Spinal cord
Reticular formation (arousal)
Cerebellum
Corpus callosum (connects hemispheres)
Thalamus (sensory replay)
Brainstem
Limbic system (emotional, learning)
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Your Calm Centre is uncomplicated. It doesn't know anxiety, fear, frustration, suspicion, doubt, envy. It is at peace with the world, with existence. It is beyond your everyday emotions, thought processes and mental functions. This is the centre that you come in touch with during the Calm Technique; this is where your Calm Expression emanates from.
I must stress that accurate pinpointing of your Calm Centre is unnecessary. What is important is that your Calm Expression emerges from deep within your consciousness, from a place which is beyond thought. Then, instead of trying to blank out your undisciplined thoughts through submination, you can ignore them and focus your awareness on your Calm Expression. Before you know it, your distractions will be forgotten, your mind will be filled with your Calm Expression and you will be meditating.
Think of your mind as a noisy room full of shouting people. Among all that cacophony is a voice (your Calm Expression) that you recognize. Even though that one voice may be no louder than any other in the room, it can begin to stand out clearly against all others simply because you are interested in that one voice, and becausr you choose to listen to only one voice.
Think how easily one word can leap out and rivet your attention as you flick through the pages of a book. If you had really concentrated on every word on the page and tried to find it in that moment, you almost certainly wouldn't have seen it. Yet a non-concentrated glance at the pages as you flick through makes it stand out every time.
The Calm Expressiob which emanates from your Calm Centre behaved similarly. If it appears of its own accord in its own good time, it will dominate your attention much more successfully than if you force yourself to think about it. It will charm you into the Calm State, rather than force you into it. By not concentrating, you make it stand out all the more. Although a straightforward disciplined concentration will work, it is much more difficult to perform than the relaxed, passive, non-concentration approach.
If you can generally imagine where your Calm Centre is located, you'll know where your Calm Expression should originate. It will originate of its own accord. It required no effort on your part at all except being aware of its origins and adopting a completely passive state of mind. The Calm Technique continues from there. Once you have begun, it does require some effort to prevent your attention from straying, however.
If you find all thag discussion of the Calm Centre confusing, don't be distressed. It is merely a way of enhancing the beginning of your meditation; it is not an integral part of the Calm Technique itself. The Calm Technique is inherently simple, all you have to do is one thing, and do it totally. This will centre your attention and elevate your consciousness. This is the Calm Technique.
USING THE CALM TECHNIQUE
The Calm Technique is nothing more than a constant repetition of the word you have adopted as your Calm Expression. You might think that the repetition of a single word for twenty minutes or more sounds frightfully boring. However, remember that you will not be thinking about it, even though you will be conscious of it. After a short while, you will cease to take any notice of the word at all, except that you are saying it in your mind.
We're now ready to put into practice all we've learned. Go through the preparatory steps again.
THE ENVIRONMENT
1) Have your own special Calm place.
2) Lower the lights; perhaps use a warm coloured globe.
3) Use s straight-backed, comfortable chair.
4) Place a clock nearby if necessary.
5) Use incense if you wish.
6) Take the phone off the hook.
YOUR POSTURE
1) Back straight, head up.
2) Wear comfortable clothes, no shoes.
3) Be relaxed or do Calm Exercises.
4) Sit for a few moments, breathe regularly.
5) Eyes closed, unfocused, looking straight ahead.
(We will assume that your Calm Expression is 'calming'. If it is something different, substitute that word or phrase instead of 'calm-ing'.)
When you are perfectly relaxed and not thinking of anything in particular, begin to listen to the sound of your own breathing. Hear the stream of cool air as it id drawn in through your nostrils, deep down into your lungs. Hear it as your body expels its warm breath. Be conscious only of your breathing. Hear only the sound of air passing in through your nostrils, entering your body, being breathed out. With each breath you take, you will become more relaxed. The sound of your own breath will be the most relaxing sound you have ever heard. Don't be alarmed if your breathing sounds slower than you think is normal; that is the process of meditation. Think only of your breathing, the air coming in through your nostrils, deep into your lungs, out through your mouth. Try not to think of what meditation is meant to feel like (you can think about that when you've finished), think only of your breathing. Your breath will be all you hear, all you are conscious of.
Around this time, you will begin to 'hear' your Calm Expression. You should 'hear' it in your own (unspoken) voice, sounding like it's coming from your Calm Centre, deep within your mind. Let it rise to your mind's surface, clearing away other thoughts as it does. Don't try to force other thoughts away by concentration - let your Calm Expression sweep them away - let it dominate your entire consciousness from within. There is no time frame on when your Calm Expression should appear. It will almost certainly happen of its own accord (particularly as you grow more familiar with it) after a minute or two, when you are completely relaxed. As well, you will sense the right kind of rhythm for the repetition of your Calm Expression. Rhythm is also something that happens of its own accord; it is perfectly all right as long as you don't wonder whether it's right or wrong.
-- This excerpt was taken from The Calm Technique by Paul Wilson
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