Meditation sessions online

Go to ; Zoom web conference

1. sign up to Zoom online Computer Desktop  https://zoom.us/meetings

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2. This is the link for my meditation sessions.

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https://us04web.zoom.us/j/4994011793?pwd=ckVUNyt3cDl5YnJGMXNLeDVzM1AzZz09

Meditation 

We are starting a meditation together with Gerard connecting on Zoom.

Find details in the coming days on my blog wildlotus-healing.blogspot.com.au and wildlotus-arts.blogspot.com.au.

We look at the mind body and spiritual aspects to the ancient study of Dharana meaning concentration according to Patanjali. But meditation is even more than this. 

See Patanjali Yoga sutras
Dharana is the sixth of the Eight Limbs of Yoga as described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. It refers to concentration of the mind. Practicing dharana involves fixing the mind on a particular object — either external (such as an image or deity) or internal (such as a chakra).
Dharana is a Sanskrit word which means "concentration." 

The 7th stage is Nirvana or enlightenment ; liberation from all earthly attachments.

Schedule Times

April 17.30 Monday Wednesday Friday Length 40min.

Questions and notes can be found on my google classroom page. If you have questions post there for the moment.

Please email me or sms if you wish to get links to join.

Payments

Donations ...see my blog wildlotus-arts.blogspot at the top right corner tag. or direct payment via banking app my mobile is 0407734479 with osko direct transfer.

Put your name to the transfer details so I can thank you if your wish.

Bank transfers BSB 633 000 120991815

Please give a monthly payment and diligently study daily for at least 30 min to benefit.





Notes

 Meditation

Grounding and alignment

Earthing ourselves

Feel the gravity of earth natura known as Prakriti or the Ma / Mother in India.

The body is centred on the earth so begin by feeling the connection, with the intent of sinking energy downward to earth.

Choose a comfortable posture and connect to the earth while simultaneously reaching for the sky from the crown of the head.

Breath

Let the breath sink downward to below the navel or tantien.  This is the place of Chi life force storage and circulation point.  It is our embryonic centre also known as the Hara in Japanese Aikido and Shinto.

With training the mind can direct Chi to anywhere in the body and revitalization follows. When the Breath or prana flows to a spot together with our mind like the Hara below the navel there is a peace created as we slow down the breath.

The breath must be slow and steady and the mind and breath are linked by emotion.

Spine straight yet at ease

The spine relaxed and straight so the chi can flow up and down it freely, so create a feeling of ease avoid stiffness. Place the hands in one of these positions.

1 palms down on our thighs

  

2. Palms up on the thighs with the thumb joining the index finger

3. Couple the hands and rest them below the navel with the thumbs touching at the tip.

Visualization

In Taoism there is an image of the cosmos as a triangle,so imagine your body as a triangle with earth at the bottom and your body in the middle and the heavens at the top. If we sit cross legged this accentuates this feeling and image and the stomach and organs are opened up as well as our hips, sex organs.

Hormones

The endocrine systems hormonal levels and physical health are intertwined. The thyroid and the adrenals are but two well known processes crucial for blood sugar levels and metabolic and heart rate.  It is safe to say if the mind is balanced these processes work well but if we are stressed then they begin to malfunction so it is important to not over stress the body/mind. The goal is an aware but relaxed approach to life.

Awareness of Now

Awareness is at the essence of a meditative mind. Meditation is an exercise in awareness as we become more and more Present or ‘in the moment’, able to focus on the Now and concentrate on what is at hand. There are many positive aspects of being present. Some are as follows;

-          One concentrates on a task far better

-          One is in the present time mentally and emotionally and our emotions connected to the past don’t distract us so this helps productivity and quality.

-          Being present enables one to know what is happening about us in greater detail and in a fuller way because of a concentrated mind and undivided attention.

-          One becomes more aware of time and time sheds light on ones reflective capacity to determine ourselves in the present via our breath, emotional mood, thoughts and physical feelings.

     The Mind

     The place of the mind while in meditation is in a neutral position as if one was in a car and the motor was running whilst stationary. We want the mind to tick over and be in the state of awareness. With practice we become aware that there are thoughts going on in the mind. Most of the time people are not even aware their thoughts are running all day, coming and going. They just live from one thought and action or reaction or one emotional reactive event to another. Meditation is ‘Awareness’ .  But what is awareness ?  It is Awareness of being. 

      The mind is needed for everyday activities and actions for life like driving the car, working, listening to instructions, communicating etc but in meditation the mind plays a neutral role.  It is if we detach ourselves from the mind and enter a state of spiritual awareness. In this state we start to listen to the quietness of our breath, our heart rate, the sounds around us outside, how tense our back is, if our neck is sore etc.... so there is a heightened physical as well as mental and emotional awareness arising.

      A lot of the time the thoughts that arise are related to the things that are most important to us in our life, often stress filled things like work, unfinished plans, a relationship, illness that is present, emotional pain like anger at a sibling, fear of failing a test, planning a trip, etc....  So in meditation the space becomes filled with all these important energies activities and projections of the immediate life and projections of the mind.  What do we do? We observe unconditionally, not adding or subtracting to the emotion, the thought or the feeling and importantly we don’t judge or solve.  This takes the mind and ego out of the situation as we become an observer of the ‘Self’.