Testing outgoing mail

...Tony


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

Date: July 8, 2002
Time: 8:30am
Duration: 15 minutes
Position: Sitting in chair, eyes closed, palms up, index finger
touching thumb
Technique: Body and breath awareness

Very hard to concentrate today. Could not stay focused. I'm not sure
why, but I was finding it difficult to breathe today. It was like my
lungs were never quite full of air, and a few times I had to open my
mouth to draw in as much air as I could. I don't have a stuffy nose
so I'm not sure what that is all about. About 10 minutes into my
session I noticed my back pain, which gradually grew worse. I
unconsciously came out of my session after fifteen minutes. Decided
not to try and continue.

eveneon <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Very hard to concentrate today. Could not stay focused. I'm not
sure why, but I was finding it difficult to breathe today. It was like
my lungs were never quite full of air, and a few times I had to open
my mouth to draw in as much air as I could. I don't have a stuffy
nose so I'm not sure what that is all about. About 10 minutes into my
session I noticed my back pain, which gradually grew worse. I
unconsciously came out of my session after fifteen minutes. Decided
not to try and continue.
Comment: Dear Eve, Have you heard that we are experiencing an air
quality problem in our area (N.E. America)? This is caused by what
must be an enormous fire in Ontario, Canada. Bette, who has asthma,
had trouble this morning just walking the 30 or so feet to her car.
As you know, I usually feel that "failed" meditation sessions have
the best potential to learn from, but in this case, I can't even
recommend taking a deep breath and calming down. You'd probably pass
out. BTW, have you tried any healing techniques for your back
problems?
Peace and blessings,
Bob

Hi Bob. I did hear about the fires but didn't think that it could
effect me. However, after watching the news this morning I realised
that it could be a problem when they said that there was a smoke
advisory today. It's pretty wild that a fire so far away could effect
us down here.
I have not done any healing techniques for my back. I guess I figured
that since the pain comes and goes and I don't always have it, that
it would just eventually stop on it's own. I am open to trying
something though. I might be nice to have something to shift my
meditation to when my back pain kicks in. Can you recommend something
to try?
Thanks,
  Eve

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> eveneon <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> > Very hard to concentrate today. Could not stay focused. I'm not
> sure why, but I was finding it difficult to breathe today. It was
like
> my lungs were never quite full of air, and a few times I had to open
> my mouth to draw in as much air as I could. I don't have a stuffy
> nose so I'm not sure what that is all about. About 10 minutes into
my
> session I noticed my back pain, which gradually grew worse. I
> unconsciously came out of my session after fifteen minutes. Decided
> not to try and continue.
> Comment: Dear Eve, Have you heard that we are experiencing an air
> quality problem in our area (N.E. America)? This is caused by what
> must be an enormous fire in Ontario, Canada. Bette, who has asthma,
> had trouble this morning just walking the 30 or so feet to her car.
> As you know, I usually feel that "failed" meditation sessions have
> the best potential to learn from, but in this case, I can't even
> recommend taking a deep breath and calming down. You'd probably
pass
> out. BTW, have you tried any healing techniques for your back
> problems?
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob

Eve wrote:
> I have not done any healing techniques for my back. I guess I
figured that since the pain comes and goes and I don't always have
it, that it would just eventually stop on it's own. I am open to
trying something though. It might be nice to have something to shift
my meditation to when my back pain kicks in. Can you recommend
something to try?
Thanks, Eve
Dear Eve,
At one time, my first impulse would have been to say "Baily's Irish
Cream", but that's just the eternal teen-ager in me looking for
acceptance through being funny. Now, all grown up (or down, depending
on your viewpoint), I'm going to suggest checking out the healing
techniques on our site http://www.meditationsociety.com/week29.html
BTW, this is the 2nd time in 24 hours I've suggested this, so I
expect doing it again very soon - or is this just an example of
holding on to folk lore and treating it as truth. Nah, not in this
case. Everybody knows that it's scientific fact that things happen in
3's. Oops - there goes that teenager again. Seriously, I hope that
you have learned all you need to from the back pain, and that one of
the methods discussed on the site, or something else, helps effect a
complete relief of your discomfort. After all, the Eagles training
camp opens in 18 days, and we all need to give football our complete
attention thereafter. Hey - how about that. The teenager came out 3
times. Yep - scientific proof if I ever saw it!

>
>   Has anyone heard about the Indigo Children or read the book by
that
>   title? (portions deleted)

>   What is anyone's take on the book's theory? I can't put my finger
on
>   why I disliked the message when it screamed at me so.
>
>   Lesley
>
>
>
Based on the discussion on Indigo Children on this board and my
internet search, I checked the book out of the library on Saturday
and am in the process of reading it.

I'm 64. My initial take on the book is to wonder whether the children
have really changed or whether a sufficient number of adults have
awakened (or been educated) to "see" realities in our children that
have always been there. There are many factors at work here, not the
least of which is less tolerance for "children should be seen and not
heard" that was so prevalent when I was growing up.

Once we begin to listen to each other, including our children, we
become amazed at the previously unseen and unknown wisdom that is all
around us. "Out of the mouths of babes. . . ," etc.

As to the phenomenon just now being seen by people who have been
teaching or in day care for 25-30 years -- I would certainly hope
that anyone in these fields for this length of time has changed at
least some of their teaching/caring behavior to incorporate changing
wisdom, thus changing what they see and the behavior they elicit in
the children under their care.

Hi. This is just a reminder that the first summer class of the
Meditation Society of America will be this Sat. 7/13 at the
Easttown Library, Rt 30 (Lancaster Pike), in Berwyn PA.
If you are going to be in the Philly area, please consider
taking advantage of the opportunity for live-in-person
meditation experience. This will be the only class prior to
the start of football training camps, and will probably have less
ranting about the Eagles Super Bowl potential than any of
the classes for the rest of the year, and thus more direct
focus on meditation concepts and techniques. If you need
directions, I suggest trying Mapquest, and if that isn't sufficient,
please email me and I'll try to direct you appropriately.
I hope to see you in class!
Peace and blessings,
Bob Rose, President,
Meditation Society of America
Medit8@...
http://www.meditationsociety.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meditationsocietyofamerica/

Thanks Bob. I checked out the healing meditaions and will try them
next time my back pain kicks in. Interestly, I had no back pain today.
Eve



--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Eve wrote:
> > I have not done any healing techniques for my back. I guess I
> figured that since the pain comes and goes and I don't always have
> it, that it would just eventually stop on it's own. I am open to
> trying something though. It might be nice to have something to
shift
> my meditation to when my back pain kicks in. Can you recommend
> something to try?
> Thanks, Eve
> Dear Eve,
> At one time, my first impulse would have been to say "Baily's Irish
> Cream", but that's just the eternal teen-ager in me looking for
> acceptance through being funny. Now, all grown up (or down,
depending
> on your viewpoint), I'm going to suggest checking out the healing
> techniques on our site http://www.meditationsociety.com/week29.html
> BTW, this is the 2nd time in 24 hours I've suggested this, so I
> expect doing it again very soon - or is this just an example of
> holding on to folk lore and treating it as truth. Nah, not in this
> case. Everybody knows that it's scientific fact that things happen
in
> 3's. Oops - there goes that teenager again. Seriously, I hope that
> you have learned all you need to from the back pain, and that one
of
> the methods discussed on the site, or something else, helps effect
a
> complete relief of your discomfort. After all, the Eagles training
> camp opens in 18 days, and we all need to give football our
complete
> attention thereafter. Hey - how about that. The teenager came out 3
> times. Yep - scientific proof if I ever saw it!

Date: July 9, 2002
Time: 8:20am
Duration: 45minutes (open)
Position: Sitting in chair, eyes closed, palms facing up resting on
knees
Technique: Body and breath awareness

Very good concentration today. I was able to stay focused almost
continuously. I really had no back pain today except for a moment or
two of noticing a mild discomfort, which quickly passed. But I did
however also notice some mild discomfort in my jaw. Not enough to
distract me. Today's session seemed to have a different quality to
it, but I don't think I can describe it.  I can only say it seemed to
be more of a watching or "witnessing" of my thoughts. I meditated in
a different room and facing a different direction. I don't know if
this had an influence or not. Possible I suppose. Longer than normal
session today. Very calm and relaxed afterward.

See you there!


--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., medit8ionsociety
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Hi. This is just a reminder that the first summer class of the
> Meditation Society of America will be this Sat. 7/13 at the
> Easttown Library, Rt 30 (Lancaster Pike), in Berwyn PA.
> If you are going to be in the Philly area, please consider
> taking advantage of the opportunity for live-in-person
> meditation experience. This will be the only class prior to
> the start of football training camps, and will probably have less
> ranting about the Eagles Super Bowl potential than any of
> the classes for the rest of the year, and thus more direct
> focus on meditation concepts and techniques. If you need
> directions, I suggest trying Mapquest, and if that isn't sufficient,
> please email me and I'll try to direct you appropriately.
> I hope to see you in class!
> Peace and blessings,
> Bob Rose, President,
> Meditation Society of America
> Medit8@m...
> http://www.meditationsociety.com
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meditationsocietyofamerica/

I think there is a lot of validity to your point. What I can't
reconcile, though is that many parents of indigo children are having
trouble disciplining their kids. Did parents in previous generations
have the same issues as mentioned in the book? I wonder why that
style worked then, but it isn't working now? Is it that more parents
are opting for a different style and getting different results,
which makes children parented with the former style different? I
wonder if we are seeing a split between parents who read all the
latest parenting books and have changed their style to match the
latest experts' recommendations versus those who do as their parents
did? Is it that psychologists now have tests that assess behaviors
that may have existed before but were not assessable at that time?
Many unanswered questions for me.

Lesley

PS sorry for the implications that the former style is *wrong.* It
worked for an entire generation of families so it must have been
okay. I am a product of that generation. My mom is 73. I think I
turned out pretty much okay <g>. I just couldn't find a way to
express myself without the implied undertone.



--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "kmckenzie92765"
<kathleenm@y...> wrote:
> >

>My initial take on the book is to wonder whether the children
> have really changed or whether a sufficient number of adults have
> awakened (or been educated) to "see" realities in our children
that
> have always been there.

This is just to share what may
be the best site to buy used books.
It is www.abebooks.com
The have hundreds of thousands of
books, and are often the best source
for rare ones. They currently have
14 book sellers offering Indigo
Children starting at $9.95
It is definitly worth checking out.

Hi,
my name is Ramona Lazar, I've been a lurker for some time now but I
decided that's time for me to speak up. I'm also new to meditation
but it interests me very much. How comes? Some time ago something
was wrong with my heart, but the doctors couldn't find what. So one
fiend of mine suggested that it would help if i'd try autogenic
trainig. I started the method some years ago with a psycologist and
it helped me loads. My heart is now OK, only sometimes when I forget
that I'm not supposed to take everything too hard it gives my
some "signals". But enough with this...Concerning meditation...I
would like to start with it...but I don't know from where ... How,
when...things like that.
And sorry, I forgot to tell you a little bit about myself: 37,
married, one son (almost 17, my godness), born in Romania, living in
Israel, former journalist, writer and now English teacher...I came
to live in Israel 3 years ago and I have a very hard time
adjusting...I came because I've met my husband (second one), he is
Israeli.
That's it for now.If you have questions, just shoot.
But don't forget that I need some coaching here. I don't think if
there is somebody "teaching" meditations techniques here, that's why
I wrote you, guys.
Thanks a lot,
Ramona

Date: July 10, 2002
Time: 8:20am
Duration: 40 minutes (open)
Position: Sitting in chair, eyes closed, palms on knees facing up
Technique: Body and breath awareness

Not much to say about today's session other than it was similar to
yesterdays. My concentration was not quite as strong, but still good.
Seemed to be weaker towards the end. No back or body pain of any kind
today.

Insights: Meditation is much like everyday life. Thoughts, feelings,
physical sensations are all fluid in meditation. They just float by.
In life, situations, relationships, and experience all float by in
much the same the way. You can hold onto nothing. It's all temporary.
Just witness.

oh the endless dream of god
all these things come, appear for a time
pass away
the endless play of god
what joy!

loveya - michael
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: eveneon
   To: meditationsocietyofamerica@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 7:47 AM
   Subject: [Meditation Society of America] Journal Entry


   Date: July 10, 2002
   Time: 8:20am
   Duration: 40 minutes (open)
   Position: Sitting in chair, eyes closed, palms on knees facing up
   Technique: Body and breath awareness

   Not much to say about today's session other than it was similar to
   yesterdays. My concentration was not quite as strong, but still good.
   Seemed to be weaker towards the end. No back or body pain of any kind
   today.

   Insights: Meditation is much like everyday life. Thoughts, feelings,
   physical sensations are all fluid in meditation. They just float by.
   In life, situations, relationships, and experience all float by in
   much the same the way. You can hold onto nothing. It's all temporary.
   Just witness.




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

Eve wrote:
Meditation is much like everyday life. Thoughts, feelings,
physical sensations are all fluid in meditation. They just float by.
In life, situations, relationships, and experience all float by in
much the same the way. You can hold onto nothing. It's all
temporary.
Just witness.
Comment: Sometimes wisdom floats by. This is a great example. Thanks!

The BS program I am enrolled in is the only one of its
kind offered in the States.  If people are interested
you can visit the school's website at
http://www.jsc.vsc.edu and you can see information on
the program directly by going to
http://www.johnsonstatecollege.edu/academics/260.html

As for the comment made about Indigo Children, whether
adults were waking up or there really are more
children.  I feel that it's more the adults waking up.

I was an indigo child, granted that was the early 80's
but I think it is people like myself, the indigo's who
never lost their ablities, that are bringing it to the
surface.

Isa

=====
Visit Isa Moon's Palace in the Clouds at
http://www.angelfire.com/vt2/isapalace/index.html

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free
http://sbc.yahoo.com

Hi Ramon,

I was sifting through old mail and saw your mail on the Gowan chart.

I am not sure what point we reached and if anyone was due to do something.

Are we still going to develop this?

Cheers...Tony

PS - How are your bliss states coming?



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

Hi Ramon,

Me again - still sifting!

Noticed you stopped your journal entries. They were so fascinating.

Could you be persuaded to continue them?

Cheers...Tony


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

During the class, to make a point the minister wrote on the white
board "constant consciousness." For some reason, I then saw this
image of a circular flow chart.

                         Prayer of thanksgiving
                               meditation

           action with                                living in
           detachment                                the flow/now

                             intuition


I can't draw arrows in this message, but imagine arrows pointing
from prayer, to living, to intuition, to action, back to prayer in a
circular, clockwise rotation.

Does this ring true with anyone else? To me, this is living in
constant consciousness. This seems to be the process for me that is
ongoing and always in play (to better or lesser degrees).

Lesley

but if you hit reply to read the message, I think the flow chart
will appear more viewable.

Lesley

Thank you for sharing this message. There is much here that spoke to
me.

Lesley

Date: July 11, 2002
Time: 8:40
Duration: 40 minutes
Position: sitting in chair, eyes closed, palms resting on knees
facing up
Technique: Breath and body awareness

Today was all about body awareness. I started my session the same way
I usually do, scanning my body for tension then focusing on the sound
and feeling of my breath. I was finding it difficult to concentrate
and noticed some back pain starting to build so I decided to try some
healing visualization techniques. I focused on drawing healing energy
(represented by an iridescent purple/pink/bluish color). I imagined
bringing this in through my breath and my arms, legs, and head. I
would hold this energy in my body and see it moving around, and then
I would exhale the painful energy (represented by the color red) I
did this for a while I noticed where tension was coming up in my
body. My back pain never left completely, but it changed intensity
and certain times. I was feeling the need to stretch and was starting
to feel a little warm. I just sat with this until I felt it was time
to stop. My concentration seemed to get stronger as my session
progressed. I felt a little achy when I woke up this morning and I
still feel a little achy after meditating. I don't know if this
visualization helped my pain or not, but it gave me something to
focus on, helping me to concentrate a little more.

>
>    Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 23:10:13 +0200
>    From: "Tony" <tosime@...>
> Subject: Gowan Chart explanation - Ramon
>
> Hi Ramon,
>
> I was sifting through old mail and saw your mail on the Gowan chart.
>
> I am not sure what point we reached and if anyone was due to do something.
>
> Are we still going to develop this?
>
> Cheers...Tony
>
> PS - How are your bliss states coming?
>

Hi Tony, and 'hello' back.
As for the Gowan chart, I just don't have time currently to develop it further.
And regarding meditation, I just do my upon-waking-up tongue-nursing
back-to-sleep-bliss, and at the job during the day keep the body state
going with purring (snore on the inhale, gargle a French 'r' on the
exhale.) I guess I'm trying to keep 'awake' during the distractions of
daily work! Quite a challenge!
My reading is VERY backed up (we've been going away weekends for
family weddings, etc.). But I'm hoping things will settle down soon
(we also have a relative staying with us at the moment, very enjoyable
but, once again, cutting into my very limited free time.
But I'm not complaining! Everything feeds the sadhana -- sort of
like a composter - garbage in, topsoil out!

I've been following your postings, and glad to see you continue
very devoted - oh! One interesting developing: when I am
"aware of awareness," my eyes naturally come to a 'soft focus'
about six inches in front of m,y face in what I call 'a widened
very relaxed gaze.' I can now do it 'the other way round,' that
is place my gaze in that spot (I can tell when it's there by the
energy field expanding in my solar plexus) and just 'surf the
front side of the NOW wave literally "in front of my mind".

I often turn around causal relations and say "what if we start
from the other end?" It can be educational.

By the way, I did find the eye exercise posted here very very
helpful - I printed out the red and blue circles and held them
about six inches from my face.
They are at  Concentration 2 down the page at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/health_/seeau.htm

Tom Chalko recommends staring at the circles at 1 meters,
('overviewing 'them over the index finger - kind of unclear
instructions, by the way)
but I printed them out and held them at about six inches away.
That's how I developed the 'soft focus' spot I described above.

So anyway, I'm trying to keep the 'soft focus' no matter what
I'm doing because I now realize I've been putting my 'focused
attention' too much out there - a habit I guess - picture a concentrated
'frown' on whatever the task is at hand. NOT NECESSARY!

At ease, pal...

R

Are we allowed to wander off topic to any great length? Because this
is an interesting topic to me and there is much I could say, but I
wonder if that's okay?

We could e-mail off the board, if you like.

kathleen

--- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., lesley_j2001 <no_reply@y...>
wrote:
> I think there is a lot of validity to your point. What I can't
> reconcile, though is that many parents of indigo children are
having
> trouble disciplining their kids. Did parents in previous
generations
> have the same issues as mentioned in the book? I wonder why that
> style worked then, but it isn't working now? Is it that more
parents
> are opting for a different style and getting different results,
> which makes children parented with the former style different? I
> wonder if we are seeing a split between parents who read all the
> latest parenting books and have changed their style to match the
> latest experts' recommendations versus those who do as their
parents
> did? Is it that psychologists now have tests that assess behaviors
> that may have existed before but were not assessable at that time?
> Many unanswered questions for me.
>
> Lesley
>
> PS sorry for the implications that the former style is *wrong.* It
> worked for an entire generation of families so it must have been
> okay. I am a product of that generation. My mom is 73. I think I
> turned out pretty much okay <g>. I just couldn't find a way to
> express myself without the implied undertone.
>
>
>
> --- In meditationsocietyofamerica@y..., "kmckenzie92765"
> <kathleenm@y...> wrote:
> > >
>
> >My initial take on the book is to wonder whether the children
> > have really changed or whether a sufficient number of adults have
> > awakened (or been educated) to "see" realities in our children
> that
> > have always been there.

Hi - As long as it deals with things that are pointing to
consciousness evolution, anything posted is not "off topic". This may
limit me personally somewhat in 2 weeks, when football training camp
starts, and my compulsive desire to discuss sports kicks into
overdrive, but maybe we could include that too in a meditative
perspective.
Peace and blessings,
Bob
"kmckenzie92765" <kathleenm@y...> wrote:
> Are we allowed to wander off topic to any great length? Because
this
> is an interesting topic to me and there is much I could say, but I
> wonder if that's okay?
>
> We could e-mail off the board, if you like.
>
> kathleen

Posting your meditation journal here is an excellent opportunity to share
your meditation experience so others can learn from your insights and
reflect on their own practice. You will find that posting a journal is a
good motivator for regular, progressive meditation. Please use any format
you wish. Feel free to ask questions in your post, respond to questions in
other posts and comment on any aspect of each entry.  While meditating, be
careful to avoid a mind commentary that anticipates posting a journal entry
as this can distract from your meditation session. Avoid judging your
sessions based on what you read posted by others.

Journal Entry - tosime
Date: July  12
Type: Meditation on inner sounds (with earplugs)
Variation: Focus on  topic
Time: 05:1 5 a.m.
Duration:  35  minutes (open)
Posture: Seated on chair
Body: Eyes closed, tongue tip to pallet, hands on knees-index finger
touching thumb
Condition: Dark room. Candles. Incense. Essential Oil - (Bergamot
+ water on burner). Bell .
Mind Chatter: Low /medium/high .
Waves of bliss: None  or too light to fully appreciate .
Experience:  Interesting session.

Notes: Missed  two out of the last five days due to early morning meetings.
Posting has been hampered by increasing workload and a dramatic rise in
incoming mail.

An idea for a new project dominated my meditation session. In the early
stages I tried my technique of repeating "That was mind chatter. This is
meditation". Surprisingly this did not work (I think it is the first time
this technique has not worked). So, going with the flow, I decided to bring
the project idea into the meditation. I then developed something like "This
is the ATC project. This is meditation". Essentially I was meditating on the
project idea. Interestingly, my thoughts stayed on the project idea only -
there was no jumping from topic to topic.

Interesting results. Meditation went on in the background while foreground
was occupied with the project idea. Thinking on the project idea was very
clear and focused. My meditation became a light version of my usual session.
I went thought the stages and sensations I normally had but at about 50% of
the normal intensity. The waves of bliss came very faintly, they were barely
perceptible.

Towards the end of the session I had drained the topic so I could now focus
on the meditation. However I could not get out of the light mode, even
though I could go deeper into the meditation. It was as if I had allocated
only 50% of mind to the meditation and I could not get more than 50%, even
as I progressed.

Came out of the meditation feeling refreshed. I felt as if I had obtained
60-70% of the normal physical benefits.

Questions:  What is a good approach to meditating on a topic as opposed to
thought-less meditating (even though there is mind chatter)? What has been
your experience of "background" meditation, while your mind is occupied on a
topic? Why is it so easy to maintain focus on a topic when meditating on the
topic, while during normal meditation the mind jumps from topic to topic?




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

"Tony" <tosime@l...> wrote:
Question: What is a good approach to meditating on a topic as
opposed to thought-less meditating (even though there is mind
chatter)? ...
Answer: "Tony" <tosime@l...> wrote:
Question: What is a good approach to meditating on a topic as
opposed to thought-less meditating (even though there is mind
chatter)? ...
Answer: One of the basic, classic Raja Yoga meditation techniques is
to pick an object, and think of everything you know about it. Then
you think about every way the specifics relate to each other. Then
how they relate to you. Since everything is related to everything
else in the universe, eventually you will make billions of
connections. Your mind will either explode, or give up, and either
way, you will be left with what they refer to in Zen as No-Mind.
Emptyness. Silence. This is the moment when you can fill with the
universe. In the beginning, you are just "trying" to concentrate and
stay focused on the object and "making an effort" to not get
diverted. This is Concentration. There is an interesting (to say the
least) point in the process where everything about the object of your
meditation simply comes to you. Effortlessly. Without trying "to do".
It is like you are sitting in a theater and a movie about the object
is playing. This is Meditation. The empty, silent mind referred to
before is Contemplation. This is when you "Know", you "Are", and
"Realize" you have always been and will always "Be" . The amazing
thing about this process is that although it looks like your
concentration has "caused" the meditation, and the meditation has
"caused" the contemplation, it is all a gift of Grace and has no
cause and effect about it at all. You always are this causeless Self.
What has been just as much an illusion as a movie, has been the
billions of connections. Unconnected from illusion, Graced, you live
happily ever after. I hope this helps, but these are just words. What
may help is actually meditating. It can be considered preparing the
soil in the garden, ridding it of weeds, planting seeds, and having
it ready for "Mother Nature", "Grace", "God", you supply the
adjective, to work the most amazing miracle of all...letting you
experience the answer to "Who am I?"
Peace and blessings,
Bob

...to work the most amazing miracle of all...letting you experience the answer
to "Who am I?"
   Peace and blessings,
   Bob

   Yes! Oh, we have such a grand adventure seeking after the treasure of
awakening. Such highs and lows as we never imagined. All this journeying all
these adventures and then we discover that we really are what we seek. Oh yes,
we are the boundless joy of being.

   While meditation in and of itself will not bring about awakening, meditation
is part of the natural, intuitive process of awakening. Meditation can calm the
mind thus increasing our ability to use the gift of intelligence. As the mind
calms the heart opens. We learn not to identify with all that thinking about
things.

   Thinking isn't bad, nor will it keep one from realizing that God does indeed
dwell within us.
   Thinking is merely a tool. Nor are emotions bad - they are the spice of life.
Nor is the ego bad - it is the cloak and costume of God.

   Jesus said that we should not judge - least we be judged. For so long I
thought he meant that I shouldn't judge others. Oh, silly me! I kept judging me!
heeheehee

   love and blessings on us all - michael


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

I've been meditating for about five months now and I just wanted to
ask, if it isn't too much trouble, about two things

1)  When I meditate usually one of my limbs goes completely numb from
the prolonged period of sitting.  I do stretch and I also perform
some yoga poses in preparation, but it still goes completely numb.  Is
this bad?

2)  Today, as I was meditating, I experienced a cool feeling
spreading up my back and eventually to my neck and the other side. Is
this supposed to happen?  What causes it?  (I've noticed it before in
my throat).

Thanks.