A powerful, guided facilitated form of self-dialogue is available through the Living Inquiries. More here.
From Meditation and It’s Practice by Swami Rama
Learn to have a dialogue between the observer and that which is being observed then you will become comfortable with yourself. Fears of the outside world, of others and of circumstances, will disappear.
With any close friend you are interested in their life and you are sensitive to their emotions. You listen to them. Be gentle with yourself, as you would be with any good friend. Don’t condemn yourself or be judgmental. Self dialogue is your conscious waking self having a dialogue with your vast unconscious.
Internal dialogue can help you remain aware of the reality within while you are doing your actions in the world. Sit down every morning and talk with yourself. A conscious process of self dialogue can wash off all your bad feelings.
Meditation is interior research. Meditation and self dialogue help you to fully know and understand all the capacities of the mind – memory, concentration, emotion, reasoning and intuition. This helps us to reach our potential.
Inspecting your thoughts leads you to learn which thoughts are worthwhile to cultivate, which are harmful and which are helpful. Generally anything which brings you closer to others is beneficial, anything which isolates you is harmful. Actually we already know our weaknesses and are busy hiding them from ourselves. To fear and try to avoid examining one’s own thought process is a serious mistake. Examine your fears and you will find they are all imaginary and irrational. Every human being has the capacity to advance and is fully equipped to deal with even gigantic problems if we have firm determination. We must not be afraid to examine and discard illusion and embrace truth.
Meditation means to attend. Medi tare means – to come to the centre and stay there. It means attention to the whole of life. Let your thoughts come during the time you’ve established for self dialogue. Don’t judge or repress them. Begin to learn to observe them and let them go. They are only thoughts. First allow thoughts to arise. Then begin meditation by bringing back to yourself what is important and focus on the mantra.
Examples to get you started:
1 Ask – mind, what do I want?
2 Ask your mind – who am I?
3 Dialogue with yourself about mistakes you’ve made. Don’t condemn.
4 Ask – why am I experiencing resistance in sitting at a regular time?
5 Consider a problem and ask – mind, what are some solutions?
6 Say – mind, please be my friend. How does it respond?
7 Ask your mind how your meditation could be improved?
Invest time in getting to know yourself every day. Reflect on the day’s events. Let your unconscious alert you to what you need to know. Learn to listen and your inner voice will become stronger.
Contact: Lynn Fraser [email protected]