Hari
OM
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation.
"Meditation, especially for people who don't know very much about it and think it's this very hippy dippy thing, can really be powerful, terrifying even, as it lifts the rug up on your subconscious and the dust comes flying out." (Amanda Palmer)
How are
you finding the daily exercise in clearing the mind? At this stage, remember, we are not at all
approaching 'meditation' as such.
Rather, seeking to see our own minds.
AUM is one of the best ways to do this.
Having now looked at thought substitution, supplanting the loose and
free thoughts of the ironing to be done or the dog to walk with words of
devotion, virtue and positive spiritual action, we can begin to distance
ourselves from thoughts. The idea here is to play with them.
Take the
word 'and'. Read this then try the action for yourself. Close your eyes lightly and place an image of
the word in the forefront of your mind. What is the word doing? What has it
become? Go ahead, take a few moments and
do this now…
Are you
back?
What
happened? Was it that you could not see
the word as an entity before you? This
is the most common difficulty. How to
make thought an object?..which it is, only we have become so determined by our
thoughts that we think they cannot be separate from us. Here is where we can
start to employ viveka,
for the reality is that everything other than the 'I' which is attempting to
play witness here is an object, a manifestation of plurality and therefore an
aspect of माया /maayaa (illusion - this will
be taken up at a later time. Please note also that the transliteration is given
here for correct pronunciation, but in future Maya will always be written in
this standard form). If at all you are to reach to greater levels of
meditation, it is necessary first to contemplate the nature of what is to be
left behind.
So a
little more on the technical side of settling into this activity. For all its stillness, until the time of
transcendence, everything is an activity.
Even stillness. (Don't fret for what will happen in the incredible
chance that transcendence takes place.
It won't matter!)
At the end
of last week when saadhana was given, breath was mentioned.
This may
have seemed almost off-hand. However,
correct breathing is of prime importance. We have become a race of shallow
breathers, leading with the shoulders, exercising only our upper lung. The diaphragm forgotten and rusting. Trained singers of course will know about
this. Sports folk also. Majority though are very poor breathers indeed. Like
our thoughts, it is so much part of our being we pay no attention.
Resettle
now into your correct posture (need reminding?)
As you do this you will automatically have rolled your head, shaken your
shoulders, wiggled fingers and toes. If you have completed the posture
correctly, there should also be an automatic increase in abdominal breathing. If you are not breathing into your whole
body, then posture needs further work. In आसन /aasana (pose) when spine is properly balanced, it is as if there is a
trigger for the diaphragm. It is a clue for settling. Keep shifting and making the minute
adjustments required to find that trigger. The breathing may not yet be deep
and prolonged, but it should definitely be from the solar plexus and the
shoulders should be straight, level and not in any way lifting to your ears!
The more tense you are, the first place of defence is the shoulder area; the
tighter the shoulders the more shallow will come your breath. It is a flight/fight response.
What are
you fighting or fleeing here? Take charge!
The more
settled and correct is aasana, the freer the lung will be and by now you ought
to be able to take longer lasting, deeper and fuller breaths. In doing this the whole chest should lift
outwards and lightly upwards - not the
shoulders… movement there should be absolutely minimal. Place your hands on
your tummy with middle fingers just touching each other. As you breath in they should separate. If
they don't you are not yet breathing to diaphragm.
SAADHANA
This is a
physical exercise. It requires
conditioning. Pace yourself. Do this for
five minutes before and after the existing focus exercise.
What was
the point of the 'and' word, you are wondering?
You may continue to repeat that particular exercise. Keep monitoring the effects, or whether at
all you manage to separate the word into an object separate from yourself. Be observer only.
Expect nothing. Accept everything.