Do we listen enough? Are we missing “signs” on a daily basis because we are caught up in our 50,000 thoughts per day? What we all want is to feel happy – to have experiences that make us feel elated inside – pure joy.
"Happiness is a continuation of happenings which are not resisted." ~ Deepak Chopra
We very often live in this state of “resistance” or bracing ourselves from all of the “what-ifs” that can occur – according to the news, stories from acquaintances, friends, family. We often are one stage away from being in fight or flight mode. And so we are creating this existence that may not feel special very often. We have expectations of what our experiences should be, and we try to control our outcomes. And then we are disappointed that our lives are not what we want.
"The physical world, including our bodies, is a response of the observer. We create our bodies as we create the experience of our world."
Our Egoic minds are often in control, it dragging our bodies around, while our (eternal) spirit waits patiently. In order to bring depth into our experiences we must deepen our relationship with our spirit – by becoming silent and acknowledging who and what our inner spirit is. Learning about ourselves, by going beyond the realm of our ego – and seeing what we may learn – through feeling.
"Silence is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that come from knowing how to contact your core of inner silence." ~ Deepak Chopra
“Born from the recognition that all is suffering, meditation is this stopping, this passionate inward turn that thirsts for stillness, clarity, space and insight. The ancient angst of being human cannot be solved by thought alone, or by technology, or by any kind of cultural amusements. One must stop. One must take stock. One must look within, deeply, passionately, resolutely to see what, if anything, resides in the silence of a mind that has temporarily ceased talking to itself. If something is found, one can then make a gesture of appreciation. One may even discover the miracle of compassion.” – Rocco L Bosco, Author of Buddha Wept
Two Main Types of Meditation
There are two major forms of meditation: concentrative meditation and mindfulness meditation.
Concentration meditation focuses on a person's breathing and/or a single object- such as a sound or an image. By quietly focusing on the object and the breath, a person will find that his or her mind readily opens up to invite in peace and the body starts to relax.
With mindfulness meditation, we take on the role of an impartial observer of everything that passes before our attention. Our intention is not to be focused, but rather to be mindful, that is, to be fully aware and awake of what is going on in the present moment. Often the breath is still used as an anchor to the present moment in mindfulness meditation, but apart from that, no attempt is made to direct the attention.
Whatever thoughts, so called distractions, sounds, images, ideas, or feelings arise, nothing is excluded. Everything is welcomed. We simply pay attention to whatever is there. We do not judge or evaluate. Whatever happens, whatever occurs is okay – we just sit quietly and observe.
Mindfulness meditation can be applied to all experiences in life. Whatever is happening, we should not try to hold the experience outside ourselves. Mindfulness is about embracing reality and the present moment, whether we are working, running or enjoying a meal.
By P. Wilson, www.healthandyoga.com/html/news/theory/spm_dmy.asp
Breathing
Take three slow, deep, breaths; simple meditation breathing techniques use a count of eight for your inhalation, then hold the breath for the count of eight and exhale for the same. This keeps the breathing even and also gives your body an oxygen boost which relaxes you even further.
Guided Meditation
Begin with a series of three slow breaths using a count of eight for the inhalation and a count of 8 from the exhalation.
Now begin to be mindful of each part of your body. Begin with the crown of your head. And move your attention to your face, and all of the features on your face. Breathe and be mindful of the sensations on our face. Move down to your neck, and how it connects to your torso. Be mindful of your torso, how it feels, move your focus to your arms, your hands, your fingers. Breathe and be mindful of the sensations. Come back to your torso, and down to your pelvis. Breathe and be mindful of this part of your body. Move your focus to your thighs, to your knees to your shins and calves. Be mindful of the sensations in your legs. Breathe and feel the energy. Now move your awareness to your ankles, to your feet, to your toes. Be mindful of the sensations in this part of your body. Now bring your awareness from the bottoms of your feet back to the crown of your head. And do one more complete body scan from head to foot breathing, and feeling the Life force within your body.
Notice the gentle, subtle energy that flows within your body.
Imagine this inner Life Force as a glowing multi-colored energy field that spans through your entire body and spilling out beyond your body. Become aware of how this energy feels inside of you. As you breathe, you strengthen the intensity of this energy, and it feels warm, relaxing and fulfilling.
Now take the next series of moments to quietly be mindful of this feeling in your body. Remember to be freely observe of your experiences without attaching to any of them.
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