http://www.swamij.com/pdf/path.pdf
Meditation and modern goal setting
Modern goal setting methods for planning and implementing desired outcomes has a particular style and language. To view the process of the inner journey from that perspective can provide useful insights to the modern aspirant.
MISSION: attaining the direct experience of the Center of Consciousness within, which is commented on in numerous places by Swami Rama.
GOALS: achieving three factors, as described in Freedom from the Bondage of Karma:
1) Calming the conscious mind
2) Remaining undisturbed by the flood of images from the unconscious mind
3) Going beyond both the conscious and unconscious mind
OBJECTIVES: acquiring basic skills, as outlined in Meditation and Its Practice:
1) How to relax the body
2) How to sit in a comfortable, steady position for meditation
3) How to make your breathing process serene
4) How to witness the objects traveling in the train of the mind
5) How to inspect the quality of thoughts and learn to promote or strengthen those which are positive and helpful
6) How not to allow yourself to become disturbed in any situation, whether you judge it to be either bad or good
PROCEDURES: putting the specific methods into practice by:
1) Systematically following the five step sequence of preparation, stretches, relaxation, breathing, and meditation on a regular, daily basis, as described in Meditation and Its Practice
2) Integrating and implementing the Program for Progress in Meditation, as described in Chapter 6 of Meditation and Its Practice, and the eight step program as described in Chapters 6 through 8 of Path of Fire and Light,
Vol. II
3) Incorporating other compatible written or oral instructions.
METHODS: Learning specific techniques for the inner journey, such as internal dialogue, mindfulness, stretches, sitting postures, breathing practices, meditation, yoga nidra, and agnisara. When viewing the process of the inner journey in this way, we can see that one first learns specific practices (METHODS), which are then implemented systematically (PROCEDURES) so that certain skills (OBJECTIVES) may be attained. Those skills lead us to higher levels (GOALS), so that we may finally attain the highest level (MISSION).
Swami Rama writes, “Above all else, remember this one thing, ‘It is easy to meet the Infinity within—to attain this awareness, you just have to be silent and quiet’”