Chapter 17: Goals, Ideas, Self-discipline, Consistency/Perseverance
VIDEO (entire chapter; words & audio):
Developing Self-Discipline
Those of any path in life, who go through their periods of hardships, and learn self-discipline, usually have their respective "pay-offs", when they finally become "Adepts" in their profession.
While Jon's training, and learning self-discipline was hard, he never regretted it. It came in very handy on many occasions & continued to serve him.
Self-discipline is directly related to concentration. They are very much the same thing, only each affects a different "time span". Concentration involves using your will to hold your mind in a certain direction for a longer period, and thus achieving a specific result.
Concentration
Most people don't realize just how bad their concentration is until they start doing a meditation that involves concentration. They are shocked at how out of control their own mind is, how much mental garbage there is in there, and how much jabber is constantly going on. If you simply stay consistent, and persevere in your meditations, you will develop concentration, you will achieve your goals. Don't let the separate self use the frustration trick to throw you off.
Strength of Will
Consistency & perseverance are aspects of strength of will ("will power"), or self-discipline. Developing & strengthening these aspects of will, are something like safely developing a body. Relax, be kind & gentle with yourself, and just be consistent. If you let the self know it will not win, it will just give up in time, and you will gain control of your own mind.
Be Moderate in All Things
The Children teach that moderation, coupled with consistency & perseverance are the best way to insure that you will achieve your goals. Put simply, don't bite off more than you can chew. Every time you moderately apply self-discipline, your strength of will gets more powerful. Fasting, which is used for both purification, and self-discipline, is like this. If you are using it for the development of self-discipline, you don't start with a 30-40 day fast, you start with a short fast - 1 day or 3 days. You succeed in that, then the next time, your will is stronger. Then you can go 4 days, or 7; then 10.
Ancient Texts:
Build Strength of Will Slowly
One Stone At A Time
If One Attempts to Lift A Stone Larger
Than One's Strength
It Can Crush You Under Its Weight
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The Drop of Water, Can Carve the Rock
The Glacier Can Carve The Mountain
Thusly do Consistency and Perseverance
Overcome All Obstacles
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In All things, be Moderate.
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When The Two Minds Oppose Each Other
Neither's Goal is Achieved.
Want What You Want
And Tend to Both Branches and Roots.
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The Jellyfish that Drifts With the Tide
Is Wiser Than a Man With No Ideal.
The Big Picture - Setting Your Ideal
An ideal is the encapsulation of the end result of all your goals, of everything you ultimately want to be, and most importantly, a way of being, all wrapped up in 1 symbolic concept. When you establish an ideal (i.e. Jesus, Buddha, Black Elk...), and keep it in your conscious mind, it can have a powerful effect on your life. But this effect is only as strong as your application of the ideal in your life. Once you determine your ideal, then close your eyes, meditate on it, contemplate it. Feel, and completely visualize being like your ideal, as if it were indeed real. This is one way to set your ideal.
Getting the Conscious& Subconscious in Sync
The conscious & subconscious minds must work together. Since so much of what we think & do comes from the subconscious, this can totally nullify your conscious desires. Properly setting your ideal will have an effect on both the conscious & subconscious realms of your being.
Programming Your Ideal
To get your ideal programmed into the sub-conscious, use the tools of affirmation, complete visualization, meditation, and if available, the Atlantean vibrational sounds (website: atlantis.to ). Once an ideal is fully programmed into the subconscious, the sub-conscious will work towards achieving it. You must still consciously apply your ideal in all situations. When you have set your ideal, check up on yourself by keeping a list of your daily activities, and reviewing them daily to see how you are doing with living up to your ideal.
Summary
Only an ideal that is in harmony with the eternal Universal flow brings lasting peace & fulfillment. Whatever your ideal is, self-discipline, consistency, & perseverance are determining factors in whether the manifestation of your ideal is great, has little effect, or fails to manifest altogether.
Quote from the I Ching: Perseverance furthers.
What better reason could you have to exercise strict self discipline & consistency, than for the goal of being a channel for the manifestation of the Universal Spirit?
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