CosmicWise

...lighting the candle of personal awareness & becoming ...

Meditation

Question: I find my meditation is more of a struggle because my mind/thoughts are racing. I keep coming back to my breath but continue to get frustrated just the same. Any suggestions on quieting the mind? Also, could you elaborate on tapping into our body's feelings/sensations to find our truth?
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Response: Certainly, the practice of tapping into the body's feelings and sensations as a means of connecting with our truth can be very practical. Remembering as an integration process can be helpful toward healing but NOT for the purpose of rehashing and clinging to our past memories. We wish to connect to the Now Moment not remain lost in our regrets and nostolgias; to release ourselves from our past, not lock ourselves into them. Again, remembering is only a means of clearing out what hinders us & for reconnecting to the all-important aspects of ourselves that are missing and are vital to living right (the Noble Truths).

Our individual living experience is somewhat like a boat. If we are to make our way through life's waters without enduring leaks (loss of energy), or constant water bailing (over emoting), or the threat of sinking (despair), or staying afloat (just getting by), or circling sharks (getting taken advantage of), etc.. etc.. in short, without having to SUFFER unduly, then our life "container" must have structural integrity. The physical body may not be who we really are, however it does hold a great deal of valuable information should we ever care to make use of it.

The reason why our past often repeats is because we very literally will not let it go. Instead of consciously dealing with all our past issues and letting their energy leave us, we tuck their energies inside various parts of our body's musculature each time we practice avoidance, so that when we try to sit down to meditate, for instance, we become aware of these repressed energies as they race around as unwanted, uninvited, and intrusive thoughts. But as soon as we come to terms with the repressed memories that these types of thoughts represent, then we are able to sit in meditation peacefully. Interestingly, THAT is precisely what meditation is all about; to allow repressed energies to surface so they can be released.

The reason you are having trouble with meditation is because you have forgotten what meditation is. Meditation is the time when we deliberately sit and do nothing but allow our thoughts to surface while we practice taking the Silent Observer's position. Meditation, especially in the early stages, is not the stilling of thoughts.. it is about repositioning ourselves in relation to our continually arising and shifting thoughts. See the difference? It is allowing our thoughts the freedom to surface while we patiently sit and observe them. Indeed, after much practice, we will be able to sit in the clarity of stillness that holds fewer and fewer thoughts but we must crawl and walk before we can run. Patience.

Demitra M.N.