Such problems we face in our modern world arise from a lack of true life meaning. The pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain are not only motivators of human activity. The search for meaning is a vitally important element of a healthy human life.

Of course, a lack of meaning is very easy to develop. We live in a society where social competition among multitudes of people in our everyday lives can overwhelm us. Those who suffer and die around globe teach us that regard for human life is a priority. The myriad ways in which we are treated like statistics leads us to believe that we are unimportant.

Meditation is a sacred practice. Shamans, gurus, priests, medicine men and other wise beings have practiced meditation for over 5000 years. In 20th century, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi popularized one form of meditation he named Transcendental Meditation, This is a simple form of mantra meditation, easy to learn and to do.

We meditate by sitting quietly, eyes open, and concentrating on an image such as a mandala, or a candle, or sitting with closed eyes, and, in either case, repeating a mantra. A mantra is not a word. A mantra is a sound. Different sounds, repeated over and over and over again, affect energies within body, each in its own way.

There are many ways to meditate. In most instances, you sit quietly. Teachers may recommend different postures. These include lotus position in which Buddha is often depicted. Diverse cultures recommend various deployments of fingers. (one example: thumbs and forefingers lightly touching, palms up.)

When we meditate, we slow down our brain waves. We change them from beta state, (22 cycles per second in normal waking consciousness) to alpha state (11 cycles per second.)

This slower vibration opens up access to subconscious mind. The subconscious mind, in turn, opens awareness of our otherwise inaccessible higher consciousness. To higher consciousness as well as to universal intelligence.

2. Divine Essence: