This weeks exercise took our conscious mind to the next level. At this level is where the witnessing mind, the calm-abiding mind, and eventually the unity consciousness is developed. The Subtle Mind practice is one that assists you in progressing toward psychospiritual flourishing. When practicing this exercise the focus is now on your breathing. Focusing on each breath as you breath in and out, focusing on the rise and fall of your chest. There is a connection between the breath and the mind. Peaceful breathing patterns stills the mind. If we still our breath we can still our mind. The breath will become the focal point. Focusing on the breath will help to clear the mind of chatter, if thoughts or distractions begin to enter the mind let them come and then turn your focus back to your breathing. Eventually, during you time of meditation your mind will spend more time in stillness and less time being distracted. During this time of stillness is when the mind has achieved calm-abiding, when one is able to sustained this calm the mind has then evolved into unity consciousness.
Unlike the Loving-Kindness practice which focus is on opening our hearts and attempt to take us from our own self-centeredness to feeling the love and kindness for others. The Subtle Mind practices focuses on clearing your mind of all thoughts only the thought of your focal point, your breath. This exercise reminds me of Lamaze Breathing for childbirth. I delivered 3 children all natural without the use of any epidural. I used Lamaze Breathing. I was able to find a focal point and concentrate on the breathing, which allowed me to divert my attention on the pain to that of my breathing. Because I was able to do this during a time of excruciating pain I was surprised I had so much difficulty with this exercise this week. I have had a very stressful week and have been a little behind on my school work. I found it very difficult to relax myself enough to ever achieve stillness. There were constantly thoughts racing through my head. So for me this week I never was able to achieve the witnessing mind. Although I know that I have been able to achieve this before. What is important is practicing these exercises so that during weeks like this one when I need it the most I am able to quite my mind even for 15 minutes would be beneficial for my well-being.
The mind, body, and spirit are so interconnected that an imbalance in one will cause the other to be out of balance. To achieve integral flourishing a balance of all three must be found. If I were to be 100% truthful I still need work in all areas. I struggle the most with the mind. But I will continue to implement these practices until I am able to find the balance that I am missing. I know for me the road to integral health will not be a short or easy one, but the end benefits are well worth the journey.
Laurie
Hi
ReplyDeleteYou are probably the first person who I hear Lamaze breathing actually worked for. I know many myself included who took the classes, however all my friends said they didn’t give a crap about breathing once the pain came. I did have 2 natural births but Lamaze breathing didn’t help me. I wonder if it would have helped more if I practiced with audio and meditated.
I don’t think you need to worry about being at 100% - if you were there would be no room for improvement and you would stop evolving. Recognizing and wanting to improve your weaknesses is half the battle. Good luck in all you do.
Robin
Hello Laurie,
ReplyDeleteThat is great that you got the Lamaze breathing to work for you. My wife could not go through labor without getting an epidural. I could only imagine how painful it would be to give birth which is why it would only make sense to me for the expecting mother to prepare for birth by meditating through out the pregnancy.
Laurie, congratulations on your natural births. I am due in two months and hope to have a natural birth. I have a lot of faith in the power of my mind. I hope it's true! I can understand having a stressful week and having trouble focusing. The good news is that you know your ability to focus can come and go. If you can breathe through childbirth, then you know that you can focus on breath at any point, even if you have a stressful week. Good luck next time!
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