Inception: A Meditation on the Nature of Thoughts

With Explanation of the Technique and Step-by-Step Instructions

What You Will Learn From Reading & Practicing

1. Master the direct observation of thought origination, allowing you to witness the exact moment thoughts emerge in consciousness

2. Develop the ability to recognize and differentiate between native thoughts and external influences that "possess" your thinking

3. Learn practical techniques for intercepting harmful thought patterns before they manifest as speech or action

4. Gain powerful tools for maintaining mental sovereignty in daily life, from emotional regulation to breaking addictive cycles

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A Quick Note from The Cosmic Man Before We Start

This meditation is available free for all subscribers until Sunday 2/2/25, coinciding with the launch of the Spiritual Warfare 102 Class.

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Understanding Thought Inception: Why This Practice Matters

This meditation emerges from our work in the "Spiritual Warfare" classes, offering a practical approach to understanding and managing the forces that influence our consciousness. Its primary goal is to develop your ability to witness thoughts as they form in your mind, potentially revealing the very nature of thought origination itself.

When we speak of "possession" in these classes, we're addressing how thoughts can take control of our consciousness and behavior. This meditation teaches you to intercept these influences at their source, giving you choice over which thoughts to engage with and which to release. Consider these real-world scenarios:

Thinking Patterns A childhood trauma, such as a father's constant criticism, can "possess" your thought patterns. Without awareness, you might spend hours each day hypercritical of minor mistakes, real or perceived. This self-perpetuating cycle produces stress hormones, wastes mental energy, and literally shortens your lifespan through the constant replay of old wounds.

Speech Patterns Emotional possession through anger can overwhelm rational thought during arguments, leading to spiteful words that create lasting damage in relationships. Present-mind awareness serves as a guardian of your speech, preventing regrettable moments born from temporary possession.

Action Patterns Addictive behaviors demonstrate possession's progressive nature. Whether it's reaching for a drink or a cigarette, these urges begin as thoughts. By examining these thoughts at their inception, you create space for choice rather than compulsion.

The practice you're about to learn provides practical tools for recognizing and managing these forms of possession, restoring your agency over thought, speech, and action.

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Preparation for the Meditation

This meditation is best performed sitting or lying down. The key to preparing your mind for this meditation is to approach it with genuine curiosity rather than judgment or expectation. Just as you might prepare to watch an interesting film, cultivate a state of alert receptivity where you're ready to observe without getting caught up in the content.

Before beginning, take a moment to acknowledge that many of your thoughts may not be truly "yours," and that this recognition is not a failure but the beginning of sovereignty. Finally, remind yourself that you are not trying to stop or control thoughts, but rather to witness their inception — the moment they emerge from nothing into consciousness.

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Required Materials

• Quiet space

• Timer

• Journal or note-taking method

• Optional: meditation cushion or comfortable chair

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Supplementals

Supplementals are additional actions you can take to enhance the effects of the technique. Nutrition, planning, mantras, pre-meditations and more, can all help to increase the effectiveness of your practices.

Physical Enhancements

• Light exercise 30 minutes before practice

• Deep breathing exercises

• Progressive muscle relaxation

• Yoga or gentle stretching

Environmental Aids

• Essential oils (particularly frankincense, sandalwood, or lavender)

• Meditation cushion or ergonomic chair

• Soft background sounds (if preferred)

• Dim, natural lighting

Mental Preparation

• Pre-meditation mantras

• Brief mindfulness practice

• Intention setting ritual

• Review of previous session's insights

Nutritional Support

• Avoid heavy meals 2-3 hours before practice

• Consider adaptogens like holy basil or ashwagandha

• Maintain good hydration

• Limit stimulants before practice

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Recommended Exercise Duration

30-45 minutes total, broken into specific segments. If you’re just starting out or you can’t set aside that amount of time, it’s perfectly acceptable to do shorter durations. Our recommendation is meant to facilitate maximum results.

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The Exercise

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Phase 1: Preparation (5 minutes)

1. Find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed

2. Turn off all notifications and potential distractions

3. Assume a comfortable posture that allows alert awareness

4. Take 5 deep breaths to center yourself

5. State the intention: "I am here to observe where my thoughts come from"

Phase 2: Baseline Observation (10 minutes)

1. Close your eyes and maintain a relaxed but alert state

2. Notice thoughts as they arise without trying to control them

3. For each thought that appears, try to trace its origin by asking:

   • Did I consciously choose to think this?

   • Where did this thought come from?

   • What triggered this particular thought?

4. Don't judge or analyze - simply observe and note

5. Pay special attention to the moment just before each thought arises

Phase 3: Influence Mapping (10 minutes)

1. Open your eyes and take out your journal

2. Write down the last 3-5 significant thoughts you observed

3. For each thought, map potential influences:

   • Recent experiences

   • Past conditioning

   • Cultural programming

   • Biological needs

   • External pressures

   • Emotional states

4. Draw connection lines between influences and thoughts

5. Mark which influences feel "native" vs "foreign" to your core self

6. Mark which influences feel “positive” vs “negative”

Phase 4: Conscious Thought Generation (5 minutes)

1. Try to consciously generate a completely original thought

2. Notice the effort and process involved

3. Ask yourself:

   • Is this truly original?

   • Can I trace its components?

   • How much of this thought was truly "mine"?

Phase 5: Integration (10 minutes)

1. Review your observations and notes

2. Write responses to these questions:

   • What percentage of your thoughts seemed truly self-generated?

   • What external influences were most prominent?

   • Could you identify clear origins for any thoughts?

   • What surprised you about this exercise?

   • How much of your thinking feels "possessed" by external forces?

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Benefits of Continued Practice

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Immediate Benefits

• Enhanced awareness of thought patterns

• Reduced reactive thinking and behavior

• Improved emotional regulation

• Greater mental clarity and focus

• Increased present-moment awareness

Long-term Benefits

• Protection against harmful thought patterns

• Breaking of negative thinking cycles

• Enhanced emotional intelligence

• Greater resistance to addictive behaviors

• Improved relationship dynamics through better speech control

• Strengthened mental sovereignty

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Practical Applications

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Emotional Regulation

• Interruption of trauma-based thinking patterns

• Prevention of emotional escalation

• Recognition of triggering thoughts

• Management of anxiety and stress responses

Behavioral Control

• Early intervention in addictive urges

• Prevention of impulsive actions

• Better speech regulation in heated moments

• Improved decision-making processes

Mental Mastery

• Recognition of thought origins

• Differentiation between native and foreign thoughts

• Enhanced control over mental narratives

• Reduced influence of negative programming

Relationship Enhancement

• Prevention of reactive communications

• Better emotional boundaries

• Reduced impact of triggered responses

• Improved conflict resolution abilities

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Expanding the Technique

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Advanced Variations

• Repeat the exercise at different times of day

• Perform the exercise after media consumption

• Try it before and after emotional events

• Practice in different environments

• Do it before and after social interaction

Key Insights to Watch For

• The difficulty in finding true thought origins

• The pervasive nature of external influences

• The illusion of conscious thought generation

• The role of environmental and social "possession"

• The layers of influence on seemingly simple thoughts

Integration Questions

1. How does this change your understanding of mental sovereignty?

2. What percentage of your thoughts seem truly "yours"?

3. Which external influences have the strongest "possession" of your thinking?

4. How might you increase your awareness of thought origins?

5. What tools could help you maintain mental sovereignty?

Follow-up Practice

• Keep a thought origin journal for one week

• Note patterns in external influences

• Track times when you feel most/least mentally sovereign

• Document any techniques that help maintain clarity

• Practice distinguishing between native and foreign thoughts

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Remember: The goal isn't to eliminate external influences (impossible) but to become aware of them and develop better discernment and sovereignty over your mental space and how this effects your flow of consciousness, speech and actions. The practice becomes more effective over time as you develop greater awareness and control. Regular, consistent practice is more important than duration or perfection of technique.

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