by Donna Quesada: When I conducted my “Dream Interview” with Sufi Master Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan,
he also shared with me a very special and arcane meditation which brings us into closer connection with our true subtle nature, which is beyond the fleshly physical form. He said that this meditation is especially beneficial to those who are going through a “dark night of the soul” or troubled times, as it is none other than light that leads the way out of darkness.
He described the way he used to arise very early in the morning, when he was living in a cave in the Himalayas, to meditate on the otherworldly light that illuminates the horizon as the sun begins to make its first appearance of the day. He then explained that light is the bridge between the physical world and the ethereal, spiritual dimension that lies beyond our perception.
Here are the full instructions for the Sufi meditation on the realm of light:
Begin in Nature—
Begin by stepping outside, into nature. Walk a bit and take in the beauty. If this is not an option, sit next to a window where the light shines through. Bring your awareness onto the leaves or flowers, and focus on the way the light illuminates its essence. If possible, touch the leaves and flowers gently, while contemplating them in this way. Reflect on the fact that our very own physical bodies, like all matter, originated in an explosion of radiant light that originally crystallized into matter… “Like light that has jelled into liquid crystal.”
Meditative Posture—
Now, sitting in any meditative posture, close your eyes and imagine that you are staring directly into the light as it floods your whole being with brightness. Instead of covering up your eyes, as you normally would, to protect them, let yourself enjoy the stream of light. Concentrate on the light and allow it to bring you into ecstasy. Khan explains that this alone stirs up a distant soul memory of having originally come from the light prior to this incarnation… when we were but “formless luminosity.”
Focus on the Breath—
Next, we begin to involve the breath. As you inhale, imagine every pore in your body receiving the light. Let the breath go and do this a few times. Your whole body is becoming magnetic with the light, as you breathe it in deeply.
Then introduce a pause between inhaling and exhaling, where you imagine lighting up all the trillions of cells in your body as you hold the breath for a at least 10 seconds. With each suspension, see your cells glisten with light, just like the sea when the midday sun shines upon it and makes it sparkle with life. Your cells are now dancing with joy and delight, exulting in the ecstasy of illumination. This is pure energy. It is none other than Shiva’s Cosmic Dance.
Finally, as you exhale, see yourself radiating that light outward, into infinity… all the way to the stars.
Continue with this sequence of visualizations, letting your breath become more rhythmic, as you deepen your meditation.
Finally, Feel the aura of light surrounding you, like a cosmic whirlpool of light!
