Re: David's comment about expectations

David wrote: "If you "TRY" to re-create a wonderful past "bliss" experience, you are expending effort and thus preventing yourself from getting what you really want."

For me, this is one of the most important aspects of this practice. ANY expectations at all - even the expectation of experiencing bliss, or silence, or relaxation, or a refinement of the syllable - is counter-productive. If you'll excuse reference to a religious book, it is said (paraphrased here) that one cannot take the kingdom of heaven by force. The mere 'intention' to ALLOW whatever happens to happen, even 'nothing happening', is all that is required.

And, IF one should be fortunate to experience any quietness, or bliss, or silence, or peace during the process, then it CAN be tempting to want that experience again in the next session of CMR. And such a temptation will work against the innocent process. It can even cause one to get angry with outside factors that one might see as 'preventing' that experience -- factors such as noisy family members, a noisy car exhaust of high-revving motorbike, whatever.

The instructions in the manual are based on a really, really enlightened understanding of the mechanics of life itself, and of the human mind. Innocence and preparedness to follow the instructions verbatim are all that's needed.

David, your insights and the way you expressed them are soooo valuable to others in this forum!

Regards to all,
Gavin
Long-term TM meditator