For this weeks meditation exercise, Sri Chinmoy takes us into the realm of creative visualisation — using the mind in a creative and positive manner. We are constantly assailed by thoughts and in order for our lives to be spiritually expansive, we must learn to discriminate between a progressive thought and a regressive thought.

The most noticeable difference between being “down-to-earth” spiritually, and being “down-to-earth” in a worldly sense, is that spiritual realism is expansive, whereas worldly realism is usually constrictive. Spiritual realism — the willingness, for example, to face uncompromisingly the full truth about oneself — softens the heart and fills it eventually with kindness to all. Worldly realism, on the other hand, too often hardens the heart, filling it with pride and selfishness. (Source)

As is the nature of the mind, it will generally dwell on a thought and expand it, albeit it in a limited way, and often the theme will take on a life of its own. Soon we find that we have indulged in and ultimately become victim to thoughts that have gained a strength we can no longer control. Yet, if we can learn to control our thought-world and let it be guided by the spiritual heart, gradually we release ourselves from the habit of letting the mind control us. The mind then becomes an instrument of our deeper spiritual nature and this process radically transforms the way in which we see ourselves and, consequently, the world around us. We begin to glimpse spiritual freedom and maturity.

Sri Chinmoy’s words offer a clear example of using the mind in a positive way:

If you want to learn meditation without going through concentration, you must feel that you are standing at the door of your inner room. When you stand at the door you allow only your friends to enter into your room. You do not allow strangers or your enemies.

You have to welcome only good thoughts, divine thoughts. These are your true friends. Undivine thoughts, hostile thoughts, must not come into your mind. Your mind is constantly receiving thoughts and you have to be very careful. You have to welcome only divine thoughts.

Then play with these divine thoughts. Let them play in the garden of your mind. Play with thoughts of divine qualities, divine Love, divine Power or divine Peace. Let them play, let them grow. While playing you will grow into the divine aspects of Truth. Then a time will come when you will see that there are no thoughts, if you allow only divine thoughts to play within you. Your entire being will be surcharged with inner Divinity. Your consciousness at that time will try only to be receptive. And what will descend, what will enter into you? Truth in abundant measure, Light in abundant measure, Love in abundant measure, everything in infinite measure.

(Source: Meditation: God Speaks and I Listen, Part 1)

Your mind usually lives
Inside the forest of wild desires.
Can you not ask it
To live inside the garden
Of your soulful aspiration
Only for a day,
Just for a brief change?
– Sri Chinmoy