Third Week of Advent, Friday: Keeping Watch

In the Heart of Winter: A Meditator’s Guide to Advent

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. –Luke 2:8

In that same country, “in that same consciousness”, where the Christ is born, are the shepherds who are keeping watch. We can associate the shepherds with the qualities of mindfulness, meditative awareness, devotion, and concentration. They keep watch, paying attention throughout the night. The sheep they tend are like thoughts that can wander in any direction. The job of the shepherd is to be awake and aware, take notice and stay focused. This is an apt description of the skills we need if we want to be successful in meditation.

In the “field”—or within their consciousness that has been quieted by concentration—a light appears. This light announces the Christ, the light of God within us. An angel brings a message of peace and great joy—the Christ has come! The shepherds’ story can be viewed metaphysically as the revelation of the Christ within that occurs when the mental field is calm and quiet. When the inner light of the Christ consciousness is perceived at the spiritual eye, it is often accompanied by the experience of bliss, or great joy. This is the joy of Self-knowing, as we recognize the light of God that reveals our spiritual nature.

The Advent teaching to “keep watch” encourages us to bring greater focus and attention to our meditation practice. When we focus our attention on a single point, the restless activity of thought subsides and the mental field becomes receptive to the revelation of Self-knowing. We can also let it remind us that this quality of mindful attention is useful at all times. We are reminded to stay open and receptive to divine insight.

Practice:

In Patanjali’s eight-limbed system for experiencing superconscious meditation, concentration is identified as the precursor to meditation. We concentrate on something that has a soothing effect on the mind, such as observing our breath or mentally repeating a mantra.

When you use a tool for concentration to prepare for meditation, observe the effect that it has on your mental field. As we become more proficient at concentrating on a single point, we can perceive a change in the quality of our attention. Concentration requires a degree of effort. In the initial stage of concentration, attention wanders and we must direct it again and again to our chosen focus. However, once the mental field becomes purified and calm, attention will naturally flow into a meditative state. It is no longer obstructed by restlessness.

Watch for the moment when concentration becomes meditation. Then let go of the technique and simply “abide in the field” of divine consciousness.

Contemplate:

The pageantry of Jesus’ coming to earth lacked no detail of symbolic significance. As with the shepherds on the hillside, the shepherds of man’s faith, devotion, and meditation will be bathed in the light of realization and lead those devotees who are humble in spirit to behold the infinite presence of Christ newborn within them. –Paramahansa Yogananda

Reflect:

How dedicated am I to my meditation practice? Do I bring the quality of devotion or focused attention to it? How might I enhance my practice?