The following is a description of my meditative practice:
I was able to sit comfortably and quite my mind for the Asciepius Meditation. Then, I visualized that my grandmother, who passed away two years ago, was in front of me. I even called out her name twice to make sure that she knew that I wanted to meditate with her. Just to make sure, prior to the meditation, I asked her how she remembered me. Then, some words that I have forgotten about popped into my head. e.g. 1) the chocolate fudge and the earrings that I used to give to her for Christmas, and 2) the walks that we used to take with each other. I also felt a tickling on my right arm that seemed “unique”, so I figured that she had heard me and was ready to commune meditatively.
Next, I formed a white light around the crown of her head. Then, I allowed all of this light to permeate my mind, so that it would purify my thoughts, feelings and images . This was so that my mind would transform into the type of mind that she had. Then, I allowed a strong beam of light to connect from her throat and over to mine. Thus purified my heart with kindness, love, and compassion, which transformed my heart to be just as hers.
After this, my mind, voice, and heart was ready to take on the persona of my wise grandmother. In doing so, I felt all of the love that she felt for the world, and for her children when she used to walk on this earth, during her last lifetime. At the same time, I could sense that she was trying to tell me that this, or “love” was the most important thing to gain in this world. Then, we can prepare for the world to come.
Last I allowed my grandmother to turn into a bright white light, which entered my body from my forehead and slowly overtook my entire being, until “I” became the wise one. I stayed in this meditative state, until I felt totally absorbed in the mind set of my grandmother. The Asciepius state of the healer of the mind, body, and speech. However, after awhile I realized that these aspects have always been inside of me, even though it was easier to see these inner qualities of myself as another person. Asclepius is none other than the natural and wise essence of my heart and mind. The healer within me that will lead me to integral health.
In my opinion, the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” means that we as students of the Integral Health program, must continue to master this path. Otherwise, how can we effectively lead our clients through a healthier path, such as this? If we experience the transformation from ill health to integral health by using the proper steps, we will fully understand how to lead another down the same path, even if there are stumbling blocks along the way. We, as practitioners have an obligation to practice what we preach, and that is to be of sound mind, body and spirit.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Universal Loving Kindness (Meditation) and Integral Assessment - Unit 6
The Practice of the Universal Loving Kindness (Meditation) Exercise
When working with this Loving Kindness meditation, I did as such:
1. I sat in a comfortable position and closed my eyes for a minute or two of rest.
2. After I relaxed and stilled my mind, I recited the following:
• May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
• May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
• May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
• May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
(Dacher, 2006).
While I was reciting this, I felt a universal connection to all of life. Since I have no prejudices to anyone in regard to race, ethnic group or religion, this exercise was not too difficult for me to do. As an additional touch, I also visualized the consciousness level of our world, surrounded by the beautiful light of God’s love to help promote a higher understanding of differences.
The Completion of the Integral Assessment
When working with the Integral Assessment to identify my areas of distress, I did as suggested:
1. I sat in a comfortable position and closed my eyes.
2. While in stillness, I concentrated on my life and asked myself “what aspect of my life - Psychospiritual, Biological, Interpersonal, or Worldly - is the source of my difficulty or my suffering?”
3. The area that came up was that of the Interpersonal section of “Community.” After meditating further, I realized that I am still in conflict as to whether or not, I should move closer to my family, who live in the Ozark mountains. That is, the Ozark mountains, where there is very little opportunity, or to stay in the Washington, DC area, where there is plenty of opportunity (where I have lived since 1997 after I transferred out of the service from my second duty station.) After I asked this question, I remembered what sincere troubled times that I had, while living in the Ozarks from the years of 1977 - 1992. e.g. there were no jobs, and somehow many of the rural people, who I went to school with all, seemed to be very fundamental and prejudice. Some of the people were very nice, but many I could not relate to. Was it just my luck at the time, or was this as difficult as it seemed to be? My family chose to retire there to escape the Minnesota winters, where my grandmother was from, however, the warmer climate of the Ozarks of where my grandfather was from was not perfect, either. Other ideas, came in to my mind such as… If, I do transfer back to live closer to my home and family, am I willing to take this chance again? Is my family worth it? I am sure that I could meet a few nice friends, and then if I meet adversity, then I can just ignore it. Is my family worth this?
Then what about employment? I only have five more years of grueling work and then I can retire from the 20 years that I put in with the federal government and the military. It might be better to just wait until then with the way that the economy is. If I had a pension, then I could start a business? However, it is so sad to think that I will never live near my mother again… My decisions all lean towards that of staying in Maryland, where I am now. I will continue to meditate on this. Maybe God will send to me a miracle and then I can take an entire month off from work like some of the professionals do, once I graduate (Dacher, 2006).
I just found out that my paternal great grandmother, Mamalta Catalina also worked for 20 years of her life... or did nothing but work, like I have and then she finally settled down with the man who my father calls "Papa Eurgo." Guess that I followed her footsteps, without realizing it until now! However, with integral health, one can go far at any age.
Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
When working with this Loving Kindness meditation, I did as such:
1. I sat in a comfortable position and closed my eyes for a minute or two of rest.
2. After I relaxed and stilled my mind, I recited the following:
• May all individuals gain freedom from suffering.
• May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
• May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering.
• May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
(Dacher, 2006).
While I was reciting this, I felt a universal connection to all of life. Since I have no prejudices to anyone in regard to race, ethnic group or religion, this exercise was not too difficult for me to do. As an additional touch, I also visualized the consciousness level of our world, surrounded by the beautiful light of God’s love to help promote a higher understanding of differences.
The Completion of the Integral Assessment
When working with the Integral Assessment to identify my areas of distress, I did as suggested:
1. I sat in a comfortable position and closed my eyes.
2. While in stillness, I concentrated on my life and asked myself “what aspect of my life - Psychospiritual, Biological, Interpersonal, or Worldly - is the source of my difficulty or my suffering?”
3. The area that came up was that of the Interpersonal section of “Community.” After meditating further, I realized that I am still in conflict as to whether or not, I should move closer to my family, who live in the Ozark mountains. That is, the Ozark mountains, where there is very little opportunity, or to stay in the Washington, DC area, where there is plenty of opportunity (where I have lived since 1997 after I transferred out of the service from my second duty station.) After I asked this question, I remembered what sincere troubled times that I had, while living in the Ozarks from the years of 1977 - 1992. e.g. there were no jobs, and somehow many of the rural people, who I went to school with all, seemed to be very fundamental and prejudice. Some of the people were very nice, but many I could not relate to. Was it just my luck at the time, or was this as difficult as it seemed to be? My family chose to retire there to escape the Minnesota winters, where my grandmother was from, however, the warmer climate of the Ozarks of where my grandfather was from was not perfect, either. Other ideas, came in to my mind such as… If, I do transfer back to live closer to my home and family, am I willing to take this chance again? Is my family worth it? I am sure that I could meet a few nice friends, and then if I meet adversity, then I can just ignore it. Is my family worth this?
Then what about employment? I only have five more years of grueling work and then I can retire from the 20 years that I put in with the federal government and the military. It might be better to just wait until then with the way that the economy is. If I had a pension, then I could start a business? However, it is so sad to think that I will never live near my mother again… My decisions all lean towards that of staying in Maryland, where I am now. I will continue to meditate on this. Maybe God will send to me a miracle and then I can take an entire month off from work like some of the professionals do, once I graduate (Dacher, 2006).
I just found out that my paternal great grandmother, Mamalta Catalina also worked for 20 years of her life... or did nothing but work, like I have and then she finally settled down with the man who my father calls "Papa Eurgo." Guess that I followed her footsteps, without realizing it until now! However, with integral health, one can go far at any age.
Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
SUBTLE MIND - UNIT 5
The Meditation Exercise Reflection
The “Loving Kindness” exercise is a four part meditation of sending love out to your loved ones, enemies, yourself and then out to everyone in the world by that of using "the breath" to inhale pain and to exhale love. The "Subtle Mind" exercise is a three part meditation of the witnessing, calm-abiding and unifying the conscious mind.
These meditations had the similarities of “witnessing your thoughts”, versus just grasping and clinging to them (this can give you room to create new ideas and to throw out negative patterns.) These meditations were different in that the Loving Kindness exercise was about sending out “love” and the Subtle Mind exercise was about "stilling the mind, and witnessing your thoughts, so that you can connect to a unity consciousness state" (this allows you to calm the mind, so that can you can replace activity with intention, and feel connected to all of life.)
It took me a three times to be able to do the Subtle Mind meditation. In addition, like the Loving Kindness meditation, I felt that a lot of energy had been lifted off of my shoulders, and that I had a much calmer mind, after I finished.
The Connection of the Spiritual Wellness to Mental and Physical Wellness
This connection can be explained by when we are able to eliminate the thoughts of negativity, such as hate, anger and jealousy with that of positive thoughts. This calmer state of mind helps the physical body function better. For example, this can be done with the biofeedback techniques of breathing and visualization to decrease sensitivity to pain, diminishes circulatory problems, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
This is all manifested in my personal life, when I spend time with meditation, prayer and affirmation therapy.
The “Loving Kindness” exercise is a four part meditation of sending love out to your loved ones, enemies, yourself and then out to everyone in the world by that of using "the breath" to inhale pain and to exhale love. The "Subtle Mind" exercise is a three part meditation of the witnessing, calm-abiding and unifying the conscious mind.
These meditations had the similarities of “witnessing your thoughts”, versus just grasping and clinging to them (this can give you room to create new ideas and to throw out negative patterns.) These meditations were different in that the Loving Kindness exercise was about sending out “love” and the Subtle Mind exercise was about "stilling the mind, and witnessing your thoughts, so that you can connect to a unity consciousness state" (this allows you to calm the mind, so that can you can replace activity with intention, and feel connected to all of life.)
It took me a three times to be able to do the Subtle Mind meditation. In addition, like the Loving Kindness meditation, I felt that a lot of energy had been lifted off of my shoulders, and that I had a much calmer mind, after I finished.
The Connection of the Spiritual Wellness to Mental and Physical Wellness
This connection can be explained by when we are able to eliminate the thoughts of negativity, such as hate, anger and jealousy with that of positive thoughts. This calmer state of mind helps the physical body function better. For example, this can be done with the biofeedback techniques of breathing and visualization to decrease sensitivity to pain, diminishes circulatory problems, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
This is all manifested in my personal life, when I spend time with meditation, prayer and affirmation therapy.
Monday, June 7, 2010
LOVING KINDNESS - UNIT 4
To describe my experience, this is what occurred:
1. I visualized a loved one. This was my mother. I saw the two of us walking along the beach in our sundresses. Then, I saw a vision of us working in my mother’s organic garden that she has at her home in the Ozark mountains. Next, I let all of the love that I feel for her, fill my heart and then I sent this to her.
2. I took the love in my heart that I feel for my mother, and sent it to myself, while I sat in
a meditative state. During this meditation, I did not grasp at any way that I felt and I was at total peace with myself and the sensations of my body. After awhile, I went deeper into my mind and just “observed” what I felt. The sensations that I felt were those of having a full stomach of grape juice from the glass that I had, just prior to this exercise. I also felt the soft jersey sheet that was wrapped around my body and the coolness of the morning air. Finally, I felt rested and at ease.
3. I saw a loved one who was suffering. This was my father. I breathed in all of his pain and sadness from what happened during the Vietnam era, with my inhale. Then, I sent all my love and good will for him with my exhale.
4. I saw many strangers, who were suffering. I also breathed in all of their pain and sadness with my inhale, and then I sent love and good will for them with my exhale. I continued to do this same thing for my enemies.
This gave to me the sensation of 1) energy being lifted off of my shoulders and a 2) calmer state of mind.
In addition, I found that this exercise was somewhat difficult to do, during my first attempt. However, with my second attempt, it was much easier. I did find it to be beneficial in that I was able to end my day with thinking being able to think about my loved ones, and sending them good will. It also helped me to relax. I would recommend this to others because it does seem to lift negative energy from your shoulders and, very importantly, we all need to relax!
1. The concept of a mental workout, means to train the mind to think in a more positive way. This can be done from the use of a guided meditation. This is because, when we have thoughts of pure love, compassion and kindness, our brains set in a gamma wave status or to "go gamma." This has been clinically shown to improve our memory and perception. In addition, and after long term guided meditative practice, it also cause our normal mental state to “go gamma.” Ultimately, this helps end all suffering and produce a life of flourishing.
So, spread the word "Go Gamma!"
1. I visualized a loved one. This was my mother. I saw the two of us walking along the beach in our sundresses. Then, I saw a vision of us working in my mother’s organic garden that she has at her home in the Ozark mountains. Next, I let all of the love that I feel for her, fill my heart and then I sent this to her.
2. I took the love in my heart that I feel for my mother, and sent it to myself, while I sat in
a meditative state. During this meditation, I did not grasp at any way that I felt and I was at total peace with myself and the sensations of my body. After awhile, I went deeper into my mind and just “observed” what I felt. The sensations that I felt were those of having a full stomach of grape juice from the glass that I had, just prior to this exercise. I also felt the soft jersey sheet that was wrapped around my body and the coolness of the morning air. Finally, I felt rested and at ease.
3. I saw a loved one who was suffering. This was my father. I breathed in all of his pain and sadness from what happened during the Vietnam era, with my inhale. Then, I sent all my love and good will for him with my exhale.
4. I saw many strangers, who were suffering. I also breathed in all of their pain and sadness with my inhale, and then I sent love and good will for them with my exhale. I continued to do this same thing for my enemies.
This gave to me the sensation of 1) energy being lifted off of my shoulders and a 2) calmer state of mind.
In addition, I found that this exercise was somewhat difficult to do, during my first attempt. However, with my second attempt, it was much easier. I did find it to be beneficial in that I was able to end my day with thinking being able to think about my loved ones, and sending them good will. It also helped me to relax. I would recommend this to others because it does seem to lift negative energy from your shoulders and, very importantly, we all need to relax!
1. The concept of a mental workout, means to train the mind to think in a more positive way. This can be done from the use of a guided meditation. This is because, when we have thoughts of pure love, compassion and kindness, our brains set in a gamma wave status or to "go gamma." This has been clinically shown to improve our memory and perception. In addition, and after long term guided meditative practice, it also cause our normal mental state to “go gamma.” Ultimately, this helps end all suffering and produce a life of flourishing.
So, spread the word "Go Gamma!"
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