Day 17: Meditation Challenge ~ Meditation Teleconference Announcement and Meditation for Haiti
Welcome, to my 28-Meditation Challenge.
If you have joined us late, that is just fine. If you'd like to "officially" join in, simply leave a comment here that says, "I'm in!" and I will add you to the Challenge Roster. Or, send me an e-mail through the Contact Box at my website: awakenedliving.com. You may want to catch up by reading the previous posts. We are glad you are here! Each day we come here, even if we have not meditated as we'd hoped, we begin again.
Start where you are ...
Announcements:
1.) Our 28-Day Meditation teleconference (free, by the way) is scheduled for next week, Tuesday, January 26 at 2:00 p.m. (EST). Everyone is welcome!
However, you must register to be in on the conference call. There are 96 slots available.
Teleconference Content: I will be presenting the most powerful meditation technique I have learned to date. It involves working with strong emotions. I guarantee it will shift things for you internally. It sure did me! We will also meditate ~ together! And you can ask questions, too!
The call will be live so we can connect with one another heart-to-heart. An MP3 will be posted for those who cannot attend.
If you can't attend at 2:00 pm. that day, let me know. If there is enough interest, we can do a second call at 8:00 p.m. EST, but you will have to let me know. Note that in your e-mail registration note to me. Thank you! I am very excited about this and can't wait to hear your voices.
2.) This is a busy week for me and I am traveling downstate to meet with directees/mentees and lead a women's day retreat. (Click here for details!). So I have invited some special guests to fill in. I'll be checking in in the evening, but here's the line-up!
Wednesday: "Creativity as Meditation" with Joanne from Breathe as Me, one of the most creative women I know. She'll be hosting a giveaway to for one of her lovely art prints!
Thursday: "Movement as Meditation" with Christine from BlissChick, a yoga-dance instructor. Woo-hoo!
Friday: "Meditation and Sacred Chant" with Laura from Shine the Divine. Laura has 2 surprises for us. An MP3 of her singing a Jewish mantra/prayer and a giveaway of 2 free one-hour creativity coaching sessions. Wow!
Ya'll come!
All of us have been disheartened by the devastating news from Haiti. I felt it appropriate to suggest that we dedicate one of our personal meditation sessions to uplift the victims of this tragedy. How?
One such practice is Tonglen. This is how it works. See it demonstrated for yourself here by Pema Chodron. Here is a summary.
When something uncomfortable arises, instead of trying to get rid of it, we breathe it in. We let the story line go (what we are saying to ourselves about this, i.e. this is bad, distasteful, shameful, angry, etc) and simply breathe it in. We take in the pain, rage, fear, or hopelessness of others. We breathe it in for the people of Haiti—or for the children, the women, the families, the elderly, whomever touches your heart.
Then we breathe it out, sending out a sense of spaciousness, freshness, freedom. As Pema Chodron advises, "We do this with the wish that all of us could relax and experience the innermost essence of our mind."
Tonglon affirms our kinship with others. It acknowledges that everyone wants to be happy. No one wants to suffer. Aligning ourselves with the suffering of others opens our hearts and builds compassion.
Tonglon is not for wimps. It may not be for you if you are new to meditation, because working with difficult emotions can be tricky. Use your own judgment, or go for a softer, more spacious kind of blessing practice for the victims.
Metta is very good for this. To hear this demonstrated by Sharon Salzberg, click here.
Here's my version. Simply bring your attention to your heart center. Breathe in deeply and allow it to open. Imagine the others whom you wish to serve with your prayer as standing in front of you. Send beams of love from your heart to theirs while saying these phrases. Pause and breathe between phrases:May you be safe.
May you be healthy and strong.
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
Feel free to substitute the phrases with words that have meaning for you. Customize the practice to convey what you really desire for these suffering individuals.
Today, and for as many days as we need to, may we dedicate our practice to relieving the suffering of others. May all beings be blessed by these efforts. May all be free from pain, worry, hunger, homelessness, disease, fear. May all beings live with ease ...
I'm interested in YOUR ideas on how to include suffering individuals like the people of Haiti in a meditation/prayer practice.
Please share ...
Jan
Read on ...
Read on ...
Yesterday I did an guided metta meditation on "Lovingkindness for Ourselves" from Sharon Salzberg's book/cd "The Force of Kindness." It helped me relax and sleep well as I'd had a rather intense afternoon.
Recommended Resources:
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron is one of my all-time favorite books. I found it when my life was falling apart many years ago. Her centered presence, wisdom, and tried-and-true practices for working with chaos is priceless. Her book, The Places that Scare You is excellent, too. I've re-read them many times. Watch Pema Chodron on You Tube here explain the practice of maitri ~ unconditional friendliness to ourselves. Of course, the practice of maitri naturally leads to unconditional friendliness to others.
Inspiration:
Beliefnet offers a wonderful interview with Pema Chodron on "Turning Toward Pain." You can access it here.
The interviewer asks: "Turning toward pain instead of avoiding it is a common theme in your books."
PC: Yes, because I realized what a source of happiness turning toward pain actually is. Our avoidance of pain keeps us locked in a cycle of suffering. The Buddha said that what we take to be solid isn't really solid. It's fluid. It's dynamic energy. And not only do we take our opponents and obstacles to be solid; we also believe ourselves to be solid or permanent. In the West, we add the belief that the self is bad. That night I spent meditating, I discovered that there is no solid, bad me. It's all just ineffable experience.
The interviewer asks: "Turning toward pain instead of avoiding it is a common theme in your books."
PC: Yes, because I realized what a source of happiness turning toward pain actually is. Our avoidance of pain keeps us locked in a cycle of suffering. The Buddha said that what we take to be solid isn't really solid. It's fluid. It's dynamic energy. And not only do we take our opponents and obstacles to be solid; we also believe ourselves to be solid or permanent. In the West, we add the belief that the self is bad. That night I spent meditating, I discovered that there is no solid, bad me. It's all just ineffable experience.
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9 comments:
Jan,
I think this is my favorite post to date. I have been using my own form of tonglen for years to deal with chronic pain...and have read Pema's teaching's on this too...really powerful and so pertinent to the crisis in Haiti...Darfur...North Korea...so many places. Thank you for this precious post and for all of the links you have provided.
bless you sweet soul,
gentle steps,
Laura
What a wonderful post Jan - thank you. I'm going to try Tonglan but if that's too much I'll do Metta.
Have a wonderful retreat and I look forward to listening to your MP3 next week.
I just wanted to stop by to let you know that I am still here & meditating every day. I have just been swamped the past week.
I have come to accept myself as I am over the past several years since an enlightening experience during a very difficult time. My enlightenment actually came to me a few years before I started meditating. I guess after it happened...I knew there was a better place & I wanted to learn how to get back there & stay there longer. My life has been a more peaceful & calmer place ever since.
My son is having surgery on the 26th so, I will not be able to participate in the tele-blog but I will be checking in.
Laura,
This is good to hear. I'd love to learn more about what you do. And I imagine it would be something to share with others in similar situations (if you have not done so already). Happy to hear this post spoke to you. So many people are doing wonderful things to support Haiti right now. Perhaps this will be a small part...
Rochelle,
Yes, listen to your wise self. Metta is very gentle. Sometimes tonglen can feel a little dense or sticky if you are not used to navigating strong emotions with ease. Simply setting an intention to briefly check in with it and release it through the breath with ease and love does help. :-) Good luck!
What a wonderful idea, Jan! I love that we can uplift those who are struggling and our prayers are just as special as if we were there to pass on a hug, or nourishment. Oh, how they need this! You are such a wise soul! ;) hugs, Sharmila
Liz,
Good for you, I am glad to hear you're still on track. :-) Your ah-ha moment does sound like it truly shifted your life. I like to think of all of us as en-lighten-ing, works in process/progress. Blessings to your son for successful surgery!
Jenn,
What greater purpose is there for our prayers/meditation than to benefit others. :-) Be well!
Wonderful post, Jan.
Thank you for reminding about Tonglen practice. I am encouraged to re-embrace it.
At the end of every session of meditation I "Dedicate the Merit". I do this informally , sometimes making up on the spot who/what to dedicate my practice to.
It can be as general as "may all sentient beings be at peace, may all be free." Or more specifically "I dedicate the merit of this practice to all the victims of the earthquake in Haiti,may they be healed, may they be at peace..."
Somehow, this encourages my feeling of connection. I am not isolated. I release my hold on my practice and allow it to flow out into the world.
Karen,
Tis true, that dedication of merit does seem to lend a different tone to our meditation, doesn't it. We move from "me" to "other" and that, very honestly, feels pretty good. Plus, like you, I do hope that our efforts somehow uplift others through the heart connection. Your practice sounds so lovely...
Jan,
I too love this book! Someone once told me they equate it to the bible for the modern day Buddhist.
Haiti is near and dear to me. I have many friends who have adopted from Haiti and a few who were in the process when the earthquake hit. Such devastation!
I have also used that Meta. I always begin by doing it for myself (because you have to care for yourself first). It is such a wonderful thing to be able to send good thoughts and energies to others. Great post!
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