Emerson: “Where but in the intuitions which are vouchsafed us from within, shall we learn the Truth? (page 58)”[1]
Zen Bha
nte Gunaratana: Meditation sharpens your concentration and your thinking power. Then, piece by piece, your own subconscious motives and mechanics become clear to you. Your intuition sharpens. The precision of your thought increases, and gradually you come to a direct knowledge of things as they really are, without prejudice and without illusion. (page 10)”[2]
Just another great reason to start 2017 off with a meditation and mindfulness practice. How would you like to be more intuitive about things in your life—relationships, job opportunities, health, healing, and wholeness? Well, if you believe what both Emerson and Bhante Gunaratana offer in their teachings you have the power to enhance and grow your intuition through meditation and mindfulness.
Ratnaghosa says in his talk The Angel in the Rock: So the first level of Faith in Buddhism is based on intuition.[1] Then comes reason and finally experience. So what these various teachers are saying to us is that it is important that we sharpen our intuition and one of the best ways to do that is through meditation. Or as Emerson said going “within.”
As we develop a good meditation practice we begin to see our lives change in dramatic ways. Our health improves, our relationships improve, and we can depend on our “intuition” more and more to ensure our actions are in alignment with what is best for all concerned in any situation. Everyone has had an occasion in his or her life where you did something and you did not know why. You might have said, “I just had a gut feeling about this.” And you were right! If you had not gone with your gut things would not have turned out as well as they did, that’s for sure.
So get ready to be amazed in 2017 at how powerful your intuition will become in all areas of your life. This is a great time to open yourself to meditation, to mindfulness, and to trusting your intuition! Go within and watch what happens!
Keep me posted!
I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
Shokai
[1] http://ratnaghosa.fwbo.net/danaone.html
[1] Dillaway, N. (1949) The Gospel of Emerson. The Montrose Press: Wakefield, MA
[2] Gunaratana, B. (2011) Mindfulness in Plain English. Wisdom Publications: Boston, MA