Most Helpful Meditation Exercises For Me

This course and the meditation exercises that we have been practicing have helped me to see how important this is to integral health.  The exercises that were most beneficial to me were the Loving Kindness exercise, and the Meeting Aesclepius exercise.   I enjoyed the time spent thinking of my loved one, and the way that the exercise guided me to use the energy of that love.  The Meeting Aesclepius exercise allowed me to see how I could receive wisdom from and healing through this guided meditation. 

I plan on using these exercises, to help me grow spiritually.  I will also seek out other examples, as I continue my path to integral health.  One way that I like to practice meditation is in a group environment.  My husband and I attend a Sunday meditation service, whenever we can, where we meditate for an hour in a spiritual place. The energy of all of us, together, concentrating on our relationship to the Divine, is something that is unique and beautiful. 

Throughout my college career, I have taken other classes on the science of how stress affects us, and society pressures, etc.  The exercises in this course have allowed me to practice what I have read about, and gain a new insight on their usefulness in my own life.

Aesclepius / Subtle Mind

I have been having company all weekend, as we’ve been selling puppies for a few days, and sadly, I wasn’t able to complete the meditation exercise until today.  I was pleasantly surprised by the experience.   I chose a person as my wise one, mentor, someone who had been in my life throughout childhood  (like a sort of grandma).  She has passed on, and remains special to me.  I definitely felt the essence of those parts described in the meditation: the crown, throat, and heart.  It gave me an awareness that I can incorporate those gifts into my own life, so that I am able to give to others.   I have a friend who is seriously ill, in the hospital right now, and I will be praying and meditating with this subtle mind for her, today. 

As our text mentions, if practitioners do not work on their own spiritual evolution, they will be less equipped to help others do so.  “Having a map of Hawaii is not like actually being there”, (Schlitz, Amorok, Micozzi, 2005, p. 477).  If you are a practitioner, and you also work on your own wellness through integral practices, you will build the trust of your patients, through your experience.  We are not meant to be on a pedestal, but to practice what we preach, so to speak. 

Laurie

Reference

Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., Micozzi, M. (2005). Consciousness and Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. Elsevier, Churchill, Livingstone.

unit 6: Loving Kindness, and Integral Assessment

I completed the universal Loving Kindness (meditation) exercise, and I was actually surprised by the results.  First, I was upset with myself because I forgot to have this done by Saturday. I had let life take over.  Then, I set that aside, so that I could do the exercise.  I repeated the words over, and over.  I realized that, not only should I wish others well, my actions should also foster wellness in others.  At least, I can keep that in mind.  Freedom from suffering, sustained health, happiness, and wholeness: these are things that we all have a right to, I would say it’s even our birthright to these. 

The assessment brought up issues for me that I would like to change, in the area of work.  I have difficulties finding the type of job that suits me, and sticking with it.  I’ve been underemployed for some time, now, and I am feeling badly about that.  I’m at a time in my life when I need to just focus on retiring (in about 12-15 years), and I know that it will take persistence and commitment to get there.  I am going to journal about finding my ideal work, and work on bringing that into my reality.  I have some books that I have used in the past to guide me through the process.   I have considered using a coach, which I will look into, if need be.  I’m grateful for this class, and being able to think in new ways.

Laurie

Subtle Mind Exercise

Today, I listened to the subtle mind exercise.  I had a good experience - it really relaxed me and took me to a different level.  This exercise is very different from the loving-kindness exercise.   In the loving-kindness exercise, we were exploring feelings of love for others, ourselves, and forgiveness.  This helped work on many things.  In the subtle mind exercise, we were exploring our own inner awareness.   Much of this exercise is about focusing on the breath.  As Dacher says, “peaceful breathing pattern leads to a peaceful mind” (Dacher, 2006, p. 75).  While I was doing this, I was visualizing the space I wanted to keep clear (in my mind), as a white smooth circle.  When other thoughts started creeping in, I made a mental “broom” sweep those thoughts to the outside of the circle.  Things did keep coming up, and I did brush them aside, which helped me focus on the clear space of stillness I was wanting to be in.  I sometimes play with my thoughts, that way, just to help me visualize ideas.  The subtle mind is described as the stillness in our mind, between 2 thoughts, or just upon rising from sleep, or when we receive a sudden shock or a surprise:  when all mental activity is stopped (Dacher, 2006, p. 72).  I believe that if I practice this exercise, more often, I can get in touch with the subtle mind for longer periods of time.