The Lotus Organization
New School Map

The ability to connect to our ""higher self", or more accurately, innate wisdom, is immediate healing and transformation. This innate wisdom has the ability to transform thought patterns, thereby opening our minds to true clarity and bliss. In the moment of recognizing our true nature, we can see that our ordinary thinking is very lacking. Fortunately, a better way can be discovered.

Transformation techniques are about seeing the light of our true nature and letting that light purify our ordinary ways of thinking and acting. In the process, we develop greater flexibility and learn a higher way of being. Recognizing innate wisdom helps us to realize the nature of our habitual tendencies. By surrendering to our "higher self", we learn right use of will.

Sometimes we are afraid to confront our old patterns because we are afraid of what we might uncover. However, in the process of seeing the folly of our ideas, we also realize the greatness of our innate wisdom.

When we investigate our minds with the attitude of a true scientist, it allows us to discover unbiased truth. Examining our thoughtforms with the sword of a spiritual warrior allows us to recognize the weakness of our assumptions as opposed to the strength of our natural wisdom. Having playfulness and lightheartedness helps us to overcome stubbornness and resistance to change.

As our minds become clearer and brighter, we feel happier and more energetic. We realize the temporariness of all phenomena. We recognize the uselessness of grasping and aversion. We develop respect for our buddha nature and faith in intuition.

Pendulum

Sometimes when things don't go the way we want, we dwell on our seeming misfortune. Other times we worry about trying to avoid things that we don't want to happen. Both grasping and aversion create suffering. Through awareness, acceptance, and detachment, we can learn to be free of grasping and aversion.

In pendulum, we start by first becoming aware of the object that is causing suffering without judging it. We then detach from the object by putting our attention on something else. For example, let's say that we have chronic pain in our left knee. We would start by becoming aware of the left knee pain, noticing the sensations that are present, as well as our thoughts and feelings about the pain. Then we would put our attention on something else, such as a different part of our body, an imaginary place, or our "higher self". We then put our attention on our left knee again, noticing whatever sensations are there, as well as any thoughts and feelings that we have about it. Chances are that this time we will be more accepting of whatever is going on with the knee. We go back and forth several times, like a pendulum, alternately putting our attention on the original object and then on something else, until we feel more accepting and detached.

In the above example, we used a physical condition as the object of attention. However, the object of attention could be a situation, a person, a habit, an addiction, or a thoughtform, etc. The principle is the same, regardless of the object.

As we practice pendulum, what at first seemed so important will become less and less of a big deal. Pendulum helps us to have more of a big picture perspective rather than fixating on details. It helps us to have more lightheartedness and awareness of what is right action.

Compassion

All unenlightened beings experience suffering in some way. People feel unhappy, get sick, compete and fight with one another, worry about not having enough or losing what they have, etc. As we look into our own minds, we begin to see that other people are like us, with similar fears, desires, and concerns. Suffering comes from wrong views and deluded thinking.

Compassion is a natural response to suffering. Compassion is the desire to help. As we have more compassion, we begin to think less about ourselves and more about others. Eventually, we begin to see others as ourselves. When we see suffering, our hearts open, and we want to help. We wish for what's best and desire to be of service. Our "higher self" is naturally compassionate; therefore, surrendering to our "higher self" is compassion.

As we become clearer, we begin to learn what's really beneficial. We may see that our previous ideas about the right thing to do were incorrect. True compassion is wanting to do what's in the highest good. Compassion may just be a matter of having detachment and a sense of humor. It may require keeping our mouths shut and getting out of the way. It might mean saying something that a person didn't particularly want to hear, but with a kind and loving heart. Or it might require being ruthless and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. As we let go of our selfish motives, as well as our ideas and concepts about compassion, we become true vehicles of service.

When we see a person or a thoughtform in our mind, we begin by recognizing that there is suffering. We generate the desire to want to help. We wish that the person be happy and that they become liberated. We invoke our "higher self" to bless the thoughtform in whatever way would be in the highest good and to show us what the thoughtform needs to learn. As healing occurs, we rejoice.

When our "higher self" shows us an aspect of intuitive wisdom, it is important to let go of any preconceived ideas about what we should be seeing or learning. Intuition is very spontaneous. We need to have faith that what we are being shown is in the highest good and what's needed in the moment.

Communication

Many times when we have a desire, we judge ourselves or feel guilty about having that desire. However, if we allow ourselves to entertain the possibility of having what we want, we feel more at ease and begin to see the emptiness of that desire. When we want something, it is because we feel lacking in some way and mistakenly assume that obtaining the object that we desire will fulfill us.

When we see a thoughtform in our mind, we can playfully ask it questions such as, "What do you want? What would that give you? How would it be if you could have that? What would it be like to have that right now?" As we communicate with the thoughtform, it starts to dissolve, and we begin to see the insubstantiality of the imaginary self that is at the core of the thoughtform.

We can continue the process by asking our "higher self" to reveal the full potential of the thoughtform. The full potential is an aspect of intuitive awareness that the thoughtform will become when it integrates all of the lessons that it needs to learn. It is always nonconceptual and beyond what the lower mind thinks it should be. As the thoughtform and the full potential merge, we see that the thoughtform was just a magical display of energy, returning to its original wisdom nature.
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The process of working with one's "higher self" is very magical. As we do transformation techniques, we begin to see the emptiness of all of our thoughtforms. We develop confidence in our true nature and begin to stabilize in our "higher self" awareness. We feel clearer, happier and more blissful. We feel more connected to others and become better able to help in a more meaningful way. We see that what is fulfilling in life is to enter the true path to liberation.