In working with the mind and expanding direct experience it is important to be introduced to the forms, which provide access to meditation. Breathing could be one of the more universal forms amongst practitioners.
Why the breath?
Well if there is one thing that is with us from birth to death it is the breath. The breath reflects our minds. The breath is right smack dab in the moment. This in breath, this out breath. This gap and that gap. The breath is ever present in our lives, yet amazingly we forget about it. Breathing is automated. No need to think about breathing, unless one is not breathing, then breath takes on a whole new priority.
I have heard and worked with practices that involve following the in breath, the out breath, the rise of chest or stomach, the sensations on the nostrils or in the mouth. All forms of working with the breath. All methods of practice in expanding meditation.
In a sitting practice it invariably happens that the mind wanders and in that wandering the breath is lost. With mindfulness, awareness, gentleness and compassion it is possible to come back to the breath. In ten minutes it can happen 100 times. The mind stabilizes then wanders off. Up and down like a yo-yo. In retreat, where there is an almost constant application of practice, the mind settles down after a couple weeks. What an amazing thing. Without the bewilderment of the mind, even for short periods of time, the remaining awareness is free to be in meditation. No practice. No form. Pure awareness or direct experience.
So what good is this direct experience one might ask? Will it make me rich? Will it make me influential? Will it make me anything?
If you aren't something meditation won't make you something. It’s like a saying I have heard about drinking alcohol. " If you are an asshole and you drink you just become a bigger asshole." So it is with meditation.
Therefore be very careful in exploring meditation. Meditation will make the mind more acutely aware of itself. Without establishing a foundation in the preliminaries and if a person's main mode of operation is running from the things one dislikes about his or her self then meditation will drive a person mad. No joke! Working with the mind and expanding meditation is going to enhance the mind's subtle perception so don't play around. At a certain point there is no turning back without extreme hardship. If you aren't ready to face yourself in all your gore and glory then find something else.
You have been warned.
Why the breath?
Well if there is one thing that is with us from birth to death it is the breath. The breath reflects our minds. The breath is right smack dab in the moment. This in breath, this out breath. This gap and that gap. The breath is ever present in our lives, yet amazingly we forget about it. Breathing is automated. No need to think about breathing, unless one is not breathing, then breath takes on a whole new priority.
I have heard and worked with practices that involve following the in breath, the out breath, the rise of chest or stomach, the sensations on the nostrils or in the mouth. All forms of working with the breath. All methods of practice in expanding meditation.
In a sitting practice it invariably happens that the mind wanders and in that wandering the breath is lost. With mindfulness, awareness, gentleness and compassion it is possible to come back to the breath. In ten minutes it can happen 100 times. The mind stabilizes then wanders off. Up and down like a yo-yo. In retreat, where there is an almost constant application of practice, the mind settles down after a couple weeks. What an amazing thing. Without the bewilderment of the mind, even for short periods of time, the remaining awareness is free to be in meditation. No practice. No form. Pure awareness or direct experience.
So what good is this direct experience one might ask? Will it make me rich? Will it make me influential? Will it make me anything?
If you aren't something meditation won't make you something. It’s like a saying I have heard about drinking alcohol. " If you are an asshole and you drink you just become a bigger asshole." So it is with meditation.
Therefore be very careful in exploring meditation. Meditation will make the mind more acutely aware of itself. Without establishing a foundation in the preliminaries and if a person's main mode of operation is running from the things one dislikes about his or her self then meditation will drive a person mad. No joke! Working with the mind and expanding meditation is going to enhance the mind's subtle perception so don't play around. At a certain point there is no turning back without extreme hardship. If you aren't ready to face yourself in all your gore and glory then find something else.
You have been warned.
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Portland
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