"What you encounter, recognize or discover depends to a large degree on the quality of your approach. When we approach with reverence, great things decide to approach us. Our real life comes to the surface and its light awakens the concealed beauty in things. When we walk on the earth with reverence, beauty will decide to trust us. Perhaps in our times of confusion and forsakenness the soul is asserting itself, endeavoring to draw us aside in order to speak to our hearts." - John O'Donohue
What is meditation, and what it is not.
Many believe meditation is simply emptying your mind. However, there are many meditation techniques that include the recitation of mantras, and keen observation of the patterns of our breath.
Meditation is not sleeping. In fact, meditation is not always done with your eyes closed. One practice of Thich Nhat Hanh was walking meditation.
Meditation is not a means to escape life. In fact, the essence rests in an opposite approach ~ observance.
The intention of the various Meditation techniques is to reveal truth. For many, this may include a practice of moving through a series of postures, or simply sitting in one posture. What many define as yoga is actually just one form of meditation within the larger context of yoga.
Yoga and meditation practices, should help us create stillness - the absence of tension.
Imagine a wall of brick & mortar, stretching infinitely high & infinitely wide. This is the border of our mind. This wall is dividing us from everything without, and contains only what we perceive within. That container often becomes our Ego, our definition of self, and the wall is a defensive perimeter designed with the primary objective of self-preservation.
But, True Self is boundless. In order to experience that truth, we need space, we need stillness ~ an absence of tension in brick & mortar surrounding our Soul.
That doesn't mean the wall is non-existent. It means we must observe the wall for what it is, and what it is not. And, when we find stillness, we can experience contentment, Santosha. In stillness we grow, our true Self expands & manifests according to our intention. Meditation helps us move toward a more perfect union with our true Self ~ this is yoga.
None of us are the only individuals blessed with the breath of life. In Hebrew, the word Ruach means breath of life, translated as the Holy Spirit; God's breath in our lungs. In Chinese, the word Qi is the vital life force in all beings. And, in Sanskrit, the word is Prana.
Deep Listening is a meditation technique that helps us find contentment with another soul, another being blessed with Prana, Qi, Ruach. When we listen with single-pointed focus, we can see the space for stillness ~ the non-duality, the absence of tension. The walls become veils, and those veils gradually give way to truth, to our communion & our unity; our community.
Choosing love in this space is a choice ~ perhaps the most important of all life's choices. See the light & love in you, reflected in the light & love in others, and honor that shared space of stillness. This is the meaning of the word Namaste.
This meditation series centered on The Prophet is an opportunity to be grounded in gratitude, to be Present, to bask in the Light & Love that we share; to experience true community by listening deeply.
May you be Happy. May you be Healthy. May you be at Peace.
Ekāgratā // one-pointed focus. This form of meditation is Yoga, a self-imposed discipline along the path toward Santosha (contentment) & Samadhi. Samadhi is the highest state of yoga, some may call it enlightenment.
Here, we will practice deep listening meditation; a complete stilling of the mind that allows a sacred connection. There are many forms of meditation: eyes closed, breathwork, moving through postures, walking, etc. In this series, we are just listening for the still small voice inside of us, which resonates on the touchstone of your personal truth.
In this series, our intention is finding the sacredness in the every day. The practice exercises your focus on listening. Some believe we are only listening about 20% of the time. The other 80% is spent thinking about other things, or about what you want to say next. If this is true, then we are missing the point.
We all have a need to be seen - not just noticed in the periphery of our lives. And, we all have a need to be heard - recognized for our contribution. Our service to See & Hear others begins with a practice of Deep Listening.
Each segment is 10-15 minutes of recorded audio. Give yourself time to reflect AFTER the track.
Thank you for choosing to join us in this practice. May your ekāgratā be set on the timeless wisdom from The Prophet, a boundless drop to a boundless sea; revealing the sacredness in the every day.
Namaste