With the proliferation of pop-culture spirituality (I won’t name names) there’s a common question that comes up in my beginning meditation classes about how to manifest stuff.
It’s not usually expressed that way, of course – usually there’s a wistful look in the person’s eye, or maybe an eager expression on the face, and they ask a question that essentially boils down to, “How do I make the world give me what I want?”
It might be something to do with a job situation. Or the ideal apartment. More often than not, it has to do with finding a boyfriend.
(Guys don’t typically ask this question.)
The problem with manifesting anything – job, home, date – is that you’re coming to the equation with limited knowledge.
You think you know what you want… but do you really?
Most of us are not Enlightened. That means, by definition, we’re operating with bad data. The ego is standing in the way, clouding the vision. We don’t have access to the Big Picture.
Techniques for manifesting are absolutely powerful – you can definitely use them to get what you want. The problem is, for many people, once they get it, they realize… “Oh.”
It wasn’t what they were thinking.
Maybe they had an inexact definition in mind for what Mr. Right was supposed to be like. Maybe they focused on ABC qualities, and when they got them, didn’t realize that they would also come with the less-desirable XYZ traits as well.
A much more powerful practice is to live your life working towards your greater best self – meditating, being grateful, helping when you can – taking care of your mind, and your body, and learning to be conservative with your energy. Then, you will be poised and ready when the opportunity presents itself.
Don Juan talked about the “cubic centimeter of chance” – that the warrior is always on the alert, watching for it. When your power is up, then you’re more likely to see it, and have the momentum available to grasp it.
Then, you can be surprised by what Eternity has in store for you – instead of boxing yourself in with only the ideas you came up with.
When we let go of the preconceived notions for what life should be and how it should look, and work hard doing our part to fulfill those duties of being human, then it can be utterly amazing what unfolds for us.