Hi Everyone....
This has been a "strange" week for me and my studies. In attempting to concentrate with my homework, I have found myself distracted, unfocused and even a little anxious. So, what better time than to try to the meditation practice to see if I can bring myself back into balance? Finally I have the house to myself, it is quiet and there will be no interruptions.
I began listening to the meditation practice and envisioned an individual that I have always thought to be my "wise one" - my grandmother. It was wonderful to close my eyes, relax and bring her image into my mind. Her kindness, her love, her wisdom and her smile, all helped me to focus on the exercise. I still had points where I would drift away from the actual exercise of feeling the white energy from her to me through the mind, throat and heart, but those side thoughts were still of my grandmother and all she had brought to my world. She has been gone 20 years now, but she is still my "wise one". Through this exercise, as well as many of the others we have practiced, I did feel a sense of calm come over me. In particular with my grandmother, I felt a sense of warmth and definitely her loving kindness entering me and circulating. I believe if I truly want to practice and master loving kindness, thoughts of her and this exercise would be key. As I am writing this I no longer feel anxious and unsettled. I am feeling more balanced and calm.
Regarding the text quote "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself", I believe this relates and applies to the health and medical community to look to themselves for where they are relating to their own integral health. If they themselves are not advocates of or understand the importance of the mind, body, spirit connection how can they hope to understand and help those who come to them for healing? By implementing this themselves, they can come to understand its importance and truly help integrate it with their medical practice and begin the total healing process.
Sandy
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Week 6 Blogging Exercises
Hello Everyone!
The first part of our exercise this week dealt with the Loving Kindness exercises on page 93 of the Dacher book. I tried this exercise several times before I got comfortable with it. I think I like the guided exercises better in some ways because they "nudge" you through, can bring you back when your mind wanders, and help you to stay with it easier. Initially the difficulty I had was remembering all four lines to repeat over in my mind. I actually had to break them down and take them one at a time, because my mind would wander and I would forget the phrase. This meant I would have to open my eyes, re-read the phrase and start over again. It was very start/stop at first. Eventually I was able to perform the exercise and can see how it would be very helpful in shifting towards universal loving-kindness.
For the second part of our exercise and the integral assessment process, I found this to be one that I will definitely need to keep working on and will be an ongoing process. I was able to identify some areas that I can start working on right away, such as I know that my body needs help both nutritionally (I really need to eat more balanced meals) and my fitness program needs to be taken up a notch. Spiritually I would like to get back into the habit of going to church and this is definitely an area in my life that is ready for growth and development.
Sandy
The first part of our exercise this week dealt with the Loving Kindness exercises on page 93 of the Dacher book. I tried this exercise several times before I got comfortable with it. I think I like the guided exercises better in some ways because they "nudge" you through, can bring you back when your mind wanders, and help you to stay with it easier. Initially the difficulty I had was remembering all four lines to repeat over in my mind. I actually had to break them down and take them one at a time, because my mind would wander and I would forget the phrase. This meant I would have to open my eyes, re-read the phrase and start over again. It was very start/stop at first. Eventually I was able to perform the exercise and can see how it would be very helpful in shifting towards universal loving-kindness.
For the second part of our exercise and the integral assessment process, I found this to be one that I will definitely need to keep working on and will be an ongoing process. I was able to identify some areas that I can start working on right away, such as I know that my body needs help both nutritionally (I really need to eat more balanced meals) and my fitness program needs to be taken up a notch. Spiritually I would like to get back into the habit of going to church and this is definitely an area in my life that is ready for growth and development.
Sandy
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Week 5 Blogging Exercise: The Subtle Mind
Hello Everyone!
This weeks exercise was a much more positive experience than last weeks of Loving Kindness. I found it so much easier to focus on breathing in and out, using my nose as the focal point. I could feel the air come through and then feel it release back out. The sounds of the waves coming in and out were much less distracting for me, and frankly less annoying than I found them to be with the Loving Kindness exercise. I had an easier time pushing the random thoughts aside during the Subtle Mind exercise as opposed to trying to bring in thoughts (especially the pain or anger ones) with the Loving Kindness exercise.
Throughout the Subtle Mind exercise I felt myself more relaxed, yet more in tune to the mind, spirit, and body experience. In letting go of the random thoughts, I was able to "feel" and visualize the softness of waves moving in and out as if on the shore, or maybe comparing it to feeling like clouds were gentling moving. Another visual was one of a whirlpool. When pushing away the thoughts and visuals, it still "felt" as if there was a gentle swirling sensation.
What was also interesting was that at one point during the exercise one of my dogs jumped into my lap. At some level I knew he was there, but contrary to what I normally do (acknowledge, pat his head, etc.), this time I was just able to keep myself in my mind. I didn't automatically reach out to scratch his head, or even acknowledge his presence. It was as if I was able to push that thought away too. My hands just stayed relaxed my lap, and eventually I knew he had jumped back off the chair, but again, it was a thought that was easily pushed away.
Overall this exercise for me was much easier. I truly struggled with my attempts at the Loving Kindness exercise last week each time I attempted it. I believe the connection of the Subtle Mind exercise for me would be much more integral for my overall wellness and could be easier to integrate. It is something that could easily be done in small periods of time and in various locations.
This weeks exercise was a much more positive experience than last weeks of Loving Kindness. I found it so much easier to focus on breathing in and out, using my nose as the focal point. I could feel the air come through and then feel it release back out. The sounds of the waves coming in and out were much less distracting for me, and frankly less annoying than I found them to be with the Loving Kindness exercise. I had an easier time pushing the random thoughts aside during the Subtle Mind exercise as opposed to trying to bring in thoughts (especially the pain or anger ones) with the Loving Kindness exercise.
Throughout the Subtle Mind exercise I felt myself more relaxed, yet more in tune to the mind, spirit, and body experience. In letting go of the random thoughts, I was able to "feel" and visualize the softness of waves moving in and out as if on the shore, or maybe comparing it to feeling like clouds were gentling moving. Another visual was one of a whirlpool. When pushing away the thoughts and visuals, it still "felt" as if there was a gentle swirling sensation.
What was also interesting was that at one point during the exercise one of my dogs jumped into my lap. At some level I knew he was there, but contrary to what I normally do (acknowledge, pat his head, etc.), this time I was just able to keep myself in my mind. I didn't automatically reach out to scratch his head, or even acknowledge his presence. It was as if I was able to push that thought away too. My hands just stayed relaxed my lap, and eventually I knew he had jumped back off the chair, but again, it was a thought that was easily pushed away.
Overall this exercise for me was much easier. I truly struggled with my attempts at the Loving Kindness exercise last week each time I attempted it. I believe the connection of the Subtle Mind exercise for me would be much more integral for my overall wellness and could be easier to integrate. It is something that could easily be done in small periods of time and in various locations.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Another attempt at loving kindness exercise
Hello Everyone!
Today I took just a portion of the loving kindness exercise and practiced it again. This morning I found myself at the hospital with my daughter who is 21. She needed outpatient surgery and we spent the better part of the day in an emotional and at times scary state of mind. When we first got her there and were waiting for her surgery, I just kept thinking about the classes I have taken on relaxation, breathing and calming my mind. I didn't allow any negative thoughts to enter my head, kept myself calm, and let the events unfold.
After the surgery when she was in the period of observation before going home, I really could feel all the love for her and drew that emotion into my heart. I concentrated on trying to draw in her pain, wanting to neutralize it in my heart, and then pushing back the warm, calming effect to ease her. Honestly, I don't know if it worked or not, but there definitely was a "quietness" that we felt. At one point she was able to nod off and just rest, and this was before any pain medication was administered (she was too sick to her stomach to add pain meds on top of it).
Just thought I would share. I am trying to keep an open mind about all we are learning in this class! Maybe the key for me is to take some of these harder exercises a little part at a time. More to come... and share... in future weeks I'm sure!
Sandy
Today I took just a portion of the loving kindness exercise and practiced it again. This morning I found myself at the hospital with my daughter who is 21. She needed outpatient surgery and we spent the better part of the day in an emotional and at times scary state of mind. When we first got her there and were waiting for her surgery, I just kept thinking about the classes I have taken on relaxation, breathing and calming my mind. I didn't allow any negative thoughts to enter my head, kept myself calm, and let the events unfold.
After the surgery when she was in the period of observation before going home, I really could feel all the love for her and drew that emotion into my heart. I concentrated on trying to draw in her pain, wanting to neutralize it in my heart, and then pushing back the warm, calming effect to ease her. Honestly, I don't know if it worked or not, but there definitely was a "quietness" that we felt. At one point she was able to nod off and just rest, and this was before any pain medication was administered (she was too sick to her stomach to add pain meds on top of it).
Just thought I would share. I am trying to keep an open mind about all we are learning in this class! Maybe the key for me is to take some of these harder exercises a little part at a time. More to come... and share... in future weeks I'm sure!
Sandy
Friday, January 6, 2012
Week 4 Blogging Exercise!
Loving Kindness Excercise: Wow, this was difficult for me. I can totally understand why it is recommended that this be practiced over and over again. At this point, the exercise was overall not a positive experience or successful.
My first attempt (and there were several!) was a struggle. I had to trouble keeping my mind from wandering during the exercise and at times found the background noise of the waves hitting the shore very distracting, as well as the occasional instrumental playing. On my third or fourth attempt with the exercise, I was able to embrace the and bring into my mind and heart a person that I have always felt great love and tenderness towards, my grandmother. At first it was difficult because she passed away several years ago, so it was hard to get past the feelings of sorrow of the loss, and concentrate only on the warmth and love of her. Finally though I was able to feel the warmth fill me and turn it inward in my heart and enjoy the light and swirling sensations.
Trying to reconcile with bringing in the pain of another, dissolving it within the heart, and then releasing back to that person the health and happiness was even more difficult for me. I imagined breathing in the physical pain my daughter must be feeling due to her need to have a cyst removed. This was a very heavy heart feeling and it seemed like I couldn't relax and just breath through it, I could feel my chest just tightening. A little frightening. More frightening though was the visualization of bringing in all the pain of a group of people. I found this truly difficult, and am not comfortable at all with this part of the exercise.
The mental workout involved in this exercise was certainly tasking. It will take much practice to be able to fully embrace the activity of this exercise to turn it into being beneficial towards my psychological health and therefore integrating it into overall better health.
My first attempt (and there were several!) was a struggle. I had to trouble keeping my mind from wandering during the exercise and at times found the background noise of the waves hitting the shore very distracting, as well as the occasional instrumental playing. On my third or fourth attempt with the exercise, I was able to embrace the and bring into my mind and heart a person that I have always felt great love and tenderness towards, my grandmother. At first it was difficult because she passed away several years ago, so it was hard to get past the feelings of sorrow of the loss, and concentrate only on the warmth and love of her. Finally though I was able to feel the warmth fill me and turn it inward in my heart and enjoy the light and swirling sensations.
Trying to reconcile with bringing in the pain of another, dissolving it within the heart, and then releasing back to that person the health and happiness was even more difficult for me. I imagined breathing in the physical pain my daughter must be feeling due to her need to have a cyst removed. This was a very heavy heart feeling and it seemed like I couldn't relax and just breath through it, I could feel my chest just tightening. A little frightening. More frightening though was the visualization of bringing in all the pain of a group of people. I found this truly difficult, and am not comfortable at all with this part of the exercise.
The mental workout involved in this exercise was certainly tasking. It will take much practice to be able to fully embrace the activity of this exercise to turn it into being beneficial towards my psychological health and therefore integrating it into overall better health.
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