I am still having problems managing a flood of mails so I am simply posting
regular stuff for the time being.

Journal Entry - tosime
Date:  November 12
Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
Time: 07:40 a.m.
Duration: 55 minutes (open)
Posture: Seated on chair
Body: Eyes closed,
  - tongue tip to pallet,
  - hands on knees-index finger touching thumb.
Room Condition: Darkened room
  - One candle
  - Incense
  - Essential Oil - (Lavender+water on burner)
  - Bell
Pre-session: Sip of water
  - full body stretch (3 times).
Previous day's influence: Second yoga class.
Mind Chatter: Medium.
Waves of bliss: Two.
Experience: Excellent Session.

Result:

Had many, varied experiences today - I will be lucky if I can remember half
of them.

Decided to reach a no-mind state without thinking about the process. No
analogies, just a simple stilling my mind.

Before then, I went through the usual period of physical relaxation and
giving my mind freedom to roam until I was relaxed enough to start a gradual
shut down in thinking.

During this period I saw how the previous day's incidents surfaced inside
different situations. For example a feeling of curiosity about something I
saw would surface as the same feeling coming up in a different situation.
Once I saw the link to the previous day's incidence, the whole scene
dissolved. As soon as I understood the process, I did not have to wait for
the new scene to play itself out. All I needed to do was recognize the
feeling and link it to the previous day's incidence and I could pass that
episode much quicker than before. Did this a few times and it accelerated my
movement through that phase or stage in my meditation.

After stilling my mind, I felt stirrings of a wave of bliss. Just after the
initial stirring I had this "knowing" that this wave would peak (most
stirrings do not peak). There was no physical or "mental" indication that it
would peak - just a strange knowing that seemed to have no form. My wave
peaked. I then focused on the "knowing" and my whole body erupted as if to
confirm that I had discovered something very important. My lower back (where
I had felt pain) adjusted itself as if to confirm that this was what it was
trying to tell me all the time. I had another wave of bliss.

This intuitive sensation seems like an important door I have just opened.
The problem is that the door has no visible handle or frame - nothing that
would make it look like a door. You only knew it was a door when you went
through it and noticed the difference in how the world appeared.

By now all the other experiences during this meditation have faded from
memory. This was a beautiful session. I can imagine how empty life would be
without meditation!

xxx wrote:
I have a Christian background and always was told that meditation was
a "New Age" thing and was of the devil. A new friend considers it the
same as prayer, which of course is a holy thing. How do meditation
and prayer differ?

>xxx wrote:
>I have a Christian background and always was told that meditation was
>a "New Age" thing and was of the devil. A new friend considers it the
>same as prayer, which of course is a holy thing. How do meditation
>and prayer differ?
>
>
I like Mother Teresa's response to this question. She said, "Prayer is
talking to God. Meditation is listening to God." I have a Christian background
and was a preacher for 7 years in a church called, "Servants of The New
Covenant". I taught meditation classes in this church. I am convinced
that Jesus was a meditator, too. How about, "Be still and know that I am God."?

Jeff
--
Jeff Belyea
aka Jeffrey Noble,PhD
www.suiteonedesign.com
personal site at http://www.mindgoal.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am having problems managing a flood of mails so I am simply posting
regular stuff for the time being.

Journal Entry - tosime
Date:  November 13
Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
Time: 07:30 a.m.
Duration: 45 minutes (open)
Posture: Seated on chair
Body: Eyes closed,
  - tongue tip to pallet,
  - hands on knees-index finger touching thumb.
Room Condition: Darkened room
  - One candle
  - Incense
  - Essential Oil - (Precious flowers+water on burner)
  - Bell
Pre-session: Sip of water
  - full body stretch (3 times).
Previous day's influence: Third yoga class.
Mind Chatter: Low.
Waves of bliss: One slight.
Experience:  Fair Session.

Result:

Light simple session.

Wanted to explore the intuitive "knowing" I experienced yesterday. Nothing
came up.

Very little mind chatter.

Felt an itch in my right arm. Normally I would have scratched it. Since I
was meditating, decided to remain still. The itch triggered a minor wave of
bliss.

Not much activity today. Very simple session. Reached very deep levels of
physical relaxation and the inner sounds were quite strong at one point.

Came out of the session quite abruptly.

Date: November 13, 2002
Time: 9:30am, 30 minutes (open)
Position: Sitting on bed, cross-legged, eyes closed, hand resting on
lap
Technique: Body and breath awareness
Variation: visualization

Mind chatter was high and concentration was medium. After
participating in a visualization technique in meditation class the
other night, I decided to try visualization today, and did the Garden
of Eden technique. Even though I didn't actually "see" the images in
my imagination, it was still clear and vivid. I noticed the details
of my surroundings as well as sounds (birds and bugs) and smells
(flowers). Giving my mind this task of "visualizing" and noticing
seemed to help keep me focused, even though my mind chatter was high.
I made sure that I ended my session consciously and slowly. I had
some physical discomfort today; headache, mild back pain, and tension
in shoulders (kept noticing that I was scrunched up). Still, I felt
relaxed afterward.

Hi Eve,

I have been trying to read through stacks of posts from some other groups. I
may just give up.

Could you describe the visualization technique you participated in during
your meditation class?

What is the "Garden of Eden" technique?

I am not sure if we discussed this before, but when you hear mind chatter,
is it your voice or is it another familiar voice? Does the voice change as
situations change?

...Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: eveneon [mailto:no_reply@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 4:26 PM
To: meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Meditation Society of America] Journal Entry-Eve


Date: November 13, 2002
Time: 9:30am, 30 minutes (open)
Position: Sitting on bed, cross-legged, eyes closed, hand resting on
lap
Technique: Body and breath awareness
Variation: visualization

Mind chatter was high and concentration was medium. After
participating in a visualization technique in meditation class the
other night, I decided to try visualization today, and did the Garden
of Eden technique. Even though I didn't actually "see" the images in
my imagination, it was still clear and vivid. I noticed the details
of my surroundings as well as sounds (birds and bugs) and smells
(flowers). Giving my mind this task of "visualizing" and noticing
seemed to help keep me focused, even though my mind chatter was high.
I made sure that I ended my session consciously and slowly. I had
some physical discomfort today; headache, mild back pain, and tension
in shoulders (kept noticing that I was scrunched up). Still, I felt
relaxed afterward.



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meditationsocietyofamerica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com



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--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., Jeff Belyea <jeff@s...> wrote:
> >xxx wrote:
> >I have a Christian background and always was told that meditation
was
> >a "New Age" thing and was of the devil. A new friend considers it
the
> >same as prayer, which of course is a holy thing. How do meditation
> >and prayer differ?
> >
> >
> I like Mother Teresa's response to this question. She said, "Prayer
is
> talking to God. Meditation is listening to God." I have a Christian
background
> and was a preacher for 7 years in a church called, "Servants of The
New
> Covenant". I taught meditation classes in this church. I am
convinced
> that Jesus was a meditator, too. How about, "Be still and know that
I am God."?
>
> Jeff

G:  Jeff is so right as usual...  Would have to say the the
Contemplatives are in the midst of prayer as Well as the listening or
waiting upon God...  It is only within the stillness that the heart
speaks or the wisdom comes forth...  Prayer is petitioning and
meditation is waiting for the answers...

     i doub't that Christ or Abraham simply kept petitioning God
without sitting back and allowing God to send the Answers ... If
Moses wasn't willing to listen then how would the 10 commandments
have come?  if Abraham didn't listen then how did he hear Gods word
to spare Issac...   It is in the stillness that Gods voice may be
Known...

Love Shanti Om ...g...    i was also within an esoteric christian
order and meditation was stressed as much as prayer...

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "Tony" <tosime@b...> wrote:
> Hi Eve,
> Could you describe the visualization technique you participated in
during
> your meditation class?

Bob led us through a guided meditation where we went back to when we
were little kids, remembering going to a bakery, candy store,
birthday parties, and other places like that, and eating our favorite
treats. It was very easy for me to stay focused. I could almost smell
and taste the treats.


> What is the "Garden of Eden" technique?

No. The Garden of Eden technique is when you visualize your own
version of a very peaceful place. For me, it is a lake with a big
willow tree and a mountain off in the distance. Lots of flowers and
animals and bugs. I visualize myself walikg down path to get to the
spot where I sit and meditate. So, I am meditating in my meditation.
(That sounds kinda funny!) When I am getting ready to end my session,
I imagine myself walking away from my "garden of eden", back up to
the road. Although I am not describing in too much detail here, I try
and be very specific with details while I am doing it. Coming to and
leaving my Garden of Eden gives my session a begiining and end, which
seems to help my concentration.
In the past, I have shyed away from visualiztion techniques because I
considered them to be more like daydreaming. But, I don't think this
is true anymore (atleast not for me.) Even though I am concentrating
on visualizing I still have mind chatter about other things, but it
seems to be quieter and I am still aware of my meditation.
There is a version of the garden of eden meditation of the Guided
Meditation CD that the Meditation Society put out.

> I am not sure if we discussed this before, but when you hear mind
chatter,
> is it your voice or is it another familiar voice? Does the voice
change as
> situations change?

It is always my voice. My "mind chatter" is just another term for my
thoughts, so it's all me.

By the way Tony, I've been enjoying your journal entries. Thanks for
continuing to post them.

Eve

Date: November 14, 2002
Time: 8:30am 45 minutes (open)
Position: Sitting on bed, cross-legged, eyes closed, hand resting on
lap
Technique: Body and breath awareness
Variation: visualization

Used a visualization technique again. My concentration was good and
mind chatter was medium. Not much happening during today's session.
Very peaceful and relaxing.

Eve -

I love your visualizations. I've walked
the path with you many times. When I sit
by the tree in the field, near the brook,
with all the beautiful flowers and birds
and gorgeous blue sky, "meditating within
my meditation" (I like that one, nice and
succinct), I look for a special flower
that I focus on, and pay particular
attention to its color and form.

I then remind myself that the flower came
from seed and grew naturally. As we did.
That it naturally opens to the sun and
follows it across the sky, drinks in the
rain, closes at sunset. Bees visit to
drink of it's nectar and carry its seed.
I wonder as I look at its glorious color
and delicately graceful form, if it
"knows" how beautiful it is.

The flower never interferes with its
natural existence. It grows, blossoms,
flowers, shares its seeds and nectar,
and then dies to that form. But the seeds,
the very consciousness of the each
flower lives on and on.

I wonder if we "know" how beautiful
we are. Meditation is a wonderful way
to take a peek.


As Father G would say, "Meditation been
very, very good to me."


All in love,

Jeff
--
Jeff
1-800-330-4975
www.suiteonedesign.com
personal site at http://www.mindgoal.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Journal Entry - tosime
Date:  November 14
Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
Time: 03:10 a.m.
Duration: 53 minutes (open)
Posture: Seated on chair
Body: Eyes closed,
  - tongue tip to pallet,
  - hands on knees-index finger touching thumb.
Room Condition: Darkened room
  - One candle
  - Incense
  - Essential Oil - (Precious flowers+water on burner)
  - Bell
Pre-session: Sip of water
  - full body stretch (3 times).
Previous day's influence: Documentary on body decomposition (Death Farm?).
Mind Chatter: Low.
Waves of bliss: None.
Experience:  Good Session.

Result:

Physical recovery from a hard gym session combined with yoga working slack
muscles resulting in soreness and fatigue. Slept early and work up in the
middle of the night. Decided to have an early meditation.

Noticed how body processes are very sensitive to the most subtle thought. I
felt as if part of my mind was probing me to see if I was ready for new
experiences. I resisted very subtlety but my mind responded instantly and
strongly to the resistance and backed away - even after I tried to simulate
acceptance. Very strangely this led to thoughts about OBEs.

I experienced a major surge of inner sounds when the idea of having an OBE
came up. It was as if my body and mind were preparing for an OBE. Everything
seemed set but I could not trigger an exit. Did not really feel like doing
it even though my body and mind seemed like they wanted it and were ready.

This experience reminded me of a documentary on lightning. Certain "charge
channels" (I can't remember the technical term) are formed prior to the
lightning strike. These flow from the target to the source of the lightning
and the lightning then flows along these channels when the strike occurs. I
see a similar process happening in meditation. The mind creates these
channels for the "events" to flow through. The slightest doubt or hesitation
breaks or closes the channels.

Came out of the meditation very abruptly.

Journal Entry - tosime
Date:  November 15
Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
Time: 07:30 a.m.
Duration: 55 minutes (open)
Posture: Seated on chair
Body: Eyes closed,
  - tongue tip to pallet,
  - hands on knees-index finger touching thumb.
Room Condition: Darkened room
  - One candle
  - Incense - one stick
  - Essential Oil - (Precious flowers+water on burner)
Pre-session: Ring Bell
  - Sip of water
  - Ear plugs
  - full body stretch (3 times).
Previous day's influence: Meditation session.
Mind Chatter: Medium - Low.
Waves of bliss: None.
Experience:  Good Session.

Result:

Relaxed Session. Focused on keeping channels open (based on yesterday's
session).

Aim is not to react to anything that comes up - no matter how unusual. A
mental state of no anticipation and complete openness - quite vulnerable.

Turned into an easy, relaxed session. Lots of stillness and peace. Very low
mind chatter and very deep physical relaxation.

Inner sounds got quite high at one point. The surge in inner sounds almost
felt like a wave of bliss without the climax.

The keeping channels open approach did not induce any new experiences but
did point the way to a smoother more relaxed session.

Finished feeling refreshed and well rested.

Hi Eve,

Thanks for your descriptions of visualization and the "Garden of Eden"
technique. They are both very beautiful. I look forward to the day I can
attend one of Bob's classes.

When you answered my question on whose voice you hear during mind chatter, I
got the impression the answer was a reasoned one rather than one from direct
experience (My "mind chatter" is just another term for my thoughts, so it's
all me). Being "your" thoughts may not automatically make it "your" voice.
So, next time you meditate, listen again to the voice and see if it actually
is your voice, your whole voice and nothing but your voice.


...Tony

Date: November 15, 2002
Time: 8:00am, 45 minutes (open)
Position: Sitting on bed, cross-legged, eyes closed, hands resting on
lap
Technique: body and breath awareness
Variation: Visualization

Good session today. Returned to my garden of eden. Mind chatter was
medium to low and concentration was good. I guess I must have reached
a very relaxed state because I noticed that I wasn't sitting still,
but swaying in a sort of circular motion. Even though I was aware of
this I didn't feel like I was controlling the movement. At one point
my body began leaning forward to almost a 90-degree angle to my body
and I had to consciously pull myself backward because I was afraid I
would fall off the bed.
I was very focused on the sound of my breath. An image came to me of
a baby in utero. I thought that the internal sound I hear of my
breath going in and out must be the same as what a baby might here in
it's mother's womb. It was very calming.
Came out of session consciously but quickly.

Hi Tony,
  Well, you are right. I have never actually listened to the "sound"
of the voice in my head (mind chatter)to see if it is mine or not.
But, who else could it be? I will pay attention to this next time.
Whose voice do you hear when you meditate?
Eve


--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "Tony" <tosime@b...> wrote:
> Hi Eve,
>
> Thanks for your descriptions of visualization and the "Garden of
Eden"
> technique. They are both very beautiful. I look forward to the day
I can
> attend one of Bob's classes.
>
> When you answered my question on whose voice you hear during mind
chatter, I
> got the impression the answer was a reasoned one rather than one
from direct
> experience (My "mind chatter" is just another term for my thoughts,
so it's
> all me). Being "your" thoughts may not automatically make it "your"
voice.
> So, next time you meditate, listen again to the voice and see if it
actually
> is your voice, your whole voice and nothing but your voice.
>
>
> ...Tony

Hi Eve,

The sound you can hear comes up not only during meditation but at any time
you become present enough to "listen" to yourself.

I have found I have up to 5 or more different voices depending on the
situation and my frame of mind. My typical voice is a logical, reasoning
type of person - a bit like a college professor I think! I sometimes have
the voice of child-like astonishment. A very long time ago (over 25 years) I
was very surprised to hear a dark, mysterious, frightening voice telling me
to stop playing mind games and go to sleep.

As you get to know your different voices you get a better picture of your
frame of mind at the time. The next stage might involve switching voices
when you need a different way of looking at a situation. A further stage
still might be inventing a new voice to achieve a desired effect. But maybe
that is going too far in the wrong direction. Keeping it simple might be a
better approach. If it happens we notice a change in voice at any time we
can simply take that into account.

...Tony

http://doody36.home.attbi.com/liberty.htm

The transformation of an ego-centered being to a free being does not place
either easily or quickly.  One is converted into the other gradually, by a
series of stages, and each stage carries with it its own dangers and
difficulties. (Table III)

Table III - Stages in Work

Stage                                Charachteristic

4.  Master                            Body of consciousness or "soul" is formed
.  Inner directed, cosmically oriented man.

3.  Observer                           Prospero dominates Caliban

2.  Magnetic Center                Active quest for teacher.

1.  Seeker                            First realization of sleep.

0.  Sleeping Man                    Outer-directed puppet.  No inner aim or real
will.


The transformation begins when one of the selves in a man's personality (the
Seeker) develops an awareness of the state of sleep, or, alternatively, a hunger
for the fourth state of consciousness (Baudelaire's  "Taste of the Infinite") 
The Seeker forms as a result of the working in man of the will to meaning and
the will to self-transcendence.

The self or group of selves, creating a ferment, a restlessness, a
dissatisfaction with all the games that have previously proved satisfying.  The
effect of this force is often disruptive and may produce great misery.  The old
game no longer satisfy but a new game has not been found.  Much of the material
which William James incorporated in the chapter "The Sick Soul" described the
grief experienced by one in whom the Seeker is beginning to develop.  Leo
Tolstoy, John Bunyan, William James himself and his father Henry James, Sr. all
suffered greatly during this phase of their inner development.  William James
wrote: "In Tolstoy's case the sense that life had any meaning whatsoever was for
a time wholly withdrawn...At about the age of fifty he began to have movments of
perplexity, of what he calls arrest, as if he knew not how to live or what to
do."  John Bunyan found himself in a similar condition, also recorded by James. 
"I was both a burthen and a terror to myself; nor did I ever so know, as now
what it was to be weary of my life; and yet afraid to die.  How gladly would I
have been anything but myself!  Anything but a man! and in any condition but my
own."

These examples could readily be multipled.  They illustrate the fearful ferment
which the genesis of the Seeker may produce, at least in the early stages. 
Selves that were once believed in and trusted now seem as lifeless as rag dolls.
Aspects of the persona that once appeared admirable show themselves as grotesque
masks, grinning and sillly.  The artist becomes disenchanted with his art, the
scientist with his research, the preacher with his sermons and with his whole
religion, the businessman with his business.  There is an awful awareness of the
limitations of life, of an imperative need to set up new values, new aims, to
start a new game, before death sweeps all the pieces from the board. Unless the
sense of totaly futility has completely paralyzed his will, a person in whom the
Seeker has developed is bound to serach dilligently for some way out, for the
Master Game, which he feels almost instinctively must exist and be worth
playing.  To find this game he will read everything available that might
possibly provide a clue to the mystery and enable him to emerge from the prison
of total disenchantment. He will study works on psychology, religion, yoga,
occultism, theosophy, magic.  He will seek out others whose interests are
similar to his own.  What is the way out?  What is the great secret?  What is
the Master Game and from whom does one learn how to play?

All this activity results in the transformation of the Seeker into a new and
more powreful entity within the personality, an entity called, in the
Gurdjieffian system, the "Magnetic Center".  The Magnetic Center feeds on all
those materials that the Seeker has culled from his readings and reserarches,
his conversations with fellow seekers and so on.  The magnetic quality of this
element in the personality consists in its power, "IF it is rightly formed", to
draw its possessor in the direction of a teacher from whom he can learn the
things he needs to know.

A person's success in this respect depends on the strength and quality of his
Magnetic Center.  A defective center leads its possessor into the swamps of
phoney mysticism or occultism, brings him to a teacher who is either a fool or a
fraud, exposes him to the breed of spiritual vampires which prey on the
credulous.  A weak magnetic center does not lead its possessor anywhere.  It
leaves him comfortably sitting in his armchair dreaming about the marvelous
powers that will be his when he attains higher consciousness.



Happy Days,
Judi

http://www.users.uniserve.com/~samuel/judi-1.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheEndOfTheRopeRanch/



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The false ego is a component of man's psyche which follows him into high places,
a clown, a buffoon, hunchback, dwarf, a poor companion but one not easy to shake
off.  To know its aspect, to be able clearly to define its limits, the student
must observe and gatehr material.  Nothing is gained by concealment.  The false
ego derives its power from its capacity for disguise.  It shows itself now in
one form, now in another, will pick up high-sounding phrases and trot them out
like a parrot, will learn the language of the inner work and talk of higher
states of consciousness, mystical experience, occult powers and celestial
influences.  Talk is its milieu.  It love talking.  If it cannot find anyone
else to talk to, it talks to itself or engages in imaginary conversations with
some friend or admirer.

Admiration it loves.  To strut and show off like a jackdaw in  peacock's
feathers is for the false ego the very height of bliss.  But if anyone
criticizes this performance, if anyone dares to suggest that the plumage is
borrowed and the whole display a fake, how bitter the resentment, how anguised
the outcries and protests!  Not satisfied with weeping on the shoulders of
everyone within reach, this tiresome entity will fill the whole psyche with
lamentations, airing its grievances in imaginary conversations which, because of
the cyclic nature of the mental hookup, repeat themselve interminably. "He
wronged me,  he insulted me, he damaged my reputation, he made me look foolish."
In such phrases as these, with a thousand variations depending on circumstances,
does the false ego express its reaction when the praise it so dearly loves is
withheld or its antics are treated with disdain.

The counsel of perfection is not to let the false ego take charge, to avoid
those situations in which he is likely to play a dominant role.  True to the old
saying, "Birds of a feather flock together", this aspect of the psyche is
automatically drawn into the company of fools who pander to his weakness and
praise his performance. Certain people, as any careful observer can note, get
together for no other reason than to reinforce each others false egos, forming
little mutual-admiration societies within which they can display their most
artificial aspects without fear of censure.

Friends of the false ego are foes of the essence.  An essence friend is no
flatterer and does not admire the antics of the inner fool.  It was well said by
the Sufi poet, Rumi, that the friendship of a fool is like the friendship of a
bear.  He added, in another story, that even Jesus fled from the fool, saying:
"I can make the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame run and raise the dead, but I
cannot turn the fool away from his folly."  So the practical student of Creative
Psychology learns to avoid these people and circumstances which encourage the
manifestations of the false ego.  Instead he seeks essence friends whose aims
are similar to his own.  This does not mean that he lacks compassion or is
excessively critical. He is simply a realist who knows his own limitations and
does not propose to make a hard task still harder by deliberately fostering his
own delusions.



Happy Days,
Judi

http://www.users.uniserve.com/~samuel/judi-1.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheEndOfTheRopeRanch/




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For everyone, the benefits of meditation need not have any mystical
components such as OOB xp's, and yet are potentially great and life
changing. The key thing that I see is that meditators become more at
peace, and that is the most valuable treasure there is. It transcends
health, wealth, knowledge, bliss...everything. Of course, this is a
very general statement, and there are very specific benefits that can
be cited. In issue #7 of our newsletter, you will find an excellent
article by Lonny Brown Ph.D, that is titled Why Meditate. It is on
page 18. Here is the URL where you can see it:
Issue 7: http://www.meditationsociety.com/it71808/index.html
I hope this helps.
Peace and blessings,
Bob
> xxxx wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have read some of your information on your website.  I have
always
> been interested in meditation, but have very little
> experience with it.  As with anything that is worthwhile, it often
> takes time to reap the benefits of actions you commit.  Given
> that, I still find a need to motivate me to be continuous in this
> pursuit.  All the talk of seeing energy, out of body xp's, and
> astral travel all seems incredible, and of course much more
advanced,
> but what can a person in my position experience and how?  I
> appreciate
> your time.
>
> Thank you

A friend of ours was walking down a deserted Mexican beach at
sunset.  As he walked along, he began to see another man in the
distance.  As he grew nearer, he noticed that the local native
kept leaning down, picking something up and throwing it out into
the water. Time and again he kept hurling things out into the
ocean.

As our friend approached even closer, he noticed that the man was
picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one
at a time, was throwing them back into the water.

Our friend was puzzled.  He approached the man and said, Good
evening, friend.  I was wondering what you were doing."

"I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean.  You see it's
low tide right now and all of these starfish have washed up onto
shore.  If I don't throw them back into the sea, they'll die up
here from lack of oxygen."

"I understand," my friend replied, "but there must be thousands of
starfish on this beach.  There are simply too many.  And don't you
realize that this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches all
up and down the coast. Can't you see that you can't possibly make
a difference?"

The local native smiled, bent down and picked up yet another
starfish; and as he threw it back into the sea, he replied,"Made a
difference to that one."

Journal Entry - tosime
Date:  November 18
Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
Time: 08:45 a.m.
Duration: 38 minutes (open)
Posture: Seated on chair
Body: Eyes closed,
  - tongue tip to pallet,
  - hands on knees-index finger touching thumb.
Room Condition: Darkened room
  - One candle
  - Incense - one stick
  - Essential Oil - (Precious flowers+water on burner)
Pre-session: Ring Bell
  - Sip of water
  - Ear plugs
  - full body stretch (3 times).
Previous day's influence: Training delivery.
Mind Chatter: Medium.
Waves of bliss: None.
Experience:  Good Session.

Result:

Explored how to reach deeper levels of relaxation, especially when there is
no physical feedback after a certain point.

The last physical feedback I get is a slight drooling sensation (strangely
the negative connotations have gone and have now become positive). After
that, feedback is basically, easier control over mind chatter and certain
inner sounds that start up.

Explored the importance of the inner "knowing". This is an awareness of
something that will happen when there is no sensation that this knowing has
come. This is hard to put into words. Imagine being alone in a room. Then
suddenly behind you a person materializes. However you cannot see the person
and the only way you know someone is there is when you "decide" to sense for
the person. When you do this, the person becomes visible (I guess intuition
is a good word for this). The key for me is how to "decide" to sense for the
person. There is nothing "obvious" to key into. I guess a certain type of
receptivity is needed. However further than this is the desire to "become"
this "knowing". Again, very hard to put into words.

When I explored these thoughts, I felt a strong affirmative sensation. Deep
levels of relaxation seems to be the best approach even though it is not
necessary or sufficient.

After a certain level of relaxation I could feel my lower back adjusting
very slightly. I sense that in any fixed position, your muscles are
continually adjusting to shift the strain. I think I was able to feel this
happening.

In the wee hours of one morning, Nasrudin was seen staggering out of a
pub. A policeman came up to him and asked "where do you think you are
wandering in this hour of the night?" Replied the Mulla, "Dear Sir, if
I knew that, I would have been home hours ago!"

>From: "Judi Rhodes" <judirhodes@...>
>Subject: The Anatomy of a Dwarf, Robert S. De Ropp, from The Master Game

>The false ego is a component of man's psyche which follows him into high
places, a clown, a buffoon,
>hunchback, dwarf, a poor companion
>but one not easy to shake off.  To know its aspect, to be able clearly to
define its limits,
>the student must observe and gather material.

DeRopp was Ouspensky's gardener, and my yoga teacher in the late 1960s. I saw
him some years
later in the mid-seventies, and he was still as spry and no-nonsense as ever.
Some years later I
heard that he'd dropped the body, supposedly by getting into his sea-going kayak
and paddling
off into the sunset. Is that a myth or what actually happened?

Ramon

"Is this really now?"
      (quoted from Bill on another list quoting from a friend)

MY COUSIN IS 21 YEARS OLD.  HIS CANCER CAME BACK.  HE WAS IN REMISSION
FOR 3 YEARS AND I THOUGHT MAYBE HE CAN LEARN HOW TO MEDITATE AND MAYBE
IT CAN HELP HIM THROUGH CHEMOTHERAPY.  DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION ON WHO
CAN HELP HIM OR TEACH HIM.  PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP.  THANKS!

<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> MY COUSIN IS 21 YEARS OLD.  HIS CANCER CAME BACK.  HE WAS IN
REMISSION FOR 3 YEARS AND I THOUGHT MAYBE HE CAN LEARN HOW TO MEDITATE
AND MAYBE IT CAN HELP HIM THROUGH CHEMOTHERAPY.  DO YOU HAVE A
SUGGESTION ON WHO CAN HELP HIM OR TEACH HIM.  PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP.
  THANKS!

Here's the answer I sent, but of course, all help will be welcomed and
appreciated:

  As an RN, I must first of all recommend following every direction of
the physicians your cousin is involved with. I do believe that
meditation can be very helpful. I want to recommend the books of
Louise Hay, and Dr. Bernie Siegel. Both are experts on conscious
healing. Also, here's my favorite alternate health web site:
http://www.serendipityhappens.com/
This is Rusty Morgan's site, and he is very knowledgable, as are
Louise and Bernie. Here is a technique that we have shared in our
newsletter and on our web site. I hope it helps:
Cancer
Cancer is a wonderful equal opportunity provider. There may be no more
powerful facts of life teacher. The choices of how to respond to it
physically are usually between surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
The beneficial effect these have can be hampered by the stress of
worry, fear, obsessive thoughts, and energy squandered in negativity.
Medical science has produced a large body of work that proves that it
is most advantageous to cease doing those things that continue to
cause stress and begin doing those things that promote the optimum
functioning of the immune and healing systems. Changing to a healthy
diet, exercising, and other "alternate healing" methods are
gaining
respectability in the orthodox medical community, but none more than
meditation. This ancient practice has been shown to be a tremendous
tool for healing. There is no better way to undo the negative
reactions on the body, mind, and emotions that are produced by the
adrenaline release fear, anger, and worry invariably precipitate. The
endorphin release that comes with meditation properly primes the mind
and emotions in a way that will let the body do its healing most
advantageously. With that in mind, the following technique is offered
in the hope that it will set the stage for a complete cure. It is
aimed at those warriors blessed with the chance to do battle against
this terrible dragon armed with the weaponry of either surgery,
radiation, chemotherapy, or some combination of them.

Position yourself in whatever posture you have found most condusive to
concentration. Think about each of the procedures that you will be
going through in as great detail as you can. Visualize them relative
to the maximum benefit they will bring you.

In your minds eye, see the surgical procedure removing 100% of the
cancerous tissue. See healthy cells growing and repairing the area.
See yourself whole and healthy.

Visualize radiation passing through your body, frying any cancerous or
precancerous cells. See new healthy cells evolve and multiply. See
yourself whole and healthy.

See chemotherapy molecules traveling through your bloodstream
attacking and killing all the aberrant cells. See healthy cells
swarming to the affected area and bring healing. See yourself whole
and healthy.

As well as visualizing the physical healing processes, feel your
self-love and deep inner desire for good health fill and heal you
emotionally and mentally. This effort will stimulate and allow your
immune system to do its job unimpeded by the damage that unchecked
negativity brings.

Most of all, know your Self to be the unchangeable, eternal universal
divine consciousness that is transcendent of your body, mind, or
emotions, and live happily ever after.
Peace and blessings,
Bob Rose, President,
Meditation Society of America

Date: November 18, 2002
Time: 8:10am, 25 minutes (open)
Position: Sitting on bed, cross-legged, eyes closed, hands resting on
lap
Technique: Body and breath awareness
Variation: visualization

Very sleepy today, which I think influenced my session. Mind chatter
was medium but my concentration wasn't very good. Felt like I wanted
to drift off to sleep a couple times. My normal position was
uncomfortable today. Eventually I gave up and ended my session early.

Date: November 19, 2002
Time: 8:45am, 35 minutes (open)
Position: Sitting on bed, cross-legged, eyes closed, hands resting on
lap
Technique: Body and breath awareness
Variation: visualization

Good session today. My mind chatter was high (lots of chattering
about the chatter!) but my concentration was good. There was a lot
of "watching" happening today. Moved away from the usual scene in my
visualization and explored a bit. Interested in just letting images
come up instead of trying to guide them. Sense potential for
self/mind discovery with this technique because it leaves me more
open. Came out of session consciously and felt energized.

Journal Entry - tosime
Date:  November 20
Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
Time: 07:30 a.m.
Duration: 43 minutes (open)
Posture: Seated on chair
Body: Eyes closed,
  - tongue tip to pallet,
  - hands on knees-index finger touching thumb.
Room Condition: Darkened room
  - One candle
  - Incense - one stick
  - Essential Oil - (Precious flowers+water on burner)
Pre-session: Ring Bell
  - Sip of water
  - Ear plugs
  - full body stretch (3 times).
Previous day's influence: Solving a PC problem.
Mind Chatter: Medium.
Waves of bliss: None.
Experience:  Very Good Session.

Result:

Missed yesterday's session as I was up most of the night (and next day)
trying to solve a software glitch on my PC. Eventually solved it when my
inner state was calm.

Explored the importance of feeling your inner state at all times. In
meditation our physical stillness allows us to observe our inner state very
clearly. With inner sounds meditation I am always amazed at how much
activity there is even when we are physically and mentally calm.

Explored how external events can be filtered through the lens of our inner
state. Even turbulent external events help us to observe our inner state as
we watch our reaction. I look forward to the time when I no longer see
people but instead see their inner state and my reflection in their inner
state.

Noticed today how my better meditation sessions happen when I take my time
during the preparation for meditation. Today, just before lighting the
candle, I decided to clean the candle holder. This action brought a lot of
calm. My full body stretch is a sort of yoga pose. Today I put more
awareness into the action and extended the stretch and deepened my breaths.

Very reluctant to come out of my meditation since it was so pleasant.
Eventually I came out gently. Very good session today.

The next meditation class will be tonight at Montgomery County
Community College, Room 105 in Parkhouse Hall, 7 to 8:30 pm. If you
need further information or directions, please email
medit8@...