By Roberto Assagioli and others. Excerpt from the book Creative Meditation.
Meditation and elements of action
A natural and proper effect of meditation is action, both inwardly and outwardly. Internal action by emanation has been mentioned, and now we come to external action. Even if one does not think much about it, and whether it is conscious or not, one is constantly doing external actions, and often one does it quite thoughtlessly, and therefore makes all kinds of mistakes.
The subject of action seems obvious and simple, but in reality right action is very difficult. One should always remember that human actions can be constructive and beneficial, useless and meaningless, or harmful and destructive, and against this background one must necessarily recognize the great responsibility that this entails. There is therefore reason to carefully consider the nature of right and effective action – “perfect” action.
- The first source of action is or should be Will brings first purpose and motivation and then stable control. Therefore will should be both the source of action and the underlying energy in the entire process of action. Motivation presupposes a choice, and one should choose what is good. This means that one should be filled with the will-to-good, which is the dynamic aspect of love.
- Thoughts Must Follow This is possible by the application of intelligence or, better still, by wise planning. Effective action requires the working out of a detailed plan and the formulation of a clear program. This is the fifth stage of will mentioned earlier. There is no need for detailed instructions on this stage, as it is clearly explained and is widely recognized and applied. This can be seen in the way governments and large organizations present their plans for three years, five years, and generally for longer periods. It is equally necessary to plan for spiritual purposes and for all the efforts in preparing for the new era, for the effect of any action depends mainly on the quality of the motives that are to set it in motion.
For this task reflective meditation is necessary, and it has the value of providing vital methods in preparation for constructive external actions. In this endeavor reflective meditation will be an aid and will also show its value as a vital means in preparation for constructive external actions.
- The third necessary element is feeling, especially in the form of love. One should feel that the action in question is desirable and right, and one should value the goal and even show love for it. In this way one can direct the great potential of feelings to a useful purpose. Feelings and even compassionate feelings are often largely wasted by being repressed and can even lead to destructive actions.
- When the power found in instinctive initiatives is transmuted and properly directed, it will provide strong impulses to. This has always been known or suspected and more or less consciously applied, but modern psychology is researching this closely and is developing a “psycho-dynamics” in a scientific way. This has already led to effective techniques that are increasingly used in psychotherapy and education, and it is also suitable for individual use.
Ways and methods of action
- The Spoken Word
First came the sound or the WORD – the creative Logos, cosmically speaking. In the physical world, a moment’s reflection can make one see the power of the spoken word. There are countless examples of this in history. One need only think of all that has been achieved through the power of speech by great orators like Demosthenes and Cicero and by leaders, good and bad, like Napoleon and Hitler and many others. In our time, the reach of the spoken word has become far more extensive because of radio and television. This means that the need for skill and for a sense of responsibility on the part of those who come forward and speak has grown correspondingly and has assumed an immense scale.
- The Written Word
Then there is the written word, which is also very effective. In a way, it can be said to be “magical”. A book and even a pamphlet can change the life of a reader. There have been various examples of far-reaching effects. For example, it is well known that a pamphlet about Gandhi influenced the daughter of an English admiral so deeply that she felt prompted to travel to India, where she became Gandhi’s secretary and worked with him for the rest of his life. The written word can have a wide distribution in the world and last for a long time. Words written thousands of years ago in distant parts of the world can now be read, and through them the writers become spiritually present. Plato and many other writers are as alive to modern man as they were to the people of their time, and their influence is in fact much greater now. In the same way, words written or recorded today may be preserved and have an effect in future centuries all over the globe.
- Art and Music
There are other methods of information that are just as effective. For example, art that can influence with portraits, panoramas and symbols – and music . Here again it should be remembered that all methods of communication can be destructive as well as constructive, and it must be said quite openly that in our time there is a terrifying lack of sense of responsibility among writers and artists. Their exclusive cult, which is supposed to work with aesthetic values, makes them unwilling to recognize the certain fact that aesthetic value cannot be measured by human and moral effects. A high aesthetic value does not necessarily mean that there is also a good moral impact. The greater the aesthetic value of a creative work, the more dangerous it can actually be if it has a destructive and divisive content. A work of art in which a painter or writer has expressed a bitter anger, or for some other reason to free himself from being a slave to such qualities, can have a harmful effect. There is much clear evidence of this. A good example is the novel Werther, in which the young Goethe gives a vivid description of an exalted romantic love affair that culminates in the suicide of the “hero.” This novel influenced several young men to such an extent that they followed Werther’s example and committed suicide. But it must be recognized that artists are not the only sinners in this regard, and perhaps not even the worst. Mankind’s search for truth, its many inventions, and its ever-increasing power over nature can all have destructive effects. In fact, they are currently threatening the survival of mankind. Modern people do not have the wisdom and humanitarian conscience that Leonardo da Vinci had when he refused to construct a kind of submarine that he had invented, saying that the world would be tempted to misuse it. The result can even be harmful when striving for good is based only on limited intelligence and is devoid of psychological understanding and a fanatical spirit. This is what happened in the Victorian era, as the condemnation and strong suppression of human nature caused widespread suffering, many nervous and psychological disorders, and it eventually provoked a violent reaction and a swing to the opposite extreme.
- Physical movement
Another method of external action is movement – i.e. physical activity, which was widely used in the past but is currently experiencing a rapid resurgence. In the past, dance often had a religious and sacred purpose. Today, rhythmic movements that are constructive and beneficial have resurfaced.
- Indirect action
The above external actions can be relatively called direct action. But there are also actions that are more indirect, as can be seen, for example, in the use of tools and machines that greatly increase the effectiveness of the individual. Even with very limited use of the muscles, a machine can multiply the effort of the human being immeasurably. Another indirect method of achieving results is money. With the help of money, the effective action of the individual can be greatly multiplied. Although these methods are often used incorrectly, they should not be rejected, because they are in themselves neutral. Nor should they be condemned, because that would be unrealistic. On the contrary, they should be used to the full in a constructive and beneficial way.
- Being a Living Example
The highest and most far-reaching method of action is to be a living example, an ideal model in action, and a living manifestation of what a soul-integrated or “soul-inspired” human being can be. The highly evolved beings who have periodically come to reveal divinity have done so more by being a living example than by their messages and their teachings. A singular example of this was Christ. Revelation in this sense is the highest method of action.
- Training other employees
To return to a more human level, there is another indirect method of action that also multiplies its effect: it is the training of other roles. It is a method of action that one can carry out more and more during the second half of one’s life. During the first part of one’s life, one acts directly and learns through trial and error. By making mistakes, one develops skill in action. When one has achieved this skill to a certain extent, one will find oneself in a situation where one can undertake to train other employees. Every employee that one trains multiplies the teacher’s own skill in time and space. Therefore, one must be aware of when the time is right to begin training work instead of direct work, and to an increasing extent delegate the direct work to others. This gives other people different opportunities, and this results in liberation – though not into ease and inactivity – for higher methods of service, especially for activities within.
Choice of action
The areas for action are countless, and it is in each case the problem of the individual which area should be chosen. Generally speaking, there are two bases for choosing an area of action:
- The first basis is aptitude, a possible innate ability. Some find an area easily, feeling “called” (being called) and cannot resist the urge to give expression to an inner impulse, an inner ability. Others may possess many abilities and possibilities, but none that are particularly prominent, and for them there will very often be a period of trials and attempts to work in different areas until they find their right place.
- The second motive or consideration concerns humanity. This can sometimes give the impulse to act in areas that one does not particularly like, or is not particularly suited to, but where there are no others or too few to meet the need. Such situations easily arise in a time like the present, when humanity is under pressure and in deep crisis. Action can be carried out either by a single person or by a group. Nowadays, action should increasingly be carried out by groups, for this is the mode of action that will be used increasingly in the coming new age.
Warnings regarding external activities
- The first warning, which is very much warranted at this time, is that one should not be too eager to act, even if it is the best motivated action – One should not engage in actions that are unreasonably exhausting, so as to limit and destroy one’s capabilities for future activities.
- The second warning, which is also very justified, is to always put quality above everything else. Current civilization is motivated by a false perception of efficiency that is based on quantity, while the true higher efficiency is the one that signifies the highest quality.
- A third warning is to avoid becoming too absorbed in the moment and in details, but instead to look ahead and always keep the final goal clearly in mind and in mind. This is very difficult because the methods tend to constantly assume an exaggerated importance and to become an end in themselves, so that the true final purpose is hidden or forgotten.
- Another rule of action related to the above is to deal more with causes than with effects. This means that one should not only deal with the surface, but be three-dimensional in thinking and try to find the source of what is happening both below and above the level where the problems arise.
Conclusion
As a general conclusion of all that has been said in this series of instructions for the second year, it can be said that a “whole” and balanced life should consist of a wise interplay between directing thoughts inward and outward, and between inner and outer action, always beginning “from above and downward and from within and outward.”
The episode in the Gospel of Martha and Mary illustrates this in a beautiful way. There is a statement by Thomas that is a reminder that action should consist of the surplus that perfect contemplation gives.
Aristotle speaks of God as an immovable motive force. As a child of God, each one should likewise aspire to become an immovable motive force, remaining at the center and from there directing and utilizing energy efficiently. This is summarized in the Bhagavad Gita in an invocation to Krishna, who is an incarnation of the supreme spirit:
“By permeating the universe
with a part of myself,
I remain.”
How to move forward
Here you can receive seven free meditations where you develop different aspects of yourself.
Also read the article Psychosynthesis an Integral Psychology and the biography of Roberto Assagioli
Read the introductory article about energy psychology
Read the introductory article about integral meditation
