I very much enjoyed the subtle mind practice. (Thank you, Professor for doc sharing it) I’m used to meditating in nature with no voices. So, the sound of the waves and my own breathing felt very natural to me. My focus did drift off at times and it was funny because the thoughts were so random and were of no issue to me. I was able to continue pulling back to focusing on my breathing and a few times I was aware but unaware. It was awesome!
Not to say that I don’t like the loving-kindness meditation because I think it has a purpose and I will continue to use it. However, the subtle mind practice is more to my liking. I think it really depends if I want to find peace and clarity or if I want to send some thoughts out to the universe.
I think of my yoga practice as an example of finding a connection of spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. The more I practice, the more I am in tune with my breathing and the movement of my body. When I am holding a pose for any length of time, I have to reach deeper inside myself for strength. And, a lot of the times, it is not physical strength that I’m looking for. It goes beyond that. I have to find a place in my mind where only I exist and at the same time, I’m existing outside my body and mind.
Hi Ellen,
ReplyDeleteI am totally in tune with what you expressed. However, I liked the loving-kindness exercise because it gave me a feeling of "doing" something. I know I am really doing for myself in this practice, but it reinforces my sense of being empathetic and gave me more of a result.
I do agree that yoga is the one practice that pulls me in to a "calm" state. The activity of physical exertion and deep breathing have the most profound effect on me.
Thanks for the insights,
Karin