One evening, Arjun sat down to meditate after a long day. But instead of peace, he felt restless. his mind replayed an argument from earlier, his heart was heavy with frustration, and every attempt at stillness felt like pushing against a storm. It was then that a powerful line from Master Choa Kok Sui came to Arjun:
“If emotions and passions are not controlled, how can you have stillness?”
(Golden Lotus Sutras, “Beyond the Mind”)
Those words hit Arjun hard. They reminded him that before I can find calmness, I must first control our emotions.
Why uncontrolled emotions disrupt inner stillness
Think about it. When anger flares up, when stress takes over, or when excitement runs too high, do you feel centered? Of course not. Emotions are like waves — beautiful, but they can easily toss us around.
Without emotional control, stillness becomes impossible. Just like muddy water cannot reflect the sky, a restless heart cannot reflect peace.
Control your emotions to stay calm and focused
In my blog How to Stop Overthinking and Reacting: Regain Clarity with Meditation, I shared how overthinking and reacting create inner chaos. That chaos pulls us away from clarity. The same is true for emotions.
When we learn to manage our emotions, we create space to stay calm, even when life tests us. Calmness doesn’t mean ignoring what you feel — it means choosing how to respond, instead of letting feelings drive every action.
Emotional control strengthens your goals
In Achieve Your Goals: How to Manage Emotions and Stay Focused, I wrote about how discipline is not just about planning, but about handling emotions that try to pull us off track.
Think about it: how many goals are abandoned because we felt lazy, discouraged, or distracted? If we don’t follow our moods but follow our plan (Don’t Follow Your Mood, Follow Your Plan), emotions lose their power to derail us.
That’s emotional control in action.
Self-awareness and emotions: the key to transformation
The truth is, we can’t control what we’re not aware of. In Internal Awareness for Self-Mastery: The Key to Transformation, I spoke about the power of noticing what is happening inside us.
When we pause and observe our anger, fear, or anxiety, something shifts. Awareness creates distance. Suddenly, you’re not drowning in the emotion — you’re watching it. And that awareness is the first step to inner stillness.
Emotional control leads to inner stillness
Master Choa Kok Sui’s words ring like a bell:
“If emotions and passions are not controlled, how can you have stillness?”
Stillness is not about forcing your mind to go blank. It is about softening the storms inside. By learning to control your emotions, you open the door to clarity, calmness, and peace.
So the next time your emotions rise like a tide, pause. Breathe. Notice them. Choose how to respond. In that choice lies your strength, and in that strength lies your stillness.
Reflection Question for You: What is one emotion that most often pulls you away from calmness? And what would change if you could master it?
If this reflection touched something within you, I invite you to explore more.
You may enjoy reading:
Each of these writings offers a small step toward greater self-awareness and inner stillness.
A friend once shared that while her mornings began with meditation, affirmations, and study of spiritual texts, the rest of her day felt out of step with those teachings. At work, people cut corners. At home, arguments often pulled her into old patterns. “I know what’s right,” she admitted, “but I just can’t seem to apply it in daily life.”
Her struggle is real—and familiar. Many of us discover that spiritual wisdom is uplifting when we read or meditate on it, but difficult to practise in the messiness of everyday life.
As Grand Master Choa Kok Sui reminds us in The Golden Lotus Sutras – Creative Transformation:
“You have to practise the spiritual teachings and have the will to follow it.”
This blog, inspired by his words, explores how walking the spiritual path is not about knowing more, but about living what we already know.
Why the Path Feels Difficult
Spiritual teachings often ask us to respond with patience, forgiveness, and truthfulness—while the world around us may reward speed, competition, and compromise. This gap between “ideal” and “practical” makes us feel torn.
It is here that discipline becomes our bridge. Discipline allows us to pause before reacting, to remember before forgetting, to act from our higher self rather than from old habits. Without it, knowledge stays in books; with it, wisdom flows into life.
Making It Practical: Three Micro-Habits
To truly integrate teachings into daily life while walking the spiritual path, consider these simple but powerful habits:
- The Pause Before Reaction – At work or home, whenever irritation or judgment arises, take a deep breath before responding. Even a two-second pause helps you act from awareness rather than impulse.
- Micro-Moments of Kindness – In ordinary interactions—greeting a colleague warmly, offering a smile to a stranger, or silently wishing someone well—practice small acts of positivity. These turn abstract ideals into lived experience.
- Daily Reflection Check-In – At the end of the day, ask yourself: Did I apply my teachings today? Did I act with integrity? Did I bring light into someone’s day? Even 3–5 minutes of reflection reinforces learning and strengthens your will.
These tiny, repeatable actions make spiritual teachings practical, helping you turn knowledge into real-life transformation.
The Solitude of Responsibility
Sometimes, as GMCKS points out, “the spiritual path is lonely.” Not because people abandon you, but because no one else can practise for you. The responsibility is yours alone.
A teacher can guide, a friend can support, but only you can choose patience over irritation, kindness over harshness, truth over convenience. This responsibility may feel heavy, but it is also empowering—because it places your growth in your own hands.
Living the Teachings
The measure of spirituality is not in how much you read or meditate, but in how you live. Can you apply compassion in conflict? Can you practise forgiveness when wronged? Can you remain truthful under pressure?
That is the essence of walking the spiritual path—bringing light into the ordinary, until even the smallest actions reflect your highest ideals.
An Invitation to Practice
Pause today and ask: What one teaching can I practise—not just believe in, but apply—in my next conversation, task, or decision?
Remember, spirituality is not about perfection. It is about persistence, one choice at a time. And each choice strengthens your will, making the “ideal” practical, and the “path” truly yours.
When you close your eyes and breathe deeply, there are fleeting moments when you feel more than just your thoughts, emotions, or body. You sense a deeper connection—something that feels expansive, timeless, and pure. That experience is what spiritual teachers describe as soul contact. It is in these moments that we move beyond identifying with our physical body and open the doorway to real transformation.
Why Soul Contact Matters
Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, in The Golden Lotus Sutras on Character Building, says: “Character is the manifestation of the degree of soul contact…” In other words, the more we are connected with our soul, the easier it becomes to express higher virtues like compassion, generosity, truth, and self-discipline.
Without soul contact, our awareness stays tied to the lower chakras—those governing survival and desire. This often leads us to chase short-term pleasures or fall into patterns of fear, anger, and attachment. But when we shift our identity from the physical body to the soul, we naturally activate the higher chakras—those responsible for love, clarity, and spiritual will.
Soul Contact and Oneness
GMCKS also reminds us: “With a higher degree of oneness, it is easier to practise character building. Stop identifying yourself with the physical body!” The essence of this teaching is that soul contact leads to oneness.
When we no longer identify with the body alone, we become less reactive and more reflective. We realize that our thoughts and emotions are not who we are—they are experiences passing through us. This realization shifts our awareness to a higher plane, where choices align with inner wisdom rather than fleeting impulses.
If you’ve ever tried building habits or practicing discipline as the ultimate act of self-love, you’ll notice that it becomes easier when you are anchored in the soul rather than the body. The soul provides strength, while the body often seeks comfort.
How to Strengthen Soul Contact in Daily Life
- Meditation: Practices like Meditation on Twin Hearts gradually activates your spiritual development by strengthening your soul contact.
- Mindful self-inquiry: Ask yourself—“Is this what I truly believe?” or “Will this thought bring me closer to my higher self?”
- Character building: Each act of patience, forgiveness, or generosity strengthens your connection with the soul.
- Right environment: Surround yourself with people, words, and energies that uplift you, not those that pull you back into lower vibrations.
As with all spiritual development, the secret lies in consistent daily effort. Over time, these practices rewire your inner compass, making soul contact your default state rather than an occasional experience.
The Gift of Soul Contact
When you cultivate soul contact, life begins to feel different. You are less swayed by chaos around you, more at peace with yourself, and more capable of radiating kindness to others. Most importantly, your spiritual development accelerates as your awareness rises from lower instincts to higher virtues.
Spiritual growth, then, is not about escaping the physical body but about transcending its limitations. It is about remembering that you are not the body—you are the soul using the body.
Try this today: Sit quietly for 10 minutes, close your eyes, and simply affirm to yourself—“I am the soul, I am not the body.” Observe how your awareness begins to shift. This small practice is the first step to experiencing soul contact for yourself.
A wise teaching from Grand Master Choa Kok Sui reminds us: “If you master character building, it shows your soul is evolving.” (The Golden Lotus Sutras on Character Building). These simple yet profound words invite us to reflect on where we stand in our spiritual evolution. Think about it—what you once considered “normal” or acceptable may now feel completely out of alignment with who you are becoming. That shift is not random. It is the sign of your soul’s growth.
The Journey of Spiritual Evolution Through Time
We don’t expect morals or ethics from animals. Their souls are still at a very primitive stage. Similarly, early humans, largely hunter-gatherers, lived by instincts of survival, not lofty principles. Even 500 years ago, what was socially acceptable is now seen as unthinkable. This steady change marks the evolution of human consciousness, which is nothing but humanity’s collective spiritual evolution.
As the soul evolves, the yardstick of what feels acceptable keeps rising. What you tolerated from yourself before no longer resonates now. And for those walking the spiritual path, this isn’t about external judgment—it’s about the inner compass of your own soul.
If you want to deepen this awareness, you may enjoy reading Observe Your Thoughts and Emotions, which explains how mindfulness can guide spiritual growth.
Character Building: A Mirror of Soul Contact
Grand Master Choa Kok Sui also said: “Character is the manifestation of the degree of soul contact.” When you strengthen virtues like honesty, compassion, and generosity, you are in touch with your higher self. This is why character building is inseparable from spiritual evolution.
Your thoughts, words, and actions reflect the maturity of your soul. When your identification is only with the physical body, the lower chakras—focused on survival and basic desires—stay dominant. But as awareness shifts towards your higher self, your higher chakras awaken. This naturally makes it easier to practice compassion, discipline, and truth.
This connection between thoughts and actions is beautifully explained in Achieve Your Goals: How to Manage Emotions and Stay Focused, where managing emotions is seen as the key to staying aligned with your higher self.
Walking the Path of Spiritual Evolution
Spiritual evolution is not an overnight leap—it is a journey of consistent inner work. With each act of self-reflection, with every effort to practice virtue over impulse, you are raising your consciousness. The real progress is measured not by external success but by the depth of your character and the degree of your soul contact.
In the end, no one else is your judge. It is your own soul that silently shows you where you are in your spiritual evolution. For practical tools, read Observe Your Thoughts and Emotions – Part 2 to see how awareness can transform your inner journey.
That’s emotional control in action.
Self-awareness and emotions: the key to transformation
The truth is, we can’t control what we’re not aware of. In Internal Awareness for Self-Mastery: The Key to Transformation, I spoke about the power of noticing what is happening inside us.
When we pause and observe our anger, fear, or anxiety, something shifts. Awareness creates distance. Suddenly, you’re not drowning in the emotion — you’re watching it. And that awareness is the first step to inner stillness.
Emotional control leads to inner stillness
Master Choa Kok Sui’s words ring like a bell:
“If emotions and passions are not controlled, how can you have stillness?”
Stillness is not about forcing your mind to go blank. It is about softening the storms inside. By learning to control your emotions, you open the door to clarity, calmness, and peace.
So the next time your emotions rise like a tide, pause. Breathe. Notice them. Choose how to respond. In that choice lies your strength, and in that strength lies your stillness.
Reflection Question for You: What is one emotion that most often pulls you away from calmness? And what would change if you could master it?
If this reflection touched something within you, I invite you to explore more.
You may enjoy reading:
Each of these writings offers a small step toward greater self-awareness and inner stillness.
Arjun walked out of a team meeting feeling restless. His mind kept replaying a colleague’s comment, each time adding a little more irritation. For hours, he justified his anger, convinced he had been treated unfairly.
Later, in a quiet moment, he paused and asked himself: “What am I really feeling?”
The truth was uncomfortable — he wasn’t angry at his colleague, he was frustrated with himself for not communicating clearly.
That single moment of self-honesty changed everything. The irritation softened, and with a little detachment, peace slowly returned.
This simple experience reflects a timeless truth. In Beyond the Mind: The Golden Lotus Sutras on Meditation, Grand Master Choa Kok Sui reminds us:
“Awareness is necessary for spiritual evolution. To have inner Awareness, one must practise self-honesty and detachment.” — GMCKS
And he further teaches:
“Transformation requires internal awareness. Without awareness, one cannot control one’s self. One cannot achieve self-mastery and Transformation.” — GMCKS
Awareness, then, is not optional. It is the very heart of transformation. It is what shapes the mindset that carries us forward on the spiritual path.
Why Awareness Shapes a Spiritual Mindset
Awareness is like a lamp that lights up the dark corners within us. Without it, our mindset is shaped unconsciously by habits, moods, and old patterns. With it, we begin to see clearly:
- We notice thoughts that pull us down.
- We observe emotions before they control us.
- We recognize choices that either anchor us in peace or push us into restlessness.
Awareness is practical. It is the very first step to transforming who we are and creating a spiritual mindset that supports growth.
Building a Mindset for Spiritual Evolution
To evolve spiritually, mindset is key. But what does that really mean? It means training the inner eye to see with honesty and living with a lighter grip on things that bind us.
Practising Self-Honesty
- Pause and Observe: Instead of justifying, gently ask, “What am I really feeling right now?”
- Admit Without Excuse: Self-honesty is not about blame; it’s about clarity. “I felt angry, not because of them, but because my expectation was unmet.”
- Reflect with Compassion: Journaling or quiet reflection helps us see patterns with kindness, not criticism.
Self-honesty clears the fog. It shows us the truth about our inner state so we can shift our mindset toward growth.
Practising Detachment
- See Emotions as Passing Clouds: Joy, sorrow, anger — all come and go.
- Detach from Ownership of the Inner Noise: Detach from thoughts. Detach from habits. Detach from emotions. Say to yourself, “I am not these thoughts, emotions, or habits.” This simple reminder loosens their grip.
- Anchor in the Higher Self: Detachment grows when we remember we are more than body, emotions, or thoughts.
Detachment gives freedom. It strengthens our mindset so we are no longer ruled by every passing wave.
Awareness, Self-Honesty, and Detachment: The Path to Stillness
Awareness without practice is incomplete. Self-honesty reveals what binds us. Detachment loosens the knots. Together, they create a spiritual mindset that leads to inner stillness and evolution.
When the storms of life come — and they always do — awareness, self-honesty, and detachment give us the strength to stay rooted in peace. This is how transformation begins: not outside, but within.
Reflection: What small step of self-honesty or detachment can you take today to shift your mindset toward greater awareness?
Have you ever wondered how something as simple as a flower can teach you about life? This blog is inspired by the Golden Lotus Sutra from Beyond the Mind by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui (GMCKS). He beautifully says, “You can achieve illumination by looking at a flower…”
When you really open your eyes and heart, you start seeing God in nature — in the petals of a flower, the whisper of the wind, the warmth of the sun.
“The same finger can be used to point at different things. So it is with words. Don’t look at the finger. Look at what the finger is pointing to.”
Seeing God in Nature — When the Student Is Ready
In my last blog, I shared the idea, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” This time, your guide is not a person — it’s a flower.
If you look closely, you’ll see that seeing God in nature is one of the simplest ways to feel connected to something greater than yourself. Nature is full of quiet teachers waiting to show you the truth — you just have to be ready to see them.
If you are open, even a tiny ant or a busy bee can show you how to work hard, stay focused, and help others. As they say, when your heart is ready to learn, the whole world becomes your classroom.
A Flower Proves the Existence of God
So, what can a flower really teach us? GMCKS writes in his book The Existence of God is Self Evident that nature is like God’s factory. A flower is made of simple things — water, air, sunlight, earth, and tiny minerals. But here’s the amazing part: give all these to the best scientists in the world, and they still can’t make a real flower from scratch.
This is why seeing God in nature can feel so powerful. A flower is simple, yet it holds a miracle. It reminds us that there is an invisible, intelligent force behind life — something beyond what science alone can explain.
How to Meditate on a Flower
If you want to feel this truth for yourself, try meditating on a flower. Sit quietly and look at its colors, its tiny patterns, its softness. Mull on how something so delicate can come from earth and sunlight.
When you do this, you may feel your mind calming down. Slowly, you feel a quiet connection to something bigger — this is what GMCKS means when he says you can achieve illumination by looking at a flower. In that peaceful moment, you are seeing God in nature with your own eyes and heart.
Keep Looking — Your Guides are always around
A flower is just one small part of nature’s magic. The same life force is in the trees, the breeze, the rain, and even inside you. When you open your heart, you start seeing God in nature all the time — not just in big things but in the smallest details.
The next time you see a flower, remember — be the student who is ready. Look deeper, sit quietly, and see the truth hidden in the petals.
This blog is inspired by the Golden Lotus Sutra by GMCKS. May you keep seeing God in nature — one flower, one breath, one peaceful moment at a time.
Have you ever heard the saying, “When the student is ready the teacher appears”?
It means that life is always ready to teach us something — if we are ready to learn. This blog is inspired by the Golden Lotus Sutra from Beyond the Mind by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui (GMCKS), who reminds us not to get stuck in words, but to look deeper at what they really mean.
One of his teachings says:
“The same finger can be used to point at different things. So it is with words. Don’t look at the finger. Look at what the finger is pointing to.”
When the Student Is Ready the Teacher Appears — Lessons Are Everywhere
When the student is ready the teacher appears. But many times, we miss the teachers around us.
Why? Because we expect them to look a certain way — like a wise old guru, or a fancy book, or a famous person. But the truth is, life can teach us through anyone or anything.
If you are open, even a tiny ant or a busy bee can show you how to work hard, stay focused, and help others. As they say, when your heart is ready to learn, the whole world becomes your classroom.
Don’t Get Stuck in Words
Sometimes, people get stuck in the words of a teaching. They hold on to metaphors like they are the final truth, instead of looking at the deeper meaning behind them. GMCKS explains this beautifully in the Golden Lotus Sutra — don’t stare at the finger; see what the finger is pointing to.
It’s like reading a signboard. The signboard is not the destination — it only points the way.
Don’t Judge the Messenger
Another reason we miss lessons is because we judge where the lesson comes from. Maybe we don’t like the person saying it. Or we think, “Who are they to teach me anything?” But remember, when the student is ready the teacher appears — not always as the person you expect.
If you only listen to people you like, you might miss an important truth just because it came from someone you don’t agree with. Real learning means looking at what is being said, not who is saying it.
Use Discernment — Look Deeper
So how do we know what to accept and what to ignore? This is where discernment comes in. Discernment means thinking deeply, testing what you hear, and seeing if it feels true in your heart. If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, let it go.
The Golden Lotus Sutra reminds us that real wisdom is not about blind belief. It’s about understanding the truth behind the words and living it in your life.
Your Teacher Is Waiting — Are You Ready?
When the student is ready the teacher appears. So maybe the question is — are you ready? Are you ready to listen, even when the lesson comes from a place you did not expect? Are you ready to look beyond words and find the real meaning?
Every moment, life is pointing at something important. Don’t just look at the finger — see what it is showing you.
When your mind and heart are open, the teacher is always there.
If you’re here, you’re probably looking for a meditation to reduce stress and anxiety — a way to calm your mind, quiet your worries, and feel more peaceful every day. You’re not alone. Millions of people search for ways to manage stress and anxiety, but few know that the answer can be simple, science-backed, and free.
This is where Meditation on Twin Hearts comes in — a time-tested meditation to reduce stress and anxiety that works gently yet powerfully, using the Law of Karma to help you feel lighter, clearer, and even luckier.
Why Meditation on Twin Hearts is Powerful for Stress and Anxiety
Meditation on Twin Hearts (MTH), Meditation on Twin Hearts (MTH), developed by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, is a powerful and renowned practice that not only accelerates spiritual growth but also helps reduce stress and anxiety. A key aspect of this meditation is the activation of two major energy centers.
- The Heart Chakra (personal love)
- The Crown Chakra (universal love)
When you do Meditation on Twin Hearts, you silently bless the entire world with peace, and with loving-kindness. In doing so, you are blessed with a downpour of spiritual energies, which naturally sweep away the energetic “dirt” that fuels stress and anxiety, leaving you with a calm mind and a clearer heart.
How This Meditation to Reduce Stress and Anxiety is Proven by Science
So, what does science say about this special meditation?
- Improves Brain Clarity:
In a study — The Effects of Meditation on Twin Hearts on P300 Values — 12 non-meditators and 12 experienced meditators showed clearer, faster brain responses after practicing MTH, proving that this besides reducing stress and anxiety, it also sharpens your mind.
2. Real-Life Results:
Another study — Nursing Students’ Experiences of Meditation on Twin Hearts — showed that nursing students felt calmer, healthier, and kinder after an 8-week MTH practice, reporting less stress and better emotional balance.
It Even Generates Good Luck
Here’s the best part: Meditation on Twin Hearts works with the Law of Karma. When you bless the world, you plant good seeds — so peace, clarity, and good fortune naturally return to you.
Free Guided Sessions — Anytime
Want to try this powerful meditation to reduce stress and anxiety? Here’s a list of free daily sessions you can join from home:
You May Also Like
If you want more ways to calm your mind and emotions, these may help:
- How to Control Your Mind: Taming the Monkey Within
- Fasting for Mental Clarity: Free Your Mind, Feed Your Soul
- Observe Your Thoughts and Emotions: The Path to Clarity and Calm
- Why is Meditation Difficult? Insights from Swami Rama & The Power of Twin Hearts Meditation
- How to Stop Overthinking and Reacting: Regain Clarity with Meditation
- Spiritual Practices to Control Emotions
You may read more about this meditation on this article published in “Times of India”
Share This — Generate Good Karma
If this helps you, share it with someone who might need a calm mind too. You’ll bless them — and bless yourself.
May you be calm. May you be clear. May you be blessed.
Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I?”
It’s such a simple question, yet so big that many of us spend our whole lives trying to answer it. Maybe you think you are your name, your job, your family, or even the things you own. But “Who am I?” goes much deeper than that.
There’s a beautiful line from the Golden Lotus Sutra, shared by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui in Beyond the Mind:
“Inner noise prevents you from knowing who you really are. Regulate your thoughts and emotions.”
This simple truth explains why we often struggle with the question “Who am I?”. The noise in our minds — all the restless thoughts and tangled emotions — hides the real answer.
Why Do We Get Lost in Labels?
From the time we are little, people give us labels — daughter, son, student, employee, father, mother. We also carry labels like our last name, the place we come from, or the groups we belong to.
Slowly, we start to believe this is all we are. Some people even think they are the house they live in, the car they drive, or the money they have. But deep down, all these things are temporary. They can change at any moment.
So, who am I really, if I am not my name, my job, my family, or my things?
The Inner Noise That Blocks the Answer
This is where that inner noise comes in. It’s the loud chatter in our heads that makes it hard to feel who we really are.
Every role, every label, every fear and doubt adds to this noise. For example:
- If you believe you must always be a “good student,” you may feel scared to fail.
- If you see yourself only as someone’s child, you may forget to see your own dreams.
- If you tie your worth to what you own, you may feel empty when it’s gone.
These thoughts and feelings pile up like static, covering your true self.
Finding Yourself Takes Time — Be Kind to Yourself
The Golden Lotus Sutra reminds us that to know ourselves, we first need to calm this noise by regulating our thoughts and emotions. This doesn’t mean you need to run away or become perfect overnight. Some say the journey to answer “Who am I?” can take lifetimes — so there’s no rush.
You can start with small steps. Notice your thoughts. Sit quietly for a few minutes each day. Let your emotions settle without reacting right away. When you do this, the noise slowly fades. And then, bit by bit, you begin to feel who you really are.
If you’d like help, check out our other blogs on developing inner peace and clarity
Think for yourself: How to break free from the heard mentality
Fasting for mental clarity: Free your mind, Feed your soul
Observe your thoughts and emotions – the path to clarity and calm
Self awareness and personal growth: the missing link in your reactions
How to control your mind: taming the monkey within
These blogs are full of simple ideas to help you find more peace within.
Take Your First Step Today
So, who am I?
You are not just your name, your roles, or your stuff. You are not the noise in your head. You are the quiet watcher beneath it all — calm, kind, and free.
Keep asking “Who am I?” — not to stress yourself out, but to remember that you are so much more than what the world sees. And every time you quiet your mind, you take one step closer to meeting your true self.
Meditation is widely celebrated for reducing stress, improving emotional health, and enhancing overall wellbeing. Yet, it’s important to recognize that the side effects of meditation are real and deserve attention. Just as physical detoxes can cause temporary discomfort before healing, meditation can bring suppressed emotions and psychological issues to the surface. This phenomenon has been documented in scientific studies, and it highlights the need for proper preparation before deep meditation.
In his profound book “Beyond the Mind: The Golden Lotus Sutras on Meditation,” Master Choa Kok Sui wrote:
“People in general are psychologically constipated. Before you do meditation, you must do cleansing to minimise psychological catharsis.”
This insight aligns with modern psychological research revealing that meditation can sometimes provoke negative experiences, especially without proper guidance or preparation.
What Are the Side Effects of Meditation?
For many beginners and even some seasoned meditators, it can be surprising to face the darker side of inner stillness. A 2017 review published in PLOS ONE by Lindahl and colleagues explored a range of meditation-related challenges among Western practitioners. The study found that meditation can sometimes trigger difficult emotional and psychological experiences such as:
- Surfacing of painful or unresolved emotions
- Heightened anxiety or restlessness
- Disruption in sleep patterns
- Emotional outbursts or mood swings
- Feelings of confusion or disorientation
These reactions, often referred to as “meditation-related difficulties” or “adverse effects,” do not mean the practice is inherently harmful. Rather, they suggest that meditation can bring subconscious material to the surface—and this emotional “detox” requires thoughtful preparation and support.
For beginners and those seeking a gentle yet powerful approach, Meditation on Twin Hearts is highly recommended. This guided meditation opens the heart and crown chakras, cleansing negative energy and promoting loving-kindness, which helps stabilize emotions during practice.
The Importance of Cleansing Before Meditation
Master Choa Kok Sui emphasized that energetic hygiene is as important as physical hygiene. For advanced spiritual practitioners, cleansing the emotional and mental bodies before meditation minimizes intense psychological catharsis, creating a safer and more balanced experience.
Some effective cleansing methods include:
- Physical exercises: There are certain simple exercises that help open up your meridians and joints, to enable free movement of energy.
- Pranic Psychotherapy: A technique within Pranic Healing shown to help release deep-seated emotional blockages.
- Self-Healing: Regular self-applied pranic healing balances the aura and chakras, fostering emotional stability.
- Salt Baths: Used to cleanse the energy body and reduce anxiety
- Forgiveness Practice: Scientifically linked to better emotional health and less stress (Toussaint et al., 2015).
- Breathing Techniques: Breathing techniques are shown to calm the nervous system and regulate emotions.
- Arhatic Yoga Purification Rituals: These comprehensive spiritual practices include physical exercises and energetic cleansing, minimizing inner turbulence during meditation. Read about Arhatic Yoga here)
- Chanting: Chanting “Om” or “Amen” also has a purifying effect and can be practised before meditating.
Think of these as preparing the mind and spirit, like sweeping the floor before a prayer.
The Path Forward: Cleansing + Meditation
Meditation is a doorway to inner peace and self-awareness—but only if the path is cleared. Skipping cleansing is like diving into deep waters without a life jacket.
If you’ve experienced anxiety or confusion after meditation, you’re not alone. These experiences indicate you are ready to release old baggage, but gradual and supported letting go is essential.
Before your next meditation session, pause and cleanse your inner space. The meditation experience post cleansing is totally worth it.
References:
- Lindahl, J. R., et al. (2017). The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists. PLOS ONE.
- Toussaint, L., et al. (2015). Forgiveness and health: A review of evidence and implications for practice. Springer.
