Question From Email: You have a wonderful site. I just had a simple
question.  How do you feel about those who are struggling with their
spirituality and basically which  direction to take it?  This  has
been a terrible dilemma of mine for quite some time. Could Meditation
possibly help me find the answers I am looking for?  Any words of
inspiration would be greatly appreciated.
Answer:
Everyone is suffering and struggling. Even "evil" people do what they
do because it is their effort to escape the misery of their
existence. Look at school yard bullies. Everyone thinks that what
they
do is wrong, but to them, it feels like they have some
control in their life and this gives them some degree of self esteem.
Yes, it is false, but so are most of the things that "good"
people do to feel good about themselves. Their actions are merely
temporary ones that soon end and the feeling of insecurity hits
them again, and they then seek new ways to regain the feeling of
security their "good" actions gave them. No different than the
bully! The real answer is to find out who is the Real Self that is
unchangeable, eternal, and always secure. Meditation is the best
way to recognize the false, and see the true. When you see that the
cause of your headache is because you have been hitting your
head against the wall, you will stop it, and the pain will go away.
Similarly, if you stop banging your head, the time you had
wasted doing that can be used to finding things to do that actually
soothe your head. That's how meditation works. You
recognize the inappropriate, suffering causing things you have been
doing, and replace them with the actions that enrich your life.
Specifically, the more you meditate, the more at one you become with
the inner Witness that is your Real Self. Unchanging,
silent, ever aware. The pure consciousness that "Knows". It was
present in you when you were just a baby and couldn't even label
things as good or bad. It is still present and is the awareness that
right this moment can witness any physical, mental, or
emotional tension you are experiencing. And once recognized, puts you
in the position of being able to change course to one
that's much more beneficial. No more headaches, and alot less damage
to the walls you've been banging into also! Find a
meditation technique or two that feel comfortable to you, and
actually
meditate. You will surely evolve and thrive.

There is something about stress and the way I see it.
Stress - disaster or a new beginning. It is nothing, nothing that
hasn´been felt. Stress or overpressure of our body and soul  man had
felt thousansdsyears before, on his own way. However, we feel that
this overpressure has become more various and much stronger in our
everyday´s life. Rythm of life, work pressure, race for money, …are
destroying our peace and making our boby to suffer. There are so many
examples of it and everyone could start counting his reasons for
beeing tensed or disappointed. Also, you can´t avoid it just like
that.  Stress is a huge evil of modern days, it´s enough just to take
a look at all those illnes and disoerders(high blood pressure, heart
attack, cansers,…) that could came after it to see how serious is it.
Reasons that are causing strees could be directly, lately and
cronicly by its working.
1. In direct working of stress, body activates itself in a way to
face with danger. We don´t feel the pain so intesively and becoming
to think and remember. Our lungs are trying to take more air, blood
pressure and heart beating is becoming higher, blood delivers more
oxygen to our muscles, digestion isn´t working and so on.
2. Late working of stress causes disorders on our brain,
immunofissionscy system,…Few minutes after stress our organism is
trying to recover and calm itself, and brain is trying to rework it.
3. Cronicle working of stress is making disorders on all of those
mentioned organs, and if stress is beeing repeated, there can be
serious damages made on them. Cronicle stress that attacks
immunofissioncy system can make our organism week and easy to infect,
….
You can´t always avoid stress but you should try to calm and reduce
it. Hans Selye once said that stress is "spice of life" If we want to
defeat it we have to get to know it, maybe just by asking ourselves a
few questions an trying to give an answers:
1. Whaut causes strong unpleasant feelings of anger and tensesness?
2. What causes my pain in the stomack, exhaustion, heart beating,
neck stiffness?
3. Do I sleep enough and peacefuly, or what disturbs my dreams?
4. If it´s hard for me to concetrate, what are the thoughts that
upset me?
5. What keeps me from normal relaxing, feeding,…?
You shouldn´t react on stress agressivly, it´s better to take some
time and think about it. Different kinds of stress are requiering
different solutions, but you should always think before reactions. It
is also good to write down all that you are fighting with  sometimes
talk to someone about it. Worries are making some sort of tensesness
and ruining our concentration. One way to make it easier is to play
some sport, walking or doing any other similar activity. Our
spiritual life is on strike and we have to defend it. We can also
find where Jesus talks about it(Lk 12,22): "Don´t worry…"
This is how Heiko Ernst makes few decisions to make life easier:
1. To be calm and to meet stress with more peace in circumstances
where stress is showing up.
2. To be with people, hang out with them. To spend more time with
family, friends,…
3. To learn simplicity of beeing. To find some play and fun in my
life, because of seriousity of our lives.
4. Learn how to have more time! Don´t work to hard!
5. To gain a harmony in my life by discovering my hiden talents and
abilities.
6. To be fully present at this very moment.Concentrate yourself on
important!
We are becoming tired of life and Jesus is calling(Mt 11,28).:"Come
to me…and I will rest you." He will direct us, just like disciples,
after hard work (Mk 6,31) so that we could rest and prepare our self
to spread the Gospel worldwide.
I hope you´ll find this usefull to end your classes.
hb

it would be so wonderful for subconcious stress to magically just go
away but it does'nt,to bring it into the knowing mind makes it
worse.but forgetting about it messes up the nerves.If jesus could
magically heal everything why is there docotrs?

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., shst777 <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> it would be so wonderful for subconcious stress to magically just
>go away but it does'nt,

In my own experience I have found the opposite to be true. When I
meditate, I become a calmer, more relaxed person, with little stress.
It's not a conscious decision to be more relaxed, it just happens.

>to bring it into the knowing mind makes it worse.

Only if you aren't accepting what is. If you are trying to change it.
Just accept it then let it go. Then you'll see that things will
get "better".

You may want to consider if all the things that are stressing you out
are really worth so much energy. Sometimes just seeing something in a
new way will help you realize that things aren't as bad as you may
think.

There's a Kir Li Molari quote in the new issue of The Inner Traveler,
that will be coming out next week, that shares this perspective:
"You suffer from what you agree to suffer from."

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., eveneon <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> --- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., shst777 <no_reply@y...>
wrote:
> > it would be so wonderful for subconcious stress to magically just
> >go away but it does'nt,
>
> In my own experience I have found the opposite to be true. When I
> meditate, I become a calmer, more relaxed person, with little
stress.
> It's not a conscious decision to be more relaxed, it just happens.
>
> >to bring it into the knowing mind makes it worse.
>
> Only if you aren't accepting what is. If you are trying to change
it.
> Just accept it then let it go. Then you'll see that things will
> get "better".
>
> You may want to consider if all the things that are stressing you
out
> are really worth so much energy. Sometimes just seeing something in
a
> new way will help you realize that things aren't as bad as you may
> think.

I've recently tried the 4-4-8 breathing meditation for 3 sets of 12
cycles as was recommended in the article on meditationsociety.com.
After doing this, I became very dizzy and surprised, because I was
dizzy. Before inhaling I thought of the word "clarity" and before
exhaling I thought of "confusion". My goal is to interpret things
more clearly and to spend more time working.

Welcome! Generally speaking, if something takes your peace away, it's
"bad", and if something let's you know real peace, it's "good". If
your admirable intention to change your confusion to clarity was
distracted by the dizzy feelings you experienced from the 4-4-8
technique, it probably indicates that this method is "bad" for you.
Of course, it can be said that one person's "dizzy" is another persons
"high", and for them, the exact same result from doing the 4-4-8
technique would be "good". Actually, It doesn't matter very much if
we call the experience good or bad. What is very important is that
your inner Witness recognized the dizzy effect. This indicates that
you were present, in the moment, alert to the reality of your life as
it was taking place. You had put aside the usual habitual fantasizing
about the future or rehashing the past, and were in the eternal NOW.
This is the only time "clarity" can occur, and where there is
clarity, there is no confusion. And the abscence of confusion is one
of the prerequesits of being at peace. So, in a very real way, the
meditation was probably more beneficial for you than if you would
have had a mystical vision, or levitated, or if some other fantastic
event happened.
Persevere, try other techniques. You are close to realizing the
Witness as your Real Self and being aware that it is always present
and ready to let you merge with the greatest present - real peace.
One technique is to simply inhale what you seek, saturate yourself
with it and exhale that which you want to be rid of. This is called
the 1-1-1 pranayama (breathing technique). For instance, you would
fill with clarity, feel it fill you, and exhale confusion. The 1
could be for any time frame that is comfortable for you. Perhaps
inhale clarity for 1 second, hold the breath and saturate every
aspect of your being with purifying clarity for 1 second, and then
exhale all confusion for 1 second. Whatever feels right is the correct
time frame for your breathing pattern. You might also like to try the
Dalai Lama technique which is also on the Meditation Station site
http://www.meditationsociety.com This method allows you to replace
all "bad" characteristics with "good" ones, and you don't have to
deal with your breath at all. In any event, please be patient with
your meditation evolution. There are wonder-full and beneficial
experiences ahead. You have always been at one with the inner
Witness, and you will definitly recognize this more and more and will
gain the clarity you seek and more than you ever dreamed as well.

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "pontifexxxmaximus"
<pontifexmaxim@h...> wrote:
> I've recently tried the 4-4-8 breathing meditation for 3 sets of 12
> cycles as was recommended in the article on meditationsociety.com.
> After doing this, I became very dizzy and surprised, because I was
> dizzy. Before inhaling I thought of the word "clarity" and before
> exhaling I thought of "confusion". My goal is to interpret things
> more clearly and to spend more time working.

Last night I went to
<html>http://www.rivermaya.com/sadhana.html</html>. I tried
their "hamsa" mantra technique and found a more positive result. I
also realized that I should not have laid down, nor should I have
brought myself to normal awareness quite so quickly, which is what
caused my dizziness. The site even provides music to meditate to and
I'm contemplating which of the CDs to buy.

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Welcome! Generally speaking, if something takes your peace away,
it's
> "bad", and if something let's you know real peace, it's "good". If
> your admirable intention to change your confusion to clarity was
> distracted by the dizzy feelings you experienced from the 4-4-8
> technique, it probably indicates that this method is "bad" for you.
> Of course, it can be said that one person's "dizzy" is another
persons
> "high", and for them, the exact same result from doing the 4-4-8
> technique would be "good". Actually, It doesn't matter very much if
> we call the experience good or bad. What is very important is that
> your inner Witness recognized the dizzy effect. This indicates that
> you were present, in the moment, alert to the reality of your life
as
> it was taking place. You had put aside the usual habitual
fantasizing
> about the future or rehashing the past, and were in the eternal
NOW.
> This is the only time "clarity" can occur, and where there is
> clarity, there is no confusion. And the abscence of confusion is
one
> of the prerequesits of being at peace. So, in a very real way, the
> meditation was probably more beneficial for you than if you would
> have had a mystical vision, or levitated, or if some other
fantastic
> event happened.
> Persevere, try other techniques. You are close to realizing the
> Witness as your Real Self and being aware that it is always present
> and ready to let you merge with the greatest present - real peace.
> One technique is to simply inhale what you seek, saturate yourself
> with it and exhale that which you want to be rid of. This is called
> the 1-1-1 pranayama (breathing technique). For instance, you would
> fill with clarity, feel it fill you, and exhale confusion. The 1
> could be for any time frame that is comfortable for you. Perhaps
> inhale clarity for 1 second, hold the breath and saturate every
> aspect of your being with purifying clarity for 1 second, and then
> exhale all confusion for 1 second. Whatever feels right is the
correct
> time frame for your breathing pattern. You might also like to try
the
> Dalai Lama technique which is also on the Meditation Station site
> http://www.meditationsociety.com This method allows you to replace
> all "bad" characteristics with "good" ones, and you don't have to
> deal with your breath at all. In any event, please be patient with
> your meditation evolution. There are wonder-full and beneficial
> experiences ahead. You have always been at one with the inner
> Witness, and you will definitly recognize this more and more and
will
> gain the clarity you seek and more than you ever dreamed as well.

The description of the Hamsa technique on the site you went to is
actually incomplete. The "real" method is to just listen to the sound
of your inhalation and the sound of the exhalation. Saying the words
Ham and Sa are only preliminaries to this ancient technique. The word
Soham is also used the same way, and is more commonly prescribed. In
Sanscrit, the sound of the inhalation is termed So, and the
exhalation is Ham. the word Soham is translated as "I Am That". This
is referred to as the "Mahamantra", the Greatest Mantra, and is
considered along with Om to be the most powerful of all techniques.
The first sound we heard when we were in our mothers womb was the
sound of her breath, and this sound has been with us ever since we
drew our first breath. It negates the need to rely on any of the
words of the languages of the world, whether human or animal. The
ancient cavemen, before they had invented language or fire, would sit
in their dark caves and have nothing else to focus on but the sound
of their breath. Thus, this was the first meditation technique. It
has brought people to transcendence of the wordly limitations from
time immemorial and continues to do so. It can be done even while
driving, working, and doing other acts of daily life and thereby
offers a continuous experience of being in the present and an
opportunity to know Reality, which only takes place now, in the
present. Soham/Hamsa is a wonderful meditation technique and I hope
will bring you the experience of Knowledge, Consciousness, and Bliss
that is your birthright.

<pontifexmaxim@h...> wrote:
> Last night I went to
> <html>http://www.rivermaya.com/sadhana.html</html>. I tried
> their "hamsa" mantra technique and found a more positive result. I
> also realized that I should not have laid down, nor should I have
> brought myself to normal awareness quite so quickly, which is what
> caused my dizziness.

Bob, there have been quite a few books made available online recently
on meditation that I just wanted to call to your attention, in case
you were not aware of them.

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/new.html

More specifically those books listed on March 4th, 5th and 8th.

I have noticed recently when I try to become more self aware by
tuning out the world, right as I implement the meditative process, my
body is sending me signals such as thirst, awareness of constrictive
clothing or a hangnail and other issues that I had overlooked when I
was busy with day to day activities. Sometimes, I allow it to become
such a distraction that I am drawn away from the tranquility I had
hoped to achieve. Then I feel quilty to have fallen prey to this
obvious ploy at undermining the mediative process. I sabotage my own
desires of enhancement. What self discipline can I draw upon to
overcome this obstacle? I have good intentions but can't always
follow through with them.

Tab

Dear Tab, First of all, thanks for pointing to the wonderful online
book resource. It is very very good. Now, as far as your feeling
guilty about "undermining the mediative process" by noticing you have
been distracted by one thing or another, please stop feeling guilt or
upset, or anything negative. You should be feeling good about it. It
means that you have been the Witness to your inappropriate
reactivities, and this awareness is the exact thing that leads to
liberation from them. So when you see that you have been distracted
or are acting stupid, or anything like that, just say "Oh well!" and
go back to your meditation. No more judging, comparing, commenting.
Just "Oh well" and back to witnessing your meditation. This method
should become more and more a part of you "real life" as well.
Whenever you Witness yourself in negativity, just say "Oh well", and
do those things, like body awareness, breathing techniques, mantra, or
whatever you have found helps bring you to a calm meditative state.
Please start realizing that there are no "bad" meditation sessions,
and often the ones you thought were bad or disappointing  are the
ones we learn the most from. I hope this helps. So, when you Witness
yourself being distracted by "thirst, awareness of constrictive
clothing or a hangnail and other issues", smile - you are getting
more and more at one with your Witness and that is one of the
greatest benefits you can gain from meditation.

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., tabularosa <no_reply@y...>
wrote:
> Bob, there have been quite a few books made available online
recently
> on meditation that I just wanted to call to your attention, in case
> you were not aware of them.
>
> http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/new.html
>
> More specifically those books listed on March 4th, 5th and 8th.
>
> I have noticed recently when I try to become more self aware by
> tuning out the world, right as I implement the meditative process,
my
> body is sending me signals such as thirst, awareness of
constrictive
> clothing or a hangnail and other issues that I had overlooked when
I
> was busy with day to day activities. Sometimes, I allow it to
become
> such a distraction that I am drawn away from the tranquility I had
> hoped to achieve. Then I feel quilty to have fallen prey to this
> obvious ploy at undermining the mediative process. I sabotage my
own
> desires of enhancement. What self discipline can I draw upon to
> overcome this obstacle? I have good intentions but can't always
> follow through with them.
>
> Tab

Hi
I would like to know what is the correct posture for Meditation. Is
it sitting straight or is it lying down on the floor. Or is there any
other good postures. Would someone advice
thanks

Sitting is the most usual posture for meditation, but there are many
ways to sit. IE: with feet tucked under the buttocks, crosslegged, on
a cushion, flat on the ground, on a tiger skin, in the lotus
position, and so on. Maintaining a straight line from the head to the
neck, and down to the spine is probably the most common general
suggestion. But the real key is to be in a posture that will allow
you to not be distracted by the itching, twitching, shaking, and the
other ways your mind will use your body to cause you to be unable to
maintain your focus of attention. To extrapolate further, whatever
bodily position (including lying down, sitting in a chair, etc.) that
allows you to know that you are aware now, in this moment, is the
right one. If you find that you tend to fall asleep in one position,
try another. Eventually you will find the one that's right for you.
On another level, what is important is well told in an ancient
story...Once upon a time, the Buddha was asked, "What do you and your
disciples practice?" and he replied, "We sit' we walk, we breath, and
we eat." The questioner continued, "But sir, everyone sits, walks,
breathes, and eats." The Buddha told him, "When we sit, we know we
are sitting. When we walk, we know we are walking. When we breathe,we
know we are breathing.And when we eat, we know we are eating."
  So, being aware of your sitting is what is important, not how you
are sitting. Find the method that allows you to witness your life
without comment, physical reactivity or emotional swings. Practice
makes perfect sitting, standing, lying down, walking,...living.

               - <junu_t@y...> wrote:
               > Hi
               > I would like to know what is the correct posture for
Meditation. Is  it sitting straight or is it lying down on the floor.
Or is there any other good postures. Would someone advice
               > thanks

What are the best books for beginner's meditation?

It's funny you should ask. I thought it rather droll to see a book
entitled Meditation for Dummies. Anything I see for dummies, I think
is right up my alley...lol

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-
/books/0764551167/slide-show/103-7330841-1917427#reader-link

If that link is too long to click on, you may have to copy and paste
into address bar.

I do not endorse this book as I have never read it. Bob is the expert
here.

One of the best beginners books that I've seen recently is:
"Meditation - Beginner's Questions & Answers," by Lonny J. Brown,
Ph.D., www.SelfHelpGuides.com
But, this reminds me of a quote from Kir Li Molari that will be in
new issue of The Inner Traveler that will probably be out this week:
"The Bible, Koran, Gita, and the Upanishads are in your heart.
Silence your mind and their wisdom will fill you."
So, in one way, the best advise I could give is to just meditate.
There really is no better way to learn about meditation. But since I
have read hundreds of books and feel there is no doubt that they
helped clarify alot for me, it would be ridiculous and sort of "Do as
I say, not as I do" to take this position. So, I won't. As a matter
of fact, I'll even recommend 2 other books that I feel are great for
helping to understand about meditation. They are both by Swami
Satchidananda. One is titled the Living Gita and the other is
Integral Yoga: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali They can be purchased from
Integral Yoga Distribution Tel# 1-800-262-1008. I also suggest
checking out the beginners section of our web site, Meditation
Station
  http://www.meditationsociety.com
particularly the What is Meditation article. I hope this helps point
to what you seek.
--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "pontifexxxmaximus"
<pontifexmaxim@h...> wrote:
> What are the best books for beginner's meditation?

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "pontifexxxmaximus"
<pontifexmaxim@h...> wrote:
> What are the best books for beginner's meditation?

Here is a book I found very useful.

"How to Meditate
A Guide to Self-Discovery"

Lawrence LeShan

A website that is decent.

http://www.meditationcenter.com

Namaste! Does anyone use mantras while meditating? I just started
using the mantra OM and I've had great meditations. Can anyone else
share their experiences with mantras? Thanks and peace out.
  Matthew

Dear Matthew,
We have a nice article about the OM meditation technique on our
web site that also deals with mantras in general. The URL is:
http://www.meditationsociety.com/week20.html
Personally, I love OM, but I find it hard to talk about. OM is
infinite and eternal, and all our worldly words are so limited that I
can't find a way to describe my experiences adequately. I do encourage
you to continue chanting OM. There will come a moment when you have
become so at one with this divine vibration, that you will join with
the millions of others who are OMing with you at any given time. And
that first hand experience of sharing the transcendant unity of
consciousness will define "mantras" in a way that words can never
fully capture.
OM OM OM
Peace and blessings,
Bob
--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., sinimat78 <no_reply@y...>
wrote:
> Namaste! Does anyone use mantras while meditating? I just started
> using the mantra OM and I've had great meditations. Can anyone else
> share their experiences with mantras? Thanks and peace out.
>  Matthew

Any Lancaster PA meditation group members?  Please
contact me by email

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Try FREE Yahoo! Mail - the world's greatest free email!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

What is the best way to work up to doing a lotus position in
meditation?

I have heard that the Yahoo Groups may not work this weekend. If
this happens, and if you have a question that can't wait, please feel
free to email me at medit8@...
Peace and blessings, Bob

<What is the best way to work up to doing a lotus position in
  meditation?>

Ponti, I always thought you could either do the lotus position or you
couldn't. I've always have been able to, so never had to work up to
it. I find it comfortable and relaxing. Sitting like an Indian
without feet crossed over comes close. Once you do that I imagine
stretching exercises would be beneficial. If you carry any extra
weight, that may interfer.

The position isn't as important as the meditative process. Just find
the best position for you and use it.

Top of the mornin, to everyone! Let's all wear green when we meditate
today to celebrate St. Pat's.

Bob, did I ever mention my mother's maiden name was Rose? Maybe we
are related. Who knows?

Tab

Gently and gradually. Just "sitting" is a technique itself.  It's
helpful to close your eyes and try to visualize yourself in Lotus.
Also to begin by crossing your legs at the ankle and slowly working up
to placing just one foot on the opposite thigh first.  It's most
important to go at your own pace, be of good cheer, and listen to and
honor your body always.  Another tip: keep the spine as straight as
comfortably possible, without rigidity, and be sure the head is
"floating" above the body, and breathe into the area you are trying to
stretch. Good Luck and Peace -- Bette Rose
--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "pontifexxxmaximus"
<pontifexmaxim@h...> wrote:
> What is the best way to work up to doing a lotus position in
> meditation?

Bette has a fine article dealing with sitting in the original sample
issue of The Inner Traveler. The url is:
http://www.meditationsociety.com/its9091/index.html
We hope this will ease you into the perfect posture for you to sit in
meditation.
Peace and blessings,Bob

The new issue of The Inner Traveler, the newsletter of
the Meditation Society of America, is now available for download at
http://www.meditationsociety.com/it66136/index.html
This is a fairly large file (1.61 MB), but well worth the time to wait
downloading. You will need the Adobe Reader ™ 5.0 to read it. If
you
don't have it, the Adobe Reader can be downloaded free of charge at:
  http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
We hope you will enjoy it. If you feel inspired to write something
for publication in a future issue, please consider submitting it. It
is a great blessing to share those things that help others evolve in
consciousness.
Peace and blessings,
Bob Rose, President,
Meditation Society of America
http://www.meditationsociety.com

Love that new logo! Looks real nice. Ever consider putting it up in
here? Would add a nice touch.

I'll get back to reading that lastest newsletter after work. Looks
most informative. I enjoyed the last one as well. Keep up the
excellent work.

May the innumerable benefits of meditation fall upon us all,

Tab

This was on The End of the Rope Ranch group. Judi is an enlightened
teacher specializing in pulling the rug out from under seekers
illusions. Her Sacred Bundt Pan concept is pretty funny and
irreverant, as well as being seriously insightful and relevant, so I
thought it well worth passing on. I was also pleasantly surprised how
beautiful the pendant came out. Enjoy! Bob

Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 19:54:52 -0800
From: Judi Rhodes <judirhodes@...>
Subject: Re: Trumpets Please!! Ta-Ta-Ta-Ta-Ta-Da!
               INTRODUCING!!!

Judi Rhodes wrote:
http://www.livingston.net/allison/sacred01.htm

               ****
Details:

If you would like to be a Keeper of your very own Solid
Sterling Silver Sacred Bundt Pan pendant w/ Chain, please send $39.95,
check or money order made out to Judi Rhodes, to:

               Judi Rhodes
               (C/O James C. Allison)
               P.O. Box 1421
               Onalaska, Texas 77360
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For a few moments we will breathe in a special way. Through this breathing
we initiate you into the practice of non-dual meditation. With each
inhalation, we breathe into the third eye and stay there as long as
possible. And with each exhalation, we relax into Being fully. When you
keep your breath in the third eye, there is a particular energy experience
and you will recognise it. Feel that the one who recognises this energy
experience is you, and it is located in the third eye, in the middle of the
brain. You are yourself this energy. That is the essence of attention.

... Silence ...

That is enough. Still keep energy in the head but in a relaxed way. Now
repeat a thought like the mantra: 'I Am.' Very slowly, in a very focused
and contemplative way, 'I Am,' with full awareness. The moment you finish
saying 'I Am,' before you say the next 'I Am,' feel what remains. This that
remains is I Am, which is not a thought but your own presence behind the
thought. So after saying 'I Am,' stop for a while. Feel your own presence,
that which remains and again say 'I Am.' The one who is aware of the mantra
'I Am' is awareness. The one who remains when you are not saying anymore 'I
Am', is awareness itself. Simply recognise this fact that the pure light of
awareness is beyond thinking.

... Silence ...

Letting go of the mantra, keep your presence in the head area, in a relaxed
way with a gentle focus. And from that place you let go into Being,
breathing into the belly, deeply relaxing into non-doing.
Awareness is reached by turning attention back to itself. There is certain
self-referral in the mind where the centre is recognised. It is a very
strong energy experience in the third eye, the essence of intelligence, the
centre of consciousness.
Awareness can be recognised directly by turning attention back or can be
slowly developed by paying attention, for example to the breath. When you
breathe into your belly, when you remember, when you focus, Awareness grows
indirectly.
Being is reached through non-doing. When you are not doing, energy drops
into Being. But you co-operate for a certain subtle surrender to happen.
You allow yourself to drop, and with the help of breath, which deepens your
energy in the Hara, the experience of Being is reached deeper and deeper.
It becomes more and more expansive, until the point that you simply rest
fully in the unconditional Samadhi of Being.
Gently breathing and relaxing… remaining in the centre. This awareness has
to be like a laser inside you, penetrating your whole body. Just Being,
even though you are not doing anything, you are. What is it? That which is
called Being.
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If you do not understand anything mentioned above, please read the following:
http://www.azizkristof.org/Meditation.html

I loved the Non-Dual Meditation by Master Aziz Kristof that
Sworkalpha shared.It will surely be of great benefit to many seekers,
particularly those who have a good deal of ability to concentrate in
a very focused, consistant fashion. It is a great blessing to be able
to have access to such a refined and fine methodology, and that is
right in line with the function we hope this group will serve. But I
am reminded of something that happened in our class Monday night. One
of the ladies had tried the 108, An Easy, Hard Meditation Technique
that we had reviewed in the previous class. It can be found on our web
site and is technique #108. To describe it briefly, all it involves
is inhaling, exhaling, and then counting 1. Then, inhale again,
exhale and count 2. Continue until you get to 108. It is a terrific
way to see those things that cause you to lose your focus, and is
also a good way to chart your progress. What she found was that she
always lost her concentration by the time she reached 17. This is a
common situation for beginners. For many people, at first, it is hard
to concentrate for more than a few moments. We dealt with this in
class with a discussion of the ways our senses, as well as our
thoughts and emotions, can distract us, and we will be working on the
ways we can gain control over these things in our next class. What is
pertinent about this is that we need to share on many levels, and to
meet the needs of those who are just trying to deal with stress
better, as well as to those who just need a little pointer to
experience Realization of Cosmic Consciousness. So, if you have found
a way that has helped you improve in your meditation, please don't
hesitate to share it here. It need not be as eloquently stated as
Master Aziz's technique that we were just graced with, and it need
not be aimed at ultimate Enlightenment. We need as much help, and
perhaps more, with the little things, and welcome whatever insights
you have to share. I personally look forward to all of our future
postings, and feel confident that they will be greatly beneficial to
many.
Peace and blessings, Bob