The Power of Attention
Where attention goes, energy flows
The mechanics of how this cosmos, our broader Self operates is according to natural laws. Repeatedly verifiable patterns. Quantum mechanics has recently been able to describe and demonstrate some of deeper levels of functioning. These laws are intricately and comprehensively described in the Veda, a body of wisdom centuries old, realised by the great enlightened sages from within their own consciousness: Nature (or the Unified field) itself. One of these laws is that where attention goes energy flows. You can very easily experience this - if you place your attention on your left knee right now, you may feel some sensation there. When we think about going for a run, the body physiologically starts to prepare for that - sending blood flow to the extremities ready for action.
It's important to realise that as regular Meditators, our attention, known as soma in Sanskrit (the sound Nature makes as it expresses 'conscious attention'), has more power to it. It's an expanded version of the average level of soma someone may have. When we put attention on something we can direct a lot of energy. When we give someone our full attention, they will feel very uplifted. It's the most powerful gift you could give in any situation - for your children, your spouse, your pet, your friends, the Countdown clerk. The wave of consciousness within that person is lifted up to your more expansive, oceanic level, it's powerful.
Similarly, when we put attention on things we don't want to happen - unfounded fears and anxieties, 'negative' or lesser evolved attributes of our spouse/loved ones/colleagues, negativity in general, those things we do not yet have - then we give power to them. The negative attributes grow. The negativity grows. The likelihood of that negative outcome coming to pass increases.
There is a wonderful story in the Vedic Upanishadic texts of a man who was watering his garden full of beautiful flowers. He noticed a small patch of weeds. He was disappointed the weeds had grown and kept looking at them and complaining about how they were ruining his garden, all the while, the hose in his hand was watering the patch of weeds. Soon the weed patch started grow. Before long it had overgrown the whole garden.
It's important that we notice where our attention is going, and that we don't water the weeds. We can do some gardening and pruning of our thoughts, and bring our attention back to what is good, what we do have, the progress we have already made, versus the areas we may feel we still have some work to do. This is why the practice of gratitude works so well. When you find your mind wandering habitually back in it's weedy patch of negativity, rip that weed out and replace it with some attention, some soma, in the direction of what you wish to grow.
Much love
Georgia x
