"This Week"
by the
Bahrain Meditation Centre
Bahrain Meditation Centre is administered by B.K.W.S.U. (visit: www.bkwsu.org.uk)



26th November, 2005

Impression and Expression

We are defined by our forms of expression and for each of us these are unique. The way we express ourselves tends to be the result of past impressions in our life. Impressions result from people or events that have influenced us deeply. When we are touched in a negative or positive way we are left with a mark, an impact – an impression - on the soul. And if we look at our family history we may find that certain traits from a relative have also made it into our own 'bag' of traits.



In fact, it would be true to say that the essence of life is to experience and express – 'impress' and 'express'. Yet how we use this formula makes all the difference to the quality of our lives. In this context we become creators of a vicious or virtuous cycle of experience. For example, positive impressions create positive expressions and vice versa.



As we repeat an action (or reaction) it becomes a habit. These habits create our personality and define us in the eyes of others. Through the process of reflection we not only begin to slow down our thoughts, and in consequence our actions, but this act of reflection allows us to understand ourselves, to pause and regain control of our actions and move away from reactions or from absorbing scenes against our will. We are then able to filter out what we want to deflect rather than be a sponge and 'soak it all up'. One of the best ways to discard negative expressions is to re-record over them with positive powerful impressions that is, create new habits through positive responses to the old stimuli.



Our conscience (damir in Arabic), is the gauge that helps us monitor which impressions to accept and which to reject. The conscience acts as a sieve, sorting out what is useful and what is waste. There is sorrow and regret only when there is something done against the conscience, that is, when the thought and what is etched on the soul do not tally. When we misuse our judgement we say that the conscience has fallen asleep and so needs an awakening – a nudge of some kind.



To awaken our conscience is more profound than simply knowing right from wrong; it is to take heed from our inner spiritual guide. Our conscience should give us an experience of peace not an intellectual judgement of our self. As we engage in reflection, we begin to awaken our conscience and knowingly take responsibility for our words and deeds by the power of our thoughts. As we understand this link and invest in reflection we take charge of the pen that writes our life story. And at the end of it all, we will be 'impressed' by our own reflection in the mirror.

Om Shanti
(I am a peaceful soul)



Tel: +973-17-712 545, meditate@batelco.com.bh, www.bahrainmeditationcentre.org