The thought-form in itself is not essentially a deluded mode of perception. It may not exclusively serve the development of ego consciousness, as it is not necessarily something that obscures the reality of infinite being. Conscious work with the thought-form process could contribute to a more conscious life. This practice may serve to manifest positive situations and enhance creative expression. It may also accelerate the unfoldment of our role on this earthly plane, help us do the work we’re here to do.
The thought-form is not necessarily an expression of the mind’s limitation but is more precisely an aspect of the intrinsic functioning of the mind itself. It is thus a tool that the mind may employ that may yield negative or positive ends… though from a universal perspective, there is no “negative” or “positive”.
There are two complementary aspects to the process of manifestation. The universe is constructed in such a way that everything has a counter balance, therefore, every manifestation that may appear as some form of gain is one side of a coin that may reveal a loss on its flip side. Which is to say that the mind should be aware that whenever it co-creates something it desires, it also participate in a counterbalancing manifestation which may not be what was anticipated. The mind must come to the understanding that what comes also goes.
The mind should be aware that any great manifestation that it may create could also become its greatest obstacle. Any energy that is drawn from the universe creates a shift in the world of form. Generally speaking, truly positive thought-forms are acts of giving, and in giving, more may be returned. Positive manifestations tend to attract more positive energy. However, a positive manifestation could also be coming from a negative place, just as a negative situation may end in a positive one. Keep in mind that these concepts of “positive” and “negative” are relative. The most important thing to be aware of when working with thought-forms is the inner motive behind their deployment. We’re going to get back what we put out there, so we must always be willing to take total responsibility for the consequences of our manifestations.
We must come to the conclusion that the path of awareness is of primary importance, for without it, the mind can only come to identify with the world of form. This would only serve to strengthen the illusion of separation which obscures the reality of formlessness - which is, after all, the true identity. The capacity for manifestation does not liberate the mind, for at some point the mind must come to terms with its alienation from its essential nature. And there is nothing greater than the realization of one’s formless universality. This is the totality of the created and uncreated. It is the ultimate expression of thought-forms as it is beyond thought and form. It is the reality of true identity, the truth that lies within and beyond all manifestation. It is that which remains after all the manifestations have passed…
The mind cannot just keep creating thought-forms without looking for a real sense of permanency. That which we would actualize through the manifestation of thought-forms remains in the domain of impermanence. Seen from an unconscious perspective, the inclination to work with thought-forms reveals the desire to become and to have, and so this practice can become a vehicle for the expansion of ego consciousness. However, since these thought-forms are of the substance of mind, and of a fundamentally neutral composition, they may be employed with full awareness, leaving the mind free from ego’s intricacies. The problem lies in the quality of the mind that employs them. The more powerful the mind becomes in this area, the greater the risk that such power will fall into ego’s grasp. The conscious manifestation of thought-forms is most often exploited for personal gain; rare are the situations where this power is exercised out of a spontaneous and detached state of being and perception. It is a difficult and a rare achievement to remain simple and detached and at one with the totality. There is nothing special about seeking power, striving to expand while carrying an overload, which only serves to broaden the gap between the spirit and the totality that is already under our feet!
Nevertheless, again, the thought-form remains a powerful tool for human evolution. If one is dedicated, committed, sincere, and detached it is possible to become a genuine spiritual healer, and to embody the realization that life of spirit supersedes both the power of the mind and the realm of matter.
About wealth
It seems that when students ask spiritual teachers about the pursuit of wealth, they are really asking permission to pursue wealth; they really want the teacher to say, “Yes its O.K.” And many teachers do give their approval, or say it really doesn’t matter, they can pursue wealth or not pursue wealth. But both Buddha and Christ advised otherwise. Don’t you think that if a person is serious about the spiritual path, they should, as Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of Heaven”? And if one is really dedicated to a spiritual path, don’t you think one would not be concerned with material gain and not asking permission to pursue things of this world?
Infinity
This is a well-suited topic in this age where the idea of creating one’s reality has become as popular as driving around with the brand new car of the year. Manifestation today is most often employed to enhance appearances rather than for the achievement of an actual sense of well-being. Isn’t recognition the thing that one is usually looking for? We want the whole world to turn around and look at us as somebody who has achieved success. As somebody who embodies a sense of power and status. Or is it that in not knowing what to do with a life that appears meaningless, we look for a magical way to escape the fact that we are incapable of transforming our own lives without anything external? Is it that we lack any sense of immediate embodiment of life’s true meaning? What was there to change? And who is there to change anything?
If one does not know oneself deeply, directly, any other means of creating any future can only be a postponement of knowing oneself. Whether one is poor or rich, the question as to who one really is is really the same. Knowing oneself is to abide in the true identity, which is independent of any external manifestation. It has no relation with any color, shape, or movement. It is neither associated with a so-called miserable life or a successful life. It has nothing to do with a so-called hell or a so-called paradise. Because it has no relation whatsoever to the external events of one’s life, it is revealed to be genuine and everlasting. Any gain must lead to a loss. And any loss must give rise to the search for another gain.
The question of being at peace with oneself, regardless of the circumstance, remains the same, for all shall pass. Any kingdom is called upon to vanish. And all spirits will be left naked at the feet of what remains genuine. All clothing, all shapes, all envelopes will be discarded. It is not the external circumstances of one’s life that indicate whether the spirit has achieved a place of complete freedom. In contrary, the most wealthy spirit is found to no longer need anything, no longer need to change anything. It abides in that place of absolute presence. Its kingdom is no longer made out of forms or shapes or colors, but reveals the infinity of eternal life.
Today we are witnessing a
Today we are witnessing a “manifestation craze” of incredible scope, and I think this says a lot about the neurotic state of contemporary culture. It is true, as you say, that the mind’s ability to develop proficiency in thought-form manifestation can be directed towards the common good and can therefore be a positive influence on our collective evolution, most people who are drawn to the study of manifestation are looking for personal power and personal profit.
Quite simply, if one feels a total connection to the universe, one is content and without want. The desire to manifest is rooted in the ignorance of this innate unity. It comes from a feeling of lack. It is as if one needs to confirm one’s connection with the totality by the act of manifestation: “I manifest, therefore I am connected to the universe.” Or, in order to compensate for its feeling of incompleteness, it must fill the great internal void with accomplishment and with stuff. For those who practice thought-form manifestation as an addiction, it may be helpful to remember that you are fine just the way you are. You don’t need to add anything to what you are. In fact, you may be better off subtracting.
Some people who play around with thought-forms develop manifestation power that is unbalanced and unmanageable. What happens is that the individual learns the trick of building with thought-forms and this new-found power does not have time to become integrated into the personality and the lifestyle. The power grows too fast, so that it becomes unwieldy and scary. In this case, it’s a good idea to step back from the process and examine what’s going on. That starts with the understanding of what a thought-form actually is.
All thought originates in universal consciousness, which is formless. Every thought we have is an event: a case of universal formless consciousness assuming a shape or form. The form universal consciousness assumes is determined by that energy which shapes it. We perceive this energy as “the thinker”, as an entity that generates thought, when in fact there is no such entity; the notion of a thinking entity is just a concept in itself. The energy that shapes the material of universal consciousness as a potter shapes clay may be seen more as a tendency than an actual entity. The universal consciousness is molded into forms of thought by habitual patterns that are established in early childhood and developed throughout the course of a life. The ego may be viewed in this light as the tendency of universal consciousness to convert formless intelligence to thought-form. The sense of individuality is just one of the thought-forms that is created by universal consciousness.
When we understand that there is no entity creating thought, that this is just another thought, we not only gain control over the manifestation process, but we tend to lose interest in it, because we come to realize that the entity that was doing all the manifesting is without substance. It is then that the thought-forms lose their momentum and their power. And then we are happy to just be as we are.