In The Healing Power of Mind: Simple Meditation Exercises for Health, Well-Being, and Enlightenment, Tulku Thondup offers the following explanation of the importance of connecting with a visualized “source of power,” as an integral component of healing meditations:

“For most healing meditations, it is very important to rely on a blessing or energy from a “source of power” as an aid in transforming suffering.

The source of power is a tool -- a skillful means -- that can arouse the energy and wisdom within us for healing. A Buddhist could use the image, presence, and blessing energy of a spiritual divinity, such as the Buddha. Others might rely on any vision of God or sacred image according to their own belief. The source of power could be any positive form, nature, essence, or force -- the sun, moon, space, water, a river, the ocean, air, fire, trees, flowers, people, animals, light, sound, smell, taste -- any aspect of energy that one finds inspiring and healing. For example, one could visualize in the sky a bright, pure, shining ball of light and imagine it as the pure essence of the universe and the embodiment of all healing energies.

Generally, forms of spiritual beings (such as Buddha, the Blessed Virgin, Lord Krishna, or the Mother Goddess) are more effective than ordinary forms, as they express and embody the ultimate peace and joy of the universal truth. However, the best source of power for you is the one that you yourself feel most comfortable with: any visualized image or presence that inspires warmth, peace, and positive energy.

After determining a source of power, it is important to spend many days, before we begin to train in this meditation, reflecting upon the source of power and establishing a link with its energy. Later, when practicing the actual healing exercises (as explained in the second part of this book), we should renew the connection to its energy by visualizing, experiencing, and trusting it.

If imagining a particular source of power causes tightness, narrowness, and stress, then eve if it is a true divine object, we are regarding it in the wrong way, with a mind of attachment based on confusion and self-grasping, and it will not help us ease our problems. On the other hand, even when we have found something that feels right for us, it is okay to change it, depending on our needs and spiritual or emotional growth.

When we connect with the source of power we should feel and embrace the peace and energy it gives us. With the right attitude, any object can become tremendously powerful .....

Some people may think they are too sophisticated to rely on an image to help them. They may feel that any image or visualization would be something ‘made up’ that is external to themselves; but on the contrary, the use of imagery actually help us draw upon untapped strength that we already possess. What we choose as the form or image of the source of power doesn’t matter so much, because it is really our own inner wisdom that we are contacting. What matters is our confidence in and openness to this wisdom, as a celebration of the true nature of the universe. In cultivating a source of power, we ease the narrow, rigid attitudes and feelings that are creating many problems for us, and develop a positive mind that is open to healing.

If the source of power brings a feeling of warmth, peace, and strength to us when we visualize it, we have made it ours. Now we can apply its power to heal our emotional, mental, and spiritual difficulties, and to develop strength of mind.”

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Of Related Interest:

* How Does Visualization Work?
* Visualization Practice & The Three Natures Of Existence
* Body Of Tao, Body Of Visions

Taoist Visualization Practices

* Snow Mountain - Our Energetic Root
* Moon On Lake Visualization
* White Skeleton Visualization
* Flower Gazing - Taoist Visualization
* Heaven In The Palm Of Your Hand