"The Power of Your Subconscious Mind"
A Book Review, and meditation interview, with Dennis Reffner
Meditation How: This book was written in the 60’s?
Dennis: The book came out in 1963.
Meditation How: I have heard you refer to this book in passing, so what I would like to ask you is what fascinates you most about it.
Dennis: The subconscious mind is fascinating to me, partly because I can’t get a handle on what it really is. What is this mind? And how can we learn to open up to it? The author, Joseph Murphy, gives it the attributes of infinite wisdom, infinite power, and infinite supply. He points to the duality of our mind, with each part having separate and distinct attributes and powers. The conscious, and subconscious, or the surface self, and the deep self, or the voluntary and the involuntary.
He goes on to give an analogy that is quite useful: that your mind is like a garden, and you are a bit like a gardener, planting seeds (thoughts) into your subconscious mind all day long. The thoughts we plant all day give us a harvest. I am reminded of the opening lines of the Dhammapada, the sayings of the Buddha. “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with an impure mind, and trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.”
Meditation How: How do you feel that this material compares to, for example the Hick’s or Louise L. Hays’ material on programming ourselves or sending messages to the “cosmic kitchen”?
Dennis: There are an amazing amount of similarities. I think they are all talking about the same thing, just using slightly different language and emphasis. Your subconscious mind will accept whatever ideas you feed it through your thoughts and emotions, providing you really believe what you are thinking. And you may not believe it, at first. But repeating something to yourself, over and over, easily, seems to gradually shift your beliefs. I practiced with the simple saying, “wealth and prosperity.”
For a few minutes, it didn’t do much, but after a while I felt my “vibration” began to gradually shift, and I started to feel more and more aligned with the truth of wealth and prosperity. I could start to really feel what wealth was, in a way that was much more intimate. It was like it was gradually becoming real for me. Now, I haven’t won the lottery, or become wealthy, but I can see how this changes your mindset. Keep affirming, and it is much, much more likely to become a reality in your own experience.
Now, can you believe your subconscious mind will take these affirmations (or prayers) and somehow bring things, or people, or synchronicitiy into your life. I can believe it. Murphy lists two reasons that you may fail in getting results: Lack of confidence, and too much effort. You can’t coerce your subconscious mind. You may repeat over and over “I am now living in abundance and prosperity”, but if deep down you don’t feel that way, deep down you feel and believe you are hanging on by a thread, then your are sending conflicting messages.
So one thing to watch for is what are you saying, feeling, and believing the other 23 hours of the day when not affirming what you would like to manifest? The Hicks’ speak of going “downstream”, Murphy says, “easy does it”. Your intellect will try and get in the way, try to force the issue, but Murphy says to persist in maintaining a simple, childlike, miracle-making faith. Cut out the red tape from the process. The simple way is best. He also quotes the bible, Matthew 7:7 ” Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Meditation How: Did you find it an easy-to-read book, and would you recommend it to seekers?
Dennis: This book is quite easy to read, and I found it very enjoyable. The author has a clear understanding of his subject, and writes with passion! I would recommend it.
About Dennis: Dennis lives in Northern Colorado and is a long time student of Zen and eastern thought. He is also a certified Yoga Instructor. He is an avid reader of books on the subjects of self-realization, and mindfulness.