Written by Paramahansa Yogananda, edited by Lak Loi,
The ideal of the yogi [someone who is trying to connect to their true source] is to be able consciously to remain engrossed in the state of limitless soul peace during waking consciousness. Gradually, by greater depth of concentration in meditation, you can feel the bliss of your soul all the time. In this bliss you get away not only from restless, disturbing thoughts and their reflexes of pounding heart and physical tension during the day, but also from the invasion of peace-stealing dreams at night.
It is in the deepest, dream-free stages of nightly sleep that man dwells (albeit unconsciously) in his soul nature. Such deep sleep, called Sushupti in yoga texts, is truly revivifying. Physiologists have documented the various stages of sleep and found that dreamless sleep for a portion of every night is a requirement for physical and mental health.
Though the only freedom most people have from the limitations and travails of the body and the world is during sleep, the effects of sleep are only temporary. Body consciousness and all its troubles rush back into the mind upon waking. But the peace and joy of deep meditation become a permanent part of your consciousness. It is well known that a drunken person usually suffers extremely from physical debility and mental dejection after the effect of heavy drinking wears off. Similarly, heavy sleep produces in me a sense of physical satiety and mental depression. But after deep meditative ecstasy, my mind and soul enjoy an aroma of blessedness and sense of total refreshment, and my body feels an exhilarating youthfulness and freshness. Such is the contrast between the unconscious enjoyment of peace in the sleep state and the conscious bliss of Samadhi meditation.
The ultimate stages of metaphysical relaxation are thus accomplished in deep meditation as you disengage your attention by degrees from consciousness, subconsciousness, superconsciousness, and identify yourself completely with cosmic consciousness.
Metaphysical relaxation therefore consists in releasing your consciousness from the delusion of duality and in reidentifying it with your real nature: Spirit.
You have hypnotised yourself into thinking that you are a human being, whereas in reality – you are a God!
Peace, love and respect, Sifu Lak Loi
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