In the Heart of Winter: A Meditator’s Guide to Advent
The spiritual message of Christmas is the call for all
people to awaken to their divine identity. A child is born! A new life is given
to us as we are born in the spirit of truth, of love, and of freedom, as we awaken to our essential nature.
This new life has requirements and makes demands upon us. We
must be willing to grow, to open our hearts and our minds and release old ideas
that are not consistent with truth. Paramahansa Yogananda said, “To bring
divine awareness into our human consciousness we must outgrow the limited
conventional concept of Christ.” The limited conventional concept of Christ
would have us believe that Jesus alone represents the Christ of God. Some even
imagine that Christ is Jesus’ last name. The limited view suggests that the
coming of Christ is purely an historical event which we celebrate at Christmas,
December 25th , a day designated as Jesus’ birthday.
For many Christians, the word Christ is synonymous with
Jesus and refers to the Messiah prophesized in the Hebrew Scriptures. The word Christ
literally means the Anointed one, one who is sanctified through the anointing
of oil. The mystical meaning of this anointing is the revelation of divine
truth which brings the liberation of consciousness from all limiting belief
systems. The revelation of spiritual truth is often accompanied by an energetic
opening of the crown chakra—thus a mystical “anointing” coincides with
awakening to the omnipresent inner Christ. The omnipresent Christ is the life
of God within us all that includes all. Paramahansaji noted, “Jesus was born in
a little crib, but the Christ Spirit is omnipresent.”
Christ is not a person, but a principle, a universal expression
of spiritual Truth. This principle was fully realized and manifested in the
life of Jesus. His life and teachings demonstrate the light of Christ
consciousness, the anointed of God, the Self- and God-realized man. What can we
see when we read the scriptural accounts and when we contemplate his awakened
consciousness? We can see the evidence of unconditional love and unadulterated
and uncompromising Truth.
When we are of the Christ mind, we recognize our divine
origin, birth, and nature. We recognize it in every one. Awakening to Christ consciousness
is beholding the One in all.
Practice:
Enter into meditation by turning your attention within and
acknowledging God’s omnipresence. Inwardly affirm that you are meditating in
God, know that the life of God is expressing as you.
Once your attention has become interiorized, direct it to
the root chakra at the base of your spine. Step by step, move your attention up
through each of the energy centers—from the root to the second center below the
navel, to the third below the diaphragm, the fourth opposite the heart, the
fifth at the throat, the sixth at the spiritual eye (between and above the
eyebrows) and then let your awareness rest at the crown chakra, just beyond the
top of the head.
As you conclude your meditation, take a few moments to feel,
or imagine light or energy emanating from your crown chakra. Imagine, feel, and
affirm that the inner Light of Christ Consciousness is permeating your mind and
body. Affirm that you are spiritually awake and established in truth. Before
you end your session, share your experience of peace, and well-being with
others. With your intention and your thoughts, send forth the energy of
loving-kindness to people everywhere. Inwardly agree to behold the One in all as
you go about the activity of your day.
Contemplate:
It is of utmost importance to all people, whatever their
religion, that they experience within themselves this “birth” of the Universal
Christ. –Paramahansa Yogananda
The historical Jesus
was one man, and Christ is not his last name. The Christ includes the whole
sweep of creation and history joined with him—and you too. We call this the
Cosmic Christ.
–Fr. Richard Rohr
Reflect:
Are there ideas that I hold about the Christ that I must
outgrow? Am I open to a new understanding? What does a new understanding
require of me?
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