In his book “The Introduction to Gnosis”, Samael Aun Weor has written about an interesting meditation approach for conversing or strengthening connection with your Atman (Divine Spirit). It consists of relaxation, mental relaxation, and concentration. This approach combines an aspect of meditation on an ego practice which he taught as one of the main means to dissolve the egos, however in this practice here he uses this aspect to silence the mind. Here is what he has written:

“Lie down and remain calmly in bed. Open your arms and legs to the right and left to form the flaming five-pointed star. Relax your muscles properly. The process of relaxation is easy if combined with imagination.

Mental relaxation: once the relaxation of the physical body has been obtained, it is necessary to relax the mind. Mental relaxation is also obtained with the help of the imagination. Observe all the thoughts that come to mind, all the memories that assault you, all the worries, etc., and study them to find out their origin. The study of all this will reveal many things to you; it will make you get to know your defects, your errors, etc. In this manner, you will know how your “I,” your Ego, works. Analyze each defect. Try to comprehend each defect in all the levels of the mind, study each thought, memory or emotion that assaults you, comprehend each thought. Then imagine a profound abyss and throw each studied thought, each memory, worry, etc., into that abyss. In this manner, your mind will remain silent and still. In the silence and quietude of the mind you will be able to see and hear the Intimate. He is the Internal Master. He is your internal God.

Concentration: When the mind has achieved absolute quietude and silence, it can concentrate on the Intimate; this concentration is done with the help of prayer. Pray to your Intimate, try to converse with the Intimate. Remember that praying is conversing with God. You can pray without formula, that is to say, talk to God; tell Him what your heart feels with infinite love.”

I find this approach to meditation interesting in that how it uses the thought analysis and then discarding them to abyss, in order to reach the silent and  serene state of mind. It is, however,  relatively advance type of meditation, because it involves an ability to detach from thoughts and emotions, in order that the thought analysis is done with consciousness, rather than going into it with the mind. The way this is done is to simply observe your thoughts and emotions with intention to reach a deeper meaning behind them, such as why they’re there, what is their origin etc., but without using the thinking process (so not to involve the mind). Rather, the consciousness should always be the one that is observing and guiding the stages of meditation. It is not a difficult thing if you are used to meditation on an ego practice or if you have more experience with forms of meditation that involve observation, such as the Vipassana meditation.

And so when the thought is observed and analyzed in such a way, then you simply drop it in the emptiness of the mind, into the abyss. This letting go of the thoughts and emotions can be very helpful to remain more and more peaceful, to gradually see oneself (one true self, the consciousness) as a living void, a living empty space, which is our true nature. From there, you can ask a question to your Divine Spirit (Atman), which is a part of you that is behind your soul (also referred to as the Intimate or the Innermost).

It can be a blissful experience to rest in that space, invoking Atman through a prayer or a calling, and then feeling the presence of something greater. Once in that state of consciousness, you can ask your Spirit anything you want to know, or converse with him in any way you feel is suitable. If you ask a question, remember that answers do not always have to come as words. Often it can arrive as a feeling, as an understanding, or as a higher type of knowing, which can be unlike anything you have so far experienced. This part of ourselves (Divine Spirit) is present within through our consciousness, but is truly and fully incarnated on the path to awakening, when it merges with us, and we feel ourselves one with it.