Dr. Jim Barrell and I have teamed up offering a 6 week workshop. This is the first time and are hoping it is successful. It is called Go Beyond Mind-Body. I've put together a website that hopefully explains all the details. The website is http://www.gobeyondmind-body.com.
Although you may not live in this area (north Florida), you may know someone who does and could benefit from the workshop. Please pass on the information.
My next post will be about awareness meditation. In a couple of days or so.
Namaste'
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
What is meditation?
Meditation is the ability to relax both the mind and the body and then go beyond them. It is to go beyond the mind and the body and become the Witness of whatever is happening without being adversely affected by those happenings. It is, in effect, going beyond the fourth state of consciousness. The Witness is sometimes referred to as the observer, the knower, the one noticing.
Meditation is actually quite simple and can be learned by just about anyone. All it takes is a little patience and practice to learn the technique. The longer you practice the easier it becomes. There are many positives to meditation: a calmer mind, reduced stress and anxiety, a sense of peace, improved health, reduced pain, and much more.
Although meditation has been used for many years in various cultures, modern science is just beginning to do research of the subject. What they are discovering is it works. This is actually nothing new to those who have been practicing meditation over the years.
Before the body can be relaxed the mind must be relaxed. To relax the mind many practitioners focus on their breathing because it is always present and easy to use. Others may focus their mind on a candle flame or some other object. Some may scan their body with their mind going slowly from the toes to the top of the head one body part at a time. Because there are various techniques for calming the mind, it might take several trials and errors before you discover what works best for you. This is why it is best to practice under the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher.
Once the mind is calm and relaxed the body will follow. When both the body and the mind are relaxed you can then begin to observe your thoughts as though you are an observer of them. You and your thoughts become separate. Thoughts are nothing more than waves of energy passing in and out of the mind, but we often become so attached to those waves we begin to think we and the thoughts are one and the same.
In the beginning, meditation may last only a few minutes before thoughts take over again. The more you sit in practice the longer meditation will last. And the longer you sit in meditation the better you will be able to take the peace and tranquility with you during non-sitting times while working, playing, and enjoying life.
Meditation is actually quite simple and can be learned by just about anyone. All it takes is a little patience and practice to learn the technique. The longer you practice the easier it becomes. There are many positives to meditation: a calmer mind, reduced stress and anxiety, a sense of peace, improved health, reduced pain, and much more.
Although meditation has been used for many years in various cultures, modern science is just beginning to do research of the subject. What they are discovering is it works. This is actually nothing new to those who have been practicing meditation over the years.
Before the body can be relaxed the mind must be relaxed. To relax the mind many practitioners focus on their breathing because it is always present and easy to use. Others may focus their mind on a candle flame or some other object. Some may scan their body with their mind going slowly from the toes to the top of the head one body part at a time. Because there are various techniques for calming the mind, it might take several trials and errors before you discover what works best for you. This is why it is best to practice under the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher.
Once the mind is calm and relaxed the body will follow. When both the body and the mind are relaxed you can then begin to observe your thoughts as though you are an observer of them. You and your thoughts become separate. Thoughts are nothing more than waves of energy passing in and out of the mind, but we often become so attached to those waves we begin to think we and the thoughts are one and the same.
In the beginning, meditation may last only a few minutes before thoughts take over again. The more you sit in practice the longer meditation will last. And the longer you sit in meditation the better you will be able to take the peace and tranquility with you during non-sitting times while working, playing, and enjoying life.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Who knows?
Who knows the path
to enlightenment?
It could be Buddha,
maybe Rumi.
I search and search
for the one who knows.
I've tried them all
but can't decide.
I've looked at the great
Krishnamurti and Belsakar,
at Nisargadatta and Dalai Lama
but don't know who to follow.
Jesus Christ seems like
a good contender.
Or maybe Tolle
or Yogananda.
After all these
futile attempts,
it dawns on me.
All I need is this
precious moment.
to enlightenment?
It could be Buddha,
maybe Rumi.
I search and search
for the one who knows.
I've tried them all
but can't decide.
I've looked at the great
Krishnamurti and Belsakar,
at Nisargadatta and Dalai Lama
but don't know who to follow.
Jesus Christ seems like
a good contender.
Or maybe Tolle
or Yogananda.
After all these
futile attempts,
it dawns on me.
All I need is this
precious moment.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Remember who you are
As you walk on Mother Earth
remember who you are -
the entirety of every things birth.
When the universe was created
you were born -
and light was added .
All the stars,
all the planets
and even tiny quasars.
The surf,
the wind,
all the glorious turf.
You are begat
with a lot of this
and a lot of that.
The love and glory
that's in your soul
will be for ever more .
remember who you are -
the entirety of every things birth.
When the universe was created
you were born -
and light was added .
All the stars,
all the planets
and even tiny quasars.
The surf,
the wind,
all the glorious turf.
You are begat
with a lot of this
and a lot of that.
The love and glory
that's in your soul
will be for ever more .
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Universal Energy
The energy that runs through your body is not imaginary or an illusion. It is as real as sunlight, as true as sound, and as natural as the wind. Do not underestimate the healing power or magnitude of that energy.
The third chapter of the Yoga Sutras speaks extensively on how energy is important for enhancing power and potency in the human body. The Vedas calls energy the "responsive energy," the "life force," the "prana" which runs through the body and holds it together. This force consists of both the physical (paramanus) and the non-physical (akasha) components of all things.
The Upanishads stress that in both the universe and the individual human being there is a power that never changes. That power is something that is greater and grander than either the universe or the human being. "It is a power that never changes."
The Bhagavad Gita (7:4-5) mentions the life-force that extends throughout the universe and is beyond earth, water, fire, wind, space, mind, understanding, and individuality. The life-force is the energy that pervades all living and non-living entities everywhere.
The person who gets in touch with this never changing energy and can feel its presence flowing through his/her very being will never cease to exist.
The third chapter of the Yoga Sutras speaks extensively on how energy is important for enhancing power and potency in the human body. The Vedas calls energy the "responsive energy," the "life force," the "prana" which runs through the body and holds it together. This force consists of both the physical (paramanus) and the non-physical (akasha) components of all things.
The Upanishads stress that in both the universe and the individual human being there is a power that never changes. That power is something that is greater and grander than either the universe or the human being. "It is a power that never changes."
The Bhagavad Gita (7:4-5) mentions the life-force that extends throughout the universe and is beyond earth, water, fire, wind, space, mind, understanding, and individuality. The life-force is the energy that pervades all living and non-living entities everywhere.
The person who gets in touch with this never changing energy and can feel its presence flowing through his/her very being will never cease to exist.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Who said
"When you know yourself, then you will be known, and you will realize that you and the father are one?"
a. Jesus c.. Sri Nisargadatta
b. Muhammad d. Ramacharaka
"Whoever finds himself is superior to the world?"
a. Jesus c. Sri Nisargadatta
b. Muhammad d. Ramacharaka
"Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are all gods?"
a. Jesus c. Sri Nisargadatta
b. Muhammad d. Ramacharaka
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
a. Jesus c. Sri Nisargadatta
b. Muhammad d. Ramacharaka
Answers appear below:
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\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Just a little bit further.
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They are all quotes from Jesus.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
The Old Man and the Quarter
There was an old man who worked in a bar cleaning the floors and the bathrooms. The owner of the pub didn't pay him much but allowed him to drink as much beer as he wanted and sleep in the back room He seemed congenial enough and everyone liked him but he never said much. He would usually speak only when spoken to.
Patrons of the bar would play a game with the old man by showing him a bright shiny quarter and an old paper dollar and ask him which one he wanted. He always wanted the bright shiny quarter. He would smile and put the quarter in his pocket, they would laugh and snicker, and he would go about his cleaning. The quarter and dollar game went on for years. One day the owner of the bar asked the old man why he always picked the quarter. The old man explained to the owner that if he ever picked the dollar the game would be over.
Patrons of the bar would play a game with the old man by showing him a bright shiny quarter and an old paper dollar and ask him which one he wanted. He always wanted the bright shiny quarter. He would smile and put the quarter in his pocket, they would laugh and snicker, and he would go about his cleaning. The quarter and dollar game went on for years. One day the owner of the bar asked the old man why he always picked the quarter. The old man explained to the owner that if he ever picked the dollar the game would be over.
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