A Brief Of My Meditation History: |
Heart-Centered: |
Mantra: |
Quieting Your Mind As A Way To Do That: |
Purpose: |
Meditating Mama Meditation Guide |
Sharing: |
To me, meditation is a very personal experience. I’ve rarely thought of helping people meditate.
Now people have said they would like my help with their meditation.
I’ll share what I can.
1) Personal experience, from my almost 50 years of meditating.
2) The minimal knowledge I’ve gathered from others over the years, mostly directly from people.
3) Live meditation sessions, online.
I was not a mama when I began meditating. I had not even thought of being a mama.
I recently began sharing my meditation practice because I want people to know that it might not be necessary to have absolute
quiet to meditate. For me it is not.
As a meditating mama I often had my little ones climbing on my lap as I meditated.
I did not let that stop me from being grounded and centered or from quieting my mind, or from being a source of flowing love.
Now people have said they would like my help with their meditation.
I’ll share what I can.
1) Personal experience, from my almost 50 years of meditating.
2) The minimal knowledge I’ve gathered from others over the years, mostly directly from people.
3) Live meditation sessions, online.
I was not a mama when I began meditating. I had not even thought of being a mama.
I recently began sharing my meditation practice because I want people to know that it might not be necessary to have absolute
quiet to meditate. For me it is not.
As a meditating mama I often had my little ones climbing on my lap as I meditated.
I did not let that stop me from being grounded and centered or from quieting my mind, or from being a source of flowing love.
| (Below is my current purpose for meditating. As I create this for you, I am beginning to sense that there is much more to meditation than I’ve experienced so far…) |
| To create a blissful, aware connection between me and my inner being (or whatever term you prefer: soul, spirit, witness, source… ‘inner guidance’ was the first term I learned from my inner guidance when I was 18) |
Here is a general outline of my meditation:
1) I sit with my spine comfortably straight.
2) I become aware of a high-pitched frequency in me. I focus on it, or on my breath.
(This whole process can happen instantly or may take up to 45 minutes)
1) I sit with my spine comfortably straight.
2) I become aware of a high-pitched frequency in me. I focus on it, or on my breath.
- a. I can use my out breath to clear my inner space of thoughts by radiating/pushing energy out as I breathe out.
b. (The other night I heard a cricket singing loudly. I thought, ‘that sounds like a similar vibration to that inner vibration only
the inner vibration is higher and faster.’)
(This whole process can happen instantly or may take up to 45 minutes)
- a. I sit enjoying the feeling of bliss flowing through me, until I have an impulse to do something else.
Using a mantra to focus my awareness has been very important in my practice.
My first meditation experience involved silent repetition of a mantra.
Many years later I received a mantra as part of another initiation. I used this for many more years and had many experiences
through this.
However, it is only now, where my focus is on quieting my mind that I can consistently achieve a state of bliss. And I love that so
much.
My first meditation experience involved silent repetition of a mantra.
Many years later I received a mantra as part of another initiation. I used this for many more years and had many experiences
through this.
However, it is only now, where my focus is on quieting my mind that I can consistently achieve a state of bliss. And I love that so
much.
| My meditation practices have always been heart-centered. This seems like a very important focus. |
My Inner Guidance – My Beginning
I was 18 when I became aware of something I called my Inner Guidance. I don’t remember how that name came. I don’t even
remember how the awareness of my Inner Guidance came, but I do remember that I was 18 and it was a very real presence in my
life.
I learned by following and not following what it directed me to do, or better said, suggested that I do or not do. I quickly became
aware that when I followed those suggestions, I liked how things went. And, when I did not do, or did the opposite of what was
suggested, I did not like how things went.
I don’t remember if at that time I’d ever heard of meditation. I don’t think so.
I was 18 when I became aware of something I called my Inner Guidance. I don’t remember how that name came. I don’t even
remember how the awareness of my Inner Guidance came, but I do remember that I was 18 and it was a very real presence in my
life.
I learned by following and not following what it directed me to do, or better said, suggested that I do or not do. I quickly became
aware that when I followed those suggestions, I liked how things went. And, when I did not do, or did the opposite of what was
suggested, I did not like how things went.
I don’t remember if at that time I’d ever heard of meditation. I don’t think so.
My First Meditation Initiation
I’d long forgotten one of the important discussions we had with the person that eventually taught us Transcendental Meditation.
He spoke about the witness, who looks out of our eyes and just observes what is going on. A presence that is aware through us.
I now think of that as my inner guidance or my inner being.
We met him on a train in India. He was coming from Rishikesh and we were heading to Nepal. Maybe he was too. He had just
completed becoming a teacher of Transcendental Meditation and we were eager listeners.
As I remember, meditation sounded like something I wanted to do from the beginning. Then as I learned how, it felt like I was
home. It felt good and so I continued. I was taught to meditate in the morning and in the evening.
I’d long forgotten one of the important discussions we had with the person that eventually taught us Transcendental Meditation.
He spoke about the witness, who looks out of our eyes and just observes what is going on. A presence that is aware through us.
I now think of that as my inner guidance or my inner being.
We met him on a train in India. He was coming from Rishikesh and we were heading to Nepal. Maybe he was too. He had just
completed becoming a teacher of Transcendental Meditation and we were eager listeners.
As I remember, meditation sounded like something I wanted to do from the beginning. Then as I learned how, it felt like I was
home. It felt good and so I continued. I was taught to meditate in the morning and in the evening.
Notes On My Practice
I was not a mama when I began meditating. I had not even thought of being a mama.
I recently began sharing my meditation practice because I want people to know that it is not necessary for one to have absolute
quiet to meditate. As a meditating mama I often had my little ones climbing on my lap as I meditated. I did not let that stop me from
being grounded and centered or from quieting my mind, or from being a source of flowing love.
In fact, as I think of it now, it probably helped my practice. I am also remembering that the intensity of my practice increased when I
was meditating with others. I can feel it now, just thinking of it.
For many years I actually and often heard my inner guidance telling me the answers to my questions. Now I just feel an inner
feeling that guides me just as effectively moment by moment.
I’ve recently remembered that I used to hear my inner guidance, now that I’m writing this for you. I used to ask questions and hear
answers. It was fun.
I greatly enjoy and appreciate the moment by moment guidance, that gives me knowing and clarity, but I also enjoyed hearing my
answers.
I’d completely forgotten about hearing the answers, but I do love hearing them.
Sometimes during meditation I felt amazing, but it was not something I could do anytime I wanted. I did not know how to create this.
But when it happened I totally enjoyed it and stayed with it as long as I could. Now that has changed.
Now, I can get to that space any day I have 45 minutes to sit in meditation. Sometimes I can get there in a few minutes. Sometimes
in 15 or 20 minutes, but for sure in 45 minutes. Now I know that getting into that blissful state involves a process of quieting my
mind. That’s because in quieting my mind, I allow my inner being to merge with me, or me to merge with it, merging in any case.
That’s what feels like bliss. I love to feel that. I’m so glad I can feel that frequently now, instead of just from time to time.
In my morning meditation, I became moment by moment aware of how I can quiet my mind. I might not do it this way every time, but
this is one way I do it. Maybe the main way. At some point I remember I want to quiet my mind. Then I breathe the out breath into
the beginning of the next thought. And it doesn’t form into a thought. It just spreads out. Then I can, as I breath in, it keeps the
thought energy non-formed. Then I can breathe my out breath over, or into that energy again and eventually I don’t even want to
think a thought. And then my focus goes to the good feelings that are forming in me, or flowing through me.
Now that I’m remembering past meditation experiences, I remember wanting answers during my meditations. So I wasn’t at all
focused on quieting my mind. It wasn’t until I read a book of my father’s by Sri Aurobindo that quieting my mind became something I
wanted to do, that I even knew was a possibility, let alone a desirable possibility.
I don’t even remember why he quieted his mind. I remember I wanted to quiet my mind so that I could continue to receive value
from his writing which I must have been appreciating enough to take the time to get my mind to the state of stillness like a clear
blue sky. That’s how I used to think of it. I wonder if he used that term or if I came up with it?
It seems that the concept of harnessing my mind even came from the first teacher of meditation …maybe. Anyway, I did come
across it and it made sense to me. It made sense that I, the being, am to be in charge and the mind, my mind is to do my bidding.
That still makes sense to me. It makes sense that I, the being, am my inner being, my inner guidance. Actually, it seems that my
inner guidance is an aspect of my inner being. I’ve always considered it an aspect of the divine. It feels so good to be connected
with it and its guidance is so accurate.
I was not a mama when I began meditating. I had not even thought of being a mama.
I recently began sharing my meditation practice because I want people to know that it is not necessary for one to have absolute
quiet to meditate. As a meditating mama I often had my little ones climbing on my lap as I meditated. I did not let that stop me from
being grounded and centered or from quieting my mind, or from being a source of flowing love.
In fact, as I think of it now, it probably helped my practice. I am also remembering that the intensity of my practice increased when I
was meditating with others. I can feel it now, just thinking of it.
For many years I actually and often heard my inner guidance telling me the answers to my questions. Now I just feel an inner
feeling that guides me just as effectively moment by moment.
I’ve recently remembered that I used to hear my inner guidance, now that I’m writing this for you. I used to ask questions and hear
answers. It was fun.
I greatly enjoy and appreciate the moment by moment guidance, that gives me knowing and clarity, but I also enjoyed hearing my
answers.
I’d completely forgotten about hearing the answers, but I do love hearing them.
Sometimes during meditation I felt amazing, but it was not something I could do anytime I wanted. I did not know how to create this.
But when it happened I totally enjoyed it and stayed with it as long as I could. Now that has changed.
Now, I can get to that space any day I have 45 minutes to sit in meditation. Sometimes I can get there in a few minutes. Sometimes
in 15 or 20 minutes, but for sure in 45 minutes. Now I know that getting into that blissful state involves a process of quieting my
mind. That’s because in quieting my mind, I allow my inner being to merge with me, or me to merge with it, merging in any case.
That’s what feels like bliss. I love to feel that. I’m so glad I can feel that frequently now, instead of just from time to time.
In my morning meditation, I became moment by moment aware of how I can quiet my mind. I might not do it this way every time, but
this is one way I do it. Maybe the main way. At some point I remember I want to quiet my mind. Then I breathe the out breath into
the beginning of the next thought. And it doesn’t form into a thought. It just spreads out. Then I can, as I breath in, it keeps the
thought energy non-formed. Then I can breathe my out breath over, or into that energy again and eventually I don’t even want to
think a thought. And then my focus goes to the good feelings that are forming in me, or flowing through me.
Now that I’m remembering past meditation experiences, I remember wanting answers during my meditations. So I wasn’t at all
focused on quieting my mind. It wasn’t until I read a book of my father’s by Sri Aurobindo that quieting my mind became something I
wanted to do, that I even knew was a possibility, let alone a desirable possibility.
I don’t even remember why he quieted his mind. I remember I wanted to quiet my mind so that I could continue to receive value
from his writing which I must have been appreciating enough to take the time to get my mind to the state of stillness like a clear
blue sky. That’s how I used to think of it. I wonder if he used that term or if I came up with it?
It seems that the concept of harnessing my mind even came from the first teacher of meditation …maybe. Anyway, I did come
across it and it made sense to me. It made sense that I, the being, am to be in charge and the mind, my mind is to do my bidding.
That still makes sense to me. It makes sense that I, the being, am my inner being, my inner guidance. Actually, it seems that my
inner guidance is an aspect of my inner being. I’ve always considered it an aspect of the divine. It feels so good to be connected
with it and its guidance is so accurate.
