Question
Well, I have been meditating a little for about a year or two now. I just use a really basic technique, Just focusing on the blackness when I close my eyes and clearing my mind. After a minute or two, My eyes start moving back and forth quickly. Is this normal? Is it somewhat similar to the REM cycle in sleep? Also, if you could, tell me about a really good meditation technique for looking into the subconscious. Thanks!
Answer
Dear Shelby, Thank you for your question.
I don't know whether there is any relationship between your eye movements and REM during sleep, but any time we have a chance of getting some rest (either sleep or meditation), the nervous system can start releasing stress (see www.nsrusa.org/about-stress.php for details). Eye movements are one of the many possible signs of stress release.
Most of us think that "meditation" just means sitting with our eyes closed and doing "something special" with our mind. We don't know what we're doing, why we're doing it, or where we're going. That is why most of us get nowhere and finally just give up.
That's been the story for several thousand years now. It's time for this ignorance to end. Thanks to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who revived the ancient Vedic knowledge of the growth of consciousness, we now have organizations teaching the authentic and effective technique of transcending. It's easy to learn and practice, and really works.
If you can afford the course fee of $1000 or more, Transcendental Meditation (http://www.tm.org) is the best route. You get personal instruction and personal followup from a qualified teacher.
An inexpensive alternative, NSR Meditation (http://www.nsrusa.org), offers learn-it-yourself instruction based on a manual and CD.
I hope you will look into these methods for learning transcending and enjoy the effortless elimination of daily stress and the blissful expansion of consciousness.
David Spector
President,
NSR Meditation/USA
