Body and Mind are One - Meditation Day 23

Let us get back to discussing the synchronization of our bodies with our minds. We're not looking to develop some ascetic form of being. We have all heard the stories of the ascetic that risked the elements in the most harsh of ways and later come away unscathed. That is not where we are going. But I do want you to notice: note, subtle changes in what you would describe as your "normal behavior" or responses as we progress in our practice. Label nothing as good or bad: just note the experience.
When we approach each day in our usual unconscious fashion as if asleep, we follow after thoughts and whatever our bodies would suggest to us. After spending some time in meditation we begin slowly to awake. Our growing awareness is the antithesis of our moments of being in unconscious sleep. It is a re-wiring of sorts. But it is a sort of rewiring that allows us to see that the mind and the body are not two separate entities; They are but one. We are not our minds driving about in the vehicle of "the body".

In the science of Embodied Cognition we can see just how deep and unconscious our wiring is

Try this

In ATM, Feldenkrais therapy we learned this little trick: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, arms at your sides. Now raise your right hand with the arm straight out ahead of you and give the thumbs up sign. Now slowly twist as far to your right as you comfortably can - allowing your thumbs up to align with some focal point. A point on the wall behind you, the corner of your bed post, your significant others derriere: to indicate where your ending point is. See where your thumbs up lines up with whatever object helps you in establishing a point of reference. Hold that pose.

Focus your eyes on your thumb and then look further to your right, beyond your range of motion to a point further to the right. Focus back on the thumb: then back to the further point. Back to the thumb and back to the further point.

Return to your starting position with your thumbs up still facing forward. Then twist back to the right while watching your thumb line up with a focal point..

Did you find a greater range of motion - were you able to easily expand your range beyond the first focal point and arriving at the second point?

This also works when watching the tip of your toes. Sit and raise your foot outstretched before you as high as you are comfortably able.. Align the tips of your toes with something on the horizon. Focus on the toes and then to a point several inches higher....and back to your toes...back to the higher point...back to your toes again.

When you bring your foot back down into a resting position. Slowly raise it up to as far as it will comfortably raise. Are you able to easily see that your range of motion has expanded beyond the original starting point ending at the higher second point?

I want us to focus on finding our center-point when we settle down to practice our meditation. I want that we should remind ourselves often to correct our posture when sitting in practice and throughout the day. We should body scan ourselves for hidden tightness. We should pause and watch our breath (not control it) several times a day.

We are orienting ourselves towards being beacons of steadfast calm, humor and kindness. Not creating a race of non-feeling ascetics. We will soon begin to realize that body and mind are one. That the universe and all that it contains is one.

Cool, eh?

Silent Observation - Looking in Meditation Day Four

Are you beginning to settle into your meditation position? I know that its been only a few days. You should have chosen a meditation position which best fits you. A chair? A bench? A cushion? You should have also chosen which hand position is best suited to you. The Dhyana, the Gyan or the Varada.

You should be focusing on your breath, letting it naturally flow in and out, letting the tip of your tongue lightly touch your top teeth. Focus on the breath as it enters your nose and focus on the breath again as it leaves. Counting one as you breath in: two as you breath out: up to ten. Begin again. And again.

Let us now talk about the body. I know that it's a little more than difficult at this point to feel comfortable throughout your period of sitting. It's quite common that after two, three or five minutes you will have the desire to adjust yourself or change your positioning. What I am suggesting is that you just make a mental note and then do nothing. That's right. Don't move or adjust yourself. Just observe the thought and continue to watch and count the breath. We want to find our position as we begin to "sit". Remember how we gently stretched and found our balance? This was done before we moved onto the breath. So let us not forget this step. And I hope that you are wearing loose fitting clothes that do not constrict you in any way.

And while we're on the subject of constriction, what about scheduling a time for meditation each day? I would only remind you that we must not become inflexible fundamentalists. However, meditation is about responsibility. We want to change ourselves. We want to bring change to the world. It begins with a balanced mind and a compassionate heart: which are one in the same. It's not going to come about by wishing for it or through half hearted prayer. It does require something of you. That is your practice. And you must make time for it.

Let us, borrowing from author David Fontana and point out in his words, what meditation is....and what it isn't.

It isn't:
falling asleep
going into a trance
shutting yourself off from reality
being selfish
becoming lost in thought
forgetting where you are
It is:
keeping the mind alert and attentive
keeping the mind focused and concentrated
becoming more aware of the world
becoming more human (and thus more divine: me)
knowing where you