02
MAY, 2016
Most of us are able to recognize for ourselves when the world has become too loud for us to move fluidly and comfortably throughout the day. When our inner world has become imbalanced. Along with this state of mental challenge and possible physical exhaustion, emotional sensitivities tend to arise quite that can quite frankly beat us up like eggs in a blender.
To be in a kind state of easeful living means we have managed to pull all our human dimensions together in an evenly distributed way. We are able to recognize when we’re off-kilter, and in serious need of re-balancing in our lives.
The human nervous system is more fragile than we would like to admit. Minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years begin to accumulate within our bodies, hearts and minds, and often leave us somewhere between unhappy and miserable … said another way … unfulfilled.
Smoothness within our core being is a condition of body, mind and spirit called Tranquility.
Learning to sit in our inner being, with our inner Stillness, can be a powerful practice to help us see that which we may be missing because of the exterior noises that constantly distract us with their seeming importance, leaving our souls thirsty for attention.
Why is it we of the 21st century need to stuff ourselves relentlessly with more information? More, more, more? If you have no answer for this question, then I believe you are just the person who needs to clear some inner space for yourself.
So here’s an easy three-step challenge for you to explore:
1) Sit quietly (without noise surrounding you in any way). As you do this, draw all of your awareness to the sensations of your breath moving in and out of the tip of your nose. Close your eyes, if you feel comfortable doing so, and continue breathing in this way for 5 minutes.
When you’ve successfully remained focused on your breath for 5 minutes, pause to reflect on how the whole of your being feels. Begin with your head. Has your thinking self paused to rest momentarily? Move downward to you neck and shoulders, and listen to your muscle tone in these areas.
What, if anything, do you notice? If you feel any discomfort there, continue to breathe with full awareness into any areas of discomfort, one at a time. Notice as well in this process how patient or impatient your are with this observation. Try to do so without any self–judgment. There is no fault in feeling either way. Only a knowing in the process.
2) Return to your contemplation, by expanding your awareness to your ears, and their ability to listen. Notice if there are any disrupting sounds, thoughts or intrusions coming from anywhere in your immediate surroundings. Once you have identified any noises, decide for yourself if they were conscious to you before beginning this experience, or if they were playing out their life hidden from your conscious awareness.
3) Last, choose a place where you can go sit, where you feel comfortable and settled … possibly a park, your backyard, or a sacred space of some kind nearby where you can sit comfortably for 20 to 30 minutes.
Once in this space, allow your awareness to completely settle upon the rise and fall of your chest and belly as you breath in and out.
Again, draw all of your attention to the tip of your nose, and the movement of air as it enters and releases from your body. After you’ve succeeded with this experience, pause once again to reflect on any loss of stillness you might have experienced.
Answer a few key questions like:
Where does the inner silence I attain while focusing on my easeful breathing go?
Do I really want to loose this peaceful inner state?
Then ask yourself: when will I schedule a next breathing and listening practice for myself? It is in habit, in mindful practice, that we can attain balance.
Namaste.
We hope we can stay in touch.
Join our community, won’t you?
Recent Comments