Day 4: Meditation Challenge - Feeling Frustrated? Try Lectio

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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.


After a long day at the computer yesterday, I completely surprised myself by coming back here and doing something I hadn't planned on. I spied on you.

Well, not really, sort of. I found myself backtracking, clicking on your links—those that are posted in the Meditation Challenge roster (see right column) and through your comments. I went to your blog sites and read what you are doing. WOW!

I was amazed ... humbled ... and teary with gratitude to learn that so many of you are really taking the Challenge seriously. You are posting your progress. You are sharing what you're learning with others. Many of you posted links back here which, of course, made me feel extra grateful.

But this is the coolest noticing of all. We are becoming a community of meditators. Which is what I had hoped would happen. And, you are reaching out to one another offering advice, sharing your hearts, showing compassion.

We are now 4 days into the Challenge, still in the "honeymoon phase." We are over 60 members strong (double WOW!), excited about what we are doing and staying faithful to our unfolding practice. Let's continue to share what we are doing. Let's notice how we are benefitting from doing meditation and share that. Do you feel it too? How our responses are supporting one another? 

But if you are having trouble, feeling stuck or frustrated in any way, please let me (us) know. I have meditation experts—real teachers— waiting in the wings here, ready to help. Ask a question. Do so in your comment or send me a private e-mail through the Contact Box at my website.

One is Lisa, Mommy Mystic.  She is a meditation teacher in S. Ca. and the Buddhism Editor for Bella Online. The other is Mari Gayatri Stein, an author, cartoonist, yoga and meditation teacher from Oregon. Each were trained in different traditions. Each has a wealth of knowledge and compassionate presence, so ask away!

Today, I'd like to offer you another practice for your Meditation Toolbox.


As a writer, when I'm feeling stuck, I often use writing prompts. These are quotes, passages from books, poems, and more which jumpstart my creative process. They also help me focus, which is one of the primary techniques (and purposes) of meditation.

There are many methods we can use to help our mind focus—with resulting inner calm, clarity, stillness. One of my favorites is to use a prayer form, Lectio Divina. 

Lectio Divina is rooted in the Christian tradition and is translated as "divine reading." It is a way of reading and meditating (praying) upon scripture (spiritual writings). It allows one to sink more deeply into silence and experience "communion with the Divine." Bringing one's attention to a word or passage in this way can corral wild mind, as well. (See yesterday's post).

Very simply, Lectio Divina works like this:

The passage is read aloud. We breathe and access inner quiet. We let the passage "speak" to our hearts. A little time passes. The passage is read again. Now a particular word or phrase may be making itself known to us, speaking to us, urging us deeper. Traditionally, this process is done 3 times. Reading, resting. We settle into stillness a little more each time. We open ourselves to the Spirit; we plug into God, if you will. We allow Sacred Wisdom to come through ... 

I maintain that Lectio Divina can be done with any form of devotional literature, and I often begin my morning with a bit of reading from one of many wisdom sources. I sit with the words and let them wash over me. In time, I become more and more quiet, allowing the wise words of others to speak to my soul. The poetry of Rumi is a favorite, as are Hafez or Tagore. Stillness, inner space, arrives.

I invite you to explore this meditative practice and see where it leads you.
Today, may stillness be yours ...

Blessings for peace,
Jan

Read on ...

From Where I Sit — Day 4, My Meditation Experience

Yesterday, I did 2 guided meditations. One in the late afternoon, one at night. Each was shared by participants in the Challenge, and they were wonderful. Here is one, and here is the other. Thank you friends for sharing these!

Before bed, I took out my prayer beads, a beautiful mala made for me by my friend, Laura. I began to "pray" on each bead, naming and blessing a dear loved one in my life—one bead, one name. (This is a technique I received from my teacher...) I only got about halfway around the beads and my husband came in to go to bed. I vowed to continue today.

This morning I listened to "Tibetan Meditation Music" by Nawang Khechog before writing this post. I breathed and listened. This brought inner calm.

Recommended Resources:


Wildmind's Meditation News Feed sends newsworthy articles about meditation in all of its aspects to your Inbox. I love it. Today's article was especially good on how meditation has been proven to aid people with depression. Click here to read more. 

Inspiration:


Studying and learning can be likened to obtaining good medicine for one's illness from a great doctor. Meditation can be likened to consuming the medicine in order to transform the illness. If the medicine is not taken into our system, then no matter how wonderful it is, it will not cure the illness. Likewise, a spiritual practitioner must ultimately engage in a daily meditation practice in order to embody the spiritual essence learned from his or her master. To meditate means to get into the daily habit of practicing universal love and compassion, wisdom, single-pointed awareness, and other spiritual values. As a result of this constant spiritual familiarization, the individual will become more peaceful, loving, compassionate, and wise over time. 
~Nawang Khechog, Musician and Spiritual Guide