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Hunter
USA
252 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 11:43:28 AM
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This morning I was and have been contemplating why it is that my social abilities have suffered so and why it is that I have had such a hard time speaking with people.
And in relation, why it is that my spiritual practice has always been out of balance.
For the past 3 years I have wrongly assumed that I should go through my days with my attention focused on the pituitary region, third eye, "staying in the stillness", "in the spine", etc...
In doing so I have excluded and alienated the whole world; holding myself in a constant tension and blocking the natural flow of life. I have found this to be the root of my self-pacing problems as well as personal problems as I have ruined many relationships including my close and dear relationships with my family members.
Once I realized this, I was able to instantly let the habit go (of focusing always in the third eye) and such a great relief has followed. I can feel that self- pacing and managing the meditation practices will be going a lot smoother and that I will be able to rebuild burnt bridges with people who I excluded from my life.
Simple meditation, and then I will go out and be fully active, alert, and present in life.
Sincerely,
A very relieved and grateful Hunter
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Edited by - Hunter on Jan 26 2007 10:27:26 AM |
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Victor
USA
910 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 12:14:22 PM
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| Wow! I think this is very relevent and a wonderful insight. I fully agree that while doing different activities that it is counterproductive to always try to keep the attention in the same place. Thanks for reminding those of us who tend to be overzealous! |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 12:25:41 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Hunter
Once I realized this, I was able to instantly let the habit go (of focusing always in the third eye) and such a great relief has followed. I can feel that self- pacing and managing the meditation practices will be going a lot smoother and that I will be able to rebuild burnt bridges with people who I excluded from my life.
Excellent Hunter.. good for you!!!!!!
quote:
Originally posted by Hunter
Simple meditation, and then I will go out and be fully active, alert, and present in life.
Amen to that. |
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Jim and His Karma
2111 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 02:30:33 AM
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Holding attention in a certain place or chakra during practices draws tremendous energy to that place. So it can not only be unbalancing, it can even be unhealthful, as one can overload that area. As you say, Hunter, in your eloquent posting, this is just another aspect of letting go. It's also an example of one of the myriad ways in which we can complicate practice. I keep returning, again and again, to Yogani's lessons to strip down all the junk (expectations, etc) that I find myself affixing to practices all the time. It's like scraping barnacles off a hull!
Yogani encourages "contemplation" in your non-practice time, and I'd suggest you contemplate your heart space. It's good antidote to the previous fixation (though even this can be overdone!). Yogani has a suggestion about heart contemplation somewhere (can anyone find it?), but one thing I like to do is cultivate the flowing love I've felt at different life moments. Childhood teddy bear, first kiss with new lover, a really inspiring concert.... whatever. Just throw whatever few associations come quickly to mind into the hopper and let the feeling well out of your chest, irrespective of specifics. Make it wonderfully unattached to actual objects. Refine it to its essence and let it gush (not just forward from your chest, but in all directions). If you make a serious practice of this, btw, it's an incredible aid to brachmacharya, because you realize more and more deeply that love doesn't stem from (i.e. needn't attach to) particular objects or individuals. Love just is. It's a generic commodity, like soybeans or pork bellies. But I digress....
BTW, Victor, about 2 years ago I suggested to you that you oughtn't fix attention at third eye (or any other place) during meditation, and you took strong exception. ;) I'm glad Hunter's insight was contagious for you. That's why a forum like this is great; different people say the same things in different ways over time, and sometimes one rendition just hits you. |
Edited by - Jim and His Karma on Jan 25 2007 02:43:40 AM |
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Jim and His Karma
2111 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 10:53:08 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Jim and His Karma
Holding attention in a certain place or chakra during practices draws tremendous energy to that place. So it can not only be unbalancing, it can even be unhealthful, as one can overload that area.
Sorry...should have clarified that I'm talking about doing this over time. I'ts not going to hurt much to do this in the short term. It's just, as Hunter says, disruptive to practice, because you're doing something extra and unnecessary (i.e. complicating things, i.e. hanging on). |
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AYPforum
351 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2007 : 6:27:29 PM
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| Moderator note: Topic moved for better placement |
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yoginstar
Netherlands
78 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2007 : 8:57:15 PM
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Hi Hunter,
I think I have just entered the state of being you described. Looking at the various reactions that you seem to be getting in this specific thread, I have this feeling that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your social abilities, not in the past and not now. But I must say I personally have just been blown over too so to speak from the simple idea of timing/pacing down meditation to 20 minutes and no more... (I haven't meditated at all this year yet, but that's another problem or not of course, whatever; and then, be active, i.e. bringing the meditation over to the external reality that is or shall become or something of that nature.
It reminds me of a booktitle by Alice Bailey, something like the Exteriorization of what was it, Consciousness? Anyway, keep in touch! I know I will with this forum for it has been practically a life saver for my spiritual path.
Love to you.
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My own pitfall realized, this morning
