ARE WE MANIFESTING?
Manifestation practices of modern times have been around for as long as there has been story telling amongst humans. Keeping that in mind, one would naturally wonder, is it possible to control reality with intentional focus and desire? Or is it that life is happening in a sequence of events that are going to happen rather you focus on them or not?
ORIGINS OF MANIFESTATION CONCEPTS
Spanning across multiple cultures, religions, and continents, there is some mention of the mind’s ability or a connection between the mental state and one’s personal life experience.
- HINDUISUM: The Hindu text The Upanishads speak of the mind’s ability to shape reality through focused desire. Hinduism’s concepts on Karma (action & reaction) and Sankalpa (intention) state that action and intention can influence or alter one’s life path.
- BUDDHISM: Buddhism emphasizes on the mind’s ability to shape experiences and reality. Mindful meditation that targets one’s inner focus is believed to transform the external circumstances.
- HERMETICISM: Hermeticism is the philosophy authored by Hermes Trismegistus and is centered on the statement, “As above, so below,” meaning outer world reflects your inner world. Our thoughts and intentions shape our external world.
- ANCIENT EGYPT: The common practice of declaring an envisioning outcome was a part of Ancient Egyptian culture.
- THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE: The Christian bible has several passages that have been interpreted to be references to the modern-day definition of manifestation. (Matthew 7:7) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you find.” Both old and new testaments present the idea that faith and belief can change reality.
The mind’s ability to influence external circumstances has been a strong belief around the world; that much is evident. What could all these different religions and philosophies be speaking of? Say the phenomenon is possible. If possible, what in the brain and mind of the human makes it possible? Or is it that the intention we think to be our very own is no such thing, but rather some preset designation within the mind that we are born with? What if what we perceive to be choice is actually intended to encourage and guide. Motivating you to pursue a certain outcome that was always intended to happen. Leaving one illusioned to believe in what we think is choice but was really always out of our hands from the moment we born. One concept that resonates with this theory very closely is the Vedic description of Sankalpa.
SANKALPA
SANKALPA: Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning intention or resolve. This intention is said to be aligned with the individual’s inner purpose. The process for aligning with your Sankalpa would lead one to believe it was already waiting behind a door, and one just had to knock. The real question would be, where did the inspiration to knock, or change, come from? If the path is preset, then your whole life has been happening without the possibility of chance or the option of choice. Or is it a little of both, cleverly blended by universal creation? Or maybe it’s inspired choices that align you with a predestined outcome, an outcome that has multiple possible paths that inevitably lead to it?
WAYS TO ALIGN WITH YOUR SANKALPA
There are different forms of yoga geared towards uncovering or identifying one’s innermost desires. The process consists of an inner analysis of what you’re really after and how that resonates with your current position and trajectory. Enacting Sankalpa is a process of meditation or personal reflection that uncovers one’s true desires, and if pursued, leads one to their true life calling. The very fact that you are interested in a change that will be life altering is what really needs to be examined. Our interests come from a place deep within our subconscious. The true depth of ability hidden within the subconscious mind is unknown to modern science. What is known is that the subconscious holds who we truly are and knows all our underlying truths whether we are conscious of them or not. Everything we will need to be the best version of ourselves is already within us.
MODERN MANIFESTATION AND SANKALPA
Life has a way of teaching us through experience. Whether you’re applying manifestation techniques or pursuing your Sankalpa, a change from your current state will be needed. The path to that change is full of lessons that influence you and cause a shift within yourself or even the world around you. What is your reason for being interested in changing your life? For the change to take place, focus and intention are going to be what gets you there. Whatever title or label you want to call the process of change, change takes commitment. For some, changing your personal reality is going to take them down a path that causes them to look inward. This inward path will allow you to illuminate and change the things about you that are keeping you from achieving your goals.
The process of change is full of truths, and these truths are how your subconscious views you. Your daily self-talk is your opinion. Pair that with your emotional reaction and you have a recipe for perception, and perception is your reality. How we view and interpret the world is monitored by the subconscious. The subconscious stays at the task of aligning us with what we’re perceiving. For example, if you have a negative perception of the world around you, then your subconscious will align you with the negative that it perceives you to be interested in. Sankalpa and manifestation both call for you to organize your mind in a way that tells your subconscious that you’re interested in encouraging change in your life. Sincerity is key to get the ball rolling on any change that is going to materialize in the 3D or physical world. Whatever your desire is, according to manifestation and Sankalpa, you must become a fitting vessel to receive your desire. The path to becoming a fitting vessel will surely make your life more interesting than it was before starting the path towards the change.
THE AUTHOR’S EXPERIENCE WITH SANKALPA/MANIFESTATION
My personal experience with manifestation has led to some unique changes within me that I believe would not have taken place had I not started trying to apply modern manifestation techniques. The Sankalpa philosophy has led me to understand and uncover a situation within my mind that has put me down a path of immense improvement and growth.
Whether we have the ability to change reality or not, whether you’re content with your current circumstances or not, the practice of manifestation and Sankalpa, when approached for positive reasons, will bring out the best you possible. Could this life be meant to improve as much as possible before we move on to whatever is next? Are our lives cleverly organized to lead us to believe it’s happening by chance or do we have some say at playing the odds? Following the second narrative, for any change to happen, you would have to become the person that would naturally have the thing you are seeking. For some, the path towards that goal is going to be life-changing in ways that make their life more fulfilling.
Is it possible that we are on this journey to manifest a certain life in this world whether we like or understand it? The origin story of the Hindu god Lord Brahma is similar. He was tasked with creating the universe but didn’t know how to at first. However, after time and instruction from within, he created the entire universe. Are we all just setting out from birth to create our own mini universal situation, guided from within by something far superior to us?
CHECK AND SEE
Start by lightly stretching out your body. Find a comfortable sitting position somewhere quiet. Place the fingertips of both your hands together while keeping them spread apart and relaxed. It is very important to breathe with an intention towards relaxation. Inhale fully through your nose, then exhale through your mouth or nose (whichever you prefer), fully relaxing your stomach, shoulders, and all other parts of your body as much as possible. (Optional: place your tongue on the roof of your mouth). Close your eyes and continue to breathe with the intention of relaxing. Now, within your mind’s eye, count down from ten to one, counting the next number on every exhale while relaxing. Upon reaching one, if you’re not noticeably relaxed, repeat the process. Once relaxed, bring into your mind’s eye the experience of your ideal situation where you are content and fulfilled with the desired goal achieved. Don’t try to control what comes up. Approach your mind with the intention of viewing rather than controlling. Let your natural desires and imagination be the guide.
ALL SAID AND DONE!
Being honest with yourself and remaining focused are what it is going take to bring about change. Are you willing to change and do what’s necessary? The thing about what’s necessary is that it is going to call for you to go to a place that you haven’t been comfortable being for a long time probably. That place is within. You’re going to have to completely change and reframe your personal talk, the talk that is inside of your mind that only you can hear.
Your speech is going to have to align with that of someone of a content and grateful nature, the speech of someone faithful to the feeling of having already received. With or without a goal in mind, these simple adjustments will do wonders for you. Whether trying to manifest or not, self talk is the driving force of your experience in life. Even if things are happening out of our control, how you talk to yourself will only ensure you make the best or worse out of every situation.
