, we now have

means of measuring and monitoring the meditation

never before. In our Western world, people sometimes want

to use technology such as an

EEG 82

to

determine the

validity

of the

MEDITATION AND HIGHER STATES masters, to discover

they are reversal

in.

of

My

this

The

Taiwan.

even

are really in the state they claim

shown me an

interesting

class in a Taoist

temple in

travel in the Far East has

mind-set.

was teaching

I

whether they

sea

my work

to a chi

kung

of faces in front of me was disbelieving and

resistant,

Getting the information across was tricky because of

hostile.

the language barrier and the need for constant translation. Also,

was bringing was I

a

a

machine into

their sacred sanctuary!

On

top of that,

I

I

woman!

introduced the equipment and the theories, drawing pictures of

the brainwaves, including the

board.

asked for

I

and was met with

a

awakened mind

volunteer to be connected to the silence.

The

chi

on

pattern,

a black-

Mind Mirror

kung master looked around the

that no one was going to come forward, so he raised hand and volunteered. His students looked at him in concern and

room and saw his

awe. I

was more than

go

lecture to success.

a little

nervous

at this point,

was nothing

right, yet there

I

because

certainly couldn't guarantee that the master

I

I

wanted

this

could do to ensure

its

had the right

brainwaves.

hooked him up and, with great relief, was able to point to his perfect awakened mind pattern showing on the screen. Then I pointed to the picture of the awakened mind I had drawn on the board to show that they were the same. I

The group of reserved and laughter.

As

if

resistant students

broke into smiles and

one body, they moved forward to surround the mait, touch it and see it for what it was. They all

chine, to look at

wanted

to

be the next one to

try

it.

They had used the master to validate the technology rather than way around. Only when they saw his perfect awakened mind pattern did they know the Mind Mirror worked. the other

83

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND two ways of looking

are

There

at

consciousness

sciousness and content of consciousness.

addressed the

ily

So

of consciousness

state

state

we

far,

as

determined by

brainwave frequencies. But what about the content? actual material direct

it,

The

of the mind?

and use

it,

on which brainwave

When we we

can

we work with

What

it,

the

is

understand

it?

material of the

our thinking

How

of con-

have primar-

processes

mind

state

takes several different forms,

it

is

being experienced

in.

depending

For example,

occur within the container of our beta waves.

remove the material of the mind by quieting our thoughts, and empty field for the content of the alpha and theta

create a clear

waves to dreams,

arise in.

is,

or inspirational insights.

priate beta brainwaves this creates

include sensory images, day-

memories and emotions, simple awareness of

repressed

whatever

may

This content

When we

add useful and appro-

back into the alpha-theta meditation pattern,

an awakened mind brainwave pattern,

such content

as

creativity,

problem solving, and

fertile

ground

self-healing.

for

The

awakened mind brainwave pattern with this kind of valuable, beneficial, and constructive content gives us the high-performance mind.

The

material of the

the next few pages

more bothersome deeper

states

mind can be both

we

will

look

at

types of content

—

of consciousness. Then

content that occurs

at

the border

helpful and bothersome. In

how

to deal with

some of

the

the static of beta that hinders

we

will explore the

mental

between the conscious and subcon-

84

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND scious in the alpha brainwaves, and finally, the substance of the sub-

conscious that occurs in the theta waves.

REDUCING THE CHATTER OF BETA WAV Many of our tude beta

S

earlier called splayed

of learning brainwave mastery

is

ruly thought forms under control.

The

following exercises have two benefits

brainwaves and they are tion,

you

short.

Even

will feel less stressed

after

to get these often

—they

un-

help reduce beta

only one minute of medita-

and more centered. Practice these

any time, but especially practice these filled

much high-amplibeta. One of the most

ordinary waking states contain too

—or what we

vital aspects

E

when your mind seems

to

at

be

with thoughts that you would rather not have.

ONE-MINUTE MEDITATIONS Stop and

sit

your mind

for in

one minute. Do not

any way. You can,

try to alter

if

your thoughts or control

you wish, time yourself on a watch

or clock.

What happened

to

your mind during that one minute?

—How many thoughts you have? —Where they come from? of your mind during —What was or minute —How many you change —Were you completely aware of your thoughts they were hapdid

did

the content,

subject matter,

times did

that

the subject?

as

pening, or was there a

back of your mind that

Can you imagine what spend that minute with

running commentary somewhere in you could tune into or tune out of?

the experience a

still

mind?

85

would have been

like

the

to

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

RELAX YOUR TONGUE again

Sit

for

either use

one minute.

This

is

done with your eyes

best

a timer or simply estimate when you

feel

closed. You can

one minute has

passed. You'll probably be quite surprised with your estimation the time you try

Allow your tongue

to relax.

Focus only on relaxing your tongue

— nothing

As you relax your tongue, you may Imagine that

first

it.

it

feel

it

floating in the cavity of

is

else.

shorten

and

thicken.

your mouth.

Exaggerate the relaxation of your tongue. Allow your chin

to

drop, your jaw to loosen, and your mouth to open

slightly.

Each time you exhale, allow your tongue and the whole mouth area

to

relax even more.

Do

this for

If

one minute.

you have not used

a timer,

look again

How much

time has actually passed?

during

minute?

this

at

your clock or watch.

What happened

to

your mind

—Did minute seem slower or time? than —How many thoughts you have? —What was content of your mind time? — How many you change —What do you think happened your brainwaves? a

the

faster

first

did

the

this

times did

the subject?

to

beta

Simply by relaxing your tongue, you can reduce the thinking

mind and begin

to let

go of unwanted

Try relaxing your tongue again, but

this time, after ten

think.

86

activity

of your

thoughts.

or fifteen seconds,

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

—What happens your tongue? — Does become more tense? —What happens your thought process? while keeping your tongue relaxed? — more to

it

to

Is

difficult to think

it

Experimenting with

you

meditation in different ways will show

your tongue can be an invaluable key to

that relaxing

your mind.

this

It is a

duce your beta brainwaves and begin to

When Even

people think, they have

you

if

feel tense

are not aware

—ready

stilling

simple technique that will help you radically re-

of

for action

a

still

your mind immediately.

tendency to

talk to themselves.

this subvocalization,

—when you

your tongue

will

You may ex-

are thinking.

on the back of your tongue or you may not feel it at all. If you relax your tongue completely, you cannot talk to yourself. Therefore, it is much more difficult to think.

perience

Let's

this as a gentle

look

now

at

pulling

other ways of

mind can more

beta so that the

remaining brainwaves.

One means

the beta waves something

stilling

the mind, turning off the

readily experience the benefits

of accomplishing

upon which

this

to focus. In this

is

of the

to give

way you can

teach yourself to develop a one-pointedness of mind through concentration.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU BREATHE? One

of the most

to concentrate

Time yourself

effective

your

is

for

and

own

easily available focal points

one minute, and count how many breaths you have

during that time.

Do

not try to alter your normal breathing rate.

complete breath cycle of inhalation and exhalation

The

on which

breathing. Try another experiment.

is

one

One

count.

number of breaths per minute is between twelve and eighteen. What is your normal number of breaths per minute? If you concentrate on your breathing and allow it to slow down, you will average

instantly reduce

your beta brainwave

87

activity.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

SLOW DOWN YOUR BREATHING Lightly

down on your

place your hand palm

raise your hand.

thigh.

As you exhale, slowly lower

As you it

inhale, slowly

again.

In

this

way,

simply use your hand as a lever to gently begin to regulate your breathing.

It

is

make sure you are not forcing yourself to slow your Nor should you hold your breath or in any way starve

important to

breathing.

have an

yourself of oxygen. You simply

breath. You

may

points of

inhalation

full

wish also

and

to linger full

a

intention of slowing your

little

longer than usual at the

exhalation. However, there should be

absolutely no strain.

Once

again, time yourself, and allow yourself to count the number of

breaths that you have

your breathing rate

in

in

the

one minute,

this

time intentionally slowing

manner described above.

Afterward, notice the differences between the

first

minute of

counting breaths and the second.

— How many did you time? —Was fewer than —How long did minute seem? —What were your thoughts compared —Did you remember keep your tongue —How do you breaths

take this

before?

it

the

to the

like,

minute you timed

earlier?

relaxed?

to

feel?

Notice what only one minute of slowing your breath can do to your sense of stress or relaxation.

88

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

CONCENTRATION EXERCISES Learning to focus your attention on one subject without letting your

mind wander

will greatly reduce beta waves.

awareness and

Begin

make achieving

this exercise sitting

few

expand your

will also

It

a meditative state easier.

with your eyes open. Choose

of you

a

spot to

You

look

at a

may

place something in front of you or use an already existing ordi-

feet in front

at slightly

lower than eye

nary object in your room. People often choose such

as a

choose something at

a flower, a

design

mandala, or an icon of some sort for the aesthetic value, but

the object of the exercise

look

level.

—not

the

is

to gaze at an unidentifiable spot, so if you

whole

flower.

pletely satisfied gazing at a spot

You can

one spot on the flower

like a flower, identify I

know some

on the

people

who

it

for about a minute.

your minute stretches into

to

com-

carpet.

use a one-minute timer for this exercise if

simply practice

are

you wish, or

Sometimes you may be

sur-

longer time period.

prised

as

Sitting

comfortably with your back straight, send your awareness out-

a

ward to the spot you have chosen. Become aware only of the spot. Let your awareness move outward straight line, from Let

you

in

a

to the spot.

your eyes relax and unfocus your vision. The spot or the area around

the spot ing

may become hazy

on an

or clouded. (Remember, you are not focus-

identifiable object

Allow your mind

—only on a

to clear of all thoughts

location.)

and images as you focus only on

your spot.

Afterward, reflect on your experience.

—How many thoughts you have? —How long minute seem? —Were you maintain your did

did the

focus?

able to

89

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Some

people prefer to focus on something within instead of

more comfortable with this technique, on which to concentrate. Favorite areas among have worked with include the heart area, the navel, the the people bridge of the nose, the center of the forehead, or the crown of the head. Your spot, however, could be anywhere inside that is comfort-

something outside. choose

If you feel

spot inside

a

I

able

—even your

closed.

inside

A

left

big toe. Practice

this exercise

with your eyes

form of these exercises involves learning how and outside at the same time. final

to focus

RENATA'S EXPERIENCE Following

is

the account of

tration exercises.

one

student's response to these

Her experience took

concen-

place in a group setting in Big

Sur, California.

At

first

I

sent

my

focus to the rock at the fireplace. As

my

became stronger and stronger, everything in my periphvision seemed to look like a negative. Suddenly I began

focus eral

seeing the aura of red around the person closest to this rock.

The next cult for

my

me, but not impossible.

stomach

seemed

The

on the

exercise of focusing

(since that

to have

I

realized

was the point

been nonexistent

inside

I

how

was more I

diffi-

had neglected

chose to focus on).

until this

It

moment.

of focusing on the inside while simultane-

final exercise

on the outside was the most incredible experience. Suddenly there was a merging between the rock and myself, and all I could feel was unity and love no more boundaries, no separation. Fascinated by this experience, I conously focusing

—

tinued

this practice

throughout the day while interacting with

people.

Renata's experience teaches us that meditations do not have to be elaborate or effect

done over

upon our

a

lengthy period of time to have a positive

perceptions.

Renata underwent

90

a

fundamental

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND change

in her perceptions

of her relationship to other people

practicing these simple focusing exercises. She goes

My

on

after

to say:

perceptions have changed completely by having discov-

ered this tool.

By

focusing on the inside while focusing on the

outside or the person

I

was interacting with,

I

once again

felt

only love. All superficial judgments disappeared.

Many

responses to these exercises are possible. Try not to have

particular expectations, but simply allow yourself to experience the possibilities.

MASTERING BETA WITH IMAGERY Images can

There

are

also

many

be used to master the beta contents of your mind. types of thoughts that

necessarily, ranging are several beta.

I

from the

listed

There

irrelevant to the deeply stressful.

imagery techniques that

have

may occupy your mind un-

will help

you master unwanted

some below.

1

Visualize the thoughts as gray clouds

thought that comes into your mind

wise clear sky. Gently begin

to

in is

a blue sky. See

blow away

and

in

an

Any

other-

the clouds with your breath

as you exhale. Continue blowing the clouds pletely blue

this clearly.

a puff of gray cloud

away

until

the sky

is

com-

clear.

2

Occasionally there are thoughts

you would

like to

in

your mind with emotional content that

eradicate completely. Imagine writing these thoughts

on a piece of paper, then throwing the paper Notice what you

feel

into

as the thought burns up.

91

a

fire

and burning

it.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

3

Sometimes you may have a creative thought or an important idea keeps returning when you are trying

Because you don't want to

like to store in

piece of paper, then

where you can

You can

store

If

there

is

it

away

in

to refer to later

that

your beta brainwaves.

a thought

some way, imagine filing

it

still

to lose the contents of this thought,

continue to distract you.

would

to

in

you allow

it

your mind that you

writing this thought on a

a briefcase or

cabinet

filing

whenever you wish.

notice from these examples that there are

many

kinds of

imagery that can be used to help you clear the contents of your mind. You may wish to try making up your

own

images to help you

master your beta brainwaves.

WITHDRAW FROM YOUR THOUGHTS is another excellent means of unwanted thoughts behind. Get into a comfortable position, allow your eyes to close, and take a few moments to relax again.

Withdrawal into yourself in meditation leaving

Send your awareness outside

of the building

you are

in

—

into the street.

Become aware of external noises. You may also be aware of the energy and atmosphere outside the building, especially if there is traffic moving around. Try not

or people

vibrations, but just

to label the noises or energetic

be aware of any sounds

that

you may hear.

Gently withdraw yourself from the outside environment into the building. Try to take

aware

Now

of

in

the

whole building, no matter how large

any sounds, energies or movement within the

it

is.

Become

building.

gently withdraw yourself from the rest of the building into the

that

you are

in.

Become aware

sphere of the room that you are

of the sounds, energies, in.

92

room

and atmo-

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

Now

room

gently withdraw yourself from the

Become aware

yourself.

energies within your

Now

where

place of

there

is

of the sounds, sensations,

stillness

stillness, silence,

and allow

own body

your

—

into

in

into

movements, and

exists inside

the place inside that

you a

is

quiet

that place for several minutes.

Anytime a thought comes through, use one of the techniques in this

into

a place inside your-

your center. There

and peace. Find

yourself to rest

have learned

—

own body.

withdraw yourself from your body

finally

self

into

chapter to release

it,

and

that

you

return to that place of

stillness.

As you prepare

aware

of

to return to the outside

what you are experiencing

body, the contents of your mind place of peace and

You may wish

to find

to this state of

—

space, very gradually begin to be

—the feeling of relaxation

and once again be aware

in

your

of the

stillness inside.

a few keys

for

what

this feels like to

consciousness more easily and

help you return

effortlessly.

These keys or

cues might be a body sensation, a color, a word, an image, or even a sound.

After doing these exercises, take several deep breaths and allow yourself to stretch and reawaken

Make

sure that

you

are

and

fully, feeling alert

refreshed.

completely back in the outside environment

before you begin dealing with

it.

In other words, these exercises can

you deeper into yourself than you are consciously aware of. Don't drive a car or operate any dangerous equipment without maktake

ing sure you are fully back.

THE MATERIAL OF ALPHA Accessing Alpha

The next

how

step after

you have learned

to access alpha brainwaves.

of alpha

as

soon

as

to control

Many

your beta

to learn

people produce some amount

they close their eyes. Alpha 93

is

is

certainly

much

THE easier to

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

tion to this rule can be visual artists.

accomplish their

their eyes to

more

One excepthose who use

produce with the eyes closed rather than open.

able to

I

art in a

have found that

meditative state are sometimes

produce open-eyed alpha

when

they wish. This could

include painters, sculptors, writers, choreographers, photographers,

and so

forth.

with closed

Our

However,

is still

usually not as strong as

it is

eyes.

goal at present

is

simply to practice producing

as

much

alpha

So close your eyes for the following meditations.

as possible.

Visualization

brainwaves. the senses

their alpha

It is

—not

when you

are

and various forms of imagery help access alpha important to realize that imagery takes place in just the visual.

visualizing

is

Using vital

as

to

many

the

all

of

senses as possible

production

of alpha

brainwaves. Relaxed, detached awareness and deep relaxation also help us access alpha brainwaves.

By

alpha

itself,

is

a

form of mental

relaxation and light reverie,

which is stimulated by all forms of sensory imagery. Alpha is that state between waking and sleeping where vivid and sometimes unintelligible images pop into the mind unbidden. It is also the place of daydreaming, where the mind wanders off into images of the past, the future, or fantasy. It is the gateway to meditation, where the scene is set, the groundwork is laid, and the bridge is opened to contact the deeper reaches of the mind. Adding alpha to your brainwave profile will promote better memory, greater retention of creative insights, and more useful awareness of deep, subconscious resources.

There

are

brainwaves. a relaxed,

two main ways of experiencing the content of alpha

The

first is

almost an absence of content experienced

detached awareness of whatever simply

is.

If a

clock

as is

room and a window is open, providing a cool content of the mind is simply that the awareness of the

ticking loudly in the breeze, the

—

clock ticking and a cool breeze.

Often, however, there

is

some form of imagery involved

in the

material of alpha. Alpha waves give us our clearest, sharpest, and strongest visualizations.

94

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

VISUALIZATION The concept of The adage

become very popular

visualization has

in recent

what you want to have happen, and it will happen" has been drummed into us from all sides. While there is much truth in this, a far more complex process must take place

years.

"Visualize

before the benefits can be truly reaped.

"BUT Many

CAN'T VISUALIZE!"

I

and whether or not they

are

doing

it

so discouraged because they think that they can't

They begin

trying.

them. Others do

it

that they stop

it

its

for

others

only

"it's

of being

fear

based on an inadequate definition of what

is

visualization actually

The next

is.

Still

value because

and doesn't mean anything." Often the

broader context, showing

work

oddly, or try to

be within the acceptable range.

incapable of visualizing

Read

do

but secretly feel they are doing

it,

experience the imagery but discredit visualization

correctly.

to believe that visualization just doesn't

limit their experiences to

one.

how Some are

people have fixed ideas about what visualization means,

to visualize,

how

section will place visualization in a

technique

this

is

accessible to every-

the next paragraph through and then follow the instruc-

tions.

Close your eyes. Imagine that you are going sort.

Is

it

a cup or a glass?

in

transparent?

cold?

How

What

full

is

color

is

finally, taste

it.

color

heavily.

Be careful not

What happened? What were you it?

Could you

see

it?

the container

it

up and

to

the

burn yourself

Is

—or it

is

it

hot or

weight. Put

it

bang? Smell

it.

hot. Drink

as

if it is

return.

drinking? Could you

Could you

95

feel the

Can you hear

much as you want. Open your eyes and

smell

is

have a drink of some

the liquid? Feel the container.

the container? Pick

back down on the table

Now,

What

to

feel

taste

it

or

or hear the container? If

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE you can answer yes trouble seeing

it

you can

to any of these,

The connotations we have come have done

visualize,

if you

even

to give the

word

"visualization"

Most

grave injustice to our mental imaging processes.

a

had

with the visual sense.

people believe that in order to visualize, they need to have the to have visual imagery, almost as if they

ability

were watching scenes on

a

mental movie screen. They believe they cannot visualize because they do not have the capacity to see images in quite this way.

What which would

they do not realize

to visualize

serve us

—

that they have five other senses

better here to change the

Each one of us has an

automatically use

first.

Since

ize

that this

is

fuller picture

the sense that

our only content. Not

with our access sense or any sense

much

build a

access sense,

often provides us the strongest

it

image content, we usually assume so. Starting

with

movement, smell, and taste. It word "visualization"

hearing, touch,

much

to "sensualization."

we

is

of any scenario

we

by adding input from each of the other

we

choose,

senses. All

can

of our old

become enriched and

suppositions about visualization can

we

are trying to sensual-

enlarged

by using sensualization. It is

beneficial to practice the art of sensualization

and to increase

the clarity and vividness of the material of the alpha waves. find that practicing sensualization not only helps sensualization ability;

it

also increases

You

will

you improve your

and improves alpha brainwave

production. Practicing the kinds of imagery presented in the following exercise will help you develop greater mental stronger the image possible, the

more

you can evoke, using successful will

your purpose. For the best

as

flexibility.

many of your

The

senses as

be your outcome, regardless of

results,

practice these exercises while

You may wish

them

sitting

or lying in a relaxed position.

a tape

recorder so that you can listen to the instructions and keep

to read

into

your eyes closed throughout. Otherwise, read one instruction, then close

your eyes and imagine

it

as clearly as possible.

it

When your mind

wander or you feel your imagery is as complete and can be, open your eyes and read the next instruction.

starts to

96

as real as

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

SENSUALIZATION EXERCISES

SEE -Begin by seeing as

many

colors of red, yellow,

and

colors as possible, not only the primary blue, but also the

ange, green, and purple and tones, lilac

and

.

.

tints

—

light blue,

secondary colors of

their various

or-

combinations, shades,

aqua, brown, pink, crimson, gold, peach,

Then add the opposites of black and white.

.

-Watch the clouds moving across a windy -See the vastness of thousands of stars

sky.

on a summer's eve-

the sky

in

ning. -Light

a match

a darkened room.

in

-Standing on top of a high mountain, beautiful countryside

gaze over

miles

and

miles of

below you.

-See a friend's face smiling at you.

home is on, quickly passing each house until you own front door. your window seat in a landing airplane, see the city, the build-

-See the street your

get to your

-From

ings, the streets, the cars, the airport,

get closer

and

and

finally the

runway, as you

closer.

TOUCH -Feel soft fur

-Walking

in

under your

fingers.

the park, run your

hand over

the rough bark of a tree.

-Caress the soft smoothness of a baby's skin. -Take ice cubes from the freezer

and

feel

them melt

in

your hand.

-Wash your hands with soap and warm water. -Experience the

gritty feeling

of brushing

sand

off

your legs at the

beach. -Imagine the

way

your scalp

feels

as you

97

comb

or brush your hair.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

-Experience the cool air on your steaming

body as you

step out of the

hot bath. -Feel

a roughly cut plank of wood, but be careful of the

splinters.

HEAR -the

sound of a

-the

whop

jet

taking off

of a tennis ball against the racket

playground

-children laughing at the -the dentist's

high-speed

wood

-the cheerful crackle of -a

foghorn echoing

in

drill

burning on an open

fire

the distance

-the

howl of a police siren

-the

dawn

chorus of birds waking you

and

-laughing voices, clattering cups,

in

the early morning

tinkling glasses at

SMELL -the

potent fumes you experience driving behind a truck

-the smell of

bacon

frying

-the soaps-and-lotions -the smell of

department

in

a store

a seafood market

-the smell of burnt toast

-your favorite perfume or aftershave -the smell of

bread baking

a bakery

brewed coffee

-the smell of freshly

-the smell of

in

shoe polish as you are polishing your shoes

TASTE the sharpness of pure the milky

lemon

foam on a cup

of

juice

cappuccino

menthol cough drop the salt

on a potato chip

a

bite of

a

crisp, fresh

sharp cheese

apple

cold vanilla ice cream melting

in

your mouth

98

a party

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND strawberry

-a large, ripe

-the

minty freshness of toothpaste

EXPERIENCE (KINESTHESIA)

—the sensation of walking downstairs the dark and — reaching up on a high a container you can't see —walking barefoot on a pebble beach baseball, — playing or your sport —dancing —struggling open a childproof medicine cap —sunbathing, or lazing on a deserted beach — receiving a warm hug from an old

feeling for the light

in

shelf for

tennis,

volleyball,

favorite

to

sheltered,

just

friend

Which sense provided you with Which was the weakest? Following is

most vivid experience?

the

a scale

on which you can

your experiences in each of the categories of

rate

senses.

SENSUALIZATION SCALE

— imagery, and Quite and well-defined imagery, — equal experience —Intermediate but imagery 4— Hazy imagery with minimal of ence —Formless, dim, and unrecognizable 6 — No imagery only thinking of experience 1

Lifelike

2

as

distinctive as the actual experience

vivid

representative of but not

clear

quite

to the actual

3

clarity,

still

realistic

representation

5

the actual experi-

indistinct

the

at all,

Did

the strongest images

all

occur in one or two categories, or

were they evenly spread throughout the senses? Did the strongest images

come

in brief flashes that disappeared as quickly as they

came? Or were you able

to maintain the vividness for a consistent

period of time?

Do

not discount even the briefest imagery flashes

.

Often people

will not

recognize or admit to themselves that brief instant of insight

99

when

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

the experience was extremely lucid.

They continue

to think that

they can't achieve clear mental imagery simply because they able

maintain

to

it.

If

you can recognize even

that split

arc not

second of

you can learn to lengthen it much more easily. Was there one sense that always occurred first, before the others were able to appear? This is your access sense. Often we use it without

clarity,

realizing

to activate the other senses in the

it,

example, you might see the jet

you might

feel

imagery process. For

before you hear

first,

it

taking

off.

Or

yourself strike the match before you see the light

it

cough drop before you taste it. Sometimes people are stuck in only one sense frequently it is visual. Notice, when you tried to hear the bell ringing, did you see it instead? When you wanted to smell the bread, did you find yourself looking at a loaf? When you have one sense that is overpowering the others, you can use it as the foundation of your sensualization; you can build on it rather than stopping with it. emits, or smell the

—

Try the exercise again, but

this

time use your strongest sense to

help you access your weaker senses. In other words, sense

hear is

is

it

and your weakest

visual

—but don't

ring

kinesthetic

is

auditory, see the bell before

is

visual, feel yourself

motions of striking the match before you see the is

your strongest

you

just stop at the seeing. If your strongest sense

and your weakest

your strongest sense

if

auditory and your weakest

is

go through the

light flare up. If tactile,

hear the

sound of the ocean at the beach before you brush the sand off your legs. Play with these combinations of senses and images in any way that will help

member

you improve the

that, ultimately,

the

quality of your mental material.

Re-

more senses you can combine to create more productive and meaningful

experience, the

a vivid internal

your sensualization will be.

As you

are developing

your imagery

ability,

you

are also

improv-

ing your alpha brainwave production. This means that you are im-

proving the bridge to your subconscious mind. practice, the better

your

become. This

improve dream

memory

will

abilities

The more you

for recalling theta contents will

access.

100

recall,

meditation

recall,

and

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT VISUALIZATION BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK The

following are some of the most

common

questions and miscon-

ceptions that people have about visualization.

WHERE DO YOU EXPERIENCE YOUR VISUAL IMAGERY?" The

majority of people experience their visual imagery somewhere

of their

in front

eyes, for

screen in front of

many

example,

as if it

were projected on

them or being acted out

live

other people do not see visual imagery in

locations

where imagery

is

the sides, or inside the

body

plexus, or stomach.

also possible to

two or more

size in

and one

body

in

back or off to

(not in the head) in the heart, solar

distinct locations

scenarios taking place at the visual field for yes

way. Other

this

seen are in the middle of the head behind

the eyes, in the back of the head, outside the

It is

movie

a

around them. But

have multiple visual

fields in

with two or more different imagery

same time.

I

have a client

visual field for no.

The two

who fields

has

one

change

accordance with the strength of each attitude.

"CAN ALPHA

BE USED FOR BETA FUNCTIONS? FOR EXAMPLE, CAN IMAGERY BE USED TO DO MATH?" Demonstrating the Mind Mirror in a class one evening, I asked the man who was hooked up to do a math problem in his head, fully expecting to show my students the normal beta that is usually stimulated

by

duced

this

Somewhat flush

type of problem solving. Instead, this individual pro-

copious

amounts

surprised,

I

of alpha

asked

of embarrassment he

waves

him how he

said,

and

very

did his math.

little

beta.

With a slight number has

"Well, you know, every

and when you add orange and green you get the answer." Another individual who utilized alpha to solve math problems

a color,

described his experience in terms of perspective. His system required

101

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

numbers be on the right, certain numbers on the left, at a distance, and specific numbers up close. He used a very complex visual formula to work out his math problem. You may be more familiar with the quite common practice of visualizing the numbers on the blackboard o'r writing them on a piece of paper that certain

other numbers

in

your mind. Perhaps the most interesting and unique response

young woman who produced very strong the answer. a child

When

learning

asked

math

how

I

had was from

while figuring out

theta

she did her math, she explained that,

in school, she had

a

needed

glasses

as

but no one

knew. Because she could not see the blackboard to read what her teacher was writing, she said she had learned her math by reading her teacher's mind!

"WHEN YOU LOOKING You can be in their

SENSUALIZE, ARE YOU OUTSIDE THE IMAGE OR INSIDE THE IMAGE LOOKING OUT?"

IN,

either.

own body

see visual imagery,

When

the images. their

Some it is

image

activity. If the

walk along

a

as if

as if

they are looking out of their

they feel a

hands and touch

ple, see the

people experience the image

using their senses in a very real way.

it.

as if

tactile

image,

it is

as if

at

own

they

eyes at

they reach out

Other people, mostly strongly they are looking

they are

When

visual

peo-

themselves doing the

guided fantasy, for example, instructs you to take

a

country path, they see themselves walking along the

path.

one way better than the other? Not necessarily. There are times when each has a function. If you want to use your imagery to make a change within yourself, the more you can experience it So

is

being inside you, the more effective your imagery will be. other hand, sometimes

we

dangerous or frightening, and

if

we

through the image inside ourselves, with

it.

By

were to experience

we would

distancing ourselves from the image,

I

whole

the

it

is

directly

not be able to stay

we

are better able to

control our reaction to the experience and therefore the

On

use imagery to explore something that

work through

process.

have even had clients

who

put

102

a clear Plexiglas wall

between

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND themselves and the image, further distancing themselves from a scene that

is

too painful or dangerous for them to experience directly. This

them

serves to give

a sense

right next to the image.

of safety not present

They can then

if

they are inside or

complet-

finish the process,

ing their imagery experience rather than abandoning

it

in fear or

pain.

The optimum inside

situation

would be

and outside the image

at

paradoxical to you, but not only for

some people.

to have the ability to

the same time. This

is it

possible,

it is

actually

go back to your walk along

Visualize the scene the colors

and see

and shapes.

that

on

the vegetation

Now

stop

down

this

and

as

if

them

See

either side of the path.

Feel the textures with your fingers. Notice the

and sounds.

you are inside your own body looking

start the

together.

country path.

time of day, the weather, the temperature, the smells

perience

common

In order to develop your mental flexibility, try

practicing each imagery style separately, and then try Let's

be both

may sound

Ex-

out.

exercise over. This time see yourself walking

the country path. Place yourself

in

the picture

and look

at

it

from

the outside.

Was one of these methods easier than the other? Practice both so that they become familiar. Now see if you can combine the two. At first you may find yourself switching back and forth. Then the switching back and forth becomes more and more rapid. Finally you experience both perspectives

at

the same time. Having the mental

move around within your imagery in this way will give maximum results when you wish to use your imagery to

flexibility to

you the

accomplish something.

"WHAT ARE

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ALPHA IMAGES

AND THETA IMAGES? Images generated by alpha waves are

more

7 '

clearer, sharper,

vivid than those generated by theta waves.

stronger and

more

varied.

The

The

and usually colors are

edges are cleaner. Images generated

103

THE by pure alpha are

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

also less

meaningful and do not seem to be coming

from deep within you. Like the exercises described above, they

In contrast,

and

fuzzier,

and

ful

Or

arc

on command.

easier to create

images generated by theta waves are usually darker,

less distinct.

feel as if

They can be

intensely personally

meaning-

they are coming from the very depths of your being.

they can feel

as if

they are divine inspiration, a

from some

gift

of higher power. Sometimes they seem to be surrounded in

sort light.

A

this

the truth,

is

—knowing

knowing often accompanies them knowing that this is the right action

sense of

to take,

that

know-

ing that you have touched something important inside. But don't

moments of illumination from your You can also swim around in your subconscious as if it murky swamp of perplexing obscurity.

always expect clear insight and theta waves.

were

a

Occasionally theta imagery will be preceded by or accompanied

by washes of blue or purple

colors.

These

Have you ever heard the

theta waves.

of

signify a strong flare

saying, "It

came

to

me

out of

the blue?"

"HOW CAN

I

IMPROVE MY IMAGING ABILITY?"

Practice, practice, practice! Utilize the exercises above to practice

on

when you your morning shower, when

the senses that are your weakest. Find times during the day

can close your eyes and sensualize. In the water

is

running over your face and your eyes are closed, take the

opportunity to sensualize the day in front of you. Imagine with

your senses what you would

problem or

come

to

a

like to

have happen.

question that needs to be answered,

If let

all

you have

of a

the solution

you through imagery. Leave the words out. Don't your images do the communicating.

talk to

yourself. Let

Don't

tell

forcement

is

yourself that you can't visualize. This negative rein-

very detrimental to the imagery process. Validate each

When

you have those brief moments of clarity and lucidity, recognize them and appreciate them, no matter how short they are. If you do that, they will inevitably return for longer image

as

it

comes.

periods.

104

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

COMING FROM MAKING IT UP?"

"IS THIS IMAGE REALLY This

is

ME, OR

frequent question that causes great concern to

a

Actually, the answer

quite paradoxical. Anything

is

AM

I

JUST

many people. you make up

comes from you; some

things simply originate in different parts of

your mind than others.

Some

images

arise

spontaneously out of the

subconscious, other images are generated by the conscious mind.

Compare

my

the qualities of your images to

descriptions above to

is coming from. working with the content of consciousness

help determine where each image Trust your imagery! In

with a

clients in

my

private practice,

I

find that often people

may have

theta-generated image of some painful part of themselves

nicating a message as to

why

they are undergoing certain

For example, a client remembers her pain and confusion girl

when

to

as a little

her mother abused her. Because she had always been told

had

that she

commu-

difficulties.

deny the

a perfect

validity

mind and

childhood, she has a defense mechanism

set

up

of these subconscious images. She sees the abuse

am

making it up?" If she is seeing it and feeling it in images coming from her theta waves, then it is valid. Even if the child condensed some images and eliminated others, the essence of what she is reexperiencing is real within herself. This does not necessarily mean that her mother abused her in the way she remembered. But it does mean that she has experienced

in her

asks

me,

"Is this real, or

abuse inside and needs healing for

Even

if

that.

make something up, the material experience had to come from some-

she were to intentionally

that she used to

where

I

inside her

approaching

make up

the

mind. Therefore, what she

as her

is

sensualizing

is

worth

experience.

THE MATERIAL OF THETA When

people

alter

and develop

their states

of consciousness through

may arise. People have a when confronted with the

meditation, intense emotions and memories diversity

of positive and negative reactions

105

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

unexpected contents of

What

their subconscious minds.

they do

with that content often depends upon the needs, experience, and psychological If

you

makeup of each

are confronting

over your head,

I

individual.

hidden traumas and

urge you to seek the help of a

professional. Getting proper support while ful is

subconscious material

effective, lasting,

and

may

you are getting in good mental health

feel

you

are clearing out pain-

be necessary to assure that the process

safe.

Educating yourself about theta waves and the subconscious and taking steps to is

actively access this

the most direct and effective

number of guidelines both with

it

previously hidden or elusive content

way of

dealing with

for accessing this material

in a healthy, successful

it.

There

and

are a

for dealing

way.

some examples of people accessing subconscious content. We will use the House of Doors meditation from Chapter Three as an example. When you open the door and see what is behind it, you are stimulating theta waves and releasing material from them. There are endless possibilities as to what you might experience, just as there are an endless number of theta doors to open. Here are some examples from my own sessions with cliBut

first, let's

look

at

ents.

Content:

Behind the door

is

a

room

seen the light of day for a long time. thick dust and

that has not

Dingy and

cobwebs and old deteriorating

been opened or

dark,

it is

furniture.

filled

It is

with

hard to

breathe there.

Wlmt

it: To the meditator this represented her subconwhole a place she had not visited for a very long time. She threw open the windows and added new ones that weren't there

she did with

scious as a

—

room and rearranged the furniture, and turned the room into somewhere comfortable to be. She now

before, thoroughly cleaned the

has a place in her

mind

to

go and meditate when she wants

to

quickly access her subconscious.

Content:

Behind an antique brown door, room.

a

man

finds his dying father

in a hospital

WJiat he did with

it:

Even though

106

his father

had died years before,

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND man

this

realized he

had never made peace with him. Therefore he

had unknowingly lodged

this

unfinished business and the pain of his

father's death in his subconscious. In his meditation, his

father

on

his

He

deathbed.

he cried with

asked his father's forgiveness for

wrongs he had done and told his father he equally forgave him. He held him while he died, something he had wanted to do but had not been able.

Content: A woman opens a green door to find, not a room, but a wide open expanse of beautiful countryside. Wliat she did with it: She realized from this meditation that nature is a part of herself that she had been denying. She lived in a city and spent her days in an office and had very little contact with the outdoors. She realized that she needed to give herself more time in nature.

Behind the door

Content:

is

pitch black darkness. Try as she might,

the client can see nothing. She leaves with discouragement.

What It

was

she did with

as

simple

it: I

as that.

asked her to go back and find a light switch.

She turned on the

light

and found

a

room

from her childhood where there were very painful memories. She was then able

to begin to deal

with those memories in

a healthy

and

conscious way.

on the door says locked. The meditator he can but he cannot open the door.

Content:

hard

as

What

The

to

do about

content that

door alone

label

The subconscious

it:

in there.

is

for

now.

My

Content:

The

label

on

right-hand door says

see

look

down

is

to leave the

the hallway for a door

what you can

find out about

the left-hand door says

life.

wants to protect the

suggestion in these cases

Instead,

marked key. Go inside and other door is locked.

really

107

why

the

death and on the

The images behind each door

labels.

tries as

fit

their

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE Wlnit like this

means:

it

The doors sometimes come

—dark and

to find out

light,

Wliat she did with

this

sad.

of opposites

in pairs

Simply explore the rooms

more information about your own subconscious.

Content: Behind a red

realized this

happy and

door

a fire

is

raging

—

a wall

of flame.

As the meditator stepped into the

it:

was the anger she had kept hidden away for

fire,

years.

she

From

she realized she needed to start dealing with her anger and

learning

how

to express

it

appropriately. This

room of fire became

a

place she enjoyed returning to over and over again to contact her

deeper

feelings.

Content:

The room

is

an exquisitely appointed meditation room.

and peaceful, and needs no changes. What she did with it: She found a place of serenity where she could return to meditate and find peace.

It is

serene, calm,

SKEPTIC'S STORY

A

One

of

my

students, a

man

I

will refer to as J.T., felt very skeptical

about the whole process of meditation. tion in the workshop, he expressed inside himself while strangers.

When

inside herself

Initially resistant to participa-

doubt

that

he was hooked up to an

much

EEG

could happen

in a

roomful of

he tried the House of Doors meditation, he was

had been wrong. His meditaindividual and idiosyncratic both the content and

pleasantly surprised to find out that he

tion illustrates

how

the interpretation of

His house was

a

its

meaning can

an image of himself dressed in entered led to

a

be.

chapel and the multiple-mirror section revealed a

long white robe. The

six-cornered side chapel.

first

door he

The second door

led to

what appeared to be a medieval torture chamber with a stretching table, which transformed into a deathbed. This bed depicted to him his potential laziness and lack of drive on his spiritual path. The message that he received was that he no longer needed to be afraid of hardship and death. With great emotion, he explained how touched

108

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND he was by the love

moved by from the

in this message. After this meditation,

EEG

power of the messages

the depth of his experience and the

his subconscious.

He

was

also

he was truly

how

impressed by

unintrusive

equipment had been.

DEALING WITH THE CONTENT The

following are principles you can use in dealing with the material

of the theta waves: Don't be

afraid of the content.

Whatever appears

is

part of you,

and

such deserves to be respected and even loved, no matter what You can always make changes

Nothing

inside.

about these images and the inner take this information

You don't have altering,

upon

act

do the work

all

and integrating your

You can always

them

to

and

return. If

again.

you want is

permanent or fixed

You can

it.

Understanding, healing,

at once.

may

issues

take time.

you found these images once, you can find

Try to leave markers, or find signposts to help you

reenter the state of consciousness

Nothing

is

they represent.

states

as

it is.

where you found the content

to revisit.

too

overwhelming or too painful

to

verance and willingness to heal have

a

eventually be healed. Perse-

remarkable effect on the

subconscious. If you don't find anything significant, don't worry.

Some

people are afraid

that they are not really in theta unless they are experiencing

thing deep, meaningful,

Theta can be Develop your

a place

spirituality.

creative,

or

some-

Absolutely not!

difficult.

of quiet contemplation and

rest.

Creating or strengthening

conscious con-

a

nection with whatever divine source or higher power you believe in will give

you

grounding

your

in

limitless

resources for healing, growing, and

theta.

109

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

INTENTIONALLY ACCESSING SPECIFIC SUBCONSCIOUS MATERIAL Chapter Three gave some

specific

guidelines for accessing theta

House of Doors meditation

brainwaves, but the

is

designed only to

Anything could happen inside the rooms belooking for content about a specific issue. What if we

access generic theta.

cause

we

want

to access specific subconscious material?

There imagery

aren't

many

are is

different

ways into the subconscious. Again, using

perhaps one of the most direct and effective tools, simply

because the imagery opens the alpha bridge allows

you

a better

content. If we

you go down and

and more immediate conscious awareness of the

want

to access specific material,

find imagery that can guide us to

A

as

what we

meditation like the House of Doors

is

however,

we need

to

are looking for.

easy to convert from the

you must decide the category of mateTry to find one image or word that describes it. For example, instead of the question "Why I am having a difficult time stopping smoking?" you might want to have an image of a lit cigarette or the word "smoking" in your mind. If you are

generic to the specific. rial in

which you

First,

are interested.

interested in exploring your relationship, instead of having

can

I

do

more

to

improve

my

relationship with Jane,

and

how

can

"What make

I

way I want it to be?" in your mind, use "Jane" or "relationship." Depending upon the problem you are experiencing, you might prefer something like "communication" or "fulfillment," it

the

or simply the image of a heart.

Once you have found to explore,

go back

a

word or symbol for the material you want House of Doors meditation. When you

to the

down the corridor passing doors, find the door with that on it. Open that door and explore what is behind it. Depending on what you find inside, you may want to bring up the more detailed issues once you are in the room. But you need to take it one step at a time and let the subconscious material take the lead. If you open the door with the cigarette on it and find an image of yourself inside, you may want then to ask that image what he or she needs to do to stop smoking. If, on the other hand, you open the are

walking

label

no

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND door and find

cigarette

have

room, or the grim

a hospital

reaper,

you may

of images. Let the information from the sub-

a different series

conscious take the lead.

Do

not try to control how the information

you. You can

still

follow the principles above for making

comes

to

changes inside

you want It is

—but

know what

helps to

it

is

going on inside that

to change.

uncommon

not

for people to have a lack of theta brainwaves

because some event or events in their past are painfully lodged deep within the subconscious and the psyche has decided to lock them

away from conscious knowledge. brainwaves of someone

who

It

can be fascinating to watch the

has subconscious material that wants to

remain hidden. It is

looking

possible, while

actually

at

EEG

brainwaves on the

watch the content being

monitor, to

around to prevent the con-

shifted

mind from becoming aware of it. Figure 1A illustrates someone whose alpha waves are strongly providing a bridge to the subconscious mind for the transmission of subconscious material up to the conscious beta waves. The problem is that there are no theta scious

waves to provide

My

access theta.

how

shows

subconscious content.

this

next step, in

such

a case

as this,

would be

This approach almost always works, but Figure IB

in

some

cases, the

mind

tries

another strategy to avoid

conscious contact with theta content. As soon

is

there, but the bridge

is

gone!

I

the

as theta appears,

moments ago

alpha that had been so strong only material

to help the client

The

disappears.

have seen people

shift

back

and forth between these two patterns repeatedly during a session, activating first alpha then theta, but never the combination necessary to sustain access to the content.

My block

solution to this problem itself

by means of

to

is

and content working together

state

work with

the content of the

two-pronged approach

a

that utilizes

to break through the block.

In the face of this obviously elusive, repressed material,

and

I

both

together must also face the decision whether or not

my

it is

client

wise to

continue working on retrieving an experience that could end up

being quite traumatic. pattern for past that

many

One

sessions.

client

I

will refer to as S.P.

She knew

that there

had

this

was something

exact in

her

was preventing her from going deep into her subconscious

ill

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

1A

with

of whatever had happened to

to pursue full awareness

memories returned only never

taste,

A

she

felt safe

or auditory.

to experience

know

she did not need to

it.

I

also explained to

me

for over a year, she

on

had enough information

go of the need for more. She was able to achieve issues she

her that

the exact details of the childhood occur-

rences in order to heal. Finally, after working

with

Her

encouraged her to move slowly and look for the imagery

I

when

only

as visual

her.

sporadically and only in kinesthetic imagery

incomplete story emerged from the pieces S.P. re-

grisly but

trieved.

IB

After long discussion, S.P. decided she really wanted

full recall.

and

CONTENT

ELUSIVE

had been dealing with and move on

this herself

a resolution

in her

showed

and

be able to

to

life.

amount of

Although

S.P.'s

brainwave pattern

elusive theta

when

she was working in that area, she was happy to

it

go.

She then

felt

still

ready and able to

work on

let

of the

a small

let

building her theta

Her continuing meditation practice concentrated more on connecting with a higher power and finding the right path on her life's journey. The decisions about how deep to dig and when to let go are very

waves with

a

more

personal ones.

when

I

spiritual focus.

never force a client to look

they are really keen

on

accessing

it,

at

way of their continued development, them work through whatever is concealed to

in the

resolution. feel

And

that place differs

buried material. Yet

and when I

it

is

getting

will definitely help

a place

of

satisfactory

with each person. Again,

if

you

unable to deal with your subconscious content on your own,

strongly suggest nals to

you

enlist the

watch out for

I

support of a professional. Danger sig-

are feeling

overwhelmed,

afraid,

or depressed,

or having any negative emotion connected with your endeavors that will not

go away or threatens your

112

stability in

any way.

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND Most people, however, can

feel

confident and safe in pursuing an

exploration of suppressed content through meditation and brainwave mastery. There are a

number of ways

to approach this.

USING YOUR STATE TO ACCESS YOUR CONTENT Direct biofeedback comes in handy here.

no

theta,

tion.

As

I

take

someone down

From

soon as the alpha starts to disappear,

back and ask them to bring

back.

it

the pattern of alpha/

into theta waves with guided meditaI

give

them

that feed-

Most people, with practice, can some people, how-

learn to sustain alpha while accessing theta. For ever, the theta

extremely

is

resistant to

Usually in these cases the theta

is

being present with alpha.

very strong by

itself,

indicating a lot

of repressed material.

Here I take the reverse approach, forgetting about the alpha iniand taking the individual into a deep and strong theta state. Then I carefully access a little bit of alpha. Letting a few images tially

return

at a

time,

I

begin to drain the subconscious of

its

material.

Teaching the meditator to sustain theta while developing alpha can be

more

a

effective

way of retrieving suppressed memories, but this on your own without guidance.

it is

harder to accomplish

''HOW CAN

I

DO THIS BY MYSELF?"

you can take to unlock blocks to subconscious material. The following is a form of meditation and internal dialoguing to help you move through the blocks caused by repressed material. With this meditation, allow yourself plenty of time and disturbancefree space to practice. As usual, read all of the instructions through before you begin and familiarize yourself with the steps you are going to take. Precede the meditation with a relaxation, but do not There

are steps

relax so deeply that

you

lose conscious awareness.

to have some gentle meditation music playing very ble,

so as not to be distracting

—

in the

113

background.

You may

—

softly

also

wish

barely audi-

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

THE There

is

one

MANY PARTS

basic principle necessary for practicing the following

exercises. Each of us

is

made up of many

of ourselves work together or separately There

are.

is

cause

parts.

All of these

to create the

different aspects

complex beings that we

a basic ecology within this system that assumes that each part

good of

ultimately working for the

words, has

OF OURSELVES

a positive

purpose.

somewhere along

the individual.

It

Every

part, in

seem

often doesn't

is

other

that way, be-

the line this part of ourselves has been mis-

guided or misdirected to do something that

in

reality

is

now

damaging. But the original role the part was intended to play was /or the benefit of the individual,

no matter how detrimental

that role later

becomes.

EXPLORING THE BLOCK 1

.

Before you begin, consider what you want to look for inside. For

purposes of block

2.

this

meditation,

—not what

itself

Still

will stay

of

any

very generic and focus on the

behind the block. That

your mind and relax your body.

and expectations

3.

is

we

Let

go

will

of

come

later.

any preconceptions

particular solution or outcome.

Create a framework of imagery

for yourself to meditate within in

order to access alpha waves.

(***

4. Take your meditation theta

— or longer deeper

if

needed)

—go deeply

waves. (***

— or longer) 114

inside yourself to create

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND 5. Slowly begin to get

block.

more

touch with the part of you that created the

in

not important to have a crystal-clear

It's

you can bring

clearly

nicate with

it

At

later on.

it

this

image

into focus, the easier

it

of that part. The

will

be

to

commu-

stage of the meditation, however, do the

best you can. All you really need

is

connect with the sense of know-

to

ing that the part exists.

6.

you

body

as clearly as you can

to manifest this part

connect with

to

color,

7.

some way

Find

way

may

This

it.

sensation, or other sensual representation for the part of

that created the block.

Begin

dialogue with

to internally

it,

so that you can

connection and get information. You can ask nicate with you.

what at

it

all,

If

the

would take proceed as

answers

in

to

answer

member

the

answer had been

"How form

it

this

Continue it,

to

"What

to

want

express

to ask,

why

do you play

seconds

thirty

dialogue with

understand role

there

is

is

no, ask

it

no answer

You may hear the

itself to

"How

you

in

whatever

long have you been

"What do you need?" (pause

to

If

yes.

answer

getting.

Let this part

able. You might

is

the

part of yourself. You might begin by asking,

are you feeling?"

there?" or

If

make further commu-

willing to

it

what you are

Dialogue with

yes, proceed.

is

may experience them as images or sense them may just be a kind of a knowing. Re-

words. You

to trust

is

it if it

allow you to communicate.

if

through body sensations, or

8.

— some

take the form of a symbol, image,

this it

in

to

one minute)

subconscious part of yourself

is

my

doing what life?" or

115

it

is

"What

to get closer

doing. You might ask, is

your positive purpose

THE me?"

for

or

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

"How do

specific questions.

you serve me?" You may also

Take some time on your

own

own

your

find

your explora-

to continue

tion.

(pause for at least two minutes)

9.

Express your appreciation to

for

you

this part.

Because

it

has been working

deserves recognition and appreciation, even

it

if

it

has

ulti-

mately caused you harm.

This step

is

hard

part that has

for

some people. They may have so much anger

been blocking

their

that the reason for the block has

progress that

been

it

hard

is

to

at

a

understand

Have

self-protection or survival.

here that your subconscious, although misguided, has your best

faith

intentions at heart. Giving

mean condoning

10.

Now

scious

continuing use of

explain to

mind

appreciation for those intentions does not

it

its

methods.

how you are feeling. Even if your conhow this part has been blocking you or is

part

this

realizes fully

detrimental to you, don't expect your subconscious mind to understand

without careful explanation. Don't blame. Use tion skills

all

communica-

of the

you would use with another human being.

Tell

the part

how

its

behavior has been affecting you (what having the block has meant

to

you and the

1

1

.

difficulties

it

has created).

Consider what you would

original reason for the block.

changed? What do you

like to

Do you

actually

have happen now. Look still

need

it,

want your subconscious

116

at the

or has that to

do?

need

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND 1

your subconscious what you want. Ask

2. Tell

you need

for yourself right

you and what

benefit

now.

If

has been doing

it

in

you get what

to help

it

necessary, remind

it

that

it

is

there to

no longer serves

the past

you now.

1

3.

Negotiate. Actually bargain with your subconscious. You can con-

tinue to use questions to help

need the

for protection or survival),

—one

that

side effect of the block. if

might be

"What would

needs

happen

14. it

in

this

5.

Come

ask

if it

this

it

to

would be

to

If

can

fulfill

this role in

to

doing

.

.

this

part for

this

thing else that

tion.

it

wants

you would

You may want

to

if

it

that,

me?"

or

"What

in

your

life,

to put

e.g., "If

I

do

block to disappear."

communicate with you

like to tell

make

material at a specified time

working or

way

willingness to cooperate.

its

to

still

Useful questions also

16. Prepare for closure. Ask your subconscious part

final things

a different

a deal with your subconscious. Perhaps you need

then you will allow

Thank

you

example,

for the better?"

a time frame or within some other context .

If

this service, tell

it.

take for you to stop blocking

make a change

(for

experience the negative

you no longer need

willing to stop it

communication.

be active within you

would no longer require you

and ask to

you with

role that this part plays to

it

right

if

there

now.

Tell

is it

any-

any

before you complete your medita-

plans to check back with the subconscious in

the future to see

if

this

reprogramming

there are any unforeseen problems that have arisen.

117

is

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE 1

Complete your meditation and reawaken, taking several deep

7.

rapid breaths and stretching

Ground

18.

writing

by putting your experience

the meditation

down

it

fully.

or talking about

into

words

it.

(pause for as long as you need)

you cannot find

If

And keep in

purpose to begin with, keep looking.

a positive

asking questions inside. Track

it

back

as far as

you need

to

order to find the original positive purpose.

A woman

Example:

wants to find the positive purpose for the

internal part of herself that

She

asks the pain,

is

"What

creating her intense emotional pain. is

your

purpose do you have?" The pain

Now here.

doesn't

this

She

asks,

seem

role in

replies,

like a positive

my

life?

What

positive

"To punish you!"

purpose, so she doesn't stop

"What is the positive purpose of punishing me? How The pain replies, "To make you feel bad about

does that serve me?" yourself."

Again no positive purpose. So she

asks,

"How

does feeling bad

The pain replies, "To keep you in line." make progress, though she doesn't yet know

about myself serve me?"

Now

she

where

starting to

is

this

is

Following

leading her. this

track, she asks,

me?" The pain

"How

does keeping

me

in line

you from making mistakes." Feeling this is still not a positive enough answer, she asks, "How does keeping me from making mistakes serve me?" She knows she has finally gotten to the root when her pain answers, "It protects you from danger." After tracking her pain back this far, she realizes that what she has been feeling is actually a mechanism she set up in her subconscious serve

answers, "It keeps

to protect herself from the

no longer was

danger of making mistakes.

a logical, effective setup,

initially

it

Though

this

is

might well have been when

it

put into place. Dialoguing with her pain further, she

discovered that

it

had been created

as a

118

defense against her

somewhat

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND abusive mother,

who

when

made

mistakes.

Our

subconscious

To became imperative for her self-protection that she not make mistakes, or at least make as few mistakes as possible. So her young subconscious set up this system. If she felt enough pain, she would remember to stay in line, so that she wouldn't make a mistake and thereby be in danger of her young mind,

her mother's

threatened her

she

it

and possible abuse.

disapproval

minds do remarkable things

in the

name of our own

protection and

survival.

THE FIRE

A

middle-aged construction worker came to

that

he could not

visualize,

me

with the complaint

nor had he ever remembered

a

dream.

A

brainwave profile showed the pattern of suppressed content. After only one session of working on severe fire he

had been

it,

the

in as a very

memory

young

returned to

him of a

child.

The images that he saw during that experience were so horrific he had made a subconscious decision never again to allow himself to visualize. The memory of the fire was repressed deep within his theta waves, and his brainwave pattern took care to never put him in a state of consciousness that might possibly allow the memory, and that

therefore the terrifying and gory images, to surface. After only a few sessions

of working with

this

and allowing the memories

and be expressed, he began to remember visualize

his

to return

dreams and was able to

during meditation.

Sometimes becoming conscious of the contents behind blocks is not so easy. The blocks are more complex and the stakes in remembering them are higher. It is advisable to go slowly and respectfully into subconscious content that has been intentionally buried. If you think you are going to have trouble dealing with the conscious

awareness of this material a

counselor or therapist

when

who

it is

exhumed, engage the

services

of

understands the workings of the sub-

conscious mind.

119

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

BEHIND THE WA One woman came unable to take

a

to

me

L L

of pain and

in a Tot

She had been

fear.

shower since she was eleven years

When-

old.

ever she tried to close the shower curtain, she was gripped with

She

also

had

memory

a

gap of several years surrounding

fear.

per-

this

iod.

Using the kind of internal dialogue described above,

The image

get in touch with the block.

thick gray wall that she could not

it.

We

thought

behind the

memory

saw was

mountain

a

more work

asked her to

go around or

was

over.

a high,

Through

of delicate work, she got the wall to agree to

several sessions

see through

I

for the block

block.

we would

When

—another

finally

come

she got through the wall

block.

We

had

to

to get through this block. Finally, the

very slowly to trickle in.

let

her

what was

to

all

she

do considerably

memories

started

She remembered her brothers abusing her

every time she took a shower.

This kind of inner dialogue can be adapted for the exploration of almost any kind of subconscious material. For example,

if

you

feel

disorganized or lazy, find a symbol or image for the part creating

your disorganization or

laziness

and find out what

positive

purpose

The steps are the same. The questions you You simply have a different central theme. You could do the same with fear of success, self-sabotage, emotion, such time there

is

as

any

feeling,

need,

behavior,

attitude,

you don't understand, you can look

tion

and guidance. You can make changes healthier

or any

desperation, anxiety, guilt, anger, or panic.

that

be

it

ask are the same.

serves.

and happier and have

a

psyche.

120

to

or difficulty

Any inside

your subconscious for informain

your subconscious wiring

more balanced,

stable,

and

to

clear

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

AN EXPERIENCE OF TRANSCENDENCE A

client

shall call

I

C.R.

is

a thirty-two-year-old therapist

who

has

done many years of personal growth work and is familiar with meditation and healing states. Her initial brainwave profile revealed a strong tendency toward an awakened mind pattern in meditation, with an overabundance of theta and delta cut off from her conscious mind by an inconsistent alpha bridge. She wanted to "get the subconscious out and strong in its own right." During the second and third sessions, we worked on stabilizing her alpha and helping her maintain it while accessing the contents of the subconscious. The block she found was a brick wall protecting her from an entanglement of abuse and spirituality. Through childhood abuse, she had somehow intertwined the two, which left her feeling as an adult that being abused had some spiritual meaning or necessity. At this point we realized that we needed to allow her

more

strong spiritual nature to manifest

fully, in

order to heal the

abuse.

She came to the fourth session with two major

issues. In

therapy

she had contacted an image of herself at ten years old, a radiant

young

girl

with long, blond hair

never trust me. Leave

thing that

often

to

alone.

I

who

said,

"Stop interfering. You

need you to

trust

my

process and

someshe had been looking for for a very long time. She also explore the issues in her life surrounding friendship. C.R.

stop trying to control

wanted

me it."

C.R.

felt this girl

was the key to

lonely and in pain because she experienced her friends

felt

not being

as available as

why

she

would

like

them

to be.

as

She wanted to

and contained" by another person was so necessary for her sense of well-being. Her hope was to find a better way to satisfy those needs without placing so

examine

feeling "connected, seen,

many demands on

others and consequently being hurt by their rejec-

tions.

As

I

took her into meditation, she went quickly toward an awak-

ened mind pattern with her characteristically strong subconscious and unconscious. She then contacted the ten-year-old girl, who be-

121

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE gan

C.R. described the experience, becoming some kind of a divine being, exuding strength and

process of transformation. As

a

"She

is

light.

She

time

...

I

am moved,

I

open where

powerful, beautiful, and gentle

fierce,

is

deeply touched.

have held on for

I

asked her whether

a

can

I

all

the same

at

feel a place inside

long time."

being could provide the support and

this

connection she was unsuccessfully looking for from friends. C.R. struggled with embarrassment, denial, and fear before she revealed

light,

am

I

eternal,

am

I

always here

am

am the whether you recognize me or

the words this radiant being said to her. "I

essence,

I

not." She reported feeling surrounded by knowing, by a sense of

"beingness that requires no action or thought," and by peace.

At

point she began to

this

experience

wonder why she hadn't been

Had

this state before.

able to

she been afraid that allowing

it

into

her consciousness would take away her need for any friendships? Eventually she realized that she had been worried that she would

become

hermit

a

if

herself Because of

she got in touch with the transcendent part of

this,

she had inadvertently expected her friends

and relationships to provide could find

her when, in

this state for

reality,

she

only within herself.

it

gone through both external and internal changes. She put her relationship on hold and traveled for many months. She wrote, "A great deal of reorganizing has taken Since

this session

place of what

I

C.R.'s

has

life

how view

think,

I

the world,

how

relate to others.

I

I

have talked about the session with few, since words seem so insufficient for the task inside

me

of

important abuse

I

as a result

I

am

nal rest that

I

as a child

.

.

.

feel protective

can

I

I

of what

had.

from the session did not damage

A wound

whole.

begin to heal

I

of the experience

shifts that resulted

experienced

the core

now

and because

is

One

have been searching for

122

all

of the most

realizing that the

my

that has festered for

finally relax

growing

is

essence

many

—

years can

and experience the

my

life?"

that at

inter-

MEDITATION AND THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND

THE MATERIAL OF THE MIND The high-performance mind

is

created by the combination of the

we have optimum state of consciousness to support the high-performance mind is the brainwave combination of beta, alpha, theta, and state

of consciousness and the content of consciousness. As

seen, the

delta called the

awakened mind. Judicious use of the content held

within those brainwaves will give us the self-knowledge ing.

This chapter has looked

at

are seek-

the development and manipulation of

mind through meditation. The next chapters high-performance mind in healing and creativity.

the material of the

explore the

we

123

will

J HEALING

heal

means

ToWhen we

to

look

self-healing

make whole,

at healing,

and healing

make

can look

others.

every resource available to us to ally,

we

to

at

it

in

selves

—

—sometimes

make

aspects

ourselves physically, emotion-

those same resources that

to help other people

two

Healing ourselves means to use

mentally, and spiritually whole. Healing others

our resources

make sound.

well, to

means to use use on our-

we

become whole.

SELF-HEALING Self-healing does not to

do

it all

bility for

by

your

power away

mean

that

—

you must heal alone that you have means that you take the responsi-

yourself. Self-healing

own

health yourself, rather than give your choices and

to another person. Self-healing

might mean

that

you

research and try the best possible treatments and medications available

from

as

many

sources as possible,

making informed and deeply method of treat-

considered choices about the ramifications of each

ment. Your best method of healing might mean not only to choose the path of surgery, but to seek out the best surgeon in the country for the task.

Or

healing might

mean

to delay or forgo surgery

instead choose a combination of herbal remedies, energetic

124

and

medi-

HEALING cine, spiritual healing,

ment

means

healing

and meditation. You might choose

with allopathic medication

this

that

you make

How are we able to tation,

and

faith in the

make

alter

we

can develop

YOU

and

those choices?

By

study, research,

medi-

guidance of a power greater than ourselves. In

a

taking this responsibil-

state for

optimum brainwave

balanced,

developing self-mastery of any biological function,

we

By

pattern.

increase our

master other biological functions. In taking responsibility

ability to

over our

Self-

continually monitor

your choices accordingly.

order to be in the best possible mental ity,

to supple-

the situation warrants.

these decisions

and

the process of your progress

if

own

body's functions,

and blood pressure,

raise

we

can learn to lower our heart rate

our temperature, redirect our blood flow,

improve our digestion. The

of consciousness that

state

while learning to do these things

is

we

to the process

vital

are in

of

self-

healing.

The brainwaves again, usually the

know as tern, we

state

that

the

awakened mind

can

utilize all aspects

our health. This

is

come from and

individual,

where

for self-healing

it

pattern.

and

theta,

and

once

delta that

While experiencing

levels

is,

we

this pat-

of consciousness to benefit

especially true for self-healing meditations that

involve imagery of any kind. to

optimum

is

combination of beta, alpha,

The

theta brainwaves allow the imagery

return to the subconscious, deep levels of the

can continue to create effective input.

The

alpha

brainwaves provide the bridge from the subconscious mind to the conscious

mind

so that the individual can maintain an

open flow of

sensory images and information important to the healing process.

Beta brainwaves provide the conscious mind access to the subconscious

mind through

communicate

his

the alpha bridge.

The

individual

is

able to

conscious thoughts, ideas, and needs to his

inner being. Likewise, he

is

able to understand,

on

own

a conscious level,

the deep inner needs, feelings, and experiences that are stored or

hidden away inside him.

125

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RELAXATION AS SELF-HEALING Though

the

optimum brainwave

state for self-healing

awakened mind, deep mental and physical

relaxation

usually the

is is

also useful.

This type of meditation does not require the meditator to maintain conscious awareness and alertness throughout the meditation. Instead

of using alpha waves to create subject dives

down

on the

position this state

a

bridge to the subconscious, the

mind as deeply as possible. If we wish to graph on page 44, we would place it in the

into the

extreme bottom left-hand corner.

Note

that

even

if

the meditator

is

producing only

delta, the physi-

well below the normal sleep state, which indicates form of deep trance state. With this depth of physical and mental relaxation, the individual's body and mind are put into a restorative, regenerative state, a very deep form of rest. An hour of cal relaxation

that she

this

is

kind of

Imagine

is

in a

can be the equivalent of several hours of sleep.

rest

if you

meditate two hours a day in

and get your normal

six to eight

this

hours of sleep

deep restorative a

night

state

—

your body

would have so much more time to heal. This method of self-healing is especially useful for serious systemic illnesses, when the body is in need of deep rest. Max Cade was able to help a student of his to heal herself from cancer by inducing her into a state of deep psychophysiological relaxation for long periods

of time

daily.

The depth of

the relaxation and the length of time

spent in that state eventually helped her cancer to go into remission. If

you

practice this type of meditation

when you

are not

ill

or in

you may find yourself not needing as much sleep this form of meditation used when an individual wants to do without sleep for a period of time. I knew of a woman, again a student of Cade's, who needed a great deal of

need of extra

rest,

at night. In fact

I

have seen

study time to pass her college exams. She put herself into a state

of deep psychophysiological relaxation and meditated an hour at

eight o'clock in the

morning and an hour

a

day

at eight

a

day

o'clock in

the evening for several weeks without sleep. She passed her exams!

126

I

HEALING however,

can't,

process,

and

attest to the state

it is

not something that

body needs downtime, not

the

of her health

just

I

the end of this

at

would recommend.

deep

believe

I

rest.

believe that deep psychophysiological relaxation works best in

I

conjunction with other methods of self-healing meditation. contrasting tion,

methods cannot

far

if that

is

active

style

as

They

self-healing meditation

utilizing sensual

imagery.

proaches, imaging a change occurring from

yourself

states.

can,

appropriate.

more common form of

ticipatory,

The

be practiced in the same medita-

because they require very different brainwave

however, be alternated

A

easily

ill

is

a par-

Two major

to well

ap-

and imaging

already well, are outlined below.

THE BRAIN WAV E S OF SELF-HEALING IMAGERY If

you

are seeking to develop an

awakened mind brainwave

pattern,

following specific styles of self-healing meditations provides an excellent brainwave-training practice. Alternately, if

you want

the most effective self-healing meditation, practicing

awakened mind brainwave

state will

prime example of content helping the

same

be the most

state

and

state

it

to have

while in an

effective.

This

is

helping content

a at

time.

Self-healing meditations are practiced in the traditional meditation

brainwave

state

of alpha,

tion of beta. This to

add the

you have used here,

is

conscious

theta, and, optimally, delta,

a working meditation.

content of healing.

to strengthen

and the depth of theta

with the addi-

You need the beta in order The sensualization exercises

your alpha find an important application is vital to implanting the suggestions and

images of self-healing into the subconscious mind, where they can begin immediate and effective work.

127

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

IMAGING

CHANGE FROM

A

TO WELL

ILL

made the techniques of visualizing work with cancer patients. In their semi-

Carl and Stephanie Simonton

famous

self-healing nal

in their

book, Getting Well Again

described

how

(J.

P. Tarcher, 1978), the

they used mental imagery for self-healing.

Simontons

An

abbre-

form this mental imagery might take is "See the cancer as raw hamburger meat and picture the white blood cells as big white dogs gobbling up the meat." While these techniques had a dramatic effect on the nature of selfhealing and on many medical practitioners' and patients' attitudes,

viated example of the

the authors were

The

visual

still

and "picturing."

talking in terms of "seeing"

image was king. This form of self-healing was

tively applied to

other types of illness,

long

as

as

also effec-

the individual could

see imagery.

As we noted visual or people

might so.

earlier,

who

feel that this

You could

people whose primary access sense actually cannot see pictures in their

form of self-healing

is

not

is

minds

unavailable to them.

Not

cacophony and the coming in, overpowering

just as easily hear the illness as a

healing as beautiful strains of violin music

and replacing the noise. The cancer could be cure the taste of sweet nectar.

The

illness

a

sour

could be

a

taste

and the

rough abrasive

smooth and velvety. The sickness could be a putrid, rotten smell and the cure the scent of flowers or perfumes. Or perhaps the disease could be jerky staccato movements, while the cure is smooth, flowing, and fluid motion. The optimum mental image for self-healing would include a picture, a sound, a smell, a taste, a texture, and a kinesthetic sensation combined into sensation, while the cure feels

one. Sensualization techniques

using

them not

become

vitally

just to develop alpha

important

waves but

when we

also to plant the

strongest possible positive images of healing throughout our scious, subconscious,

and conscious minds.

128

are

uncon-

HEALING

IMAGING YOURSELF AS ALREADY WELL The main complaint about the illness-to-wellness type of imagery model is the following: What happens if the desire for wellness is not strong enough?

if

the fear of the illness or

on the meditator? illness

is

if

than the

stronger

its

power

has a stranglehold

the clarity, depth, and sensualization of the clarity,

depth, and sensualization of the

cure? If the

meditator puts more focus on the

illness

than on the cure,

the condition of illness could be enhanced by the very

you

A

hoping

are

to use to cure

mechanism

it.

second kind of self-healing imagery meditation, therefore,

sensualize yourself as already well. Imagine cure has taken place.

Using

mental image of health

all

what you

of your sensualization

—without thought of or

is

to

are like after a

ability, create a

focus

on the

original

illness.

Both of these methods of meditation can and do work

When

I

teach self-healing meditations in a group,

that people use a

both methods.

If

they use the

first

I

for people.

like to suggest

method, which

is

very powerful form of self-healing, they should close the medita-

tion by using the second. This way, if they had a difficult time sensualizing the cure or were in danger of giving added energy to the illness,

they can use the second meditation

healing image.

I

as

a

kind of

fail-safe

you always close your healing imagery of what you will be like after the illness is

suggest that

with positive sensualization completely gone.

PREPARATION FOR THE MEDITATION Body-image meditations can help you develop the experience of shifting your body in some way. Practice these as you did the sensualization exercises in Chapter Four. Begin by allowing yourself to become fully relaxed and entering into your meditative state.

129

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE 1

Imagine your hands becoming

hot.

You can use any method of

do

this.

Experience yourself washing

sensualization that you

dishes fire,

in hot,

like to

soapy water or holding your hands out

a blazing log

Be careful not

fire.

warming. You may even be able fingers

and

—almost a

to feel the

blood flowing

into

pulsating, throbbing kind of feeling as your

your

hands

become warmer and warmer.

fingers

Then

2.

of a hot

in front

burn them. Really feel them

to

feel

your forehead getting cold, very cold. You could imagine

yourself walking out

in

snow on a

the

cold winter's day,

all

bundled up

except

for

your forehead, the wet snow

cold.

Or

put an ice cube to your forehead, but be careful not to lose

it

the heat

in

your hands.

hands hot and your fingers throbbing, actually swelling a

as the blood enters them; and your forehead cool, a cold spot

right in the center of

4.

your forehead, making

imagine your forehead cold and your hands hot at the same

3. Try to

time: your little

hitting

Now

your forehead.

allow those images to fade, and return

to

an awareness of

your whole body.

5. Begin to feel your

doubling your weight, lift

your arm

if

you

body becoming heavy tripling

tried,

your weight

— heavier

—so heavy

so heavy that you couldn't

and

that lift

heavier,

you couldn't

your eyelids.

Heavy.

6.

And now become

light that

you

feel

lighter

almost as

if

again, gradually lighter and lighter

you are going

only the weight of your clothes

7.

Slowly return back

8.

Now

half of

very

begin

to

to

is

experience yourself shrinking

—

to try that

You could

fit

in

away, so

your seat.

normal, the weight you are used

your size, a quarter of your size

tiny.

to float

keeping you

into

a kitchen matchbox.

light that

Light.

to.

—smaller and

shrinking

until

In fact,

—so

smaller,

you are very, you may want

now, finding an open matchbox with only a few matches

130

left

.

HEALING inside.

You

hoist yourself

up and crawl

inside.

What

is

it

climbing

like

over the matches?

Then you are growing again, growing

9.

beyond, larger and larger

you are double, then outside with your

down

look

1

1

Now

.

of your

the trees

in

ation. Experience

you are

and

smaller,

whole body

in

larger

back

self,

the feeling that

how

your body

feels

calling

you

as

size.

you have

and what you experience when

1

always, use

many

imagery to

your strongest sensualization technique,

senses as possible to experience the images that

are creating inside.

1

the

2.

upon

like to

enter that state.

are the steps for a self-healing meditation that uses

As

is

your deepest state of meditation, trance, or relax-

deep meditation, and

create change.

it

until

a park

your normal

to

SELF-HEALING MEDITATION Here

still,

in

—your whole body.

experience your meditative

when you are

and

Now

go sit and experience what size.

and people below you.

Now shrink smaller again,

0.

your normal size and

feet, ten feet,

your normal

head above

at the houses

Again be aware

1

—eight

triple

to

Consider the problem that you wish

to

work on and then

put

it

in

back of your mind.

Relax your body and

Maintain enough alpha

still

to

your mind, going

remain

alert

into

a deep meditation.

and aware

of

what you are

experiencing.

3.

Consider the problem

represent taste,

it.

that

you wish

to heal

and create an image

Your image can be a picture, a sound, a

a sensation, or any combination of these.

problem

realistically or symbolically.

131

It

smell, a texture,

to

a

can represent the

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE image

Find an

4.

that will heal the problem. This

the meditation. Imagine the healing

awareness and beginning

age

image coming

some way

into

your

field of

and heal

to transform

the im-

of the illness or the problem.

Sensualize

5.

in

an active part of

is

it

working. Spend several minutes actually experiencing

the transformation of the images.

6.

you

If

feel finished with that

phase of the meditation, you can

and another image

Leave

7.

formation

it

that will heal

image but want

to continue in this

another image

try

working. Create a setup inside yourself

in

progress, so that

for the

problem

it.

when you

to

leave the trans-

finish the meditation, the heal-

ing will continue throughout the day, or even throughout the week.

Imagine yourself as already healed. Sensualize what you would

8.

feel like

if

the problem or illness simply did not exist. Using

all

of your

senses, experience yourself as well.

Look

9.

into the future

and imagine two or

would normally have been affected or

rience yourself as being completely well

10. Lock this that

will

and

inside yourself. Find a

by the fully

way

illness,

where you

and expe-

functioning.

of anchoring

it

in,

so

continue to be present inside you even after your meditation

complete.

is

1

it

image

three situations

limited

1

.

Find a closure for your meditation. Complete

any unfinished

busi-

ness that you have. Allow yourself to return from your meditation ing rested

and relaxed, yet

fully alert

and

present. Take several deep,

strong, arousing breaths. Let yourself stretch fully

12.

Ground your meditation by

and open your

writing, talking about, or

your experience.

132

feel-

eyes.

drawing

HEALING

SECONDARY GAIN we go on

Before

need

may be

we

important element of the healing process that

relevant to you. If your illness has a hidden benefit or a

positive reason, that is

of self-healing meditation,

to the next type

to address a very

is

serving

this illness

"How

called secondary gain. If you ask yourself,

me?" you may

find that there

secondary

a

is

gain involved.

Examples of secondary gain range from the of getting sick on the day of

exam

big

a

common

experience

in school (the gain

is

not

having to take the exam) to receiving the love and attention you never got from your spouse until after you contracted cancer (the gain

is

love and attention).

Secondary gain can be more complex and than those two easy examples.

Through our

reactions was to protect her

with the opposite didn't

a client

with extreme

sex,

from developing intimate

something she was desperately

need to work on healing the

work on

to

had

allergies.

work we determined that she was actually than substances. The secondary gain of her

theta

men rather

to

I

less easily identifiable

allergies at

all.

allergic allergic

relationships afraid of.

Instead

When

healing her relationship issues with men.

We

we needed that

inner processing was completed, her allergies faded quickly away.

NEW AGE DILEMMA

THE We

need

bility.

ing circles illness?"

that

be careful here,

to

A common is

question

"Why

We're walking

happens to us

"Why

did

did

I

danger zone

choose if

we

is

I

lest we go overboard with self-responsiamong those in the New Age self-heal-

cause that?" or

a fine

edge here.

somehow our

these parents?"

try to read

on

"Why

On

do

one hand,

responsibility,

up.

We

I

need

that

everything

ranging from

can get into

a potential

hidden meaning and responsibility into

every aspect of our health and well-being. J believe in the theory of germs! It

because

we

are standing next to a

is

quite possible to catch an illness

person

133

who

transmits

it

to us.

On

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

the other hand, the sincerely dedicated might ask,

germ

that

that particular time?"

at

One

"Why

did

answer might be,

need

I

"I

was

working too hard and got run down, therefore I was more susceptigerm than would normally have been." In the same vein

ble to the

I

one might

ask,

"Do

perhaps need

I

few days off from work so

I

can get some

purpose

sick,

Along the same

reason to take

Would

before

I

get

a

it

therefore be

ill

and thereby

can find the hidden agenda or positive

and find another way of solving the problem

in the illness

without getting

we

rest?

from work

possible to take those days off

prevent the illness?" If

this illness as a

then the

line, if

illness

might be avoided altogether.

we simply try to heal the problem without we are successful only for a time. Soon a

looking for the root cause,

health problem pops up out of the same root cause. We might smoking cigarettes only to develop an eating disorder. We might the nausea but develop an ulcer, until we find out what it is in

new stop heal

our

life

that

we

work on

I

"can't stomach."

a basic principle

of ecology.

believe that

I

all

parts

of a

human being

are working in some way for the good of the whole, no matter how misguided they may be. The root cause of a problem may initially appear to be negative often a form of punishment. If you do this work, it is essential that you track the negative aspects of your problem back to their original positive purpose. Let's look at a few examples of this process to get a

deeper understanding of

1

.

tion

A man

how

works.

it

has a severe case of eczema.

and contacts the part of himself

He

that

is

goes into deep meditaresponsible for causing

He sees an image of an ugly, scaly what the purpose of the eczema is. His inner part "To make you ugly." We cannot stop here. This is not a posi-

the disfiguring skin condition. face says,

tive

and

asks

purpose.

it

He

asks,

"What

is

the positive purpose in

me

being

women!" "What is the positive purpose of keeping me from going out with women?" "To keep you from getting married" still not a positive purpose. "What ugly?" "To keep you from going out with

—

is

the positive purpose of keeping

protect

you!" At

With

this

last

we

me

have found our

from getting married?" "To positive

purpose.

knowledge, he can then decide for himself whether or

134

HEALING not he

still

a painfully

feels the

best to protect

its

through

need for

kind of protection. His parents had

this

broken marriage, and

him from

Or

it.

psyche was simply doing

that experience.

about marriage and

his feelings

protection from

his inner

he may

still

He may

realize

feel that

be able to work

he no longer needs

he doesn't want to get

now available to him on a conmight choose more appropriate ways of maintaining unmarried status. He no longer needs the protection of the ec-

married, but with that knowledge scious level, he his

zema.

Even the most distressing of all inner parts has a positive purpose if you look to the ecology of the human being. A woman is on the verge of suicide. She has a part deep inside that wants to make 2.

her

kill herself.

We

track

What

is

it

How

can

we

What

back.

is

possibly find a positive purpose in that?

the positive purpose of death? Escape.

the positive purpose of escape?

No

pain.

simply wants to relieve her of her immense pain.

look

at

the cause of the pain

—

the part inside that

The

We is

suicidal part

then need to

creating

it

—

its

positive purpose,

and so on. This work can become long and in-

volved. However,

it

can provide an invaluable psychological unknot-

and

ting of the subconscious belief systems,

It

is

and ways of being

important that

permanent changes to

to

this

is

clearing of long-stored attitudes, in the world.

work be done on a theta-brainwave

level.

For

take place within the subconscious, the subconscious has

be accessed. Just thinking

beta waves

a

about the problem and talking about

it

in

not going to cause an effective or permanent healing to

take place.

The

following meditation deals with the issue of secondary gain.

135

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

SELF-HEALING MEDITATION BE

2

AWARE OF THE ISSUE OR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TRANSFORMATION.

Consider what

is

it

that

your mind and leave

STILL

Remember what

you want it

have healed.

to

Put

Then allow your mind

there.

it

in

the

back of

to clear.

YOUR MIND AND RELAX YOUR BODY. it

feels like to

be

in

your state of meditation and allow

yourself to return there.

Focus on your breathing and gently

let

yourself breathe easily

deeply, using your hand as a lever to slow your breathing

minute or two

Remember

if

it

your tongue.

means

that

If

you are

tongue completely, you can't difficult to think.

and for

a

you wish.

to relax

your tongue

down

you

any

feel

pulling If

you relax your

will

be much more

talking to yourself.

talk to yourself,

and

it

on the back of

Anytime an unwanted thought comes through, relax

your tongue as you exhale and breathe the thought away. Breathe relaxation

thoughts

into

your mind when you

when you exhale

Relax your body. Check to

.

.

inhale,

and breathe away

.

make sure that the whole of your body is body to make sure you are not holding

relaxed. Gently scan your

tension anywhere. Shine a light through

it.

Notice any areas that are

darker than others. Breathe relaxation into those parts of you

you

inhale,

and breathe away

relaxing your

body

until

the tension

you can see the

136

when you light

when

exhale. Continue

throughout.

HEALING

CREATE A HEALING ENVIRONMENT. In

your mind create an environment that

is

healing for you.

It

can be

Walk around in this environment. Notice the the shapes ... the forms. Be aware of the textures, ors .. atmosphere, the temperature ... the sounds, the smells, even indoors or outdoors. .

Explore

tastes.

changes for

that

environment using

this

you want

to

all

of your senses.

make, adding anything

that

your health and well-being. Create a space that

and

col-

the the

Make any

you might need

is

secure, serene,

safe.

MEDITATION Find a comfortable place within this environment to

go

yourself to

into

.

.

down, and allow

a very deep meditation.

Experience a sense of

warmth

sit

falling

.

.

.

falling

deeply

into relaxation,

into

into yourself.

.

THE PART THAT NEEDS HEALING From

place of depth inside yourself, begin to get

this

in

touch with the

part of yourself that needs healing, transformation, or change.

be the issue

that

began, or you

It

may

you originally thought about before the meditation

may

find that

a deeper or more meaningful issue comes

forward, ready to be healed.

MANIFESTATION OF THE PART Find

some way

to

allow

this

part to manifest for you.

It

could be through

a symbol, an image, a body sensation, a feeling, a sound, or even a voice part

in

is

your head.

Or

it

could simply be a sense of knowing that the

present.

137

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

BEGIN TO DIALOGUE. Ask

if

is

it

needs

willing to

happen

to

communicate with you.

to

make

questions that you might

and healing experience

may add,

—How this

is

delete, or

is

adapt

that

you

are

is

doing has

lead

it

you it

role or

any way

If

this to heal

and

been there?

Is

How

this

that

it is

is

feeling at it

a guide. You

helpful for your process.)

all

threatened by

what you are in the as a whole

that

of your being

.

.

.

to help, not to hurt.

this a

did

it

new

issue or a very old

one?

get there?

If the

play in your

it

life?

What

is its

positive

purpose seems negative or obscure, track

it

you can discover how this issue or problem serves you. part playing a role you still need in your life? If so, how can be

fulfilled in a

how

If not,

service

way

that

can you transform

performed

is

more

beneficial to you?

this part? If you

for you, gently but decisively

no longer want

this

inform the part

that

no longer needed in that way. What needs to happen if this part is to work healthy and beneficial to you in the present? role

— —

a series of

until

this role

its

is

need or want from you? purpose does

purpose for you?

back

follows

different, so use these only as in

what

uncertain, ask

is

part of you. Each meditation

this

for the benefit

to ask,

it

(What

willing.

ask

experience, you might like to reassure

—How long This may —What does —What Is

more

of you feeling?

that part

process of doing

— —

it

like to

If

is

in a

way

that

is

what needs to happen to allow it to become willing? Remind it that you are doing this for the benefit of the vvhole of you right now, and that your needs have changed, probably dramatically, since this part was set up to

Is

this part willing to let this

fulfill its

change occur?

(If not,

particular role.)

Sensualize. Use as

many

of your senses as possible to

imagine the

change taking place. Give your appreciation. Acknowledge that

it

has done

for you.

Even

if

138

it

that part for all of the

has

fulfilled

hard work

a function that you

HEALING disagree with now, offer your appreciation yourself, this part of

Allow the part

wants

to

say

you thought

to

respond

to

you.

CHECK TO

SEE

to you.

that

Ask

it

it

for the fact that,

was working if

there

is

for

inside

your benefit.

anything else that

it

ANY OTHER ISSUES HAVE BEEN

IF

STIMULATED. Are there any other parts inside you This inner

that

want

to

say something

change may have stimulated other aspects

to

you?

of yourself that

are happy, sad, frightened, disturbed, or pleased with the transforma-

Give them an opportunity

tion.

If

to

communicate with you.

necessary, begin your dialogue again with the

communicate. Follow

it

new

part that wishes to

through to completion.

CLOSURE

When

you are ready

to

complete your meditation, spend a few minutes

inside preparing to close, giving your appreciation to your inner parts for their willingness to participate in

make an

inner

agreement

time to continue meditate.

A

this

closure

your healing. You

Bring those out with you

IT

TO BETA.

a few key images, words, or phrases.

in

when you awaken from your

always, verbalizing, talking into a tape recorder,

down what happened

conscious beta mind so that

Make

into

to

future

not necessarily an ending.

Crystalize your experience

back

wish

process or to allow yourself further opportunity to is

BRING

writing

may

check back inside yourself at some

to

it

will fix the

will

meditation.

telling

a friend, or

experience firmly

remain present

for

As

in

your

you and not

slip

your subconscious.

sure that you stretch, breathe deeply,

you leave your meditation space.

139

and arouse properly before

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

You may

find that by doing this meditation

in yourself,

monitor It

and

that

it

would be

useful for

that process over time. Self-healing

requires dedication, patience,

is

you you not

and belief in your

initiate a process

and

to maintain a

one-shot event.

own

innate recov-

ery abilities. You can try these meditations as often as once a day for two weeks or more, and observe the changes that have taken place from day to day and week to week. Especially if you contact a weak, new, or previously hidden part of yourself, it might need encouragement and attention on a frequent basis to be allowed to develop to its full

potential or to be nurtured into a state of well-being.

The

variety

am doing

this

and intricacy of the imagery

work with

that

when

see surface

I

I

individual clients and groups of students

never ceases to intrigue me. Frequently

I

cannot second-guess the

resolutions that are to be negotiated, because they are so deeply private, involving so

many

factors

from

a person's past

Often when people share their meditations with going enjoy

down

greatly

I

of my work. In order to be the most helpful,

to stay absolutely present

I

need

with their processes and not project any

come

to

it

themselves.

vidual gets stuck and cannot proceed do

My

feels like

it

the rabbit hole with Alice in Wonderland.

this aspect

possible solution before they

tions.

and present.

me

role in these meditations

is

I

Only

if

an indi-

intervene with sugges-

primarily asking question after

question to help the inner healing process reveal

itself.

HEALING THE LIVER — E.G. The following

is

an account of the experience one of

my

had while participating in the above meditation during

a

students

group

Esalen Institute. His images are particularly vivid. Although

it is

at

not

necessary to have such lucid detail in order for the healing to be effective, clearer

when

imagery

the content

The

subject

is

I

will

promote more

effective healing,

even

very generalized or simplistic.

had originally chosen

to deal

with in

my

heal-

ing meditation absolutely refused to materialize in any stable

form. Instead,

all

my

efforts

were obscured by

collection of internal organs.

The most 140

solid

a

vaguely defined

of these was the

HEALING know, I have no liver problems or other inproblems; however I have been concerned about my particularly the amount of junk food and alcohol I con-

As

liver.

ternal diet

—

far as

I

sume.

As

was considering

I

the liver image, a rather shapeless

this,

dark blob, clarified and grew, pushing out

I

my

This was obviously

parts.

approached the

liver,

and

large bushes, almost a forest.

body

subject.

resolved into a dense thicket of

it I

looked closer to see that the

were darkened with dust and

leaves

the other

all

soot.

Some

debris was scattered around in the branches and

trash

and other

on the ground.

My first idea was to use an industrial steam jet to clean all this up.

created a huge steam hose and started blasting away at the

I

darkest areas.

When

away with the branches.

Next cals,

I

did so the leaves and bark were stripped

I

dirt,

leaving

good

idea!

a

bleached white skeleton of

Not

a

tried

washing the leaves with soap and solvent chemi-

but the smell was bad and the leaves began to shrivel. They

appeared to be healthy under the

dirt.

Then

I

started

buckets of water on to the leaves. This helped

job was so huge that

I

felt

throwing

a little,

but the

overwhelmed.

—

Then I had an inspiration I brought dark clouds over and made it rain on my forest. As I stood and watched, I saw that some of the dust was washing off, but to my frustration, most of the dirt appeared resistant. Soon though, I noticed that new green sprouts were appearing among the dark leaves. Ferns and other plants were pushing up through the newly wet ground. Letting the forest regenerate rather than trying to fix what

was wrong seemed

like the right thing to do.

I

spent the rest of

the meditation walking around in the rain, encouraging green things to grow,

making

sure the soil was rich

and moist, and

picking up the occasional beer can or other piece of garbage.

Now know I

make is still

I

sure that everything

is

my

forest at

any time, to

growing properly and

that the rain

can go back to tend

falling.

E.G. learned from

and he found

a

his

subconscious that his

way within himself to begin 141

to

needed healing, do so through sensuliver

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

A number

alization.

found the images

of

trials

worked

that

and errors were necessary before he for him. This

an excellent example

is

of the value of letting the subconscious mind create the healing imagery, rather than trying to use beta

—

impose

to

—your own or someone

else's

preordained process.

a

EXAMPLES OF SELF-HEALING CESAREAN SECTION In the middle of a cesarean section, a colleague and student of

named Suzanne found she

became confused and frightened and

shock

mine

As the surgery proceeded,

herself in trouble.

herself slipping into

felt

she began to experience the pain of what the doctors told

as

her were "windows" in the anesthesia. Because the anesthesia was

not affecting her properly, the anesthesiologist continued to increase the dosage in hopes of reducing her extreme pain.

The numbness began as if

to spread

the doctors talk to

upward

the birth of her child, but she this

w anted r

to stay conscious for

herself slipping away.

felt

point she realized that she did not have to be a victim of

this situation.

telling

She remembered her

training.

She remembered

her that yogis could survive easily on one breath

She remembers saying to minute, so can

I."

herself, "If a

a

minute.

yogi can breathe only once

She intentionally and consciously slowed her breathing down so available to her

eliminating the pain. pain, dispersing

it,

me a

She stopped screaming and fighting for breath.

she could remain conscious still

felt

breathe. She vaguely

lungs stopped working. She desperately

At

into her chest, and she

remembered hearing each other about putting her on a respirator if her

no longer

she could

on the

from her

small

amount of oxygen

failing lungs,

that

dissipating

it.

was

and concentrated on

Her image was one of moving through

and

that

She imagined

that she

the

was

surrounded by the pain but that she was so centered that she was actually able to

move between

the "pain molecules" so that they did

not touch her. She then became "detached and serene, waiting for the baby to

come

out." She proudly reports that she was present, 142

HEALING conscious, and awake breath, gave his

first

when

cry,

her seven-pound baby boy took his

and was held to her

She

breast.

first

fully attri-

remember her meditation

butes her experience to the ability to

techniques and to realizing that she was in control, not the medication.

BLINDNESS

What

better

way

my own

survived and recovered from blindness. teacher

is

often carved by her

journey has made this

work and my

of self-healing meditation

to describe the benefits

than to give you an example from

own

life?

The

I

have

feel blessed to

path of the healer or the

My

quest for healing.

a significant contribution to

my

personal

understanding of

drive to experience higher states of consciousness.

London,

In 1975, while living in

began

macula of my

tions, or blind spots, in the

was referred to identified

I

it

only

as a

to have visual distor-

left eye.

The

eye specialist

"pimple on the retina."

unconcerned, since there was no indication that

I

could be

this

I

was a

The visual distortion came and summer of 1976, when it came and

serious or progressive condition.

went

several times until the

stayed.

While on vacation

my

to obscure flight

in Greece,

I

watched the blind spot grow

back to the United

States for a visit,

knew I was in serious trouble. What the doctors in England had been the condition

Then, on

central reading vision in that eye.

is

so rare there,

ocular histoplasmosis

—

a

I

my

laser

I

I

I

as

was told

On

re-

was thrown into turmoil. in either

my

resources to try to find a

country

vision),

way

I

was

to heal.

had learned about self-healing meditations from Max hadn't had a real necessity to use them. I began meditating

Although Cade,

my own

I

who conAs my left eye

learn braille.

something so close to the center of

thrown back on

Colorado

right eye as well.

Because there was no medical treatment (no one

would

in

retinal specialist there,

firmed the diagnosis and suggested that continued to deteriorate,

I

unable to diagnose, since

was readily diagnosed

saw the top

plane

hemorrhaged, and

degeneration of the retina that

could and probably would occur in turning to England,

it

a

I

for approximately three hours a day in the styles

above to try to stop the bleeding in

my

143

eye.

I

have described

At the same time

I

began

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

going to healers and researching investigation sent

me

England,

who

hands-on

spiritual healing.

uses

omits pulsating rays

who

might be able to help me.

Mary Simpkins, an

to

what she calls visible-ray therapy along with She has developed an instrument that of light, which she alters in color and speed of Looking

pulsation according to the individual needs of her patients. at

My

eye healer in Eastbourne,

these individual wavelengths within the visible ray spectrum can

affect the

molecular structure of the retina and help regenerate the

degenerative area.

The experience

rather like looking into a pair of

is

extended binoculars with gently pulsating colors

the end of

at

them

for long periods of time.

me. Unfortunately she had

Yes, she could help

had made

list.

wanted

to follow in this lifetime, so

what

sight

used

many

I

I

had while different

I

a

seven-month

a

decision that blindness was not the path

waiting

I

set

waited to begin

I

about trying to maintain

my

treatment with Mary.

forms of imagery, including imagining

white light sealing off the bleeding area in the

retina,

rays

I

of

miniature

sponges mopping up and removing the blood, and gentle abrasive

sandpaper removing the

scars.

imagery and about two hours

practiced about an hour a day of

I

a

day of deep psychophysiological

relaxation.

The process of healing was long and arduous. But at the same time opened many doors to me. The kundalini experience that I refer to in the Appendix began, I believe, as a direct result of such intensive meditation although that was by no means my focus or intention. My search for healing led me to experience the skills and powers of many of England's top healers. My heart and spirit opened in a way I had never experienced before. After Mary became available, I spent many weeks working with her often up to a month a year. She became a close friend as well as a trusted healer. I watched the scars begin to lighten over time. I remember seeing the top letter slowly materialize on the eye chart. When my right eye hemorrhaged in 1981, I was ready for it. I was it

—

—

functionally blind in both eyes for only a matter of weeks.

eye took over again, and

I

was able to

see!

correctable to twenty-twenty (remember,

regain vision at

all),

and

I

am

still

144

At I

my

this time,

my

left

left

eye

is

would

never

right eye.

The

was told

working on

My

I

HEALING condition

and

stable,

is

I

have not had

hemorrhage

a further

for

years.

What

the definition of self-healing? For me, in this case,

is

knowing when

verance to turn the condition around.

not do

all

it

having the

alone and that

faith to persist

had

I

and

how

and

to not accept a diagnosis

was knowing

It

it

was

to have the persethat

I

to seek out expert help.

to build this faith into

could It

my way

was

of life.

UNCOVERING CANCER— THE CASE OF S.P. was

S.P.

a

when

twenty-nine-year-old occupational therapist

she

workshop with fifteen other people. She had tried meditation only once before and thought the whole idea was slightly ridiculous, referring to it as doing "the thing where you sit still and you don't talk." participated in a five-day

She describes her feelings during the

first

theta meditation this

way:

I I

didn't have any expectations, so

started thinking

hadn't been thinking about

about having

knew

S.P.

I

was

really surprised

of my mother and her holding

—

my mother

I

me

as a

when

baby.

I

had been thinking

a child myself.

that her

Because of this she had

mother had

felt

abandoned by her

connecting with S.P.

difficulty

when

father.

she was

born three months prematurely. S.P. had little information about the story, except for the memory of seeing photographs of herself in an incubator.

She continued:

The

story

became very

clear

during the meditation, and switched to

my

extremely long. but

I

I

from felt

my all

mother's point of view

I

I

had arms

was trying to reach up to hold

wasn't able to touch her or anybody

145

Then

her emotions.

perspective, except that

else.

that

my

it

were

mother,

THE I

I

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

was trying to reach out with something other than

clarity

—

I

I

now

my

call

body," reaching out to the people around me; but

my

skin.

trying to

expansion of myself, something that

use

my

do it with my eyes, but not getting any everything was foggy. During the meditation felt an

remember

skin or

my

my

eyes or

I

"energy

could not

arms, because everything was

muffled in the incubator.

The

It

wanted

to reach out to that baby,

when Grumbly came

were

feet that

had claws, but

in constant

was

it

sticky, so

motion, it

I

up.

down below

a sticky, black, tarlike entity

had hands and

devil.

I

to hold myself That's

Grumbly was It

came when

sadness

wanted

like a

her navel.

Tasmanian

could take things and

devour them, pull them away and consume them.

whenever

In the past,

S.P. started thinking

about family, or love,

or having children, she developed anxiety that would escalate until felt like a

panic attack. During the meditation,

of Grumbly, kids.

This

is

a

when

"No, you're not going

voice said,

something you

are not

to

it

she was aware

be able to have

going to be able to do unless you

make some changes." S.P. wasn't sure

what those changes were

that she

needed

to

make.

After the meditation, in the grounding and sharing phase, she talked

about the possibility of needing to get more in touch with her inner child and to learn

how

to play before she could have her

own own

children.

I

remember

was shame

at

being able to

talking about

my

desire to have a family.

There

having that need, but there was great freedom talk to a

group of people and

feel like

at

they were

understanding and accepting me. In the later, self-healing meditation, she asked to speak to the part

of herself that

knew about

the pain and the emotional stuff that was

going on inside Grumbly:

I

at

slithered out into the dark thick goo,

about age eight or

so.

I

was just

146

and

like a

I

kid

turned into

who

me

had been

HEALING living in a cave.

and

When this

I

was

all

crawled out from

I

saw

S.P.

this

dirty

and scared and dark and

quiet,

a crack.

knew

imagery, she

she had to find a

way

to heal

inner child.

The

stuck with that feeling of wanting to have a child.

I

more

I

thought about

more

center], the

I

it

while

realized

I

I

was walking around

needed

[the retreat

to get a checkup, because

there was going to be something that was going to get in the

—

way of me being happy in that area having a family. The word "cancer" was always very clear

had gotten

S.P.

a

child in

my

and

a

mind.

pap smear before the workshop, and the

results

had been negative.

But

my

gut feeling was so strong from

my

developing from the meditations that within several

pap smears from different

clinics,

was going

to.

Sure enough, each doctor said that

my

the testing in clinics that

mal, but the

test results

I

were

stories that a

month,

because

I

I

had

didn't trust

cervix looked abnor-

were coming back normal, so

I

must be

fine.

S.P.

still

did not trust the results of the pap smears. She continued

to practice the meditations she

had learned in the workshop

home.

My

body

—

get in contact is

—

know what to call it that voice that we with when we meditate, whatever that part of us I

don't

there, the inner

knowledge, would not allow

me

to let

it

slide. I

went

to a female gynecologist

meditations and

mored me and

my

and told her the story of my She kind of hu-

intuitions regarding them.

did a really thorough pap smear.

147

at

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

When

the test results

on

spot were found

came back, both cancer and

precancerous

a

S.P.'s cervix.

Three surgeries were required

to

remove the cancer and return

S.P.'s cervix to full health.

I'm just so glad that

would have gone have

probably

Through

had

I

my

into

to

my

followed uterus if

because

intuition,

had waited, and

I

it

would

I

some form of hysterectomy.

have

the meditations and discussion that you led,

I

was able

to focus on my body's language and listen well enough to prompt me to seek [one final] pap smear. If I hadn't had an-

may have

other pap, the cancer

Now, nearly a year later, S.P. know who she really is and what

spread to other organs.

is

using her meditations to get to

she wants out of life

—and

to heal.

THE HEALING OF OTHERS This brings us to the other aspect of healing, which, while not

common,

is

gaining in acceptance in this country. That

ing of others through the use of laying ing, touch, or

in England,

I

on of hands, energy balanc-

even by mere presence alone. During

had the good fortune

people in the healing profession.

to get to

The

as

the heal-

is

my

years spent

know many

successful

research that was carried out

with some of these individuals involved monitoring their brainwaves

The brainwave

while they healed others.

patterns of the person be-

ing healed was also frequently monitored.

Max Cade

conducted much of

the brainwaves of

many

this

London

research,

examining

healers in both the British Alliance of Heal-

ing Associations and the National Federation of Healers.

worked

extensively with

known

healers of the time (the 1970s),

Bruce MacManaway. Mind. ally

He found

two

He

is

a

also

of Britain's most successful and well-

Rose Gladden and Major

discusses his findings in

The Awakened

not only that the most notable healers were gener-

operating with an awakened

there

He

mind brainwave

pattern, but that

measurable brainwave change in the patient

148

as well:

HEALING After a successful healing session, laxed yet

at

the same time

a

patient will be

more wide awake and

more

re-

better able to

respond to emergencies. These physiological changes seem to

be the

two

result

of the healer inducing

in the patient

one or both of

responses, namely, deep psychophysiological relaxation and

fifth-state

My work in

and

delta).

1

the past fourteen years since

me many

afforded

has

States

Awakened Mind combination of

consciousness (the

beta, alpha, theta,

my

return to the United

opportunities

for

measuring the

brainwaves of people in similar healer/healee relationships.

looked

I

the practitioner/ client relationships with brainwave

at

have

moni-

toring in Feldenkrais work, Tragering, polarity therapy, hypnosis,

and so

forth,

and have seen the practitioner

affect

the

client's

brainwaves dramatically.

While

do not teach

I

healing per se,

I

have taught

many

classes that

involve the self-control of energy for a variety of uses. Generally in

undergone brainwave training awakened mind state and already have some, if not a lot of, to preliminary awakened mind states and the understanding of

these classes the students have already for the

access

own

how

to manipulate their

tion

from one of those healing

brainwaves.

The

following

is

a

medita-

classes.

GATHERING THE HEALING ENERGY FOR TRANSMISSION TO OTHERS Close your eyes and allow your mind

to run

over collected memories of

past meditations. (**)

Remember

the depth of meditation that

you have experienced.

Begin to take that depth of meditation into you now. It's

almost a sense of moving

you go down,

down and down and down .

.

back, back, .

and

(**) (*)

(*) .

.

.

(*)

through different states of consciousness as

back.

(pause for one minute)

149

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE As you move deeper tensions

into

your body

in

your meditation, you can

feel the

Throughout your body, waves of relaxation and release, letting

various

letting go. (**) (*)

go. (***)

Allow any thoughts, images, or outside disturbances

to

become com-

pletely irrelevant (*)

as you

move

into that

Perhaps you find a or colors,

deeper

state

which

within you. (**)

(*)

signposts to help you on your journey,

guidance

to take

and deeper, to

is

light there, (*)

you

(*)

further, (*)

(*)

a place that opens inside you, (**)

a place of freedom. This place

has no

(*)

knows no bounds,

(*)

limits (*)

other than the limits you choose to impose. (**)

From within

space now, you can begin

this

to

contact the healing energy

that exists in the universe.

(pause for

You might sense as a

it

thirty

seconds

as a vibration,

to

one minute)

(*)

light, (*)

as a sound,

(*)

or a voice, (**)

as a vision,

(*)

or a sensation,

or

just

(*)

a kind of knowing that

And you can begin feeling

it

it

to take this

is

there. (***)

healing energy into you, (**]

running through your body, (**)

through your

spirit,

(**)

through the very core of your being.

(pause for

thirty

seconds

to

one minute)

150

i

HEALING If

there

any

is

particular area within

you

needs healing,

that

(*)

concentrate the healing energy into that area. (***)

Become aware!

(**)

Notice the changes as the energy moves

Allow the healing energy like

to

a shower of iridescent flashes of

Allow the exquisite sensation to

your mind, (**)

to

your knowledge, (***)

and allow

yourself,

light

make

to

you wish,

if

in

you. (**)

move over you and through

to

its

and

way

have a

sparks.

you, (**)

(*)

(*)

vision.

(pause for one to two minutes)

And again get in touch with your healing energy. (***) Now, as you draw into your body, (*) you may become aware of the source of that energy, or you may it

It

doesn't matter.

draw

But as you

not. (*)

(*) it

bring

in,

it

down

through the top of your head, (**)

through your heart, (**) all

to

the

way down

to the

base of your spine,

energize and recharge your

And

as you take

bringing

in

it

in

the energy

vital

(**)

forces. (***)

now,

(**)

through the top of your head and

down

through your heart,

I**)

coursing

down through your arms, down your arms. (***)

And you

feel

take

feel

it

also

(**)

your hands becoming energized, (**)

your arms as channels, (**)

the energy

moving

to

coming

in

through the top of your head,

down your

arms,

(*)

your hands, (**)

and out through

the palms of your hands. (***)

You might

as a tingling. (***)

feel

You might see

it

it

in

your inner vision radiating outward from your palms.

Hold

this feeling, (**)

keep

it

inside you, (*) 151

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE so that,

the future,

in

you can open the channels even more easily and

effectively.

(pause for up to one minute)

And

in

and

in

own time your own way, your

(*)

and appreciation

give your thanks

and allow

(*)

for

what you have received (***)

yourself to close your meditation (**)

without shutting off to the source of the healing energy.

(pause for

When

thirty

seconds

one minute)

to return. (***)

you are ready, allow yourself

Reemerge and reawaken,

to

(*)

arousing yourself and becoming present, back

in

your room with your

eyes open.

This

their

one among many

is

energy.

I

prefer

own

my

bodies,

possible techniques for focusing healing

students to experience the flow of energy within

work with

self-healing,

and practice manipulating

and directing energy within themselves, before they they ever do

start)

start (if

indeed

using that energy to positively benefit other peo-

ple.

The next

step

might be to place

my

students in pairs and

take turns practicing the simple laying

on of hands. Then

let I

them might

begin to encourage them to find the area on their partner's body

where

their

hands are naturally drawn.

I

ask

them

to pay particular

attention to sensations they are experiencing in their hands. These

can range from extreme temperature changes to tingling, itching, throbbing, or pulsating sensations.

When

you practice the laying on of hands, you should give your if you are stuck or drawn like a magnet to a particular place. Stay there until the energy is finished even if you hands free reign. Notice

—

move on, if your hand isn't Sometimes you may have a gut-level feeling think

it is

time to

152

finished, let that

it

remain.

your work

is

m-

HEALING complete; sometimes your hand just doesn't want to move. Follow

your I

intuition.

my

open to, or even look for, images, or other sensory input that might give them valuable infor-

later ask

pictures,

students to be

mation about their partners' conditions.

If

it is

appropriate, they can

dialogue with their partners about what they are experiencing.

ask

I

the individuals receiving energy to try to remain aware throughout and, if

heat

it is

appropriate, to report

coming from

his or

on

their experiences. If

her partner's hand,

in training to have that feedback.

It is

it is

one

feels

helpful to the healer

also useful for the healee to

maintain conscious awareness of the changes that are taking place

within

or her body, mind, emotions, and energy system. Like-

his

wise, sharing any images or sensations he or she

may be having could

be helpful to the healer.

When am I

also ask

them

themselves,

hand

is

inside

on

doing

type of energy balancing with clients,

a particularly

troublesome spot,

I

I

While

hand, identify what the problem

conversation with

my

determine

them

it.

This time,

when

I

am

my

might ask them to go

and look for the image or other sensory manifestation

my

might

with parts of

the second meditation in this chapter.

as in

area beneath

help

this

to simultaneously develop a dialogue

in the

and then have

a

asking the questions,

I

is,

next question from the previous answer. In

this

way

I

to find out the source of the energetic block in that

location and begin to release

it.

HEALING CIRCLE I

would

like to close this

chapter with one

last

healing meditation.

This should follow a deep induction and relaxation and the mind.

There

is

almost a sense of moving backward,

backward

into softness, (*)

backward

into

warmth,

(*)

falling, (**)

153

(*)

a stilling

of

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE falling quickly

now,

and

you

the faster

As you

and

faster

fall,

faster into a deep trance; more relaxed you become. (***)

the

you are aware of passing through

fall,

different levels of con-

sciousness. (**)

They may be presented

to

you as images,

sensations, feelings, even smells

And you

Now Still

fall

sounds, voices, body

to slow. (*)

falling, but gently,

I") and down below you,

far, far

toward the exact center of

A

sights,

tastes. (**)

beyond them. (***)

you begin

you are

and

much more

slowly, almost drifting

down below you, you

see a

you are

this circle that

circle;

down,

and

it

is

falling (**).

healing circle. (**)

Getting closer and closer now,

and

the closer

and you see

you

that

it

moving toward,

is

a healing

falling, (**)

very center of which you are

circle, the

(***)

hovering

And

with exquisite gentleness

center of

you are

(**)

now

just

(*)

get, the slower

above

it.

and

softness,

you come

to rest in the

exact

this circle, (*)

so that you are lying symmetrically

which you can see or

feel

in

the center of the healing circle,

very clearly

all

around you.

(*)

And the healing begins. (***) may take many forms. (**) You may feel strange and pleasurable sensations. (**) And as the healing permeates your body, there may be messages that come to you, or just an indication of where the next step on your path may lead you. (***) It

And now, into

And

spirit

body, your higher

the healing continues

your

and

ever so gently, you feel yourself

your

it

spirit

feels

self.

rise

out of your physical

and becomes even stronger as

body, (**)

good. (pause for up to one minute)

154

body

(**) it

is

directed to

HEALING And now,

as your higher

self

begins to

feel

whole and

full,

you descend

again, (**)

passing through the emotional and mental bodies, (**)

move through, (***) body once again, (**) physical body all the healing you

cleansing them as you

back

into the physical

taking into the self,

received

in

your higher

(***)

integrating that healing into the physical body, (***) feeling yourself aligned,

integrated,

and

in

harmony

within yourself.

/* * *\

At peace.

1.

C. Maxwell Cade and

Nona Coxhead, The Awakened Mind (New

Delacorte Press/Eleanor Friede, 1979),

155

p. 192.

York:

7 CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

many

takes

Creativity

thing through your

forms.

own

It

often involves originating

some-

invention, bringing into being an idea,

concept, or object that has never occurred before in quite that

way. Creativity

is

also embellishing, fine-tuning, refining, or altering

something already in existence to make to any area

of your

cleaning your

developing

life.

how you

how you

develop your

There

is

of

a relationship

work, or painting

think.

a

more

new way of satisfying,

a picture. Creativity

to

or

can

your envi-

handle your thoughts and emotions, and even spirituality.

only one major difference between

creativity

need to

better. Creativity can apply

way you view your world and respond

ronment,

states

it

might involve finding

home, or making

a project at

manifest in the

It

and deep meditation. In

optimum brainwave

states

of

creativity,

Brainwave patterns of peak performance

you

are simply

brainwaves patterns of meditation with beta, the brainwaves of con-

added to them. The lower-frequency brainwaves remain very much the same. A pattern of creativity is merely one of

scious thought,

many forms of awakened mind patterns. Examples can be seen in Figure 1 The patterns vary, depending on both the activity and the

the

.

signature pattern of the individual.

Producing the right amount of beta for the creative

you want is not quite so simple as it seems. The beta needs to be added in the right frequencies and the right quantity for the purpose that you

156

state

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

FIGURE

CREATIVITY

1

you the

intend. High-amplitude, splayed beta does not give

mum

creative states that

you. For

this reason,

best to

do

—

it is

First

rounded beta peaking

when we

in the

are training for states

opti-

midrange gives

of creativity,

it is

so in three steps:

advisable to learn to reduce

all

out those higher frequencies that are so

your beta in order to

common

clear

in a stressed-out

mind.

—The next important — you can add step

the

is

to practice meditations that teach

you

to access

ingredients of alpha and theta.

Finally,

the beta back to your meditation pattern to

create the conscious content that

you need

for

your creative en-

deavors.

As we have seen so

far in this

book,

developing any awakened mind pattern.

of

creativity

might

is

the master plan for

look similar or identical to an

pattern being used for self-healing. ent.

this

The awakened mind

The amount of

beta

you

are

157

Only

pattern

awakened mind

the content will be differ-

producing might

also increase,

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

FIGURE 2A

FIGURE 2B

depending upon the stage of your creative process. The state in which you ruminate, muse, and gently reflect by allowing creative ideas to come to you from your subconscious might look like Figure 2A. Here you can see that there is just enough beta to keep you consciously involved. strong,

The

bridge of alpha to the subconscious

and high-frequency theta waves make the subconscious

is

avail-

able.

You can that

in

also creatively

ruminate from

deeper

a

stronger.

Here the alpha

is

strong

enough

deeper and

is

between enough to

to bridge the gap

The

the subconscious and conscious minds.

similar to

state,

Figure 2B, where the subconscious theta

beta

is

active

permit you only conscious awareness, but no conscious direction of

your pondering. This

is

morning when you have

the type of state just

you experience

woken up and

still

in the

have access to the

contents of your subconscious mind.

Light musing often begins from a conscious

add alpha,

theta,

reflection. Figure state

and

delta

2B shows

the opposite.

of meditation and then move

your mind and to muse an unconscious

state.

and move down into up,

creatively, or

state (i.e., sleep).

From

a state

You might

beta,

start

from

a

adding beta waves to awaken

deeper musing

You may

ing up, contemplating a particular issue,

may begin from

find yourself slowly

as if you

wak-

had been mulling

over in your sleep. Very gently and slowly consciousness creeps

You may

you

of creative

it

in.

you gradually begin to overhear a conversation already in progress. If you can stay in that state of deep musing, you can have a long and meaningful interaction with your subconscious. feel as if

158

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

EARLY-MORNING STATES OF CREATIVITY You

make

don't have to decide the subject the night before to

the early-hour creative time

—

especially if

is

it

use of

strong within your

subconscious. Processing takes place during your sleep. First thing in the morning, your brainwaves are

then beta.

You can simply

scan what

—

wide open theta, then alpha, is deep inside and bring it up to

your conscious mind.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

An mas

old friend of mine called Jennifer told cards.

me

For weeks she had been putting off even thinking about

writing "the blasted things."

Deep down

inside she

were some old and dear friends she wanted and

the story of her Christ-

that this

to

knew

that there

communicate with

was an excellent opportunity to rebuild

number of

a

where to even begin. So she avoided taking any action until the whole issue became a thorn in her side and began to put a pall on her holiday. She halfheartedly looked at cards in a number of stores, never finding any she liked well enough to buy. Jennifer told me that in a semiwaking state in the early morning, when her mind was completely relaxed and open, she saw herself broken bridges. But she was overwhelmed and confused

whom

to write to

Next she remembered where she had

stored her

writing the cards. In that instant she

and what to

say.

as to

unused cards from

last year.

knew

(Jennifer told

—

exactly

me

this

was

a

long-term

she had bought, but not That day she effortlessly wrote cards to more than a dozen friends from the past, putting her heart into it and enjoying the feeling of affliction

reconnection.

me

written, cards for several years).

When

I

telephoned to thank her for

my

of her early-morning reverie and exclaimed, "I

Christmas card block

is

gone forever."

159

card, she told feel like

my

THE

HOW If

you

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

TO USE EARLY-MORNING REVERIE

take advantage of your

^

own

early-morning

reveries,

might find yourself retrieving ideas from your subconscious

that

you had

coming up with inspirations and new ideas that you did not expect. If you set a goal for yourself, or have a particular project you are working on in a very focused manner, you can actually program your mind to use your early-morning state for maximum creativity. To take the fullest advantage of this state, try not to increase the low amplitude of the beta you awaken with.

previously eluded you, or

Simply place the object of your desired

mind and then

creativity firmly in

your

do not think. In other words, use your beta waves only

to the extent that

you give yourself

a

conscious context for your

is

important to you, or your

reflections. If

you introduce the subject

mental block about

how

to

that

proceed with something, you can receive

answers and inspiration immediately. Just remember, you need to catch this state before your channels close up.

The next You cannot

vital

element to

reflect in this

this

way

form of creative exploration easily

pending alarm clock. You need time this practice,

specific rising time,

choose

such

as a

a

day

time.

under the pressure of an im-

to

be able to

let

the burgeoning

contents of your theta waves gently bubble to the surface.

beginning

is

when you

When

have no need for a

weekend. Once you get used to using

you can actually tell yourself to wake up a hour before your alarm goes off in order to be able to use this precious time on a daily basis. these early-morning states,

half

The

important component to early-morning creativity

final

way

come

is

to

you without waking up or overactivating your beta waves, which would immediately reduce your theta waves. When that happens, the process is over. As in some of the previous meditations, the trick is to find a key something that reprea symbol, word, concept, image sents to you the information that you are receiving from your theta, without going into detail. Just as you did when you awakened from a meditation, bring this key into your beta when you awaken from find a

to retain the ideas

and information

—

—

160

that

to

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND your morning

memory

reverie. In this

will have access to the

when you wake up

of your experience

might take practice

It

manner, you

to learn to

make

fully.

the best use of those deep

—

it is well worth the effort or lack of would only sabotage your goals of allowing this experience to happen. These morning reveries cannot be forced. The more mornings you awaken with the intention of accessing deep and even hidden creativity, the more natural this process will become. If, on the other hand, you desire these states but your life is ruled by the clock, and you never let yourself stay in them for any length of time because there is always something more important to do, then you are missing the opportunity of communing with yourself creatively and the benefits you might acquire from it. One final, important note here. When you receive a creative inspiration in this way from the depths of your subconscious, act on it. This will reinforce the positive benefits of being in this state, which

states

of inner

reflection, but

effort, in this case. Effort

will in turn If

fits.

encourage your psyche to keep re-creating these bene-

you have constant

inspiration that goes unheeded,

you

are

creating negative feedback for yourself, in essence telling yourself that the information that

you

receive

from these

states

is

and not worth acting upon. This nonaction could

tant

desensitization process that

unimporresult in a

might eventually hinder you from having

such inspirations. Reinforcing the benefit of the creative messages that

come

to

you from your theta waves and more frequently.

will help

them

to continue

to flow fluidly I

have used

this

early-morning creative time for working on

book. Often without even intending certain chapter or section

ened

in the

on

my

to,

I

this

have gone to bed with

mind. Several times

I

a

have awak-

middle of the night or in the very early morning hours of the book being written. I grab a pencil and

to "hear" that section

take notes. I

I have to write fast and stay in a trance state to of all of the information gushing out of my subcon-

have learned

retain the detail scious. If legibly,

I

I

sit

up and turn on the

take a chance of losing

light so that

my memory

After missing several of these insights, or exact series of words that

I

wanted,

161

I

at least

began

I

can write more

of what

I

was hearing.

not retaining the

to place a paper

and

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE pencil by

my bed

every night just in case.

knowing what might occur reverie.

My

find by

my

only difficulty

bed

it

was

usually, the this,

I

until

me

while

look

I

whole

my

depths of

nighttime

occasionally deciphering the scrawl

at

I

memory

was half asleep, but

I

the notes

some-

that

won't remember

I

took during the night. Then,

I

you are new at down with your notes and fill awakening. The memory of the

reverie returns as if by magic. If

suggest that you take time to

in the details as

that to this day, never

might awaken with the vague

I

thing occurred to

what

is

do

I

in the

morning.

in the

Occasionally

me

to

soon

sit

as possible after

experience returns with more clarity the earlier you

flesh

it

out.

CONSCIOUS CREATIVITY The

type of creative state that

state.

While

I

have described above

practicing this state, your

is

main conscious

a

very passive

task

is

to allow

information, ideas, and creativity to rise from within you, and to find a

way

to lodge them,

scious grasp.

once they have

Other forms of the

more

active the state

want

to intentionally direct

is

consciously, the

more

beta

more

active.

involved. If

is

3.

(This portrays

you

beta being added to the creative pattern.)

more and

The working medifound

tations that follow, similar to the self-healing meditations

Chapter Five but with the focus on help develop what

The

your creative flow, add more beta to

your awakened mind pattern, see Figure

more

your con-

arrived, within

creative state are

Max Cade

called

creativity

and problem

"mental fluency," the

manipulate the contents of the mind. These contents

in

solving,

ability to

come

in

many

forms: verbal, emotional, musical, mathematical, sensual (visual, auditory,

kinesthetic,

tactile,

mental fluency creates ativity, for

state

its

are

of imagination for stimulating cre-

conditioned to believe

is

the most desirable,

on our self-development." the contents of your mind not only 1

rigid limits

Practicing altering

velop

"flexibility

and gustatory). Developing

loosening one from the tight grip of the so-called normal

which we

imposing

olfactory,

optimum brainwave

states, as

we

helps de-

have seen in earlier chapters,

but also helps your creative capacities and potentials to unfold and flourish. State helps content

and content helps 162

state at the

same time.

.

CREATIVITY, LEARNING

AND THE AWAKENED MIND

FIGURE 3 DIRECTED CREATIVITY ADD MORE BETA

We

begin our practice of mental fluency and problem-solving

will

meditations with no specific goal other than to get the creative juices

we

flowing. Later

The real-life

will focus

problem but to teach you

creative as possible.

ited

by normal

Do

specific problems.

reality.

is

not to help you solve a

to allow yourself to

be

as

wildly

not allow your ideas or solutions to be lim-

Think of two or

may wish

each situation. You

to

on solving

goal of the following meditation

spending some time relaxing,

three imaginative solutions

to prepare for this exercise

stilling

your mind, and entering

by

a state

of meditation.

MENTAL FLUENCY MEDITATION Find creative solutions to the following situations:

1

You are

sides.

in

narrow

the middle of a long,

The entrance

to the alley

is

alley with walls

behind you; the

far

exit

distance. Suddenly, you are facing a menacing wild

come 2.

nowhere

out of

.

.

lion

in

the

that has

You are standing on the edge of a steep gorge, looking down over

down below

you. To the right and

are impassable boulders blocking your way. Behind you

vertical rise

3.

on both

way

.

the precipice at the jagged rocks far left

is

You

.

.

find yourself lost in

.

.

a sheer,

.

a foreign country. You do not speak the

language and you have no money. hungry

is

.

163

It

is

getting dark

and you are

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS Using your fantasy

is

not only acceptable but advisable!

I 1

—Create a door the wall next you and quickly away. — Become master of the wild beast. Produce food and tame him. — Point your finger him and, using your special powers, shrink him to

in

slip

at

to the size of

a pussycat.

—See God

the wild lion

him

2.

in

be your

to

ally

and

and contact him on a

spiritual level,

asking

protector.

with water, and swim the other —Cause the gorge — the top of the sheer, and walk away. but allow yourself gently down the bottom, —Jump to

side.

to

fill

Levitate to

vertical rise,

to float

off,

to

landing with featherlike lightness.

— Using your mind power, create a bridge and walk across. 3.

— Know exactly where look — Round the corner and run to

for

into

have moved

into

a

lost

an old

$100

bill.

friend,

who

just

happens

to

town.

— Find a church, synagogue, temple, or holy place of your choosing, enter, will

and

be

turn

your problems over

to

your higher power, knowing

all

well.

— Decide

to

be a

street

performer and sing for your money.

Someone

immediately gives you a small fortune.

Your

solutions can range

from the completely

you

make up other problems and beginning to substitute

and

realistic

realistic.

are able to find, the

muscles of your creativity

prised by

real

practice finding solutions, gradually

problems in your

life

for imaginary ones,

solutions for totally impossible ones.

what you

most

The more possible alternamore you will be flexing the and developing mental fluency. You can

of these, to the more potentially tive resolutions

fantastic, like

find

is

You may be

sur-

possible.

164

L

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

PEAK PERFORMANCE AND PEAK EXPERIENCE "Ah-ha!

Though some people

I

got

this

at

some time during

remember

I

his

often

it is

had never occurred. The next time

as if it

yes!

got?"

or her

life

experience of illumination. While you are in

unmistakable, but unfortunately,

it is

I

have never heard of the term " 'ah-ha' experi-

ence," almost everyone

dergone

But what have

it!

this!"

all

too quickly gone,

we

happens

it

has un-

this state,

only to forget the experience

all

think,

"Oh

over again.

Though an aspect of what is commonly known as peak experience, phenomenon differs in that it is briefer, a momentary

the "ah-ha" flash

of intense awareness.

the instant understanding that might

It is

occur in the midst of a laborious research project, or the

come

exhilaration and unity that might perfect

day on the

ski

slopes.

to

you during

Peak experience

moment of a beautiful,

the

is

"ah-ha"

stretched for longer and longer periods, possibly for minutes or even

hours.

When to let

it

you

feel

an "ah-ha" experience hit you,

go unnoticed or unheeded.

When you

it is

important not

identify these types

of

it becomes more likely that you will have another one. Sometimes the recognition and acknowledgment of an "ah-ha" experience will cause another one to happen immediately, which may

experiences,

then cause even another, and another. I

I

call this

the "ah-ha" loop.

have often used biofeedback to successfully identify and perpetu-

ate this

kind of occurrence. This method of training the awakened

done consciously and with open eyes. There are no deep and no breakdown of the individual components of the brainwave pattern. First I hook a client up to the Mind Mirror; then I begin involving him in a discussion about something he finds inter-

mind

is

relaxations

esting

and stimulating. The "ah-ha" experience can then be encour-

aged in one of two ways. In the

first,

gently prod

the experience

him by

getting

comes

him

directly

to talk to

me

from the about

client.

his life's

may

purpose

or goal, his spirituality, and his concept of higher power, or his

165

I

latest

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

from here he

creative project or undertaking. Hopefully,

peak that

creative

One

can point out to him.

I

will reach a

of the aspects of the

brief burst of beta, alpha, theta, and delta that characterize

mind is and unnoticed. Once ing awakened

what

it

It

is.

is

this

that frequently the pattern goes it

is

a

develop-

unrecognized

pointe'd out, the individual recognizes

it

for

recognition that causes the recurrence of the

The longer this loop can be sustained, the more experienced the individual will become in recognizing and identifying the state, and the more easily it can be reproduced in the future. Many times I have seen clients have bursts of awakened mind

pattern.

patterns and not realize the validity of what they were experiencing.

When

stop

I

"What was it

someone during

that?" the answer

was nothing."

because

The

know

I

then

that

following

R.N. was

client.

I

is

know

it

when

a session

might be, "Oh,

it

came from

a creative state

occurs and

had an

say,

idea, but

was "nothing,"

of mind.

an example from a therapeutic session with

a

interested in discovering the childhood root of an

He

insisted

originated with his mother and there was nothing

wrong

between

his father

and him.

brainwave pattern with edly,

this

just

to pursue the idea that

emotional problem he had been carrying for that

I

little

He

many

was showing

alpha and

during the conversation about

no

his

years.

a typical splayed beta

theta.

Quite unexpect-

mother, R.N. produced

a

awakened mind pattern for less than a second. I stopped him instantly and asked him what just happened. He looked so taken aback that I knew something had just happened, and he replied, "I just had a picture of my father beating me." Obviously,

beautiful,

full

we turned the topic of exploration to his father. The memory occurred to him as an instantaneous gone. If

I

had not pointed

it

out to him,

have ignored the picture while burying scious. Identifying this

it

it is

flash

likely that

even deeper in

"ah-ha" for R.N. opened up

a

and was

he would

his

subcon-

whole new

avenue of development for him. In the

same way, people often ignore

their flashes

assuming that they just are not capable of

of

brilliance,

of

creativity, so the flash

had must not be relevant, or there must be a hole in somewhere, or they aren't good enough to carry it out, or An insight can come bursting into consciousness, and because an insight they just it

.

.

.

individual has not been encouraged to believe in her flashes of inspi166

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

may not recognize it for what she may not act upon it.

ration, she

nizes

it,

One

it is;

or even

she recog-

if

G.D., was beleaguered by creating an Easter pageant

client,

She had overcommitted and underdelegated, and the was high anxiety, a feeling of being overwhelmed, and illness.

for her church. result

She came to

me

not knowing what to do and feeling that she was up

against the impossible.

I

let

her talk for some time and then asked her

to think about solutions. In the midst

were no

tence that there flare.

I

insis-

strong awakened

mind

a

"What

stopped her midsentence and asked her,

think?" She it

of her complaints and

had

solutions, she

said,

"Oh, but

I

could never do that!"

was that she could never do. At

discussing

it,

but

when

I

first

did you just

asked her what

I

she was very resistant to even

pointed out her brainwave pattern to her,

she relented. G.D. explained that a major part of the stage setting

had to make by hand might not

be

as

thought, and that perhaps she could do without

it,

that she

her workload in her to-do

half. It

took the

rest

really

necessary

as

she

thereby cutting

of our session for G.D. to

revise

so that she could reduce her labor while keeping her

list

commitments and feeling satisfied with the resolutions. The followweek G.D. came in relaxed, satisfied, and proud to report a very

ing

successful Easter pageant.

What

if

I

produce

can't get an individual to

awakened

a brief

mind

pattern by talking about his goals, purpose, ideals, or inspira-

tions?

A

second way

I

can bring about an "ah-ha" experience

pointing out something about the individual's

and describing a

moment

it

in the language

state

is

by

of consciousness

of brainwaves. This will often spark

of illumination, which can then be developed into the

"ah-ha" loop.

how

So or her

own

does

this stimulate

an awakened mind? Everyone knows

consciousness better than anyone

never tried to use words to describe

my

Yet they might be in thing.

I

teach

them

a

how

language.

I

individual state of consciousness

own

I

minds

their

on

the

give

them

Then

EEG

have taught them but

his

Usually people have

office in order to get help

new

describing their states of consciousness.

using the vocabulary

else.

I

a

working.

are

with that very vocabulary for

look

at their

and describe

it

personalizing

own

to them,

it

to their

experience.

Hearing

their

own

state

of consciousness fed back to them 167

in this

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

way can be mind-boggling. Hearing about your own sciousness in real time, while creates an

it

"ah-ha" experience.

happening right

is

state

of con-

in front

of you,

use that "ah-ha" to stimulate an-

I

other "ah-ha," and on and on. Often people can sustain

dozen awakened mind

way

flares in this

until the

mind

as

many

tires

as a

of it and

the normal state of consciousness reasserts itself and begins to digest

the experience.

So what has just happened? When the brainwaves flare into a brief awakened mind in this way, the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind all become open to one another without constraints and bottlenecks. The flow of information is able to move in all directions at once. The learning experience embodied by the beta waves is transferred instantaneously to the subconscious, where it recognizes the truth of the learning on a deeper level. This recognition of deep inner truth

is

instantly transferred to the conscious

mind, and the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious meet and fuse in a I

moment

was in the

taking

of

all

office

him through

a

inclusive understanding

of the

CEO

brainwave

showed it?!"

it

mind

to him,

When

I

pattern.

I

We began talking about how

work

ethics,

and he produced

a

on the screen, "You mean, that's

froze the pattern

and then released

said yes,

and "ah-ha!"

major British corporation,

a

profile.

his spiritual process related to his

strong awakened

of

it.

He

said,

he immediately produced another one. This

happened twelve times before he settled down. Then we began to work on how he could produce the same pattern intentionally. There is a slight difference, however, between the brainwaves of the "ah-ha" and the brainwaves of an ordinary awakened mind. The "ah-ha" experience tends to come in brief bursts or flares of high amplitude and very strong awakened mind patterns. If you were to maintain this pattern into a continuous awakened mind, it would follow that you would be continuously living in a peak experience.

And

in a

look

like

way you would. Figure 4A shows what

the pattern might

immediately preceding the "ah-ha." Figure 4B shows

burst lasting

anywhere from one second

to

turning to approximate the previous pattern.

awakened mind pattern

is

one minute before

What

a

re-

characterizes this

the extreme amplitude of the alpha and

especially the theta brainwaves. This high amplitude

168

is

rarely

main-

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

FIGURE 4A

FIGURE 4B

BEFORE "AH-HA

"AH-HA'

tained over time.

PEAK PERFORMANCE

FIGURE 4C

It is

something in the burst

itself that gives

the

individual the experience of the onset of illumination.

PEAK PERFORMANCE As

I

mentioned above, peak performance

experience in duration, the way certain brainwave frequencies. burst, but rather a

developed

it

The

differs

from the "ah-ha"

develops, and the intensity of

onset

is

not an instantaneous

lower amplitude; the theta amplitude

is

are

of

lower in relationship to the

alpha amplitude. In other words, the subconscious in the "ah-ha,"

and theta

stable pattern; the alpha

is

not

as

and the channel for the flow of information

open

as

not

as

is

strong as in that brief period of extreme illumination (see Figure

4C). There

is

one more

variable: beta fluctuates in

and amplitude during peak performance the activities being performed.

169

states in

both frequency

accordance with

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Because the awakened mind pattern underlies peak performance, this state

can be taught to

a

person just

as self-healing can.

opportunities to measure the brainwaves of

composing,

a

choreographer directing her

a

I

once had

musician while he was

new

dance,

a

dancer

dancing. All showed varying combinations of beta, alpha, theta, and

awakened mind pattern. But creativity does not stop with The mathematician solving his or her most difficult prob-

delta in an

the

arts.

lems, the accountant figuring out taxes, the scientist

new

working on

a

theory, the athlete competing or working for his personal best,

on

the skier having fun

vacation, the

rating, the executive attending a

flowers

all

may be producing

homemaker

cleaning and deco-

board meeting, the

florist

arranging

the brainwave patterns of peak perfor-

mance.

So

how

can

we improve our

abilities to

enter into states of peak

perfcormance

mind

1.

Train your brainwaves to develop an awakened

2.

Practice meditation regularly.

3.

Learn focus and concentration while undertaking an

4.

Set an intention before beginning the activity.

5.

Practice

awakened mind techniques,

immediately before undertaking an 6.

exercises,

state.

activity.

and meditations

activity.

Give yourself positive feedback every time you experience the

of peak performance, no matter

state

how

weakly or for

how

brief a time.

Don't

area where you

want

mance anywhere chosen

your peak performance

necessarily expect

field,

performance

it

in

most.

your

Be open

life.

Of

to the experience

any

area,

even

a

the

of peak perfor-

course you want to excel in your

but that will come. Anytime you in

to occur initially in

are

hobby, sport, or

experiencing peak activity

with

little

importance to you, give that experience the validation, respect, and positive feedback that field.

Detach the

state

you would give an experience from the content.

170

in

your chosen

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

INTERNAL FACTORS OF PEAK PERFORMANCE Without considering the content, like. Be aware of how your body

what the state feels feels, of what is happening with your emotions, of how your mind is operating. Notice how you are breathing, what your focus is, and how it feels; how you are sitting, standing, or moving. Find ways of grounding the experience just as you do after a meditation. Find symbols, images, or words that describe the felt sense

you have

for yourself.

try to notice

inside. Crystallize these experiences into a

Then

try to recreate the experience

those keys. Reenter that state of consciousness

by

calling forth

as if you are

switch inside. If you find the right switch, you can

few keys

flip it

finding a on. For

some people this experience is more like turning a rheostat down or up. Whatever image you choose, the essence will be in finding your

own

internal key

and then using

it

to unlock the

door to your

personal higher states of consciousness.

EXTERNAL FACTORS OF PEAK

PERFORMANCE Notice what day of the week

what time of day it is, where you how long it's been since you ate, how it is,

what the temperature is, sleep you had last night, and any particular occurrence that seemed to help spark your episode of peak performance. Be your own researcher. Every time you have an experience of peak performance, notice the variables. After a few times of doing this, you will are,

much

become aware of

the similarities and differences. This

information to help you

set

periods of peak performance

up the right conditions

more

frequent, longer,

is

invaluable

make your and more fo-

to

cused on the content that you wish.

For example,

if your

periods of peak performance always

an empty stomach, what does that

tell

171

you about having

come on

a big

lunch

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

right before an important afternoon of creativity? If your peak per-

formance

is

always at a particular time of day, then that

when you might want

tion of

work. Using the internal keys and the external factors tion can begin to help

you

your

create

is

an indica-

do your most important

to plan to

combina-

in

own peak performance

whenever you wish. Meditation on a particular project or

can help you stimu-

activity

appropriate brainwave states for peak performance

late the

You may wish

stimulate the appropriate content.

following meditation after

Remember

that this

is

a

a

times

as

well as

to practice the

period of relaxation and mind clearing.

working meditation, so you don't want to get

relaxed to the point of losing conscious awareness. This meditation

can take any length of time, from

how much

ing on

wish to

stay in

detail

you wish

each phase of

The format of

this

few minutes

a

to experience

The more

meditation

specific

and

how

dependlong you

it.

generic

is

choice where appropriate. Please adapt needs.

to an hour,

—

I

have used multiple

your particular

to suit

it

and detailed you can become

imagery and other content, the more

in

both your

effective the meditation will

be.

PERSONAL CREATIVITY MEDITATION -Begin by allowing your mind to clear of -Put

all

thoughts.

aside any thoughts of creativity, the project that you are working

on, or

any block you may have encountered.

become very

-Allow yourself to

present

in

this

moment, and simply

focus on your breathing.

-Remember what

it

feels like to

be relaxed

deeply at peace inside yourself

.

.

.

.

.

.

what

and withdraw

it

feels like to

be

yourself into that

place.

-Remember what and

to let

go

of

-Scan your body

-Make

it

feels like to let

any to

stress in

make

sure that your

go

of your beta

brainwaves

.

.

.

your body.

sure that you are not holding

head and

facial

172

any

muscles are relaxed

tension. .

.

.

your

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND neck and shoulders .

-If

.

.

.

back and spine

you have any

.

arms and hands

.

.

.

and

-your mind as quiet

-your spirit as peaceful

legs

.

and

feet

.

.

.

areas, simply breathe into

as relaxed

.

.

.

.

clear

.

.

.

place of inner serenity, harmony, and relaxation, you can

this

allow some images to occur

to

and stomach

chest

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

and

-your emotions as calm

begin

still

.

.

.

tension as you exhale.

-Now experience your whole body

-From

pelvis

difficulty relaxing certain

and release any

those places

and

hips

.

your mind.

in

-Imagine or create an environment appropriate for what you wish to create.

It

could be an office or study, a workroom or shop, a studio or

gallery, a kitchen or salon, a stadium or playing field, a classroom or

auditorium, theater or

swimming pool or

hall,

ski

slope

.

.

.

-Design the best environment possible for developing your creativity.

-Make

environment safe, comfortable,

this

attractive,

relaxing,

and

stimulating.

-Sensualize the environment

-Walk around

and

textures -If

.

it

.

what kind

.

.

...

the is

perature and weather?

Where

and

and forms ...

.

.

.

does

smells

and even

and equipment does

of furnishings

it

have windows?

If

windows be shaded if you wish? the scenery? ... the atmosphere? .

.

.

it

have?

what

so,

.

the

tastes.

.

.

is

tem-

time of day?

-Are there other people involved their part?

.

the sounds

of lighting?

outdoors, what

.

notice the colors, shapes,

.

what kind

and can

the view, -If it is

.

structures

indoors,

is .

it

in

are they placed

what you are creating? in this

space?

How do

If

so,

what

is

they relate to

you?

-Whatever space you wish space

-Now

for

allow

it

to

be the best possible

your purposes.

place yourself

-For your

to create in,

optimum

special clothing (a

in this

space

creativity,

how

.

.

.

are you dressed?

Do you have any

smock or apron, a uniform, a costume, formal ap-

173

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Imagine yourself dressed exactly

parel, or just comfortable clothes)?

the right

way

your purposes.

for

—Walk around your environment. want

make. Using

to

all

Enjoy

it.

Make any changes

you

that

of your senses, get yourself even closer to this

creative space of yours.

In this

part of the meditation you hove been using sensuolizotion to help

you access and develop alpha waves, which are an

essential

compo-

same

nent of the brainwave pattern of highest creativity. At the

time,

you may have found out some essential information about your work-

and what your needs ore. It is now time to take the and allow yourself to develop the theta brainwaves

ing environment

meditation deeper

we now enter a

of the creative storehouse. For that purpose

state

deep

inside.

—Allow your space

to

become very

still.

If

there are other people

moving

about, bring the scene slowly to a freeze-frame snapshot of sensory

imagery

your mind.

in

— Find a comfortable place

to

down

sit

your space, and allow yourself

in

to meditate.

—

In this

as

if

meditation, feel yourself going very deeply inside

you are going down a deep well

— Down

.

.

and

.

in

— Perhaps you can time

when your

had

to

do

.

.

.

— Remember what — Remember what — Remember what — Remember what

.

.

.

.

.

.

almost

.

remember a time

creativity

of

peak experience

flowed and you knew what

and you knew how

to

do

felt like in

your mind

that

felt like in

your body

that

felt like in

your emotions

felt

inner joy of the creation

like in .

.

.

your

it

in

the past, a

was

you

that

it.

that

that

.

.

.

.

spirit

the pleasure

.

.

.

.

.

.

... in

.

and

the excitement

accomplishment

.

the sensation of insight.

— —

If

you have

this felt

sense stored

in

Let yourself reenter that state.

174

your memory, draw

it

out now.

.

.

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

—And you are going deep inside —deeper and deeper still

.

.

—There stood

an inner place where

is

.

.

—a place of place of

clarity

.

.

light

.

.

.

—a place of wisdom —a place of place of ease

.

you begin

within yourself

.

.

lucidity

.

.

.

.

to settle into this .

.

place and

what

to

it

is

to the possibilities

...

to the profundity

—You begin, on a deep

.

that

comprehend

level, to

t

is

that

you need

to do,

t

is

that

you need

to say,

what

t

is

that

you need

to feel,

what

t

is

that

you need

to

know,

what

t

is

that

you need

to

experience,

what

t

is

that

you need

to express,

-And you begin

imagine

.

.

to

it

you want

to create, in

to the simplicity

...

to

.

.

.

to create.

allow yourself to visualize

and

.

that

is

to create.

.

what

what

you are wanting

... .

what

n order to create

a sense of opening

feel

.

You become open the elegance

.

.

.

.

.

—And you become receptive

to

under-

.

place of understanding

—And

known and

things are

all

.

.

...

to sensualize

your mind, what

it

is

that

.

.

.

you want

to create.

-You imagine

happening

it

-You experience

it

as

if

it

.

.

were

.

real

indeed,

it

is

real as

you

let

your creativity take over.

-The plan unfolds

-There

is

no

you want -It

all

to

effort,

of you.

in front

only ease, as you see yourself accomplishing what

accomplish.

becomes

clear

.

.

.

175

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

— Perhaps there was a missing piece. That piece comes place now. — Perhaps there was a place of blockage, a place where you were stuck into

in

your creation. The solution or solutions appear

...

as

if

out of the

blue.

—You

can

good

—You

.

feel .

the

movement occurring

to

spend some time now

may want

project, taking

ing to

it

further, letting

it

and developing

develop

.

.

.

.

.

and

feels

it

much and

it

.

just

being with your creative

unfold, letting

whatever

is

it

that

it

speak

to you, listen-

you know you need

to

.

.

want here

time as you

through

—And soon

it,

it

.

create

Let yourself

(Take as

within you

.

to

is

to

allow the creativity

to

come

develop.

going

to

be time

to return to the outside

world

to put

your

meditation into practice.

—Very slowly begin — very important It

—

to find

that

is

tion

and

First

take a few

that

let

for

your meditation. in this

medita-

you bring them back with you.

that

moments

are working on

—Then

a closure

you remember your experiences

.

.

to

complete any unfinished business that you

.

yourself crystalize

and embody any discoveries or new ideas

you had.

— Find images ploring,

and

that represent the creative possibilities that fix

these images

— Notice what your body and want

to reenter this state,

in

your mind.

mind

you

you were ex-

will

feel like,

so that the next time you

simply need to recall

this feeling.

—When you are ready, once again become aware of the creative ronment

that

you

built

envi-

around you.

—Allow yourself place you imagined so clearly —And bring your memories from the meditation back with you. to return to that

that

176

.

.

.

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

—Take a

few moments

to

contemplate your creative experience

in

the

meditation.

—Are there any changes you need or want and

the fullness for

—

If

you

in

reality of this inner

make

to

allow

to manifest

the outside world?

imagine yourself making these changes

so,

for yourself to

experience and vision

.

.

easily, clearly,

.

and

consciously.

—What needs fully

happen

to

your outside

in

life

allow

to

this creativity to

materialize?

— Imagine

that

—When you

happening using as many senses as

possible.

are ready, allow yourself to verbalize and lock into your

beta waves the experiences that you had of your creativity.

your mind, write them down, speak them —While they are a tape recorder, draw them, or them another person. —Make your real the outside world. still

fresh in

into

creativity

— Know to

to

tell

that

you can always

become

As soon

in

clear

return to this

and centered, and

as possible,

space

to create

implement your

inside, to rest, to relax, .

.

creativity.

.

Take the time and

the effort to manifest the results of this meditation.

WHAT TO DO

IF

YOU GET STUCK

.

.

.

Most of us will occasionally experience a time when nothing seems to move us beyond our impasse. We are at a standstill, perhaps baffled or bewildered by being so stymied, perhaps bored or angry, or simply distracted.

You can

treat

your creative deadlock

as

any other

issue to

be

healed or transformed.

Find an

image

for

it

and dialogue with

the image.

Find the positive purpose for the obstacle to clear the

blockage.

177

and

the necessary steps to take

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

You can also address the block by sensualizing the issue surrounding

Approach

it

from

Walk around over until

it,

it

in

your mind. Explore

through

it.

Experience

you

inside to

a

find

in its

it

it

under

it,

it,

way

make changes.

your mind roam freely with these images and see what happens.

Let

Energies

may

spectives can

ability to

up. Decisions

can be made

and unexpectedly. Develop mental

Following are some examples from

work

of my long-term

He

my work

fluency, the

at

how

EXAM

clients failed his real estate

was excellent

that illustrate

networking and

exam two

at sales,

but

the mathematical understanding needed to complete

knew

per-

the course

effectively.

THE REAL ESTATE row.

change

that

manipulate the contents of your mind.

accessing creativity can

One

New

mobilize that you never expected you had.

open

of events dramatically

a

Flow with

fluidly.

different aspects or perspectives

opening, a 'place where you can work your

tiny

it.

angles, openly, without expectation or judgment.

all

fell

times in

on M.C.

short

sales.

numbers when on the exams and could not do the

the material and could figure out the necessary

he was with

a client,

but he froze

calculations within the allotted time. In our preparatory sessions be-

and

fore his third, failure

caused

final,

him

to

opportunity,

we determined

that the stress

of

be so tense that he was unable to think prop-

erly.

We tion,

needed

he asked

saw was

a

key that would keep him relaxed. In

his

subconscious for just such

ing for the

He

exam

practiced accessing that image to help stay relaxed.

On

very nervous, uncertain, and insecure.

that

it

wasn't going to work. But

when

deep medita-

The image

a professional-looking briefcase, a rolled-up

an umbrella.

felt

a key.

a

that

when he was

the day of the exam,

He

later

he

newspaper, and study-

M.C.

reported thinking

the calculation part

came and

his

nervousness escalated, he stopped, closed his eyes, and imagined

his

now

all

familiar briefcase, newspaper,

the success he

would have

and umbrella. With visions of

in his profession as a real estate agent,

178

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND he completed the mathematical portion of the test and went on with flying colors. And a simple image helped him do it.

to

pass

PLANNING A PRESENTATION Dr. T.H. was invited to introduce his research tific

conference being held in Hawaii. As

network of

to a sought-after

vous about

upcoming

his

Dr. H. did not

scientists,

at a prestigious scien-

was

exposure

his first

he was understandably ner-

While secure

presentation.

know how much of it

this

in his material,

what detail. He was also uncertain about the style of demonstration and how to use visual aids. His anxiety about the need for perfection was getting in the way of his ability to solve these basic problems. With the time of the conference drawing closer and closer, he called me in and

to present

in

distress. I

instructed

tion, clear his

asked

him

him to forget the conference, go into a deep meditamind completely, and enter a state of peace. Next, I

to sensualize his presentation at the conference

from

start

no

pressure or

performance anxiety, Dr. H. was able to imagine very

clearly just

to finish.

Because he was so deeply relaxed and

what he wanted

to say

his innovative ideas.

and the

On

should immediately write prepare

it

When report to easily,

style in

completing

down

felt

which he could

his meditation,

an outline of

I

best explain

suggested, he

his presentation

and

that way.

he returned from the conference, Dr. H. was proud to

me

that not only did his demonstration

run smoothly and

but his acceptance by the scientific community about which

he had been so apprehensive exceeded

his wildest

dreams.

INSTANT ACCESS — A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE when you might need to know a creative solution to a problem immediately. You don't have time to sleep on it or even to relax and meditate for a few minutes. You have to access a creative There

are times

solution instantly. I

have found

occasionally

this especially true in

work with

clients

who

179

my more

therapeutic work.

are dealing

I

with devastating,

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE traumatic

life

some of these circumstances,

experiences. In

word or phrase

that

say at a given time could

I

be

vital to

the exact

the success

of their process.

On was

one occasion

is

often of the essence, normally

and when to

say

speak English and

who

translator

me

Usually

my

I

said in

student said in English

my

awakening from

my

to

be

said.

I

would know what

to

was working with

German and a

a

then told

laborious process at

work.

be exactly

was

who

in this

well because the translator was highly

interpreter's translation,

needed

my

to

I

—

my

student was experiencing

very painful deep trance.

a

words he heard had

I

German.

In this particular situation, however,

of

student

a

catch in this situation was that he did not

did not speak

worked

this

and used to

skilled

The

it. I

repeated everything

everything

best.

Germany with

in

deep regression, reliving the Holocaust. While timing

in

kind of work say

was working

I

right.

I

knew

that the next

did not trust the preciseness

I

nor was

also apprehensive

I

even sure what words

of the disturbance hearing

English might cause him. Without thinking,

I

took

a slow,

deep

awakened my deepest subconscious, and heard myself speak German. He opened his eyes, smiled broadly, shed a few tears of joy, and hugged me. To this day, I do not know exactly what I said; I just know it was the right thing to say.

breath, to

him

in

SHOWER

CREATIVITY IN THE

Many

people have reported to

meditate

is

me

that

one of their

during their morning shower.

I

favorite times to

relate well to this, since

I

have been creatively using that time of guaranteed solitude and peace

under the warm rain of healing water, it is easy to my mind of all thoughts. take the opportunity to connect my own spiritual source and offer my day for the benefit of

for years. Standing clear

I

with

whatever higher purpose

how

is

appropriate.

the day can best unfold to enter

my

Then mind.

I I

allow

a vision

might see

of

pictures,

hear conversations, experience body sensations, or use other senses to create an If

I

am

image of the best path before me.

facing

time to bring

a

a particularly

challenging situation,

I

will use this

sense of light and peace to the circumstances and ask

180

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND way

for guidance in the best

of healing and regeneration

to proceed.

The shower becomes

a

time

well as creativity and planning.

as

CREATIVITY REQUIRING OPEN EYES — THE ARTIST IN US People whose creative as

using their eyesight

activities actually involve

an integrated part of their creative process can often experience

alpha and even theta brainwaves with their eyes open. this

among

the visual

artists

They

have measured.

I

I

have found

often have a

greater ability to produce open-eyed alpha while engaged in an artispainting.

tic activity, like

To enhance

this creativity,

before creating, as in

the

artist

has

two

choices: meditate

the above meditation, or encourage the awak-

ened mind brainwave pattern with the eyes open while

in the act

of

creating.

OPEN-EYED ALPHA If

you wish

to create with

moments and

your eyes open, begin by stopping

closing your eyes

ter yourself. Just

as

in

in

Chapter Four,

beginning on page 89, send your awareness inside. clear of thoughts; focus on your breathing;

When

your

field of vision. Feel yourself

the outside world rather than

eyes

to

open

slightly

more

going out

to bring

in

your mind

still.

just slightly, to

bringing

to

Let

and become

you are ready, very slowly open your eyes

light into

meet

it.

in

a few

and cen-

preparation. Focus inward

the concentration exercises

in

for

allow

awareness from

Now, allow your

shape, form, and color,

still

without consciously identifying or labeling the images that are forming.

Next, allow your

image

to

gaze

come

to settle

to you.

Do

on the object of your

not

go

out to get

it;

creativity.

you, maintaining awareness of yourself from the inside.

181

Allow the

rather, bring

it

inside

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE Allow yourself

go deeper

to

inside

—

to the

hidden recesses and

well-

springs of your creativity. This will enable you to begin to access your

Reach

theto with your eyes open. the object of your creativity

And now reach

.

and begin

out

.

your depths while bringing

into

in

.

to create. Feel the

connection between

your inner depth and your outer expression. Keep your mind, your conscious thoughts, and your higher-frequency beta out of the way. Don't analyze; don't judge; don't expect. Simply be with your creativity.

Let the interaction

Get a sense

outside flow freely.

And above

between what's inside and how

manifesting

is

movement, and keep

of that

enjoy the state that you are

all,

it

in

and

it

going.

the experience of

creating.

If

at

any time you

you are losing your flow, stop and refocus inside

feel

even closing your eyes

if

You can

try this

with

a

Then once again, merge with the

helps.

it

and

object of your creativity,

let

movement

the

painting or sculpture, a design or plan, a

computer screen or writing pad, or anything visual attention while you are working.

BRAINWAVE TRAINING Meditation in the office

know many

people

is

accelerate.

becoming

who do

not

feel

a

else that

needs your

THE OFFICE

IN

more accepted

practice. Yet

comfortable meditating

I

at their

desks or in the office lounge. Often they will take a walk at lunch-

time and meditate in the park, or even go minutes.

out

at

One

noon

While

this

of

my

every day for a half is

If

hour

a helpful, healthy,

look forward to the time rooms.

sit

to lie

call

back and meditate.

and ultimately

when companies

they don't wish to

them

few went

in their car for a

students put the seat back in her car and

creative practice,

I

will provide meditation

such, they could be labeled

management rooms, resting centers, or even creativity corners. The lighting should be low, with gentle music playing in the background and an understanding that no one should talk. quiet spaces, stress

182

.

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

A

variety of styles of comfortable furniture, ranging from reclining

on the floor or on

chairs to meditation cushions

raised daises,

would

complete the picture. Fresh flowers and well-chosen artwork would be an added bonus. Contrary to feeling embarrassment every time they close their eyes and meditate, office workers could be encour-

aged to take some time in the meditation room to consider

problem or

ular

regenerate after

to

a

difficult

brainwave training and biofeedback instruments would able

upon

in offices

creative

1

room

do

be

avail-

Make ample

space than

if

who

what can those

available,

to maintain their balance, relax,

and awakened during

and be

most

their

busy workday?

a

use of one-minute meditations, outlined

be easier

Four. Obviously, this will

2.

also

request.

Failing having a meditation

work

a partic-

meeting. Ideally,

you are sharing an

you are working

if

in in

Chapter a private

office.

Practice the type of open-eyed alpha production described above.

You don't need

to

be a

make

visual artist to

use of creative states of

consciousness with your eyes open.

3.

when faced

Breathe! The most calming action you can take

stress

is

to consciously focus

example, while you are superior,

you can

at the

on

listening to

same

problems or complaints from a

aware

time be

slow breathing and your relaxed heart

when dealing

4. Also,

when faced

circuit in

your body.

as effective

—the

one another.

and

only helps to keep

that helps provide proper per-

with crises.

with stressful situations, Sit

of your rhythmical

rate. This not

you calm but gives you the detachment spective

with

slowing your rate of breathing. For

make a complete energy

with the palms of your hands together or

tips of the

thumb pads and middle

This helps contain the flow of

—

just

fingers touching

energy within your body

and maintain centeredness and balance. 5. Sit with your spine straight

This also unblocks energy,

and relaxed, and your

legs uncrossed.

which can then be called upon

183

for use.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE 6.

Sensualize!

you are facing a very

If

difficult

take a few minutes to be by yourself before senses,

imagine the

healthy

way

occurring

situation

possible. Imagine your

in

own

encounter or situation,

begins. Using

it

of your

all

the most successful

actions

and

and

reactions to be

calm, strong, creative, and appropriate.

7.

Use ordinary

you are going

activity

to the

awake and aware. Be aware very present

in

and

Look for

— not drawn back

numbers

allies

—

and be

it

into the past or

be

to

forward

smells, tastes, sights, sounds,

kinesthesia of the situation. Savor every second of the

if

in

among your

find other meditators in

each move as you make

the actual act

experience, while remaining

8.

of

Be sensually aware of the

into the future.

textures,

when

as a meditation practice. For example,

watercooler for a drink, take the opportunity

the present.

coworkers. You might be surprised

more prevalent than you thought. There

meditation

is

becomes an acceptable and even

antly anticipated topic of conversation, your practices will

ported and you

will feel freer to

practice

to

support pleas-

be sup-

more frequently and more

openly.

9.

Support others

in

the

need

for

and value

of contemplative time.

BRAINWAVE MEASUREMENT AND TRAINING IN THE CORPORATE WORLD Brainwave assessment has been used

effectively in executive searches

and corporate headhunting. Management consultants often have

a

variety of tools for determining the suitability of the candidates they are interviewing.

tude is

IQ

tests,

added,

it

These include written psychological

tests,

and subjective interviews.

especially effective

is

when

more there

rendering these documents

sition that

an

EEG

profile

can potentially be the tiebreaker that could help deter-

mine which candidate tests

When

testing, apti-

does not require

suitable for a position. This can is

a

less

much

dependable, especially for a po-

use of language.

184

be

language barrier on the written

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

TAKING BRAINWAVE TRAINING INTO

A

CORPORATION many

Corporations work on

most

resources, the

levels.

If

you have limited time and

of brainwave training within the

effective use

corporation would be

at the upper-management level. Helping to awakened minds in the key positions within the corporation have a positive and immediate effect on subordinates, even if

create will

they don't receive the training themselves.

When

both time and financial allocations were limited,

when working

used the following model ting.

I

I

within the corporate

have set-

have conducted individual brainwave training and executive

development within the upper-management team and held workshops and group training for the middle-management personnel.

This trickle-down theory

were beneficial

Many

obviously not optimum, but the results

is

to the corporation as a whole.

leading executives

awakened mind brainwave

I

have measured

pattern.

The

come

close to having an

alpha, theta,

and

delta are

readily accessible, but the individual often needs training to reduce

splayed beta patterns.

then necessary to

Once

the

awakened mind

stabilize the pattern so that

it

developed,

is

will

it

is

be more consis-

tently present. I

have worked in

and addressed gaged

me

and so

to

a

number of

a variety

executive development situations

of needs. For example, one corporation en-

do individualized training in brainwave development. The goal of this training was to improve their management team's access to the full range of their intuitive and intellectual capacities also

to

enhance

their

decision-making

abilities.

included training in deep relaxation,

stress

Corollary benefits

management, and

focused problem solving.

The

CEO

of

this

company wrote, "Executives who have

partici-

pated in the program are universally pleased with the experience and the results. This assessment

few

who

...

the

is

particularly meaningful

coming from

a

have acknowledged an early skepticism of the program

Awakened Mind Program can be

a valuable contributor to

personal development and team performance." 185

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE Those who ments to

initially participate in this

VP

and pleased by what one

on

spirituality that

who

also

become quickly

begin brainwave training for interested

for

enhance-

world are often

often find that individ-

I

a specific, objective

and involved

startled

and inevitable focus

called "the value

evolved from the work."

uals

of

work purely

their productivity in the corporate

purpose

in seeking higher levels

spiritual consciousness.

BRAINWAVES, CHILDREN, AND LEARNING "What happened

my

to

child?"

Children have the capacity to develop an awakened mind brainwave pattern easily and naturally, and do so well before school age.

firmly believe that this state early age.

Common

inherent but gets trained out of us

is

methods of teaching

in

at

I

an

our schools and the

overcrowded situation in most of the nation's classrooms contribute to this loss.

brainwave life,

I

have stated earlier that

state

is

a

I

believe the

form of evolution.

but then gradually disappears

as

the

awakened mind

appears early in a child's

It

young person

the accepted patterns and attitudes of society.

I

tries to fit into

have generally seen

the pattern start to disappear around the second or third grade.

"Don't daydream!"

(get

out of alpha). "Pay attention!" (with your

beta waves). "Don't have those fantasies" (stop your theta waves).

Most of the messages to the tender consciousness of a child trying to make sense of his or her experiences are aimed at increasing beta brainwaves and reducing alpha, theta, and delta brainwaves. To get along in our modern Western society, the child can be forced to squelch those

states

of consciousness that

ately to recapture. If

sciousness,

we could

later

he

is

trying so desper-

understand and honor

states

both in our school systems and in our homes,

be able to prevent the breaking

down of

of con-

we might

the connections between

our conscious and our unconscious minds. It

is

fascinating to

watch the brainwaves of

terms of consciousness.

when he was two weeks waves.

Over

I

a

child develop in

looked at my son, John's, brainwaves He produced primarily delta and theta

first

old.

the next months,

I

saw the addition of alpha and saw

186

his

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND mind

struggling to add beta consciousness to the already strong un-

conscious and subconscious parts that were present. Dangling

a

toy

of him or jingling some shiny keys would stimulate strong

in front

of beta, but he would not retain those higher frequencies for

bursts

any length of time. Finally

brainwaves stabilized, and by about

his

mind brainwave

age five he was producing a very strong awakened

At eleven years

pattern.

He

continuously.

is

old,

he

is still

producing

more prone now

prevalent in most adults.

He

is

splayed beta and return to his

still

this pattern,

but not

to the splayed beta that

is

so

however, to shut off the

able,

awakened mind

state

when he wants

to. I

taught John a form of meditation and guided imagery from

very early age, often ite

as a substitute for storytelling.

One

a

of his favor-

meditations was the Purple Planet.

THE PURPLE PLANET Children tend to need shorter pauses. Experiment with your child to

determine the most helpful timing.

Sit

or

lie

down

quietly

and close your

eyes.

Get very comfortable. Let out

Aahhh

Now Now

a big sigh and breathe .

.

all

the air out of your body.

.

continue to breathe slowly and deeply.

go

each part of your body, and

inside

feel

how

relaxed

it

Your head,

your neck, your shoulders, your arms

.

.

.

and hands,

your chest, your stomach, your whole back, your legs Feel your

.

.

.

and

feet.

whole body

relax.

Try not to think about anything except your

187

body

feeling

good.

can be.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Now

go

to the

and imagine

Now

top of your head,

you are inside

that

it.

you go up and out of the top of your head

straight

up

.

.

And you keep going up

way up above

You go past the

moon

.

.

.

.

.

and'up

.

.

the planet

.

.

.

and

up.

.

.

.

.

past the other planets

way up

into the stars.

Way

the distance

in

.

.

.

.

.

you see a

tiny purple planet.

And you get closer and closer and closer. And the planet gets bigger and bigger and bigger. You know that you are going to land on this planet and have wonderful .

.

.

.

.

experiences here

When

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

you land on the purple planet, you see purple sky and purple

ground, and purple buildings There

.

is

.

.

.

purple everything.

a friendly group of people from the purple planet there

meet

to

you when you land. You spend some time with these people and have

And

they have a lesson to teach you

Spend some time now with these wise people, and to

fun.

— something very important. learn

what they have

show you. (pause for up to one minute)

And when you are ready, you are going come home. Remember what the people there taught

to leave the purple planet

and

you, so you can think about

later.

And now you begin to say good-bye. And you fly all the way back through

the planets,

back past the moon,

back

to the earth,

back

into this

room,

and back down through

When

the top of your head.

you are ready, you can

stretch,

188

breathe deeply, and

wake

up.

it

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND After taking

me

tell

my

son through

meditation,

this

I

would

learned there. John had

many

mean

"They taught me

to

be nice to

to other people," or, "Share

all

people,"

your things,"

Sometimes they just showed him "neat

lies."

He would "Don't be

or,

or,

"Don't

tell

The people on

stuff."

purple planet were green with yellow polka dots, and they

his

looked

one another. John looked forward

like

and would ask for

a child, as for

meditation

all

to going back there

that meditation before bedtime.

CHILD'S USE OF MEDITATION

A For

to

of experiences, but he

different types

almost always had a lesson of some moral significance. report,

him

ask

about what happened on the purple planet and what he

all

an adult, there are

Once

state.

many

there, the experience

different

ways into the

of inner peace,

silence,

and serenity can be the same for many people. But accessing

this

inner tranquility can be a different process for each individual.

My on

son

calls

meditation "deep, inner nonthinking." Once, while

exhausted after escalate,

and

all

He

We

long and arduous day of fun. The voices began to

a

of

John complained gone

his ninth birthday, John and I were on a were on the way home, and everyone was

Disneyland for

a visit to

very crowded bus.

a

sudden there was an incredible din on the

irritably

then became very quiet for a while, and to sleep.

nice!"

He

About

half an

had imagined

bus.

about the sound.

that

hour

later

he

stirred

I

thought he had

and

said,

"That was

everyone from the bus was outside with

him in an open field. He shouted loudly at all of them to "shut up!" They instantly became very quiet, and, he said, "You could hear a pin drop."

He

Meanwhile, the

then

sat in that silence,

actual noise level

enjoying his inner peace.

on the bus had not diminished.

ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER AND LEARNING DISABILITIES Brainwave training

is

tion deficit disorder

now

successfully being used for helping atten-

(ADD) and

other related disorders, including

189

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

attention deficit hyperactive disorder, learning disabilities, opposi-

conduct disorder, anxiety, and depression.

tional deficit disorder,

Many

children and adults with these disabilities have an overabun-

dance of theta and

a

deficiency of beta brainwaves.

protocol of brainwave training for such conditions sion and beta enhancement.

A number

The is

generalized

theta suppres-

of people have been working

successfully in this arena for several years.

Sometimes the things ones

ativity are the

least

our brainwaves and our cre-

that stimulate

expected,

as

the following story

illustrates.

DEADHEAD One

of my teenage

clients

was

classified as learning disabled.

Deadhead, one of the group of dedicated fans

also a

follow the band the Grateful their concerts.

She was

still

Dead around

She was

who would

the country, attending

in high school, so she traveled only

during vacations.

A.D. cially

disliked school

and was having trouble with her grades, espe-

with her homework. She wanted to

Grateful

Dead while

listen to the

music of the

she studied and was adamant that this helped

rather than hindered her learning ability. steadfastly refused to let her listen to

Her

parents,

however,

her music during homework

time. Originally, parents.

when

I

heard her story,

I

tended to agree with her

A.D. had an awakened mind brainwave pattern with lower I was working with

than average beta and higher than average theta.

her to increase her level of beta, training her to be more conscious of

how

to turn

it

on. She brought

homework

to the sessions,

and we

explored ways of increasing her beta retention while she was working. Little

by

little

her grades improved and her D's gradually became

B's.

One

day A.D. arrived for her session with

a Grateful

Dead

cassette

wanted me to listen to it. I agreed, but had hooked her up to the Mind Mirror, because I

tape she especially liked, and

only after

I

wanted her to have a full session. I saw her normal pattern on the screen until we began to listen to the music. Then what I saw amazed me. Her beta increased dramati-

190

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND

'NORMAL" PATTERN

LISTENING TO

GRATEFUL DEAD

DEADHEAD

FIGURE 5

cally

while she listened to the Grateful Dead

(see Figure 5).

I

gave

her some schoolwork to do, and she maintained the beta while working and listening to the music. I continued experimenting with her until I was satisfied that listening to her favorite music actually did improve her brainwave pattern for studying.

The hard

part was

convincing her parents.

As

in the case

disabilities

can

of A.D.,

come

I

have noticed that children with learning

close to having an

pattern, simply with less beta than

them

to

spiritual

enhance

and

their beta,

I

would

am

awakened mind brainwave

optimal.

I

prefer to

work with

without necessarily suppressing their

creative theta waves, an action

innate genius and evolutionary I

is

I

fear

would

limit their

abilities.

prefer not to think of normalizing these children, because

not sure that our medical and societal standards of normal are

optimum. Children with learning disabilities may actually is usually realized. It is up to us to make sure that those gifts are not routinely trained out of them for the sake of preserving normality. After all, if normal is always the goal, evolunecessarily

be more gifted than

tion cannot occur. I

would

It is

them

and to use the

gifts

possible for them, with the right attitude

and

prefer, instead, to teach

that they have.

to value

training, to turn their disability into an advantage. Inherent within this

is

the need to understand that the strong points of each person's

brainwaves need to be sought out and developed to maximize

his

or

her individual potential.

The

good converand empathetic. As her

teenager A.D. was unusually creative, bright,

sationalist, socially

aware, and very intuitive

191

a

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

had noted, "She always lands on her

father

developed theta brainwaves and her

When

encouraged her to shut down her theta and

I

saw her highly

I

them through

as the major contributing factor to those qualities.

strong alpha

weak

feet."

ability to access

beta, she

became

listless

or agitated.

When

activate only her

helped her add

I

them down, she seemed to come alive. I felt that taking away her theta would be like taking away her innate ability to land on her feet. Ours is not the only culture where the school system tries to mold

beta to her alpha and theta instead of shutting

children into a prescribed model.

When

was

I

in

THE BASEBALL PLAYER I was asked to work with the twelve -year-old

Taiwan,

child of a clothing manufacturer. His family lived in a village outside Taipei.

They were

well educated and wanted the best for their son.

was the only boy

L.

of

in a family

girls.

With

several sisters

brothers, he felt a lot of pressure to succeed. His family

felt

was having problems in school, and where he comes from

and no that that

he is

a

very serious matter. In his school there was a large sign in front that continuously posted the top three students and the bottom three students. Fear

of

failure

and

fear

of disappointing

his father

was

a

major motivator. I

home and was

arrived in his

greeted by eight or nine

of his family. His elderly aunt and uncle had see

me. The aunt was very

ill,

members

been brought

also

and the family asked

if

in to

would be

I

Recognizing her great need and the distance she had traveled, I agreed. While I was working with the aunt, the rest of the family prepared a huge feast for me. I was beginning willing to see her

to

first.

wonder how

the session with this child was going to

take

place.

After dinner

we

assembled in the family room.

with the boy, saying

I

thought he would learn

I

asked for privacy

better.

This caused an

uproar and disagreement because everyone wanted to be present.

They

all

thought

help. This

it

was their

right,

and they

all

thought they could

was perhaps the strangest individual session

done.

192

I

had ever

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND L. did I

needed

not speak the same dialect that

of

to enlist the services

my

my main

backup

translator spoke, so

translator,

but he was

we proceeded, various family members would also offer their translations, sometimes arguing at length over the meaning of one of my words. not completely proficient either. As

Eventually

down to

understood that the boy's troubles

I

to self-esteem, creativity,

do well

and in

in school

and

sports.

The

sports, but every

seemed

all

child badly

to boil

wanted

time he expressed

his

one of his older sisters or mother would say, "Oh, you could never do that!" I noticed this in different ways again and again. His brainwaves were remarkable. He had rounded but strong beta, consistent and continuous alpha, and very strong consistent theta, desire,

with high-amplitude delta

flares (see

amount of theta contained

unfulfilled creativity that

Figure

6).

I

felt

huge

that the

was continually

being squashed.

Figure

took him into

6

him that I was going to get With that, his family exclaimed, "Oh, he could never do that!" They all agreed he was not able to tell a story. After strongly asking them to be quiet, I instructed him to begin by creating the environment he would like to be in. He said that he saw himself on a baseball diamond and that he was up to bat. With this, I

him

to

tell

me

a

meditation and told

a story.

there was another loud chorus of protests

he could never play

At

that point,

unfolded was point with a

I

his family, saying that

baseball.

insisted that they

a beautiful story

home

from

be quiet and

about

how

let

him

run, leading his team to victory.

intricately, delicately,

try.

What

he scored the winning

He

told

it

so

and bravely, building the tension and expecta-

193

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE tions,

we

because

truly didn't

he was going to win or

up

jumped

in victory,

as

he

we were

finally

whether

listening,

won, he threw

his

arms

off the couch, and yelled. His family burst

and gathered around hugging him.

into applause

me

Later they told

They

experienced. possibly

know,

When

lose.

tell a

that this was'the first "victory" that L.

ESR

had not believed

that

he could

he had never done so before.

L. fell in

also said that they

story, because

had ever

some magic power to it and if he would consider letting him play real baseball. His father was very doubtful, so I made a deal with him. I said I would give L. the ESR to keep if his father would let him play baseball. He agreed. After he had given me the prearranged payment for my work, in gratitude L.'s father took me into his clothing store next door, again with the whole family hap-

love with the

clutching

I

I

and invited

pily watching,

clothing

meter, attributing

to his chest.

it

have

now

asked his father

me

to pick out

my

three favorite coats,

long cherished.

REYES SYNDROME The

gifts

of learning

disabilities

and even of some brain damage

often well disguised and overshadowed by the difficulties.

teen-year-old client a rare disease

During her

many

for

I

shall call

A

TJ. had contracted Reye's syndrome,

of the central nervous system, in her preteen

illness

years.

her brain became swollen, and she was near death

Both she and her mother

hours.

are

four-

felt that

only her mother's

vigilance and psychic insistence that she remain alive kept her living.

From

that time on, she

and her mother were bonded

where each constantly and

effortlessly

knew what

to the point

the other was

thinking and feeling.

When

T.J.

ing problems

came

feeling that she

had

to

me, she had

a distorted sense

of time and

list

a fireplace

been walled up

reality.

Once, while

ited before, she pointed to a wall

be

long

was closing herself off behind

inexplicable experiences.

to

a

of complaints, includ-

at school, social difficulty, fear, sadness, anger,

in a

and

a

a brick wall. She also

T.J.

had many odd and

house she had never

and exclaimed, "There

is

vis-

supposed

here." There was indeed a fireplace there that had for

many

decades.

194

While walking on

a local side-

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND moved

walk, she

to sidestep a tree that wasn't there, only to find

it

had been cut down many years previously. She sometimes went into trances and saw people in eighteenth- or nineteenth-century dress in houses that stemmed from that ple's feelings,

She read minds,

and almost continually

and emotions around

and supportive, others in the college cal

era.

where

I

her.

not.

felt

other peo-

bombarded by the thoughts She felt visited by spirits, some friendly Her mother, who was a student of mine felt

was teaching, eschewed any

treatment or drug therapy and brought her to

traditional

me

medi-

for brainwave

assessment and possible help.

When

I

saw

T.J.,

she had one brick

wall she was building around herself theta

and

left

to

go

in the imaginary

Her brainwaves were

primarily

delta (see Figure 7).

Figure 7

At

first T.J.

did not want to be there.

I

gave her the choice of

I would explain her decision to her mother so she wouldn't get into trouble. Then I invited her to talk. Over the weeks she grew to love the sessions. She felt supported, heard, and understood. I showed her the vastness of her theta and delta waves and explained the nature of the subconscious to her. She did not want to lose her abilities; she just wanted to temper them and learn to get along in school and society. Brick by brick, we took down the wall. I remember the day she finally said good-bye to the last of the spirits. Her theta was still

leaving or staying, promising that

strong, but she

was learning to control

it.

She was

deal with the subconscious content, the insights

also learning to

and awareness

that

continued to beset her. Her grades improved, and her participation at

school increased.

Her mother's

anxiety about her,

195

as

well as the

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

inappropriate bonding, lessened and finally disappeared.

how

to use her intuition

I

taught her

and empathy but not be ruled or suffocated

by them.

Now, with

a

almost ten years

later, at

happily married

is

one-year-old child. She remembers those days but doesn't

dwell on them, having the

would be

now

life

that she never

dreamed she

able to have.

A GENIUS IN A I

twenty-five, she

was conducting

DAMAGED BODY

lecture/demonstration for

a

a

group of about

eighty therapists from a center for disabled children in the South.

They had agreed to provide me with a number of volunteers whom I had never met or measured before my talk. I had given my usual introduction about brainwaves, drawn the various patterns on blackboard, and

shown

I hooked up was him with a very

intelligibly

a

a bit older.

At seventeen,

and contorted body.

stiff

patterns.

The

his cerebral palsy

He

was unable

a

last

boy

had

left

to speak

and had limited movement. Nevertheless, he had listened

attentively to the lecture

When

number of children's

I

had given.

hooked him up to the Mind Mirror it showed a perfect awakened mind brainwave pattern. There was a gasp of astonishment from the group of therapists, and I said to him, "Do you realize you have the brainwave pattern many people want?" He nodded his head vigorously, and emotionally indicated the words, "I know, I know!" The look of exoneration on his face cannot be described. There was I

not a dry eye in the house.

mother

that this child

was

It

was only

alone with a broken television, he

and knowledge of

later that

I

found out from

brilliant in certain areas. If

electrical

would

wiring was

he had been overlooked. His mother

at

fix

it.

you

left

his

him

His understanding

the level of a genius, yet

said

he had just somehow

slipped through the cracks. She was ecstatic to see her belief in her

son reinforced by the

could change believed

now

his life

Mind

and

Mirror.

Armed

with information that

had been vindicated. She had always known he had could

hers, she felt she

that the brilliance she

indeed be recognized and developed.

As we have seen, the

act

of creating can take many forms. The

196

CREATIVITY, LEARNING, AND THE AWAKENED MIND brainwaves of creativity are applicable in almost every aspect of your life, if

what you want

better to

life's

is

challenges.

to originate, improve, develop, or respond

Whether you

access

your

your early morning time, in the shower, or during to recognize

a

creativity

during

meditation, seek

and perpetuate your "ah-ha" experiences, or experi-

ment with your mental fluency

in the office,

you

will

be working

with the brainwaves that give you access to the deeper realms within

With practice, way of life.

you.

1.

creativity can

C. Maxwell Cade and

soon become

a natural part

of your

Nona Coxhead, The Awakened Mind (New

Delacorte Press/Eleanor Friede, 1979), 58.

197

York:

BRAINWAVES RELATIONSHIPS

N

Empathy, Intuition, and Connection

Ourencebrainwave and

patterns have a lot to

interact

do with

how we

with the outside world. Individuals

others through the use

experirelate to

of their brainwaves; therefore the

brainwave pattern that they are producing helps shape the experi-

ence of their communication. In discussing our brainwave response to other people, delta waves.

Though waking

I

would

first like

to develop

your understanding of

Delta brainwaves represent the unconscious mind. usually thought of as the brainwaves of deep sleep, in a

state delta

waves are often referred to

as

Delta waves help orient us in time and space. level,

the orienting response.

On

the very deepest

they are our beacon that senses danger and safety.

They

serve as

our automatic tracking device, our scanning function, and enhance our

and

instincts, intuition,

ability to discriminate.

This very primal,

almost animalistic response can also be fine-tuned to sense emotions, needs, and attitudes in other people.

It is

often present

when

there

is

an unconscious connection or intuitive bonding between people. I

like to call delta a

kind of

radar.

As such, these brainwaves

are a

major component of our intuition and empathy. Delta waves often present in people

who

have

a skill at

are

reaching out to others in

order to understand or help them. Psychotherapy and the healing arts

tend to attract people with an abundance of waking

delta.

These

very slow, low-frequency brainwaves are also present during most experiences of psychic

phenomena and ESP.

198

BRAINWAVES

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF DELTA When

you likely to be producing higher amplitudes of waking There are many times you may have had an inexplicable psychic knowledge on a very ordinary level: are

delta waves?

• •

You know the phone is going to ring right before it does. You think of a friend a few minutes before you bump into him

or

her. •

You

feel

hurt • •

an unexplained pain, only to find

at that

later that

your child was

exact time.

You know what someone is going to say before they say You know exactly what someone is feeling, even though trying hard to

mask

Some people

it

and other people

are fooled.

of talking to one another with these

are capable

brainwaves without opening their mouths or voicing student of a well-known spiritual teacher writes,

other for over an hour.

which

I

answers. that

I

asked It

We

him many

was only

it.

they are

had

"We

A

sound.

a

sat

with each

long and intricate conversation in

a

personal questions, and he gave

when we had

finished and

realized that for the entire time neither

I

said,

me

the

'Thank you,'

one of us had uttered

a

word!"

BUT I

I

lived for a time

what we

still is,

DON'T LIKE MARMALADE

with a very close friend in London

might call psychic.

standing of each other and

many

never forget the day she radared

shopping with only store,

I

stopped

a small

at the

list,

a

marmalade

We

I

who

was, and

intuitive

under-

"silent conversations," but

me

I

will

buy marmalade. I was out very quick job. While I was in the to

shelf and picked out an expensive,

high-quality brand of the orange jam.

odd, except for the fact that

had much

disliked

199

Now

would not seem marmalade and would never this

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

have consciously bought

When

it.

was

I

home

unloading the

up the marmalade, and

groceries, Elizabeth breezed in, picked

"Oh

at

good, you heard me. Thanks!" All

said,

I

replied was, "I wondered

That was eighteen years ago. This same

lady, Elizabeth St. John,

why

I

was buying that."

subsequently became one of England's most accomplished healers.

She

feels

the pains, problems, and traumas of others in her

body. She

is

own

then able to give insights to her patients about the

make accurate diagnoses, and on an energetic and etheric into the physical body as healing.

nature and cause of their difficulties,

help

them begin

the transformations

level that ultimately

can translate

DEVELOPING DELTA BRAINWAVES I

have learned that trying to develop delta waves with direct biofeed-

back does not work well.

who

When

have difficulty producing

disappears, even

when

it

has

I

have given feedback to subjects their delta almost invariably

delta,

been spontaneously

that their delta often diminishes as

aware of it. Developing delta

is

a

soon

and

what follows

is

I

have found

made consciously more of learning a way of a specific brainwave. With

as

they are

function

being than of taking an action to create that said,

strong.

an exercise that helps develop your radar

intuitive ability. This meditation

is

adapted from an exercise

Max

originally did eighteen years ago with

I

Cade.

THE BUBBLE This meditation

is

best undertaken with a group of people, prefera-

bly sitting in a circle. Before

the circle to see

you

close

where each person

photograph of what you

your is

eyes, take a

sitting,

look around

and take

a

mental

see.

Close your eyes and take a few moments tion.

200

to enter into

a state of medita-

BRAINWAVES

Now

begin to imagine yourself alone, seated at the center of a large

bubble

—

a soap bubble. This represents your consciousness, every-

like

you are aware of

thing that

Now

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

moment

at this

much

picture yourself at the center of a

inside

and outside

larger bubble

—the size of a

large room. This bubble represents your preconscious,

now

that are not

your mind but that you could

in

yourself.

the things

all

recall instantly

you

if

wish.

And now imagine

yourself inside a

much

still

larger bubble

mind and contains

ev-

You have the capacity

for

football field. This represents your unconscious

aware

erything that you have ever been

of.

—the size of a

total recall of this material.

Now

again

return

to the first

This

is

your personal space

Feel

it

around you

Just

be aware of

.

this

You might even see

head

.

.

bubble

.

shimmer as

.

.

gently

your personal space

.

and

it

.

.

.

.

envelops you from the top of your .

.

.

Now, very

.

.

bubble enclosing your consciousness it

sacrificing

you

.

.

.

bottom of your feet

to the

your personal space

.

slowly, begin to allow your bubble to

grow

.

.

.

person on one side of

to take in the

.

What does

it

feel like

when

they enter your space? Try to be nonjudg-

mental, simply experiencing their energy as they enter into your space,

and

noticing the response within yourself.

Now allow your in

the room.

bubble

to

expand a

Again how does

it

Allow your consciousness bubble

more people bubble

—

in

the room.

little

feel?

more

What

to take in

to continue to

One by one you What does

your personal space.

it

201

another person

are you experiencing?

expand as you take

can

feel

in

them enter your

feel like?

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Don't analyze, interpret, or judge. Just experience.

Allow your bubble

whole room,

until

grow

to

we

are

larger

and

larger

enclosed

all

in

until

encompasses

it

the

one large bubble—a group-

consciousness bubble.

be aware of the feeling of

Just

And soon you reducing

.

.

.

.

.

are going to begin to allow your bubble

now

size

in

another

this

.

so that

Be aware of how you

feel

excludes

it

and another

.

.

first

to shrink,

one person

.

and then

.

.

.

as each person leaves your bubble.

What do

you experience as each person pops out of your personal space?

and as

the bubble continues to get smaller?

Again, don't analyze,

.

.

.

until,

eventually,

.

interpret, or judge. Just

you are back

in

your

.

.

.

.

experience

own

.

.

.

.

small bubble, your con-

sciousness bubble, enclosing you from the top of your head to the

bottom of your

What does

it

feel like?

Experience your

Now

feet.

own

consciousness around you

.

.

.

take a few minutes to meditate on your experience and what

meant

for

you.

Which was more comfortable

—the

large

expanded

bubble including the whole group? the small bubble of your sonal space?

somewhere

your boundaries?

and

in

between? What does

What have you

this tell

it

own

per-

you about

learned about your needs, wants,

feelings?

Crystallize your experiences

when you are

in

two or three words or sentences. And

ready, allow yourself to begin to return, bringing

information back with you.

202

this

— BRAINWAVES When eyes

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

you are ready, take several deep rapid breaths and allow your to open, awakening alert and refreshed, back in the outside

space.

RESPONSES TO THE BUBBLE The

responses to this meditation vary greatly.

ence

of

a state

Some

people experi-

the end of the exercise and others a state of

bliss at

The

discomfort or anxiety.

following are a selection of individual

responses:

It felt

good

enjoyed

I

it.

my own

privacy of

I

to expand and be connected with other people But it also felt good to return to the safety and space.

couldn't stand letting anyone into

bic

my

space.

felt

I

claustropho-

and invaded!

When

returned to

I

my own

space,

I

deep sense of

felt a

loss

and abandonment.

At

first

didn't think

I

other people.

I

when you had

When I

I

found

me

felt like

I

could only

my own

It

I

loved

I

it.

I

didn't

want

didn't

want

in,

in

visit

to

and very comfortable

popped

didn't matter

new one came

than two people over to

my

come

one had

It's

I

I

to.

alone.

felt

bubble

to

go out.

I

back.

want

didn't

at a

time,

which of you were

my home. will me at a time.

invite

a state

I

am

in

the

no more

I'm very used

in.

to let certain people into

in right away.

I

bubble by myself,

three people into

let

same way with entertaining

to

opening up to the

was exposed and vulnerable. But then

and two other people.

there, but if a

like

us shrink our bubbles again,

was back in I

was going to

I

my

bubble. Others

found myself judging people

203

-

as

they

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

came into my bubble. I learned something about my excessive judgment and also about my ability to be discriminatory about

who

I

let

into

my

personal space.

Each one of these could be taken further in an exploration of what the meaning of personal space has to the individual. Issues of safety, abuse, abandonment, and isolation are common, as are feelings of warmth, opening, compassion, and love. As you can see, the responses are very varied. There are no right and wrong responses. This

a learning

is

experience in which you can

find out about your relationship to boundaries. Learning appropriate

boundaries

how and

the task, and the

is

skill is

being able to consciously

shift

whom

you connect. Learning expansiveness, openness, and nonjudgmental acceptance of whatever is accelerates your own development. But there is indeed a need for discernment about whom you let in to your psychic space, for how long, and for what purpose. There is also a need for careful discrimination about when it is appropriate to enter someone else's personal space. I

with

have often suggested that a student try

group environment the student

—with an

doing. This

is

someone you

individual

who

is

of the

not aware of what

an especially helpful exercise to try with

communicating with. This may be

are having trouble

your spouse, your boss, ier at a store.

is

this exercise outside

a colleague, a waiter in a restaurant,

Notice what happens to your communication

or cashafter

you

have put them into your consciousness bubble.

MUCH DELTA

THE PROBLEMS OF TOO

know what everyone else is feeling and it makes me feel terrible!"

"I always

Metaphorically, delta

is

both

a radio transmitter

and

receiver.

Some

people transmit better; some receive better; some do both equally well.

turn

you

You can it

learn to regulate your transmitting and receiving

up or down. Imagine

that

to control or determine the

you put

it

on

—

to

a rheostat that allows

amount of information you send

204

—

—

BRAINWAVES

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

and receive on an unconscious or psychic

One

of the

common

Then when you do

level.

receive information, learn to detach from

it.

problems of sensitive people

is

an excess of

one of these people, you might appear overly sensitive to the thoughts, feelings, and needs of other people. Your unconscious mind is picking up too many stimuli from the outside world and absorbing them inappropriately. What do you do delta brainwaves. If

with these stimuli? ple's painful

are

A common

response

is

to

assume that other peo-

emotions are your own, with very

between what

more

you

is

yours and what

is

little

differentiation

not yours. Or, because you are

aware of other people's discomforts, you might feel a need to

take responsibility for

them

them

to fix

them.

Sometimes

this desire to fix

simply an urge to alleviate the pain that you are feeling

is

yourself

as a result

of being too interconnected with other's emo-

tions. Sometimes it is a more complex psychological game: because you can feel it so strongly, you must somehow have caused it. Therefore you feel guilty unless you do something about it. This is the arena in which codependence rears its ugly head. The

children of dysfunctional families, adult children of alcoholics, and

childhood abuse survivors lance.

all

have something in

common

hypervigi-

This anxiety of excessive watchfulness stems from the need in

childhood to be ever

alert to the constantly

dangerous experiences in an unstable

High-amplitude delta waves have

changing and potentially

home a

life.

number of

implications for

your relationship with the outside world. Experiencing them may cause you to

— bombarded by emotions and needs of of —experience of being overwhelmed —have and shaky — of another — — and burdened by the

feel

the physical pain

others

others

a general feeling

in relationship to the outside

feel sensitive, vulnerable,

feel overly responsible for the state

responsibility for the condition

feel guilty

humanity

of

in general

The answer may not

necessarily be to turn

the delta waves, but rather to develop

205

a

down

the

volume of

healthy screening ability and

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

Some

proficiency in detachment.

people with these responses

feel

the need to isolate themselves from the stimuli of the outside world.

They may

confusion and pain

feel

kind of input.

If

you can learn

when

they are exposed to expand yourself while you

to

this

are

yourself against them; nor do you have to take

them or defend them on or integrate

them

stimuli,

receiving these stimuli, you will not need to reject

into yourself. Rather,

them, honor them, and

them

you experience the

them

let

them.

stick or feeling responsible for fixing

This does not responsibility for

mean

that

your

own

well-being of the planet.

you do not take

It

acknowledge

pass through you without letting

a healthy

and appropriate

part in relationships or for the health

simply means that you do not have

and

to suffer

while you are using your discrimination to determine right action

and appropriate responsible behavior.

CODEPENDENCE Melody

Beattie defines

follows:

"A codependent

codependence person

is

one

No More

in Codependent

who

who is obsessed with controlling Among the many characteristics of co-

behavior affect him or her, and that person's behavior."

dependency

that she

1

lists

are

— other — other needs — obliged other no when you want — —expecting do of above

people's wants, needs, and feelings

feeling responsible for

trying to anticipate

feeling

in order to

people's

all

them

to say

really

others to

fill

people's problems

to try to solve

saying yes

the

for

you

DETACHMENT Beattie considers detachment to be

Ideally,

detachment

problem

in love.

is

as

has let another person's

one of the

basics

of

releasing, or detaching from, a

Detachment

is

self-care:

person or

based on the premise that each

206

BRAINWAVES person

responsible for himself, that

is

that aren't ours to solve,

who

allow people to be

and

they

be responsible and to grow.

We

freedom.

own

our

live

strive to ascertain

what

Then we

change.

it is

The

it

are.

We

give

And we

we

we

can't solve problems

worrying doesn't

to

give ourselves that same

We

the best of our ability.

we cannot

can change and what

stop trying to change things

we

We

can't.

making the most of what we have

way

in a

used by Alcoholics

that millions

of people

Anonymous

cept the things

expresses de-

in twelve-step

over the world can understand: "God, grant

can,

We

help.

them the freedom

into more. 2

Serenity Prayer

tachment

that

lives to

learn the magical lesson that

turns

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

me

programs

all

the serenity to ac-

cannot change, the courage to change the things

I

and the wisdom

These words hold

to

know

special

I

the difference."

importance for people with high

levels

of delta waves. Delta can make you oversensitive to the energies within other people. Practicing detachment offers

a healthy alterna-

with that awareness.

tive for dealing

Swami Rama

explains that with the help of nonattachment

overcome the obstructions on the path of self-realization. ways of removing these obstacles:

He

we

can

illumi-

nates four

First, is

by renouncing or giving up the object of attachment

—which

often quite difficult for ordinary people.

Second, by learning to view the object of attachment

as a

means

—

end in itself which involves transforming attitudes, thereby changing bad circumstances into favorable ones. Third, by learning to act skillfully and selflessly, "surrendering the rather than an

fruits

of

.

.

.

3 actions for the benefits of others."

Fourth, by learning self-surrender: "one surrenders himself and

all

of freedom from

all

that

he owns to the Lord and leads

attachments." 4

207

a life

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

BRAINWAVES

IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Brainwaves and interpersonal relationships

a

is

fascinating area of

study that opens the door to a deeper understanding of human

munication and connections. But the experience of

occur

everyday

in

life.

Entrainment between two individuals

reciprocal brainwave connection that occurs

with each other. Conversely, brainwaves

may show

when

is

can the

people are in tune

two people arguing,

the case of

as in

com-

entraining

the opposite pattern, each person's being

completely different from the other's.

Many

couples

wave patterns

I

have measured have

a

tendency for their brain-

mimic, each

to resemble, but not entirely

especially those

who

other's,

have been together for a long time. For exam-

both partners may have strong alpha, although one's amplitude

ple,

usually surpasses the other's.

It is

also possible that neither

one has

strong alpha, beta being the dominant frequency for both. If the relationship

is

strong, they

may both

However, these

delta as well.

have access to high-amplitude

similarities are

on

the best relationships are founded

not

a rule.

opposite brainwaves. Lack of entrainment

not necessarily an in-

is

dication of incompatibility. Jack Sprat and his wife

well

together,

as

can

the

Some of

opposites, and this includes

worked very

dominant and alpha dominant

beta

couple.

On

the other hand, extreme opposite patterns can also be a reflec-

A

tion of irreconcilable differences.

arguing

may not

realize that part

couple locked into incessant

of their problem

natures of their states of consciousness.

I

is

the different

have found that using

EEGs

while counseling couples can be a very useful practice, enabling to point out through biofeedback ner's

1

shows an example of a couple

many ways

to argue.

I

picked

this

interrelationship of the brainwaves their patterns are different, but not ing,

me

happening to each part-

is

brainwave pattern during their interactions.

Figure are

what

you can

see that, while

is

in

one

deep argument. There

to illustrate because the

so graphic. In a resting state

abnormally

he shoots out

208

so. In a state

his beta

waves

of argu-

at her,

she

BRAINWAVES

MAN

1A

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

RESTING

1

MAN ARGUING

1C

ID FIGURE

contracts her beta

the

.

.

,"

Mind Mirror

is

is

crying, "I feel

astounding.

fighting! In a case like this

feedback

as to

to learn

some

what

I

INFANT

NURSING

and shoots out her alpha

and she

RESTING

WOMAN ARGUING

2B FIGURE 2

.

WOMAN

1

MOTHER

2A

think

B

You can

.

at .

him.

."

The

He

is

yelling, "I

visual effect

on

actually see the brainwaves

have been able to give the individuals

their brainwaves are doing,

self-mastery of their

own

internal states as a useful

tempering of their full-blown argumentative

209

and encourage them

style.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

3A

>

HUSBAND FIGURE 3

4A

3B

LONG-TERM MARITAL PARTNERS, BOTH

IN MEDITATION

MOTHER FIGURE 4

ADULT DAUGHTER

4B

MOTHER AND ADULT DAUGHTER

WIFE

IN MEDITATION

TOGETHER

Figure 2 shows the brainwave patterns of a new mother and her two-week-old nursing infant. While the mother is conscious and fully awake with her eyes open, her brainwave pattern is one of

almost complete theta and delta, mirroring that of the infant. reported experience

whelming

is

one of deep

satisfaction, serenity,

Her

and over-

love and connection with her child.

Figure 3 depicts long-term marital partners. This particular couple has been married over forty years, the only marriage for both; they

have lived in three countries, raised two children, and have mitted and loving

life

together.

While the brainwave

a

com-

patterns are not

completely entrained, they are very similar in their strong, consistent alpha and high-amplitude right hemisphere delta. to

me

for marriage counseling,

work on themselves

I

found

that they each

individually rather than

210

When

on the

they

came

needed

to

relationship.

BRAINWAVES

When ship

IN

RELATIONSHIPS

they both began sorting out their

began to

own

issues, their relation-

flourish.

Figure 4 shows the brainwave patterns of

a

mother and her

daughter in meditation together. While they are not

adult

in exact

en-

trainment and not trying to be, you can note the similarity of the

two

patterns.

CAN ENTRAINMENT BE CONSCIOUS CHOICE? So

we

far,

families.

have looked

These

all

at

A

entrainments in marriage, lovers, and

appear to happen naturally without conscious in-

you wish to experiment with consciously entraining with a someone with whom you are having difficulty) and have no biofeedback system available to tell whether it is happening or not, you may wish to try meditating together. Pick a topic or method of meditation that you can both practice. Try synchronizing tent. If

friend (or with

your breathing. Share the content of your experience afterwards. Practice the Bubble meditation and again share your experience.

The more you can conscious

mon

practice sharing your lower frequency

states together, the

more

likely

you

will

and sub-

be to share com-

brainwaves. if you feel yourself entraining with someone and There may be times when another person would

Conversely, what

you

don't want to?

level in a way that is inapWhile you probably will not have the biofeedback devices necessary to show you exactly what is happening, you can still feel the intrusion of unwanted intimacy. You like to

connect with you on

a

brainwave

propriate or undesirable for you.

might find

it

helpful at this point to return to your consciousness

bubble and exclude

all

other consciousnesses

words, thicken the skin of your bubble.

It

but your own.

may

consciously form a stronger connection with your

In other

also

be helpful to

own

higher self or

—

higher power whatever form that takes for you. This alliance can be helpful in giving you the strength to ward off undesired approaches. Finally,

you can

also try shifting

your

own

consciousness

dramatically from state to state to effectively lose your stalker. Access

211

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE high beta; reduce

it

and

let

it

go; access strong alpha;

you don't

on one

settle

move from

Keep moving around

alpha back to the beta, and so forth.

of consciousness

particular state

the

so that

that can

be

picked up.

HOW CONSCIOUS BRAINWAVE CHANGES MIGHT ALTER YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH OTHERS IN A POSITIVE WAY There

are times

when you might

find your brainwave pattern inhar-

monious with the situation you are in. By changing your consciousness, you can often change your experience of a situation, allowing your response to be more positive.

state

of

difficult

ANGER You

are in

an altercation. You begin to

Stop! Take a few

moments

to

and focus on an

your adversary

into

out of control.

reduce your arousal by relaxing through

deep breathing. Relax your tongue nalize

feel

to

inner center.

reduce your beta waves. If

you

feel safe

doing

Inter-

so, bring

your consciousness bubble. Then begin your com-

munication again.

FEAR

You

feel paralysed.

Your heart

think what to do or

is

racing with anxiety and you can't

say.

Again, relax. Close your eyes, even

if

only very

briefly, to

access some

alpha waves. Quickly sensualize the type of communication you

would eyes,

like to

be having. Take a few deep strong breaths, open your

and begin again.

212

BRAINWAVES

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

BOREDOM You

are trying to listen

yourself. Hyperventilate

few moments this is all

it

if

awake, but you find yourself

stay

You know

asleep or zoning out.

Arouse

and

that delta

is

just about

all

falling

you've got.

by breathing deeply and rapidly,

for

a

necessary, to decrease your skin resistance. Sometimes

takes.

If

you need more

stimulation, think

about something

completely different while keeping your eyes open. Pick something that exciting

is

and

stimulating for you. Feel the shift

in

sciousness and immediately return your focus where with attention, interest,

and

your state of conit

should be. Listen

alertness to detail.

INTERSPECIES COMMUNICATION By now brainwave

interrelationships

between people may seem

an obvious occurrence. Less understood, but very interesting, fact that

human

beings and animals

may

also

is

like

the

have brainwave interre-

lationships.

The work

have done with interspecies communication and

I

brainwaves involves horses and their riders or

work by tionally

accident

when

I

met Linda

renowned animal

expert,

TTouch and founded TTeam,

trainers.

I

fell

into this

Tellington-Jones, an interna-

who

developed the Tellington

AwareMethod. Linda is also involved in interspecies communication. The first time she came to me for a brainwave profile, I monitored her while she was working on people. In this state she produced a form of awakened mind brainwave pattern that was heavily the Tellington-Jones Equine

ness

weighted with theta brainwaves. I

we

was interested to

know

if

her students had

a similar pattern, so

Colorado ranch.

I

had studied the TTouch over

a

period of time tended to have strong theta and delta brainwaves in

a

set

up

a test

observed that

normal

during one of her workshops

all

resting

of the students

waking

state.

who

at a

Six out of the eleven people

had near awakened mind patterns person had an awakened mind

as

I

in the left hemisphere,

coherent

213

measured and one

as Tellington-Jones's.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

The

TTouch

Tellington

involves

special

a

way of pushing

in

a

motion the skin of the horse, other animal, or

circular clockwise

human. Tellington-Jones

told

me

that although

comprehensive definition of her work, her

it

hard to give

is

official

description

is

a as

follows:

he Tellington

I

hand touch

TTouch

is

a specific

system of finger and

that finds areas in an animal's

body

tension, fear, soreness or discomfort that limit

operate or perform. Specific touches and

its

that indicate ability to

movements

co-

are taught

reduce tension and to release discomfort and pain or the fear

to

of pain. The touch has been used to speed up healing and to speed up recovery from injury and

humans. Attitude and behavior touch.

It

improves the

humans

In

Our

it

TTouch.

We

found

animals including

can be changed with the

think and perform in animals.

ability to focus.

next step was obviously to

brainwaves and then to see the

also

ability to

improves the

illness in

if

we

attempt to monitor horses'

could observe any effect from

that the basic resting state

was primarily theta and delta with occasional

When

the

TTouch was

administered

four categories of brainwaves cially

on the

we

horses.

of the horses

flares

of alpha.

got an activation of

We

saw

all

that alpha espe-

was consistently activated during the TTouch,

as

well

as

some

beta.

Later

we

used

a

remote

telemetry

unit

brainwaves of the horses while they were walking. the

of

not

in

higher frequencies in certain patterns of others.

I

measure

the

saw activation

movement and

then simultaneously monitored the brainwaves

of Tellington-Jones and a

to

We

a

horse she was working on, and found

high level of entrainment occurring between the horse and the

trainer!

214

BRAINWAVES

RELATIONSHIPS

IN

THE PSYCHIC HORSE Perhaps the most startling experience that we had took place while working with a two-year-old thoroughbred mare that the owner thought was crazy. Initially, this horse had highly scattered

brainwaves and out-of-control, high-amplitude ceedingly strong theta and delta and not

we thought brainwaves.

TTouch on Afterward

should

there

then

spent

in front

of

Tellington-Jones

I

I

was standing

explained that

and was unable

this

still

can't

this particular horse's difficul-

alpha.

—whereupon

When everyone When she

produce beta."

wonder what would have happened

can't

the

group of people talking

a

the horse

laughed,

if

said,

"O.K.,

all

Time

open!

this particular horse.

had

I

I

immedi-

immediately produced

prevented us from experimenting further with still

as

horses'

some time doing

no one laughed, because our mouths were

beta,

other

the

to

horse could produce only theta and delta

produce alpha

to

produced strong

ately

but she

alpha and beta

her.

about our discoveries and discussing ties.

much

as

according

be,

She had ex-

flares.

said

I

"O.K., but she

produce an awakened mind."

At the end of our

investigation, Linda Tellington-Jones expressed a

strong desire to continue our research with brainwaves and interspecies

communication. She

what we this

are

said,

going to find out

way, whether

it

be

"To me is

a horse,

cat,

health.

make

we

a difference to

communication which

our planet

other that way."

215

as

we

I

believe

an animal in

we

are not

are also affecting

That animal becomes our teacher, and we

in that nonverbal interspecies

to

just a start.

or a dog, that

only affecting the health of that animal, but

own

is

when we touch

that

or a

this

I

our

are involved

think

is

going

learn to deal with each

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

THERAPEUTIC RIDING Some

tunc

Liter

brainwaves, center.

I

had the opportunity to again monitor horses'

tunc with children

this

monitoring even

before; but

closer,

in the

organization of the patterns.

had

very organized pattern.

.1

as riders, at a

therapeutic riding

saw the same characteristic patterns of horse brainwaves as

I

began to notice the difference

I

The

The

sprightly

young

frisky horse

old nag had a disorganized pat-

tern.

The

children were disabled with a variety of conditions, including

cerebral palsy

and autism. The most disabled child was paired with

the old nag because

make the

it

more

a

it

was thought that

dependable partner.

We

its

age and slowness would

found, however, that

when

rode the old horse with disorganized brainwaves, his

child

brainwaves became more disorganized

as well!

When

the same child

rode the horse with the most organized brainwaves, his brainwaves

improved and became more organized! Here brainwaves of the horse had a definite impact

We

him.

were able to learn to pick the most

upon

affect

We

human

are

all

how

that

the

the child riding

suitable horse for a child

by using brainwave measurement. Clearly there information to be learned about

we saw

is

a lot

of exciting

animals communicate with and

beings.

social beings

whose

daily interactions cross a

wide spec-

trum, ranging from our relationships with animals to interrelating

with our partners, children, colleagues, or friends to interacting with the grocer, mail carrier, or banker to mingling with strangers in a

crowd.

We

How we and

some form of association with others. form and experience these connections is determined by

reflects

are constantly in

our brainwave patterns.

By becoming intentionally aware of our states of consciousness as we interact, learning to utilize our radar appropriately, and practicing conscious connection,

improve rapport. are affected

When we

we

can enhance our relationships and

understand not only

by others but also

how we

216

how

our brainwaves

can affect other people's

BRAINWAVES brainwaves,

our

1.

we

IN

RELATIONSHIPS

increase our empathy, our

communication

skills,

and

satisfaction in relationships.

Melody

Beattie, Codependent

No More (New

York: Harper

& Row,

1987),

31. 2.

Ibid., 51.

3.

Swami Rama,

Living with the Himalayan Masters (Honesdale, Pa.: Himalayan

International Institute of 4.

Yoga Science and Philosophy, 1978), 175.

Ibid.

217

CIRCLECONCLUSION AND FULL

COMMENCEMENT years

Fifty

place.

a book of this nature may be commonnow it is important that we reach into the where we are going. The journey down the path

from now,

But even

future and see

of evolving consciousness

is

proached

it

in the right

way,

an exciting and can be fun,

safe,

fulfilling

one. If ap-

grounded, and excep-

tionally useful.

Awakening the mind and experiencing higher states of consciousness is surely an evolutionary step. However, evolution is not simply a smooth and easy, linear developmental process. It has hills and valleys, surges

and periods of dormancy, anticipated events and un-

expected ones.

you are the one and approaches to

In this process,

needs, attitudes, are.

By

gaining greater

play a stronger

sciousness takes

hand

in

you on

who

Your experiences, life combine to create who you mastery over your own internal states, you

your a

own

counts.

destiny.

Evolving your

own con-

personal passage of transforming pain into

joy-

218

FULL CIRCLE —

CONCLUSION AND COMMENCEMENT

YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY Once you have

on your path of personal evolution, the path becomes your own. You might walk parallel to others for a time, but no one else has your exact path. This experience can be exciting and unsettling at times, as if you are riding a small raft over large and seemingly endless rapids. At other times you may wonder what happened to your forward momentum as you sense yourself becoming stationary or even stagnant. taken the

first

step

CHANGE As you begin to gain self-mastery and awaken parts of yourself that may have been long dormant, changes may occur in your self-awareness

and understanding. Your personal needs and

desires,

your

atti-

tudes and interests, your energy level and health, your relationship to

your environment, your communication lationships,

transformed in

may be that

styles

and interpersonal

re-

and your long-term goals and aspirations may become

periods

you ought

a

number of

when you to

be

as

interesting

and surprising ways. There

think that something

you used

to be, or

more

is

like

wrong with you, other people. As

you learn the language of higher states of consciousness, there may seem to be fewer and fewer people you can actually communicate with about your experiences.

As these changes occur within you, the personal transformation

you are undergoing will certainly affect your external environment and relationships and your internal experience. It is possible to go into denial that you are changing or to try to hide it from those that are closest to you for fear of negative repercussions. If you find this happening to you, it is time to seek companionship and guidance from others who are in the process of personal or spiritual evolution. If you look for it, a large network of people exists that can provide a support system. This might also be the time when a spirithat

tual teacher appears.

219

THE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

AM DO IF WHAT DO CHANGING AND MY S P O U S / P A R T N I

I

E

R

E

/

FRIEND ISN'T? I

Ins

is

.i

common dilemma

with no absolute answers, because of the

how-

nature of each person's circumstances. There are,

indivulu.il

ever, some generic experiences we all share. It's best not to try to cover up the changes or hide them from those close to you. Share them with an expectation that your nearest and dearest will be inter-

ested

—

either because of his or her

own

personal

ment, or out of genuine love for you and

own

his

develop-

best interest.

But don't

force

may not be This

is

your process on anyone.

may not want

love you,

not

deal with

to hear

able to accept

a reflection

and

that

it

Some

what you

because

on you! This

you cannot

is

it

are

people, even those

who

Or

they

going through.

pushes their

their

own

—not

detachment If

you

your way

in

are the

in

own

buttons.

issue that they

solve for them. All

back off and give them space to evolve in their time

call for

or her desire for your

you can do

own way

in their

must is

to

own

your time. Nonjudgmental allowing and

key ideas here.

of consciousness that are

are developing states

positive,

may even enwrong person or

powerful, creative, stimulating, or pleasurable, you

counter jealousy

if

you

them with

wrong way. Again, you have nothing

in the

be ashamed

of. It's

caused

many

is

a

a

the

and nothing to

to hide

not possible for everyone to understand you and

condone your personal there

try to share

process. Personal

growth and evolution have is strong and

parting of the ways. If your relationship

your change and growth you each maintain the indepenpersonal development demands.

true desire to stay connected,

should not be

a

problem

as

long

as

dence, respect, and self-respect that

and expectations may Taking enough time and space to keep the communication Bowing between you is also helpful.

Joint counseling to clarify needs, experiences,

be

useful.

Each ease

is

slightly different.

I

have

known many

individual interest in developing consciousness

220

and

couples whose

spiritual

aware-

FULL

C

I

R C

ness has brought

L E

—

C

them

O N

C

L

U S

I

O N

closer together.

AND COMMENCEMENT One

couple found

that,

while

the differences in their personal habits, behavior, and emotional

needs had tended to erode the bonding in the relationship over twenty-five-year period,

God

their difficulties

bonded.

When

when

a

they prayed together and focused on

melted away, leaving them feeling strong and

one partner

felt

particularly distant

from or disturbed

by the behavior of the other partner, he would simply pray for her

and surround her

On

in light.

the other hand,

when

either of

them

tried to control the other's actions, needs, or feelings, the relationship

would weaken. Another couple with

has very different

a five-year relationship

between 4 and 5 a.m. to begin a two- to three-hour practice of meditation followed by one or two hours of physical exercise. She had been following this routine for many years before they met. She also participates in several retreats every year and is continually reading spiritual or growth-oriented books. Her partner came from the corporate world and was not a meditator before they met. He soon realized that if he wanted a healthy relationship, he would need to let go of any idea of trying to break her spiritual practices.

of her

habits.

She

arises

The more he

accepts her needs, the

more

the relation-

ship thrives.

She has learned, on the other hand,

that if she

wants to maintain

a

healthy relationship, she needs to devote time, energy, and presence to the connection.

She has tempered her

isolation, solo lifestyle,

withdrawal into meditation for the sake of developing healthy

bond with her

partner.

They have each

with awareness and open communication. relationship

is

always

smooth

sailing,

I

a strong

and and

carried out changes

cannot pretend that their

but they have faced the chal-

lenge of merging two different spiritual natures by using the tools of

compassion for each other, commitment to continue to

fulfill

their

individual needs, and a dedication to the relationship that has manifested in a lasting

Examples ples

and successful bonding.

like these,

do grow apart

spiritual

however, are not always the

Many

cou-

for diverse reasons, not just the emotional or

growth of one partner.

parties involved can

case.

still

If separation

is

unavoidable, the

attempt to remain true to their highest

purposes and the best interest of everyone. In these sometimes

221

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE complex and

painful situations, meditation can provide a helpful so-

lace.

RIDING THE RAPIDS There

may be

particular times of tumult in

Always remember, keep

cess.

make

sure that the individual

ahead of you on

feel a

from whom you

his or her

your intuition to find

you

Don't be

with your emotional, energetic, or

side help

ciently

breathing!

your evolutionary pro-

whom

own path

you

really

afraid to elicit out-

spiritual process. Just

are asking for help

to

is

suffi-

help you with yours.

connect with and

Use

trust. If

red flag in relationship to another person, listen to your

inner sense, no matter

how

experienced the individual purports to

be.

found my own teachers in many different ways. Two of them came to me through the following process. While I was living in London, Max Cade once guided me on a meditation that was intended to help me find the next step on my spiritual path. I have no memory now of his words, but I remember the vivid sensation of lying down on a stone slab, deep within a temple, surrounded by about a dozen robed and hooded figures. The majority of the experience was kinesthetic rather than visual. I felt the energy of what seemed like dozens of hands streaming into my body, gently rocking and swaying me. It was an exciting meditation, but as I found no immediate meaning in it, I simply filed it away in my memory and I

forgot about

it.

The next week

I

was

a

principal presenter at a conference in

northern England on self-healing.

The w eek 7

after that,

I

went

for

my

monthly visit to Major Bruce MacManaway's healing clinic. One weekend a month he organized six or eight healers working in different rooms in a large house in Victoria, a fashionable old section of London. Using his pendulum, he would determine when you arrived which healer would be best suited for you. had no particular problem I wanted to work on that day, only I

the desire to receive positive energy. Aside from that, little

bit

from

a

dance injury. Bruce sent

222

me

my

back hurt

to an upstairs

a

room,

FULL where

C

R C

I

man

a

I

L E

—

C

O N

U S

L

I

AND COMMENCEMENT

O N

had never seen before was waiting.

down on

myself and lay

C

the table as instructed.

within minutes, was back in the meditation

Max. As

this

man

who

hands of the robed monks After the healing

He

to be here."

I

eyes and,

body,

the dozens of

felt

I

had surrounded me.

know I'm supposed knew you were coming. was at the I

I

week and heard you speak. I've been expectsaw him once a week for the next year. He was

last

ing you ever since."

who

my

had experienced with

said, "I've felt this before.

replied, "I

healing conference

the person

my

put his hands on

I

introduced

I

closed

I

I

me

so helpfully guided

energetic manifestations of

After several months of work with brainwaves and Meditations from the Tantras

my

through the physical and

kundalini experience.

when he knew about my

seeing him,

me

meditation, he lent

a

book

called

by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, saying he

I would relate to these teachings. Although I glanced at book and thought it looked interesting, I didn't read it for six

thought that the

months.

I

simply carried

it

around with me. Although

heard of the author before,

and

when I had

my

book

that the it

and

material.

(I

as if

I

it,

finding

maintain the same power for I

he was

meaning

was missing something

me

it

me

many of

for

when

as if

his

I

had never

powerful teacher

a

to return the

very familiar,

have since acquired

few months,

that

carried important

healer friend finally asked

skimmed through

a

knew

I

me. I

I

safe

felt

didn't.

book, already

I

I

When

quickly

knew

books, and they

the still

today after eighteen years.) Within

met Swami Satyananda in London on a visit from work with him personally. Years later, I re-

India and was able to

ceived

visits

from other swamis from

taught meditation in

Teachers

my

may come

in

his

Bihar School of Yoga,

who

center in Boulder.

many

forms.

The next person

to help

you

along your path might be your therapist, a friend or acquaintance,

your

hairdresser, or

even

a stranger.

My

son has often provided great

teaching for me.

Once

I

found

whom

a

teacher in a

man whose name

I

never

knew and

had only a minute's contact. I was in Germany, preparing for a large audience-participation performance by my dance troupe. We had rented a huge hall and were setting up with less than an hour to go, when one of the vital pieces of electrical equipment with

I

223

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE wont dead.

was somewhat

I

in a

panic and sought out the manager

for help.

approached him saying,

I

He

"We

have

to

do\"

m

the eye, and said with a heavy

don't

a

'

His voice

is still

in

my

I

don't

shoulder, looked

German accent, "Vee naff situations. Now, vat ist your

problems heer. Vee only

halt"

situation?'

put

my

calming hand on

know what

me

straight

problem, and

a real

head years

later

whenever

a

prob-

lem occurs. If

no teacher There

literature.

specific aspects

is

available or appropriate,

are

many books

of your

own

that

may

you may find help relate to individual

developmental process.

An

in

and

afternoon

spent perusing the library or bookstores can be a rewarding pastime.

When

the rapids are really intense,

dependability of change. Things

will

you can always

move

now is the time to turn to and to power or God as you understand God. already,

on the

rely

forward! If you haven't

lean

—

on your own higher

SURRENDER Sometimes turn

it

it's

necessary to just

let

go.

Give up trying to control, and

over to God. Complete surrender to a higher

power may be

when the rapids are really rough. Anonymous is an organization founded in 1935

the only thing helpful

Alcoholics

alcoholics deal with the disease of alcoholism.

It is

to help

a spiritual pro-

gram based on twelve

steps the founders took. Many twelve-step programs have developed out of AA's original premise, and these reach out and help people in all walks of life. The first three of these

we

twelve steps are particularly relevant to the spiritual process dealing with.

1.

We

They have helped many people

admitted

we were

powerless over alcohol [food,

bling, anxiety, people, places,

things]

are

to just let go.

—

that

our

gam-

lives

had

become unmanageable. 2.

Came

to believe that a

Power

restore us to sanity.

224

greater than ourselves could

FULL

C

Made

3.

R C

I

L E

—

C

O N

C

God

as

I

AND COMMENCEMENT

O N

turn our will and our

a decision to

care of

U S

L

over to the

lives

we understood Him.

Within these three simple phrases

—acceptance of

of surrender

lies

wisdom

the essence of the

one's powerlessness, belief in a higher

power, and surrender to that higher power. These simple principles have saved countless

and restored them

lives

to equilibrium

and

se-

renity.

The dichotomy of people to grasp.

How

and surrender

self-control

to control ourselves, yet

both self-determination and powerlessness This

almost like a

is

is

often hard for

we evolve if, to do so, we must first learn we are powerless over ourselves? How can

can

— "What

Zen koan

exist at the

same time?

the sound of one

is

hand

clapping?"

Accepting your powerlessness and surrendering to the guidance

and

light

of

a

higher power allows you to receive

and equanimity. These

gifts

gifts

of guidance

you the power of self-mastery. spirituality true power is experi-

give

Therefore, through surrender to

enced.

The Tao of heaven does not It It

does not ask, and yet It

strive,

and yet succeeds.

does not speak, and yet responds well.

seems

at ease

is

answered with

within, and yet

—Lao Tzu,

it

all its

needs.

follows a plan.

Tao Te Ching, chapter 73

SPIRITUALITY When ment

one

is

walking

a

path of personal growth, spiritual develop-

what religion, creed, dogma, you develop your brain to a fuller capacity, you will expand your spiritual awareness. As your unconscious and subconscious become more available to your conscious naturally follows. Regardless of

or belief system you embrace,

mind,

a

as

number of changes tend

to occur.

subconscious and unconscious realm that spiritual

connection.

A leap

It is

often through that

we make our

of faith occurs that allows us to

225

strongest fully

and

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

some form of divine order of

truly believe in

the universe,

some

form of power greater than ourselves.

Though hood,

be

will

it

power

may be

(]od

this

of our child-

loving power, not a punishing one.

a

that can be totally trusted'

doesn't matter what form this

//

God

from the

different

many names with many

and

power

It is a

healing

relied on.

Higher power comes

takes.

in

forms: God, Great Spirit, Buddha, Jesus, the

Mohammed, Naname but a few. Many

Great Mother, Lords Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, ture,

1

and Divine Essence, to

ove, Light,

God

people experience

God

selves, feeling

form of

take the

an inner light or a higher

guru

- "darkness" and

fan

Ramakrishna

essence. Sri

God

as

medium through which you

teacher, a

and

a

of outside them-

inside themselves instead

God

self.

=

ru

are able to reach the higher

God

teaches, "But, in fact,

the Absolute

same Being. The Absolute the All-knowing, All-intelligent and

the Creator are one and the

Existence-Intelligence-Bliss All-blissful

Mother of

is

the universe."

The following meditation from Anthony de Mello,

is

1

the Christian tradition, adapted by

designed to help you to open yourself to the

God. It is inspired by the Hindu the thousand names of God.

endless possibilities of reciting

propose

"I

that

who

psalmist

you now invent a thousand names is

not satisfied with the usual

Savior, King, but, with the creativity that love, invents fresh shield,

my

fortress,

Ultimately absolute

bliss,

not define I

wish

tion.

on

I

can also

"dispeller"), or

I

all

names

my

for

forms of

God

my song

.

limit.

knew

whom

understand that

it

of

God

like Lord,

comes from a heart

.

lead to the

of

full

rock, he will say,

my

."2

same place

peace, and well-being. This state

—only

for Jesus. Imitate the

names

God. You are my

delight,

practice of

is

one

—

that

a

place of

words do

to give credit to for the following medita-

was found in Australia, written in Sanskrit

a scrap of paper stuck in was never able to find out

a

book by Swami Satyananda

who

translated

226

it

Saraswati.

into English.

I

FULL CIRCLE —

CONCLUSION AND COMMENCEMENT

PURE SPIRIT I

know

that

I

am

pure

will be.

There

is

security

where

all

inside

me I

I

always have been, and

that

I

always

a place of confidence and quietness and

things are

mind, God, of which

sal

of

that

spirit,

am

known and understood. a part

This

and which responds

the univer-

is

me

to

as

I

ask

it.

mind or consciousness knows the answers

This universal

problems, and even

now

the

needn't struggle for them.

I

answers are speeding

needn't worry or

to all of

their

way

my

me.

When

them.

strive for

to

I

the

time comes, the answers will be there.

I

give

my problems

to this

great universal consciousness;

confident that the correct answers

needed. Through the great law of for

that

strain

I

faith will

I

my work and

need

know is

about

make

that

it

come

my body

and

It

life

that

I

not necessary

is

my

the strength of

in

is

a manifestation of pure

my body

is

perfect also.

brings a constant demonstration of the

the universe

me.

to

of them

they are

belief,

my

so.

perfect; therefore

day

go

attraction, everything in

fulfillment will

only believe. For

this,

let

I

me when

return to

will

myself.

I

am

confident

...

spirit I

enjoy

and

that spirit

life,

for

each

power and wonder I

am

serene

...

I

of

am

secure.

No I

matter refuse

what obstacle or undesirable circumstance crosses my to

circumstance

accept to

the

it.

There can

be no

consciousness that

now.

227

is

obstacle or in

me and

path,

undesirable serves

me

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

SELF-MASTERY I

he major theme of

book

this

is

self-mastery

internal states, the ability to identify

given time and to enter I

it

which

—

state

the controlling of

is

appropriate

any

at will.

he impact that meditation and brainwave training might have on

your

and your

life

once.

It

many

facets

is

spirituality

profound, but

doesn't happen

it

all

at

The awakening of the mind has many different time frames in a wide

process of evolution.

a

and takes place

in

of manifestations. Yet

variety

is

in the end, there

The unconscious becoming conscious way of describing the

is

is

only one awakening.

perhaps the most succinct

process.

Christopher Hills writes, "The evolutionary force in

at

not interested

is

any particular philosophy, religious tradition, or scientific method,

more

but in

real

ways of self-mastery

.

.

The

.

tools

of religion

and science in the evolutionary sense are no greater than their users.

»»3 J

Swami Rama

relates

evolution to self-mastery by explaining that

from the yoga philosophy of evolution, the very

act

of learning to

control brainwave states leads to the process of evolution:

.

.

.

growth

is

always based

on the attainment of some degree

of disentanglement from attachments, which allows one to observe something about himself

and

his

world to which he was

is the expansion of awareness. As awareone inevitably discovers within his new definition

previously blind. This ness grows,

of himself

a

new

ability to control.

blind to and controlled by

is

now

What he was

previously

within his power to regulate.

Increased capacity for observation leads to increased capacity to

... As

control

parts

of oneself which were previously operat-

ing outside awareness are brought under conscious control, they gradually

gave

come

to

be more coordinated

rise to conflict

is

now

.

.

.

What

brought together in

a

previously

harmonious

whole. The sis

.

.

.

ability to control results in a new degree of syntheThis process of increased observation leading to in-

creased control and increased synthesis step in the long

journey of evolution. 4 228

is

what makes up each

CIRCLE-CONCLUSION AND COMMENCEMENT

FULL

VISION OF THE FUTURE

A I

have the vision of a future where the minds of men and

awakened, where unconscious communication synchronicity

is

expected, where healers

schools teach brainwave training,

ment agencies expanded and

nities

work

women

are

customary, where

where

in hospitals,

where corporations and governand where consciousness has

regularly use meditation,

and the

to include the soul

Someday,

is

God

willing,

families,

we

and in our

commu-

honor, respect, and support the evolutionary

changes occurring in higher

view the changes

spirit.

will, as a collective

in

states

our brains

as

of consciousness.

We

will not

we

abnormalities. Instead,

will

support the journey of awakening with research, theoretical training,

and experiential instruction. Counseling will be geared both to accommodate and encourage

development of conscious awareness. Doctors

symptoms of a

will recognize the

an unexpected and abrupt awaken-

spiritual crisis or

ing and be trained to advise and support individuals rather than discount, discourage, or incarcerate them. Religions will truly ex-

plore their

own

common ground

specific

dogmas

in spirituality rather than cling to their

for self-identification.

Imagine, for a few moments,

a

on and supportive of awakening

What would happen

world where

all

beings are focused

to higher states

to poverty, to

of consciousness.

hunger and homelessness? What

would happen to political unrest and war? What would happen to stress and anxiety levels? What would happen to relationships, to family and community? What would happen to creativity? What developments would take place in the sciences and the arts? What would happen to religion? Higher

states

of consciousness will not solve

create an instant Utopia.

problems in

The human

a practical, realistic,

all

our problems or

race has to solve the earth's

and useful way; but imagine

people intent on these tasks were awakened to their highest creativity

different I

and aware of their highest world

it

would

many

of spirituality.

the

states

What

a

of

very

be!

have hope for the future.

ing in

states

if

I

slow, steady ways.

already see society around

There 229

is

me

chang-

an increasing consciousness

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

to help the homeless.

of hunger and action

There

is

growing

a

holis-

tic health care industry, and what was once "alternative" medicine is now considered "complementary" medicine. There is a developing

environmental-protection movement. 1

sec a

growing unacceptance of sexual harassment and discriminaat balancing male and female energies as men

and an attempt

tion,

women

and

try to integrate a

new

understanding of gender.

I

see

and painfully bearing

the struggle with racial discrimination slowly fruit. I

expanding

see an

awareness that accepts increasingly

spiritual

same time,

diverse paths to a higher understanding. Yet at the

greater integration and recognition that

a pursuit

of knowledge

honors and even yearns for previously discounted

spiritual tradi-

the same source. that

tions,

such

as

I

Native American.

but

I

I

see also an increasing

live healthier lifestyles

number of

through correct

diet,

and right action.

clear thought,

am

and

see an openness for

people attempting to

I

see a

I

paths lead ultimately to

all

by no means assured of the ultimate success of these changes,

have hope.

It

change

takes only a threshold to

society, not

one

hundred percent. Regardless of our degree of optimism or pessimism about the future, our primary responsibility

and

that goal

When we

is

is

certainly attainable.

begin to heal ourselves,

we begin

to heal

our society, and our world. Through opening to

we

illumination,

change ourselves,

to

can begin to

make

this

a difference,

our

families,

evolution and

to ourselves as

and to others.

individuals

OPENING TO CLARITY would

end the book with one last meditation. You can you would any of the previous meditations and imagery exercises in the book, beginning with sitting or lying comfortably and allowing your eyes to close I

like to

practice this as

.

—

Let yourself enter into

yourself ation

.

.

.

.

.

Find

your meditation

the

point

of

.

.

state, into

stillness

.

230

and

your relaxation, the

point

of

into

relax-

FULL CIRCLE —

—Allow the open,

energy

—Allow yourself come

your body,

.

.

in

Allow yourself

.

.

.

your mind

be

to

reach up and be-

to

.

Tao, on the correct path

to

...

your chakras

perspective, this expansion, feel

this

own

in

.

expand

to

—And allow yourself ity

.

.

in

part of your higher self

—And from your

flow

to

be clear

to

CONCLUSION AND COMMENCEMENT

.

.

what

it

be

feels like to

in

.

be permeated with

clarity

... in your emotions ... ... in your spirit.

.

.

Experience

.

your body

in

clar-

...

in

your energy system

— Experience ..

ity

openness, and

this

you need.

may be

It

place of clarity and expansion, consider what

may be something

.

.

Is

means

it

to

you

need, and .

.

reflect

what

happen

to

to to

to

for

you

to get

illumination

you. You can feel

lar

.

.

.

.

you

that

.

.

truly

feel, the light

coming

it

your

navel

.

and

open to

.

.

.

.

.

going even

feel yourself

yourself to the light

your

What

.

own awakening

.

.

.

.

.

.

...

in

through your throat

.

plexus,

chakra

clarity

connection with the divine,

—You can experience, or eye

what you need?

a place where you can

own your own

your

it

.

—And once again experience deeper,

that

is

represents for you,

it

there a major stumbling block to reaching your goal?

needs

it

large;

.

—Just consider what you it

may be something on your path in the way

small;

simply the ability to continue

are doing

—

to clar-

.

—And from

what

openness, open yourself

that

in

.

.

.

.

coming

into

you from

all

around

through your crown, through your third .

.

your

.

231

through your heart

second

chakra

.

.

.

.

.

.

your

your

so-

root

HIGH-PERFORMANCE MIND

THE

-You can feel yourself taking light

through the soles of your

in

feet, the

palms of your hands, the backs of your knees, your elbows, the of your shoulders, your ankles

body

-You can feel light entering every pore of your

receive

it,

almost as

if

you drink

-And even when you are

in

it

.

.

around you, completely covering you

-And

finally

are

full

you can begin

of light,

to feel

it

.

.

feel

.

.

you are

until

.

you can

of light,

full

it

and you

.

full

.

-light

third eye,

shedding .

.

.

pouring out of you from every

nd that

.

.

light light

on your relationships

illuminating your

on any

difficult

whole being,

—Allow yourself now

to

all

so you can feel

light,

cell in

your body

.

area that

.

.

in is

sending

your

I

.

.

you

light to

life .

.

throat,

.

.

be aware of the

.

.

your friends

.

.

.

to find

a closure

light within

Swami Abhedananda, Ramakrishna Kathamrita and Ramakrishna Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, 1967), 126.

232

life,

.

—And taking as long as you need now, slowly begin to

light

.

experience illumination

your meditation, continuing

all

emanating from you. Even as you

reaching out of you to touch every aspect of your

putting light

.

.

you are also sending out

and your crown

.

surrounding you,

emanating from your navel, your solar plexus, your heart, your your

fronts

.

.

.

for

you.

(Calcutta:

FULL

C

I

R C

L E

Anthony de Mello,

—

C

O N

S.J.,

C

L

U S

Sadhana:

I

A

O N

Way

AND COMMENCEMENT to

God

(St.

Louis: Institute ofjesuit

Sources, 1979), 112.

Christopher

Hills, "Is

Kundalini Real?" in Kundalini: Evolution and Enlight-

John White (New York: Paragon House, 1990), 107. Swami Rama, Rudolph Ballentine, M.D., and Swami Ajaya, Ph.D., Yoga enment, ed.

and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness (Honesdale, Pa.: Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, 1976), 281-282.

233

EPILOGUE

To

bring

this

book

practices that

Remember

to a close

would

I

you can follow

review the

for specific brainwave training.

of these meditations

that the intention

tery of the different states of

like briefly to

mind

that are reflected

is

the mas-

by

different

brainwaves.

The relax.

first

step toward mastering

Relaxation helps you master

The optimum brainwave

your brainwaves all

pattern, the

tion of beta, alpha, theta, and delta straight into that pattern,

tion brainwave pattern, delta.

it is

learning to

of the other brainwave

states.

awakened mind, is a combinabrainwaves. Rather than going

often easier to

first

develop the medita-

made up of alpha, theta, and usually waves there are a number of exercises you

which

To reduce your beta

is

is

can do, including relaxing your tongue, slowing your breathing, and learning to concentrate.

The next

step

You can do

developing alpha waves.

is

this

through

any kind of imagery practice, the more vivid the images the better.

Remember

to involve

all

of your

senses,

not just the

visual.

This

sensualization practice will help stabilize the bridge to your subconscious, ultimately

improving your

memory

of your experiences in

theta.

You can develop

down as

into the depths or

going down

into

theta

stairs,

by practicing any meditation

up

that takes

you

into the heights of yourself. Images such

through doorways, under arches, along tunnels,

rooms, up mountains, over bridges, and around corners will help

235

EPILOGUE take

you deeper into theta

states.

The more such changes you can

your imagery, within reason, the better.

make in You can then put by adding

a

the beta waves back into your brainwave pattern

purpose or intention to your meditation. For example,

you may go

in the boat,

down

the river, to the island, up the

behind the boulder, into the cave, archway, into the octagonal

—

yon arc seeking

room

down

hill,

the tunnel, through the

where yon

will find the

or where the healing that yon need

answer

will occur.

(I

that

am

exaggerating the theta development process so that you get the idea.

You don't always need to make it so complex, especially when you with what the theta state feels like inside yourself.) You can set the scene for these working meditations by knowing in advance exactly how you want to use your beta waves and what you want to work on. Or you can use more generic beta content by thinking about what you are experiencing in the meditation. It helps, however, to have a framework to work from, so that your mind does not wander off into random, unfocused, high-amplitude are familiar

beta. If

you don't want

Arrive

at

beta, simply leave the

your destination and

Developing the radar and

let

mental processing out.

yourself meditate.

sensitivity

of your delta waves can be

practiced by intentionally reaching out to others with your empathy, interest, insight,

and awareness.

formula for creating your

1

Identify the

own

brainwave-training meditation

purpose or goal of your meditation,

if

there

is

one.

2.

Start with relaxing

3.

Clear your mind and reduce beta waves.

4.

Develop alpha waves through imagery, perhaps sensualizing an environment

in

your body.

which

to

experience your meditation.

5.

Develop theta waves by going deeper in your internal journey, using key images and sensations, as described above.

6.

Add (for

beta to your meditation by processing the content

working meditations

7. Crystallize

retain

your

some way

only).

your experiences

memory

in

in

meditation by finding keys to help

of the content.

236

EPILOGUE 8.

Close your meditation and ground just

it

by speaking, writing, or even

thinking about your experience.

Following

this structure,

you can

create an infinite

number of

meditations for any purpose, using imagery and experiences that

work

well for you.

Before you close

this

book, take

a

moment

to consider

what you

have discovered. Close your eyes and reflect on what was the most

important information for you, what you can take away with you

from reading

this

into your daily existence. practices, ideas,

how you can integrate this knowledge Imagine how you can benefit from the

book, and

and meditations

that

were the most

significant for

you, and sensualize making use of them regularly in your

Remember tation, at the

were

in

your

the image or symbol that you found in the first mediend of Chapter One, which represented where you life at

that point.

You may

wish, once again, to allow

yourself to find a symbol for where you are in your

Notice the

Take

a

life.

similarities to that first

minute

to look into the future.

can take place in your

life as

life

right

now.

image, and the differences.

Imagine the changes that

you continue

your high-performance mind.

237

to

work

at

developing

APPEND Kundalini

Developing a

high-performance mind requires personal commit-

who

ment. People

wish to achieve

this

goal have learned to

integrate tools for brainwave mastery into their lives, creating a

meditation routine that

is

both enjoyable and tailored for their indi-

vidual needs.

Once someone developed place.

These

Some

results

Among

has found his or her

effects

vary greatly and depend

effects

come

rhythm with meditation and

long-term

a regular practice,

may begin

upon

to take

the individual.

may take time to mature. you may find greater skill in han-

quickly; others

these long-term effects

more mental

dling unexpected situations; creativity; greater intuition

and

insight;

flexibility

better ability to deal with the health problems that

creased emotional stability;

and increased

fewer health problems, or a

less overall stress;

and

a

do occur;

heightened

in-

spiri-

tual awareness. If

you meditate

regularly,

These changes can be might manifest of ecstasy and

in feelings bliss.

you

will almost certainly feel changes.

as subtle as a

gentle sense of relaxation, or they

of serenity or even dramatically

You may

also

experience

mood

as

periods

swings or feel-

you undertake your subconscious you will learn how to use even the

ings of confusion or sadness as

housecleaning.

With

practice,

downtimes beneficially. Although most people

who

meditate experience beneficial

239

states,

APPENDIX you may go through low periods

as

you

You may

well as high.

The timing of the

the quality of your sleep.

different for everyone. If

as

Your dreams may change,

well as increased energy.

fatigue as

effects

low period, bear

hit a

as

feel

well

of meditation

mind

in

of the changes are ultimately leading toward the positive

that

is

all

— toward

development of your mind and the evolution of your being. If there .ire some dark rooms inside to clean out, or you discover perthe

you need

sonal changes that

A st

to

make, welcome these

opportunities

as

your journey.

to further

very small percentage of people, however, experience

much

longer effects from intense long-term meditation. These effects

may be heightened by

Although these people

evolution. natural

own journey of internal

their

process,

they

may

are

searching and

going through

a

completely

the effects of their awakening in

feel

stronger than usual, even dramatic ways. Because meditation

powerful tool for transformation, to discuss

possibilities

all

I

with you,

is

a

moral and ethical obligation

feel a

in case

you should

find yourself

experiencing any of the symptoms below.

While

I

was experiencing

forewarned of the getic nature

personal awakening,

I

had not been

of the physical, emotional, and ener-

would have saved me months of worry explanation. Therefore I offer this Appendix for

this

who

those readers of,

possibilities

of the process.

had

to have

a

It

are interested in, or are experiencing the effects

kundalim.

KUNDALINI Very occasionally, long-term meditation can lead to emotional swings and dramatic physical sensations as the body begins to reorganize

its

energies.

Whenever you work on

pline or modality

you choose, you

take place within yourself if the that can is

is

as

whatever

disci-

changes beginning to

effective.

occur through long-term meditation

known Every

work

yourself, in

will find

is

One

of the changes

an activation of what

kundalini.

spiritual tradition has

some form of "rebirth"

signifies the individual's spiritual

ized by the unconscious

awakening. This

is

becoming conscious. There

240

process that

often characterare very

few

APPENDIX spiritual

traditions

that

describe

this

physiologically

psychospiritually. In the yoga philosophy, this rebirth

as is

well

as

called the

awakening of kundalini.

The

kundalini

symbolized by

is

"bowl" or "basin." Before

The

pelvic bowl.

its

a serpent.

Kunda means

awakening the serpent

kundalini serpent

is

is

literally

coiled in the

the storehouse and spiritual

and awareness

link to a wealth of energy, powers, abilities,

when released, are said to mark the first steps toward The activation of kundalini is the release of this latent

that,

enlightenment.

energy into the

and spiritual system and the wide variety of phenomena. When the process is

individual's physical, emotional, mental,

beginning of

a

completed there

is

psychological maturity, emotional balance, per-

sonal strength, and spiritual awakening. Because ever, in the initial stages

it is

a rebirth,

how-

of the process the individual experiences

and unpredictability of

of the confusion, helplessness,

fear,

The

allowing this energy to develop

process, then,

is

one of

all

a child.

and

mature. as you do not create your you can tap into it, learn to master it, and encourage it on its journey of development. You can also hinder it, block it, distort it and misuse it.

You do not create the kundalini energy, just

own

life

force as a child, but

THE PROCESS OF EVOLUTION mind is an some future time, some evolved form of the human race may look back on the "Dark Ages" of the first twenty or so centuries, before humankind became awakened. They will look back at a time when people's I

firmly believe that the development of the awakened

evolutionary process

minds were

still

as

well as an individual process. At

closed to one another,

when

people's feelings and

experiences were unreachable, hidden deep within them, a time

when we I

truly did not

know

also believe that the

the mysteries of the spirit and creation.

awakening of kundalini energy

is

an evolu-

becoming more and more common with each passing decade. Lee Sannella, M.D., provided our Western minds with a framework through which to view this awakening as a physiological process in his book Kundalini, Psychosis or Transcendence, later tionary process that

is

241

APPENDIX published to

me m

The Kundalini Experience. This book became a great help ^7(ts in London, when was undergoing the most the late as

(

I

l

of my own kundalini symptoms.

violent

The awakening of kundalini may not necessarily be tumultuous.

may be so Awakening

gentle and prolonged as to be almost unrecognizable. takes place

necessary or even

on many

common

different levels.

to have a kundalini

It

by no means

is

awakening accompa-

nying the development of a high-performance mind. But ble, just as

It

it

practicing any

it is

possi-

awakening without

possible to have a kundalini

is

form of meditation or personal and

spiritual

ever

growth.

The process of kundalini can feel like both a blessing and a curse. The blessings are increased awareness and perceptions; access to potent energies that can be applied in many different directions, such as creativity,

as

and the service of others; personal stamina,

and well-being; expanded

health, tional

healing,

and mental

spiritual understanding;

and balance.

clarity

may

It

and emo-

also feel like a

burden,

abrupt emotional swings catapult one into the dark night of the

soul, or

unexplained physical sensations and pains lead doctors to use

hypochondriac, mentally unstable, or hapless victim of

labels

such

some

fatal disease.

as

Long

sleepless nights interrupted

by periods of

violent shaking can evoke serious questioning of both one's spiritual

path and one's sanity. These are the very rare extremes.

This kind of awakening can lead to what Stanislav and Christina

Grof have

My

called a "spiritual

experience ranged the

tween

bliss, ecstasy,

confusion, and

about

my

joy,

fear. It

emergence" or full

"spiritual

emergency."

pendulum swing be-

extent of the

and union with the cosmos to pain,

wasn't until after

condition that

I

thought to

I

despair,

had spent months worrying

tell

my

teacher,

Max

Cade,

what was going on. Max was very compassionate and somewhat regretful that he had not informed me of this process earlier and thereby prevented a year of anxiety,

fear,

read and told

He

and uncertainty.

me

gave

everything would be

all

me

Dr. Sannella's

right in time.

Not

book

to

surpris-

symptoms lessened almost immediately. Acceptance of the phenomenon and some theoretical understanding of it allowed me to ingly, the

let

^o and stop trying to control

able to

move much more

freely

When through my it.

242

I

let

go, the energy was

body, the blocks were

APPENDIX less painful,

and the symptoms

disturbing.

less

I

believe that

all

health

care providers, especially those focused in the area of the nervous

system or the energetic system, should be trained to recognize the

symptoms enough awakening and

to at least

be aware of the

to refer the patient to

possibility

someone

of kundalini

skilled in that field.

SYMPTOMS OF KUNDALINI AWAKENING So

let

now

us

look

at

the scope of

symptoms that can occur. Please these do not all occur and they

remember while reading this that may occur at different times, spaced very far apart. Some people only lightly experience a few of the symptoms yet are still undergoing a kundalini awakening.

before

experiencing

Some

experience one type, then get

completely different

a

set.

a

break

Others may go

through the whole range quickly or slowly.

Physical Sensations

The movement of the energy can cause the feeling of crawling or on the inside of the skin. A sensation of tingling, pins and

itching

accompanied by a feeling of inner anywhere in the body

needles, or numbness, sometimes

vibration, bubbling, or quivering, can appear

but

and

may be

especially prevalent in the limbs, often starting in the feet

legs.

Because symptoms often begin in the root chakra, in compressed nerves

at

the base of the spine, the

lower extremities, frequently the also possible, as the first

perineum

—undergoes

however, the

first

which would moves along

its

chakra

its

chakra

—

sensations may begin in the Numbness of the anal area is

initial

toes.

in yogic traditions located in the

"opening." In some Tibetan is

also explain the tingling in the toes.

path, these sensations can

body, either in the orderly fashion of the or in a seemingly

mon symptom,

traditions,

believed to be in the soles of the

random and

feet,

As the energy

move throughout

classic

the

kundalini awakening

inconsistent way. Pain

is

also a

com-

ranging from muscular aches and pains to painful

joints to severe headaches.

243

APPENDIX

Body Movement I

symptom

his

can be

during meditation or

as

benign

simple rhythmical

as

extreme (and

as

rare) as

movement

spontaneously standing

on one's head, without conscious choice or intention. Spontaneous yoga positions are common as the energy pushes the body into spepositions in

cific

attempt to open up the channels of free flow.

its

Yoga was not developed by some ancient sage thinking that these

would be

The

down and

beneficial postures to practice.

developed by the emergence of the energy those postures.

sitting

itself,

Yoga was

placing the

body

in

master, as he awakened, practiced those positions

and spontaneously, and the student observed him and

intuitively

copied, wanting the same awakening for himself.

A number

of times

woke up

I

Yoga position of the bridge. The quite

a surprise.

When

in the

first

middle of the night

few times

this

got to where

I

it

was

knew what was happening and

did not try

movement, it began to happen more welcomed the pleasurable sensations and

frequently.

I

to resist the energy's I

in the

happened,

release this

position gave me.

Convulsive or spasmodic movements can also take over the whole body.

If this

happens, try to be aware of the wave of energy

pulsing through

you and allow yourself to

ride that wave.

as

it

is

Then what

become a smooth rhythmical body movement. Reichian bodywork has been tapping this energy for decades. The bottom line here is, don't try to stop the

originally

might

movement.

feel like a

Instead,

relax

convulsion can

around

it

until

it

becomes organized,

rhythmical, and smooth. Finally,

spontaneous stretching can

You may experience

times of rest and repose. especially

also occur,

of the spine and back.

most frequently

a sense

in

of elongation,

If possible, let yourself stretch

with-

out straining or tensing.

Visual

Symptoms

These range from brief flashes of light inside the head to full-blown, lengthy spiritual visions to frightening hallucinations.

was aw akened by what

my

head.

One might

I

can only describe

also

Many

I

as a light bulb going off in

experience the "seed of light,"

244

times

a tiny

point

APPENDIX of

between the eyebrows. seem to appear looking at. While the seed of

light that appears in the third-eye area,

Sometimes referred

to as the blue pearl, this light will

between you and anything light

may

be seen

first

that

you

when your

are

eyes are closed in meditation, or

through practicing the tantric candle meditation "Trataka,"

can

it

continue to appear spontaneously while you are in an ordinary waking state with your eyes open.

You may experience temporary cess, especially if

Though

visual

you already have

spontaneous blindness has been

rare,

condition which should reverse

mosis,

my

related to

my

that the process

pro-

this

of

its

as

to occur, a

My own

whole chapter

a

condition was eventually diagnosed

know

I

known

itself rather quickly.

through vision problems would take

Although

problems during

certain weaknesses in that area.

path

to describe.

ocular histoplas-

manifestation was intricately

energetic awakening.

Illumination I

give this state

its

individuals have this

The of

own

category because of its uniqueness.

been known

awakening. Perhaps halo

may not

spirituality,

but

this

to

is

glow

Some

the source of the halo in religious

simply be an

artist's

circle

of

art.

rendition of a representation

a visible illumination

from the crown chakra and the

rare

visibly in the dark as a result

caused by light emanating

of chakras around the top of

the head.

Auditory Symptoms Hearing can become distorted. occur,

including ringing,

A

wide range of inner sounds can

hissing,

crackling,

buzzing,

whistling,

whooshing, roaring, knocking, ocean sounds, and musical notes.

One might own voice,

occasionally hear voices, sometimes identifiable

or

at

These symptoms

other times

more

like

are especially noticeable

the quiet of the night,

when

as

your

an auditory hallucination.

during meditation or in

they can escalate to a loud roar.

Temperature Changes The sensation of extreme heat might manifest itself in the body in two ways. The energy moving through the body can cause a sensa-

245

APPENDIX tion not unlike a hot flash.

become

body, especially the hands, to

While very

rare, cases

also possible for the extremities

It is

of the

excessively hot to the touch.

have been recorded where

a

burn mark ap-

peared on the furniture an individual had touched.

Changes I

his

in

Breathing Patterns

most frequently occurs during meditation. The breathing pat-

terns can range

from

and shallow

short, sharp,

to long, extended,

slow breaths almost resembling the cessation of breathing.

Emotional Swings During an energetic awakening, there is absolutely no emotion that off limits or out of bounds. You might experience sensations of

is

bliss,

harmony, peace, and universal joy for increasingly longer perias easily swing sharply into feelings of

ods of time, or you can just despair,

low

self-esteem, fear, or even insanity. Self-doubt

is

very

common

and takes many forms. You may doubt your own reality. You may doubt that these things are really happening to you. You may wonder, "Why me? Why now?" You may feel as if you are making it all up. You may also have occasional feelings of grandeur, arrogance, and vanity that might earmark energy blockage.

A feeling

of isolation stemming from the assumption that you are different

from everyone

else

is

also

support network of some

common sort,

and can be

or at

least

alleviated

by finding

one other individual

a

who

has had similar experiences.

Perceptual Changes

A

sensation especially

growing

to great size,

common

during meditation

the sense of

expanding beyond your body, or having an

out-of-body experience. In

a milder form extreme detachment or disassociation.

Changes

is

this state

can be

felt as

Energy human energy system, kundalini energy up with sexual energy. They are not, however, the

in Sexual

Because of the nature of the is

intricately tied

same the

thing. Because they are

same

root, but kundalini

both types of energy, they stem from is

much

246

greater than sexual energy.

It

APPENDIX would be more accurate

one aspect of

to consider sexual energy as

kundalini. Sexual intercourse or orgasm can temporarily stimulate

and increase the

you may

activity

feel increased

above, especially

body

of the kundalini energy. After an orgasm,

symptoms sensations

in

any of the categories discussed

and body movement.

The awakening of the kundalini may also stimulate an increased sexual desire. The arousal of the energy itself can feel like an orgasm.

When is

it is

complete and moves up above the lower sexual chakra,

experienced

as a

total-body orgasm,

much

fuller

and more

it

ecstatic

than a genital orgasm. If you are meditating on the awakening of the

may

kundalini and have started the process, you to

orgasm during at

One

female colleague reported her embarrass-

climaxing unexpectedly during her weekly meditation

THE HOSE The

you come

meditation without movement, stimulation, or

a

imagery of any kind.

ment

find that

IN

process of kundalini awakening

class.

WINTER is

one of purification and the

de-stressing of the entire psychophysical system. In order for this

purification to occur the system has to be cleared of blocks in the

energy channels so that the energy can flow smoothly, evenly, consistently,

and

fully

throughout.

Among

the

many

blocks are physical disturbances, emotional trauma, nutrition,

illness, diet

and

and mental and psychological belief systems. These can be

internal messages carried throughout feel pleasure"

and "Higher

Think of your body Twigs and

causes of these

dirt

have

as a

made

life,

such

spiritual awareness

garden hose their

way

as "It's

outside over the winter.

left

inside.

Perhaps there are even

small stones or pebbles to block the water's flow.

kinked in several

places, as well as stepped

not O.K. to

does not exist."

The hose

has

been

on and crushed.

Because you didn't need to water anything in the winter, you haven't been concerned about the hose. If you turned

on

the water,

would come out unimpeded, and perhaps that would you needed. What happens when you turn the water up full force? The hose flops around until it finds a stable and open position to accommodate the unaccustomed strong flow of water. only

a trickle

have been

all

247

APPENDIX The

blocks arc blasted out by the force of the flow, and eventually

the stream of water

strong and the hose

is

The human energy behave

fully functioning.

is

system, while decidedly

in a similar fashion.

When

a

more complex, can

strong surge of kundalini energy

flows through obstructed channels, the

body tends

to flop

just as the hose does, hence the origin of the kriyas

tions," or

The

"ac-

movements. kundalini awakening initially involves the rising of

classic

energy from the root chakra in the perineum. As fore,

the earliest

symptoms

legs,

and the toes

—

are often

As the process continues, the energy it

tends to spread out through to that chakra.

I

experienced

mentioned bein the feet, the

the big toes in particular.

clearing any obstructions

When

finds in all

rises

its

up through the chakras, As it hits a chakra, it

path.

of the psychophysical systems related

the energy encounters a block or resistance

and cleanses the system governed by

and then overcomes

it

chakra, that chakra

considered to be opened.

is

Traditionally the energy progresses in sequence,

down

across the face

that

from the root

chakra up to the crown chakra in the top of the head. spreads

around

—yogic

and the chest and comes

Then

it

to rest in the

The movement of the energy jumps around from location to location. You may indeed feel it first in the feet and legs, but then feel it next navel area. In practice this orderly progression rarely happens.

in the throat, before

it

goes back

down

to the heart.

The energy may seek out the largest blocks first and work in layers. The cycle of awakening may happen again and again as layers of resistance are overcome and the energy system is more and more refined. The time this process takes is also widely variable. The major portion may be completed in a few years, or it may continue slowly for decades.

only to have

oped or as Looking is

a process,

a

it

It is

also possible to feel the process

recur years later around a

new

is

complete,

block that has devel-

further experience of fine-tuning.

for an

not

end

to the experience does

a goal.

u

248

no good whatsoever.

It

APPENDIX

SPONTANEOUS SHAKTI-PAT Shakti-pat

is

the direct transmission of energy from

who

one

who has not yet realized the common occurrence of shakti-pat

has the

energy flowing freely to one

awakening

of kundalini. The most

takes place

during the passage of energy from

spiritual teachers to their students.

Shakti-pat can occur through touch, through look, through presence,

form of thought transmission. Muktananda, founder of siddha yoga, was one of the most well or even long-distance through

known

purveyors of shakti-pat.

a

Some of his

ence of being forever changed by All true spiritual teachers practice

students

—such

is

students had the experi-

mere presence or gentle touch. some form of transmission to their

his

the nature of teaching. Tantric yoga masters such as

Swami Satyananda

Saraswati have

been sought

after

because of their

meditators with the energy- awakening process.

gifts at assisting

The

medium of these spiritual gifts need not be in the form of kundalini energy. Many spiritual teachers teach by principles such as devotion, right action,

and being

fully present in the

kundalini to take care of

moment, and

itself.

Shakti-pat does not occur only through the

teacher.

Anyone who

leave the

has the energy

medium of a

awakened

spiritual

in his or her

own

system can, under certain circumstances, transmit that energy to others

and

assist

in their

—even

awakening

times without

at

knowing

it.

Kundalini energy "knows" kundalini energy. If you are in the process

of a kundalini awakening and spend

a

few minutes with another

person in the same condition, you will most likely recognize each other.

COMMON PLACES TO GET STUCK In most instances, the energy has a

one can

that unfolds

beyond your

mind of its own and

ability to really control

the process

it.

be helped or hindered, however, by the actions and

the individual undergoing

it.

There

are a

few

stuck by encouraging the energy to stay in

249

areas its

is

This process attitudes

where people

of get

current location, or

APPENDIX block, rather than following

its

natural progression.

Some of

these

below.

are outlined

The Pitfalls of Pleasure One of the most common problems see in clients who have come to me for kundalini counseling involves a phenomenon that is often I

misunderstood. These people are usually well in the throes of the

They profess to understand it (somewhat) and They are often meditators and frequently have a fairly awakened mind brainwave pattern when they meditate.

kundalini awakening. to accept stable

When

it.

they meditate, however, their bodies go into uncontrollable

movements

—

bending,

stretching,

wavelike, orgasmic motions.

phenomena.

these

On

the one

and large

trembling,

shaking,

They have

a love-hate relationship

hand they

experiences, especially the outer manifestations of the energy

ments. in

They

feel isolated

with

embarrassed by the

are

move-

and misunderstood. They cannot meditate

group because their contortions are disturbing to the other

a

And

phenomenon it from occurring. On the other hand, when these sensahappen, they experience intense physical pleasure. They know

meditators.

nothing they do seems to change

this

or prevent tions that

it

is

kundalini based experience, so they feel secure in the

a

knowledge of their spiritual evolution. These people are caught in a catch-22

that

may

inhibit their pro-

The movaccommo-

long time unless they take steps to break the cycle.

gress for a

energy moving through them

is

too great for the channels

ing through. Or, alternately, the channels are too small to date

the

amount of energy. This

is

typical

for

all

it is

kundalini

awakening, and there are only two things you can do to alleviate

problem

—reduce

the

amount of energy or

this

increase the size of the

channels. These people are doing neither.

As they

feel the pleasure

of the friction of the excess energy mov-

ing through their inadequate channels, their bodies ingly.

This

is

their feedback that they are really

experience, not just imaging

it

mistake they make, however,

is

ments

are

or wishing

at all costs.

a

kundalini

would happen. The body move-

in thinking that these

something to be sought

maintained

it

move accord-

having

something to be valued and So when they feel the rush of energy coming, after,

250

— APPENDIX they automatically squeeze the energy channels even tighter around it,

thereby increasing the pleasure of the friction, perpetuating the

body movements, and having

The its

a

reinforcing the certainty that they are indeed

kundalini experience. Their feedback loop

complete.

is

individual continually inhibits the energy from progressing

on

natural journey by creating intentional blocks, because this pro-

vides proof that the kundalini process

them momentary

individual gets tired of the

The

a

solution here

a passing

will

when the movements and when

end

physical

phenomenon

let

But

diminishes.

is

education and acceptance.

movement and

The

it

can

individual

end

pleasure are not the

He

phase of the whole kundalini process.

needs to accept that the kundalini experience

and

naturally

very long time.

needs to learn that the

—only

It

awkward

the pleasure and glamour of the

go on for

in action, as well as giving

pleasure.

This cycle can happen repeatedly.

also

is

is

goals

or she

happening,

really

go of the need for dramatic, external proof. Only then can he

or she allow the energy to take

may not

manifestations

its

The

natural course.

physical

stop immediately, but they will diminish and

cease over time.

The

goal in this part of the process

is

to

be able to

sit

quietly and

channel an increasingly larger amount of energy without being unbalanced by

it.

Only

in this

way

will the

amount of energy

that can

be handled by the system increase. It is

tional

important to understand

body movements

at this

are not

point that just

as

good and something

the unintento

be sought

after,

neither are they bad and something to be studiously avoided.

They

are just

one of the things

that

happen

in a kundalini

awaken-

be accepted, experienced, and then progressed beyond. You can even allow them to be exciting if you wish ing,

and they

are to

something new,

interesting,

and pleasurable

—

as

long

as

you don't

get stuck in maintaining them.

Ego Another major stumbling block for some people is difficulty in dealing with the fact that this is happening to them. They take it personally

and may begin

to see themselves as better than others or

251

more

APPENDIX As soon

evolved.

individual face

of

the kundalini has to

claims,

"My

ego

tries to

work

to

conflict

o\' this

nate result

The ego

is

do

hold on to

its

becomes

itself

energy must work through

he more the ego

I

sets

in,

the

m

the

Kundalini does not progress

for trouble.

kind of possessiveness.

this

that the kundalini

ward.

kind of personal ownership

this

as

headed

is

order to

in

its

a

block

move

for-

inflation, the harder

job of purification. The unfortu-

may be

who

an individual

smaller than yours!"

—

proudly pro-

a classic contradiction

m

terms.

Whenever anyone

deals

based or not, self-esteem

is

with an ego problem, whether kundalini an

issue.

Self-esteem problems are one of

the blocks that the kundalini energy

must work through on

its

jour-

ney of awakening.

THE SELF-ESTEEM PENDULUM I

see self-esteem

lum

it

as a

pendulum. At one end of the pendu-

an overinflated ego, and

is

Usually, All

problems

when you

takes

a

is

at

the other end

have one problem, the other

simple swing of the

pendulum

is

is

low

self-esteem.

lurking nearby.

to manifest the ex-

treme opposite.

Many

people think that the solution to

extremes

swing between ego

to find a nice safe balance in the middle. Absolutely not.

is

The only

this

real solution

to get off the pendulum altogether! If you are you are still battling with the polarities of you find and maintain your balance for an

is

trying to find a balance,

both extremes, even

if

extended period of time. The potential to tip

quick succession, which

So and

is

always there for the scales

and the pendulum to swing to one end or the other, or both in

how

letting

is

often the case.

does an individual get off the ego pendulum? Detachment

go

are the

main answers

concepts to comprehend.

detachment yourself that

is is

The

—

easiest

easy words to say, but difficult

and most direct way

to simply accept that there

is

a

power

ultimately in charge of everything.

to practice

greater than

Yen

arc not in

You did not cause the kundalini awakening, and you do not own the energy. And you are not special because it is moving in you. It is simply what is happening. control.

252

.

— APPENDIX This book

call that

is

not meant to be religious, but

we cannot

awakening,

divine power;

avoid spirituality. it

you

are

you

a

God

fall,

with

a capital it

The more

in

what you

let

your kundalini

faith

you have

—whether your higher power

G, nature, source, Buddha, Jesus,

be for you to

will

and the block

painful.

divine order in the universe

the easier

about

talk

see yourself as the final authority in

headed for

awakening could be long and

some

when we

doesn't matter

only matters that you do not see yourself as

the highest authority. If

everything,

It

go of your

in is

love, or light

own ego

difficulties.

Fear

A third major stumbling block in the kundalini process easy to understand because

many of the

is

fear.

This

is

experiences that occur in-

volve working through and releasing the deepest, darkest blocks and

your body-mind. Kundalini

resistances in

is

about releasing

stress

and

the purification and cleansing of a lifetime of personal demons. If

your demons ence

are dark (and

whose

aren't?),

you

are liable to experi-

fear.

Faith in a

power

greater than yourself is a source of great strength

overwhelmed by the fear, you will you understand that it is only a passing phase of the process as a whole and let it go, just as you did the ego, then you can move on and the process can continue in a manner that is appropriate for you. here. If you allow yourself to be

perpetuate and even increase

it.

If

help!

An

may be asking now is, "What can I do if happening to me? How can get the help or need?" There are many advertised kundalini classes

important question you

this process starts

guidance that

I

and practitioners

them out and

I

who

purport to be aware of the process. Search

ask for their help.

You might, however, run

into

some

problems here. However empathetic and well intentioned these individuals are, unless they have experienced the energy transformation

personally and gone through (or at least are in the process of) their

own

kundalini awakening, their help

253

may not be what you

need.

APPENDIX Seek out someone

from

or her

his

who

own

understands the

Kundalini knows kundalini. Because versal energy,

it

matter of hours,

recognizes if

itself in

are experiencing.

recommend studying

will

You

at least

know

kundalini with

one

step

your path with greater

all

ease, clarity,

Grof began the an information and

is

human

being. Within a

that

it

who

has

he or she understands

common language. do not teachers who are teaching it I

within themselves. Let your

ahead of you, and they will help you

Christina

which

an impersonal and uni-

it is

another

share a

because they are trying to activate guides be

the inside,

not minutes, of being with someone

undergone the process, you

what you

phenomena from

experience.

down

and wisdom.

Spiritual

Emergence Network (SEN),

referral service for

people undergoing

kinds of spiritual emergencies including kundalini. Call (408)

426-0902

for a reference to a practitioner near you.

SELF-HELP Educating yourself about

what you

are experiencing as well as finding

more Reading books about kundalini to familiarize yourself with the process and learning what others have done to help themselves is a great source of knowledge as long as you take what is helpful and leave the rest. Everyone's experience is different. While the real key is to come to terms with your own experience, learning about another person on the same path will provide support through the

difficult periods.

the experiences of others can help greatly.

How

you physically care

for yourself also has a great impact

on

your kundalini experience.

Diet

The food

that

matically.

Many

that their diet

change

it.

you

eat affects the

energy systems in your body dra-

people undergoing

a

kundalini awakening will find

changes naturally without any conscious decision to

My own

experience with food was extreme, but only for

a

matter of months.

Before

my

eater, taking

energetic awakening began,

many of my meals

I

was an ordinary meat

in restaurants

254

because of

my

busy

APPENDIX

When

lifestyle.

I

was going through the most dramatic

of the energetic changes, because

was not

this

physical response.

on

was unable to

I

eat meat.

became

actually could not swallow

gourmet

a

Then

cheese dishes.

say unable

it was a meat without gagging

vegetarian, cooking nut roasts and elaborate

became

dairy products

difficult. Finally

and grains became too heavy for me, and

consume only at

I

mental or emotional response to meat;

and feeling nauseated.

it I

I

a

phases

initial

vegetables.

the peak of

my

My diet

the nuts

found myself able to turned towards raw foods. Finally,

dietary disturbance,

I

I

spent about a

month

feeling

comfortable eating practically only lettuce. This time was also interspersed with periodic fasting.

my

energy flowed the most

felt

I

best during the fasting because

easily

and

clearly.

Gradually,

as

that

phase of the kundalini symptoms died down, heavier foods came

back into

am now very

my

diet.

clean food.

ant as

it

But they came back

capable of eating most foods, I

find eating in

was before, and

my

many

in I

with

am

I

my

is

sarily a

I

restaurants not nearly as pleas-

make up

the

way of explaining

that

and

pastas

meals.

have written about

what

While

system cannot tolerate junk food. Large

salads, seeds, nuts, grains, fruits, vegetables,

bulk of

a difference.

comfortable with only

my

best to eat during

conscious decision.

personal diet

as a

your kundalini experience

What

is

required

is

is

not neces-

a willingness to

follow

what your body wants and to listen carefully to your own needs. In general, if you want to slow down the kundalini process, eat heavier foods. If you want to speed it up, eat lighter foods. I suggest staying away from toxic or fast foods at all times during this process. Let your body be your guide. Maybe a good greasy hamburger will be just what you need one day to ground you!

CASE STUDY T.K., a

man

in his early forties,

He had been when he came and help

in

undergoing

— T.K.

had been meditating for many

a kundalini

awakening for over

years. a year

to visit me from the East Coast for a brainwave profile making the energy more a part of his life. He frequently

experienced

states

of bliss and

spiritual illumination

255

during medita-

APPENDIX tion.

Able to enter these

between the

state

he found

states instantly,

of meditation and the

rest

of

little

difference

his life.

1A and IB show the most common brainwave patterns from his waking profile. T.K. produced a clear, stable awakened mind pattern that would dissolve within a minute and then return the next minute. These cycles continued consistently for the duration of the waking portion of the brainwave profile. Figures

2C

Figures 2A, 2B, and

depict the three fluctuating patterns he

presented during the meditating portion of the profile.

between

a solid

ened mind pattern (Figure 2B), and

much

He moved

meditation brainwave pattern (Figure 2A), an awak-

no

beta, strong alpha, almost

a transitional pattern

theta,

and

of too

a little delta (Figure

2C).

T.K. knew without

a

doubt

that his kundalini

was

active

and

his

mind was awakening, although he was grateful for the Mind Mirror EEG confirmation. His main problems were with the kriyas that his body went into whenever he meditated and occasionally when he was not in meditation. His body gyrated strongly, rocked back and forth,

and shook uncontrollably. His head rolled back, and strange

sounds came from pleasurable in his

his throat.

While he found

these experiences

—sometimes exceedingly —he was unable so

"temple" with

his spiritual

he caused the other members.

and unable to explain

He

his actions

to meditate

group because of the disturbance

found himself increasingly

isolated

and

and

his feelings to his friends

my

acceptance and understanding

associates.

T.K. found immediate

relief in

EEG assessment that he was on the right track and was not a fraud. The main work that we needed to do was in the area of relaxing and broadening the energy He

of his problem.

also felt validated

by the

channels and allowing the flow of energy to

movements. brace

it,

He

hold

violent his

Once he

it,

come without

the violent

discovered he had been clenching the energy to

and

feel

it;

em-

and the more he clenched, the more

movements became. realized that having the kriyas

was not

a necessary or

even

component of his energetic process, he was able to begin to release his stranglehold on the emerging energy and let it flow through his body without as much physical effect. Seeing his awakdesired

256

CASE STUDY

NORMAL WAKING

T.K.

STATE

1A

IB

T.K.

MEDITATING

2A

2B

2C

257

APPENDIX encd mind brainwave pattern on the EEG also allowed him not to need the validation provided by the violent movements anymore. He was able to continue

his process

with more ease and certainty.

MEDITATION one way of helping to regulate the kundalini energy. In general, the more you meditate, the faster the kundalini process will be. The more you activate the brainwaves of the awakened mind Meditation

is

more through symptoms pattern, the

to temporarily

for a period

that are

are

going

uncomfortably strong and you would

may wish

slow them down, you

to slow the process

maintain or even encourage

it,

down

stabilized.

but would

then meditation can become

support the kundalini process because

a

like to

source

Any form of meditation

of great strength and support for you.

it

alters

to those that can help stimulate awakening.

like

to stop meditating

of time and to eat heavier food until you have

you do not wish

If

you

the energy will be stimulated. If

will

the brainwave patterns

There

are specific

forms

of meditation that you can practice to stimulate kundalini. Various tantric practices

work on

the chakras to help increase the energy

flow and stimulate and encourage the progress of the kundalini process. I

personally found the teachings and practices of

Swami

Satya-

nanda Saraswati of the Bihar School of Yoga (Monghyr, Bihar, India) particularly helpful. His

books Meditations from

the Tantras

and Yoga

became touchstones and guides for me during my times of deeper energetic movement, and my personal contact with him as a Nidra

teacher was invaluable during

my own

process.

Swami Satyananda had an ashram in London and was therefore a frequent visitor. met him at a public talk and was enthralled by his wisdom and presence, so I went to see him privately. During our I

darshan (individual spiritual counseling)

process and

some of

the difficulties

I

we

was having.

personalized meditation to practice that calmed

when

my kundalini He gave me a

discussed

my

fears.

Many years

was living in Boulder, Colorado, one of his chief proteges came to stay with me for a week. Swami Amritananda

later,

I

taught meditation in

my

center and held darshan for

258

my

students.

She

APPENDIX and

I

spent time together, during

me

born child and gave I

my

blessed

soon

began using some of Swami Satyananda's meditations

teaching in London.

was so impressed

Although

introduced his writings to

I

that

he

it fit

also integrated

traditional

a

about the brain and the so

which she

effects

work was rudimentary and

them

be

Max

own

into his

my who

in

Cade,

work.

Satyananda also wrote

teacher,

tantric

with what

in well

to

a great deal of encouragement.

of practicing yoga on the brainwaves,

Max

and

were doing. While

I

somewhat

still

speculative

ing of the different brainwave rhythms,

EEG

his

on the mean-

Satyananda nevertheless

completed the marriage between consciousness, meditation, and brainwaves in

way

a

that

few other people were doing

at

the time.

In 1974, he wrote:

How

can one consciously change the brainwave emissions? At

first this

mind

seems impossible, for the wave form

itself.

practice

It

might seem surprising

and perseverance, but

we do with

everything in

ment meditation and

life

this .

will bring

ences into the range of

biofeedback could do

all

.

all

a

function of the

that

exactly the

is .

that

is

is

required

same thing

is

that

[Biofeedback] will comple-

meaningful meditation experi-

people. Meditation coupled with

much

to raise the level

of the mind, or

the level of consciousness in the world. 1

It's

1.

no wonder

that

Swami Satyananda

he was

my

earliest

Indian teacher.

Saraswati, Meditations from the Tantras

Bihar School of Yoga, 1974), 23.

259

(Monghyr,

India:

MORE RESOURCES FROM

ANNA WISE

Anna Wise

has created audiotaped meditations (including a set of

audiotapes based on the meditations in this book). For information

about obtaining those

tapes, or the

monitoring brainwaves,

call

Mind Mirror

III

EEG

used for

or write to Tools For Exploration

(a

catalog of peak performance resources) at the address below. If list,

you would

write or

mance Mind.

like

call

You

your name to be added to Anna Wise's mailing

Tools For Exploration and mention The High-Perforwill receive information

on upcoming workshops, it becomes

seminars, and training programs conducted by her, as available.

To write

directly to

Anna Wise,

please address

your corre-

spondence to her c/o Tools For Exploration, and your correspondence will be forwarded. Tools For Exploration

4460

Redwood Hwy,

CA

94903 Fax: 415/499-9047 San Rafael,

Phone: 800/456-9887

261

Ste

2-W

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Melody. Beyond Co dependency: and Getting

Beattie,

Codependent

.

No

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More:

How

Audio

and Their

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Stop Controlling Others and Start

San Francisco: Harper and

Blundell, Geoffrey G. The Meaning patterns

San

Harper and Row, 1989.

Francisco:

Caring for

Better All the Time.

Significance.

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A

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Study

in

1987.

Depth of Brain Wave-

London: The Publications Division of

Ltd.

Blundell, Geoffrey G., and C.

Extended Study

into the

Maxwell Cade. Self awareness and E.S.R.: An

Measurement of Skin Resistance

awareness and Well-being.

as a

Guide

to Self-

London: The Publications Division of Audio

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Cade, C. Maxwell, and and

the

Nona Coxhead. The Awakened Mind:

Biofeedback

Development of Higher States of Awareness. Shaftesbury, Dorset,

Great Britain: Element Books, 1989.

de Mello, Anthony Form.

St.

Louis:

Funderburk, James.

S.J.

Sadhana:

The

Way

to

God: Christian

Exercises in Eastern

of Jesuit Sources, 1979.

Science Studies Yoga:

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USA,

A

Institute

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A

Review of Physiological Data. Hi-

of Yoga Science and Philosophy of

1977.

Grof, Stanislav and Christina

(eds.).

Spiritual

Emergency:

Transformation Becomes a Crisis. Los Angeles:

Jeremy

Wlien Personal

P. Tarcher/Per-

igree, 1989. Hills,

Christopher. "Is Kundalini Real?" Kundalini: Evolution and Enlighten-

New York: Paragon House, 1990. A Map for the Transformational Journey: An

ment. (John White, ed.)

Joy,

W.

Brugh. Joy's Way:

263

Intro-

BIBLIOGRAPHY Auction

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to

the Potentials for Healing with

Motoyama,

Hiroshi, with

sciousness: Chakras,

Rande Brown.

Ki and

Psi.

Ornstein, Robert, and Richard

Houghton

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Energies.

Los Angeles: Jer-

F.

Science

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Massachusetts:

the Evolution of

Autumn

Con-

Press, 1978.

Thompson. The Amazing

Brain. Boston:

Mifflin, 1984.

Restak, Richard. The Brain. Riviere,

Body

Tardier, 1979.

P.

New

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Bantam Books,

1984.

Marques, lantrik Yoga: Hindu and Tibetan. (H.E. Kennedy,

New

Sannella, Lee.

York: Samuel Weiser, 1971.

The Kundalini Experience: Psychosis

or Transcendence?

Lower

Lake, California: Integral Publishing, 1987.

Simonton, O. Carl, Stephanie Matthews-Simonton, and James ton.

Well Again:

Getting

A

Step-by-stcp Self-help

Cancer for Patients and Their Families.

Guide

L.

Creigh-

Overcoming

to

Toronto/New York/London: Ban-

tam Books, 1978.

Swami Abhedananda. Ramakrishna Kathamrita and Ramakrishna: Memoirs

of

Ramakrishna. Calcutta: Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, 1984.

Swami Rama.

Living with the Himalayan Masters: Spiritual Experiences of

Swami Rama. (Swami Ajaya,

ed.)

layan International Institute of

Swami Rama, Rudolph

Honesdale, Pennsylvania:

The Hima-

Yoga Science and Philosophy, 1980.

Ballentine,

and Swami Ajaya. Yoga and

Psychother-

apy: The Evolution of Consciousness. Honesdale, Pennsylvania:

The Hi-

malayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, 1976.

Swami Satyananda

Saraswati. Meditations from the Tantras. Bihar, India: Bihar

School of Yoga, 1983.

Swami Satyananda

Saraswati. Sure

Ways

to

Self Realisation. Bihar

School of

Yoga, Bihar, India, and Satyananda Ashram, Australia, 1984.

A BreakNew York:

Tellington-Jones, Linda, and Sybil Taylor. The Tellington TTouch: through Technique

to

Train

and Care for Your Favorite Animal.

Viking, 1992.

Wise, Anna. "Biofeedback Meditation and the of Survival:

A

hart, eds.)

London: Unwin, 1987.

Guide

to

Awakened Mind". The Art Maureen Lock-

Yoga Therapy. (M.L. Gharote and

264

N D

E

X

Attention deficit disorder (ADD),

189-90

Access sense, 96, 100

ADD.

Awakened mind,

See Attention deficit

disorder

"Ah-ha" experience, 13, 165—69 "Ah-ha" loop, 165, 167 Alcoholics Anonymous, 207, 224 Alpha blocking pattern, Alpha brainwaves,

3,

13,

4-5,

and

content

168

14-15

of,

11-12

and peak performance, 170 and

6, 8, 15,

self-healing,

126

Awakened Mind, The (Cade), 148

93—94

of,

exercise,

235

creativity, 157, 165, 166,

discovery

16-17, 53, 56, 235 accessing,

2, 6, 10, 13, 16,

41, 42, 83, 84,

94

B

82

and imagery, 94, 95-96, 100,

Melody, 206

Beattie,

Beta brainwaves, 3—4,

101 kick starting, 81-82

40, 235,

and meditation, 59-62, 68-69 sacrificing for less beta,

Amplitude, of brainwave,

and

78—79

creativity,

6, 9, 15, 17,

236 156-57, 158, 162,

163

and imagery, 91-92, 101

3, 6,

Anger, 20, 212

and meditation, 58-62, 68-69 reducing chatter of, 85-88

Animals, 213—16

sacrificing alpha to reduce,

168-69

Arguing, 208-9

79 See also Splayed beta

Arousal exercises,

Biofeedback, 23-24, 27, 113

25

EEG,

Mind-Body Graph, 43-50 as

opposite of relaxation, 25-29

5,

Blindness,

265

24 143-44

78-

INDEX 183

for stress,

Blo< kages

ofkundalini experience, 247-48, 251 subconscious,

I

1

Blundell, Geoflfrey,

3-2 l

Cade, C. Maxwell,

I

Body connection, 23-51

Body mind relationship, 43-45 Body-mind splits, 47 Body movement, 244, 250-51 Boredom, 213

Catholic prayer, 54-55

Cesarean section, 142-43

Change, 219 and personal

9—10

Children brainwaves, 186—87

Bramwave(s) alteration

relationships,

220-22

electrical activity, 41

right hemisphere,

of communication

and meditation, 187-89

in

way through conscious changes, 212—13

therapeutic riding for, 216

positive

Christmas cards, 159

And children's learning, 186-87

Codependence, 206

combining of 8-9

Communication interspecies, 213—16

for experience,

of emotions, 20-22

through conscious brainwave changes, 212-13

ofkundalini experience, 256-58 language

2-3

of,

Concentration

and meditation, 52-53

Connection,

58-62

states,

patterns,

1,

2, 6,

in relationships,

208-17

exercises,

8,

79-80, 167-68

changing

state of,

common

states of,

content

89-91

13, 15

Consciousness,

42

of self-healing imagery, 127

of, 84,

18

12-17

123

Content

training, 71 in

corporate world, 184,

of alpha waves, 94

185-86

of consciousness, 84, 123

in office,

See also

126,

242

Cancer, and meditation, 145-48

Brain

left vs.

11,

4,

1,

148, 162, 200, 222,

182-84

nonspecific,

Alpha brainwaves; Beta

specific,

74—75

73-74 72—73

brainwaves; Delta

in subconscious,

brainwaves; Theta

of theta waves, 105—9

brainwaves

using state to access, 113

Breathing

Convulsive movements, 244

breaths per minute, 87

Corporate headhunting, 184

during cesarean section, 142

Counseling, 229

and kundalini experience, 246 slowing down, 88

Creativity

156-97

accessing,

266

178—81

INDEX instantly,

Evolved mind, 41-42

179-80

conscious, 162-63

Executive development, 185

deadlock, 177-78

early-morning

Expectation, 72

states of,

159—62

Experience, 99

meditation, 172-77

Eyesight. See Sight

requiring open eyes, 181-82

180-81

in shower,

training for states of, 157

Fantasy, 164 Fear, 212,

D

253

Fight-or-flight response, 26

Dancing, 46

Fixed parasympathetic tone, 48

Delta brainwaves,

3, 6,

7-8,

9, 15.

Fixed sympathetic tone, 48

60-62

Food, 254-55

developing, 200

Frequency, of brainwave,

204-6

excess of,

Future, vision

of,

3,

6

229—30

meditation, 200-204

personal experiences

of,

199-200 as radar,

G

198, 236

Genius, 196-97

de Mello, Anthony, 226 Getting Well Again (Simonton), 128

Detachment, 206-7 Diet,

Gladden, Rose, 148

254-55

God, 224-25, 226

Disabled, 196, 216

Grof, Stanislav and Christina, 242

Guided

Ecology, of

human

individual, 114,

Halo, 245

Eczema, 134-35 (electroencephalograph), 11,

55—56

H

134, 135

EEG

fantasy,

Handicapped. See Disabled

5,

Hand

24

temperature, 51

Ego, 251-52

Headhunting, 184

Emotions

Healing, 124-55

brainwaves swings

in,

of,

circle,

20—22

246

148-53

self-healing,

Energy balancing, 153

124-25

brainwaves of imagery, 127

Entrainment, 208 as

153-55

of others,

conscious choice, 211-12

examples

of,

meditation

Evolution, personal, 218—19, 222,

136-72

228

267

142—48

for, 127,

129-32,

INDEX Kundalini experience, 144, 223,

psychophysiological relaxation

240-41

126-27

.is,

245

[earing, 98,

I

ligher states, definition of, 52 [igh

1

and meditation, 258-59 process of evolution, 241

benefits of, 2

definition Hills.

1

23

ot~

self-help,

shakti-pat,

stumbling blocks

to,

249

249-53

symptoms of awakening, 243—47

16

auditory, 245 body movement, 244

[ypervigilance, 205

1

—13

254-55

spontaneous

1

Christopher, 22S

Horses, 213

247-48

clearing of blockages,

performance mind

creation of,

255-58

case study,

1

changes in breathing patterns,

246

I

Illness,

128-29

changes in sexual energy,

246-47

secondary gain from, 133, 135

133-34

self-responsibility for,

245

illumination,

Illumination, 245

perceptual changes, 246

Imagery, 56, 74, 235

physical sensation,

LOO, 101,

103-4

visual,

and beta brainwaves, 91-92, 101

253-54

Kundalini, Psychosis or Transcendence

99-100

improving

244-45

teachers, 249,

brainwaves of self-healing, 127 flashes,

241-42

(Sannella),

ability at,

243

temperature changes, 245—46

and alpha brainwaves, 94, 95-96,

104

location for experiencing, 101 self-healing, 128,

129 Laying on of hands, 148, 152-53

and theta brainwaves, 102, 103-4 trusting,

Learning, 186—87

105

Learning

Inner

190—96

18-19

states,

Interspecies

disabilities,

Lesh, Terry V., 34

See also Sensualization

communication,

M

213-16

MacManaway, Major Bruce, 222-23

K Kamiya, Joe,

Martial

arts,

46

Mathematics, 101-2

5

Key words, 70-71

Meat, 254-55

Kinesthesia, 99

Meditation. 39-42, 239-40

Kriyas, 248,

256

and cancer, 145

>

268

—18

148,

1

INDEX for children,

common

187-89

46

mind and body, 45—46 Mind-body relationship, 43-45 Mind-body splits, 47

completing, 76

relaxed

63

definitions of, 24,

114-19, 200-204,

exercises, 21,

Mind Mirror, 11, 14, 15, 83 Morning creativity, 159-62 Movement, bodily, 244, 250-51

230-32 experience

of,

62-63, 70-71

grounding, 34, 67-69, 80

and higher

states,

Muktananda, 249

52-83

Musings, 158

journey from normal waking state to,

49-51

and kundalini energy, 240,

N

258-59

Near-awakened mind,

long-term, 240

13, 16

Noise, 79

and material of mind, 84-1 23

Nonattachment, 207

mental-fluency, 163—64 in office,

mind and aroused body,

relaxed

problems, 77-81

Nursing mothers, 209, 210

182-84

one-minute, 85—88

and peak performance, 172 personal creativity, 172-77

and physical body

state,

Office meditation, 182-84

47-48

Out-of-body experience, 41, 42

position for, 30-31 practice of,

29-30

remembering experience, 80 129-32,

self-healing, 127,

Pain, 118-19, 135

136-42

Panic, 45

in short periods

skeptic's story, state of,

of time, 19

Pap smear, 147-48

108-9

Parasympathetic nervous system, 48

76-77

Peak experience, 165-69

technique, 57—58 theta-accessing,

Peak performance, 169—70

63—67

external factors

working, 127, 172 Meditations from the Tcmtras

of,

171—72

internal factors of, 171

(Swami

and meditation, 172

Satyananda Saraswati), 223,

Perceptual changes, 246

258

Personal journey, 219

Mental fluency, 162-64

Personal relationships

Mind-Body Graph, 43-50 aroused mind and body, 45 aroused mind and relaxed body,

and brainwaves, 208-1

and change, 220-22 entrainment, 208, 211-12

46-47

Pleasure,

269

250-51

INDEX Positive purpose,

1

134, 135

IS,

99-100

scale,

207

Powerlessness, 225

Serenity Prayer,

Prayer, 54-55, 221

Sexual energy, 246-47

Presentation, 179

Shakti-pat,

Psychophysiological relaxation,

Shower,

126-27

249 180-81

creativity in,

Sight, 97, 181

Silence,

56

Simonton, Carl and Stephanie, 128 Simpkins, Mary, 144

Real

estate

exam, 178-79

Sleep, 80

Sleepwalking, 47

Relaxation, 235

Smell, 98

deep, 31-34, 78 exercises, 27,

and guided

31-34, 86

fantasy,

Snoring, 81

56

as

Splayed beta, 12-13, 16, 166, 185,

opposite of arousal, 25—29

psychophysiological,

timing

for,

1

225-27, 229, 253

Spirituality,

Mind-Body Graph, 43-50

187

26-27

Sports,

31

Stress,

of tongue, 86—87

46 26-27, 183

Stretching,

244

Relaxation response, 27

Studying, 46-47

Religion. See God; Spirituality

Subconscious,

Repressed content, 13 Reverie, early-morning, 160-62

material,

Reye's syndrome, 194

Room

17,

7,

53

intentionally accessing specific

110-13

staying conscious while

temperature, 31

activating,

79-80

unblocking, 113-21 See also Theta brainwaves;

Unconscious St.

John, Elizabeth, 200

Sannella, Lee, 241,

Subjective landmarks, 34—43, 49

242

Secondary gain, 133, 135 Self-control,

225

Self-doubt, 246 Self-esteem,

252-53

Self-healing. See Healing Self-help,

254-55

Self-mastery, 228

0, 35,

category

1,

category

2, 35,

38-39

category

3, 35,

39

35, 38

category

4,

35-36, 39-40

category

5,

36,

40-41

category

6, 36,

41-42

Suicide, 135

Senses, 96, 100

Sensualization, 96,

37-38

category

Suppressed content. See Blockages,

102-3

subconscious

exercises,

97-99, 127

Surrender, 224-35

in office,

184

Swami Amntananda, 258-59

270

INDEX Swami Rama, 207, 228 Swami Satyananda Saraswati,

Tongue

86-87

relaxation,

Touch, 97-98

223,

226, 249, 258, 259

See also Tellington

Trance

Sympathetic nervous system, 48

state,

TTouch

53

u Taste,

98-99

Unconscious,

8,

15

Teachers, 223-24, 249, 253 Tellington-Jones, Linda, 213, 215

Tellington

V

TTouch, 213-15

Temperature, body, 51, 245-46

Visions,

Theta brainwaves,

Visualization. See

53,

3,

5—7,

9,

17,

244-45 Imagery

235

accessing, 63—67, 71—73, 113,

w

135

Waking sleep, 14 Working meditation,

House of Doors meditation, 64-67

127, 172

and imagery, 102, 103-4 material of, 105—9 intentionally accessing specific,

110-13

Yoga Nidra

and meditation, 59—62 and

self-healing,

(Swami Satyananda

Saraswati),

Yoga

135

positions,

258

244

See also Subconscious

Thinking and thoughts and

creativity,

processes,

156

Zen

84

withdrawing from, 92—93

271

meditation, 54, 55

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Wise one of the world's leading authorities on the use of the Mind Mirror EEG for training high-performance and meditative states. She is

trained and worked in London, England, for eight years with the late C. Maxwell Cade, British scientist and author of The Awakened Mind. Her M.A. is in Humanistic Psychology and she is a member of the Academy of

Certified Neurotherapists.

Anna

is

a

—A

contributing author of The Art of Survival

Guide

Therapy with her chapter "Biofeedback Meditation and the

Mind." She has produced a number of audio of tapes of meditations from this book.

Anna was

a

founding board

member of

to

Yoga

Awakened

cassette tapes, including a set

the European Association for

Humanistic Psychology based in Geneva, Switzerland. She was

also

an

workshop leader in Europe and a director of the Natural Dance Workshop in London. Anna makes her home in Marin County, California, with her son John. She writes, lectures, and works as a consultant. She also enjoys leading

internationally recognized

seminars

at

Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.

Anna

has taught biofeed-

back meditation and brainwave training for the past twenty years and has led

workshops and seminars throughout the United

in Asia.

States, in

Europe, and

(Continued from front flap)

By achieving

this pattern at will,

move forward

into self-healing

we can

— of both

physical illnesses and emotional scars.

The author also explains how brainwaves play a part in nonverbal communication and

seemingly inexplicable psychic knowledge.

By understanding and

learning to control

we can open the doors to whole new means of human interaction.

these brainwaves, a

Even those with the busiest of schedules

Anna Wise's techniques

will find easy,

and

the results

innovative,

and

will

practical,

be amazed

—a newly "awakened" mind, the

step to an ultimately high-performance

AnnaWise authorities to

at

first

life.

one of the world's leading

is

on the use of MindMirror EEGs

measure and

train

brainwaves for high

performance and meditative

states.

As an edu-

cator, she has led workshops in the United States

and Europe. A member of the Academy

of Certified Neurotherapists, she lives in the

San Francisco Bay area.

Jacket design by Lee Fukui Jacket photograph

© Melanie Carr/Zephyr Pictures © 1995 byjasiek

Photograph of the author

A Jeremy

P.

Tarcher/Putnam Book

published by

G.

Putnam's Sons

P.

a

member

The Putnam

of

Berkley Group, Inc.

Hdvance praise for

"Anna Wise is

is

Ik

a masterful instructor,

a superb introduction to the tools

ing

— learning

and move

into

Mgh-PBrfornaiiu Hind

to alter

peak

and The High-Performance Mind

and techniques of brainwave

train-

our brainwaves into high-performance patterns

states

on demand."

Michael Hutchisdn author of Megabrain

''''The

finish

High-Performance Mind it

you

will

have gained a

is

when you of understanding of many dy-

extremely easy to read, but

new

level

namics of awareness, high-performance and otherwise."

Terry Patten founder and publisher of

The

Tools for Exploration

Catalog of Consciousness Technologies,

and coauthor of Bio Circuits

"A breakthrough, evolutionary book. Read

it,

work with

it,

and enjoy

liberating sense of self-mastery."

Lynn Schrdeder author of Superlearning

2000

ISBN D-A7M77-ADb-T 52495>

9 '78087A M 778069

a

H