Reflections on the Dynamics of Meditation

[Guest guest]

The following are my reflections from a weekend meditation

seminar at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale,

PA (http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/).

 

Reflections

on the Dynamics of Meditation

Halfway between the Newark airport

and Honesdale, PA the cell phone signal faded. Intense life

styles that are “too busy for relaxation” were left behind. The

destination was a three day seminar on the “Dynamics of Meditation”

at the Himalayan Institute.

We were welcomed by the director of

guest services. Her calm, pleasant demeanor encouraged us to engage in the

weekend experience. The seminar began Friday evening with introductory comments

on the relationship between the body, breath and mind. We were then guided

through our first hatha yoga class with instructions on controlling the body

and breath.

 

After a delicious vegetarian dinner,

it was time for our first lecture. The discussion on “Inward Journey of

Meditation” reviewed the layers (sheaths) of koshas that cover our inner

self. The instructor’s joyful exuberance provided hope that all of us

could peel through the layers of physical body, breath, lower mind and discerning

mind to touch the blissful sheath that covers our soul.

Saturday morning began with

“Hatha for Meditators”. This hatha class emphasized comfort and

steadiness. We were encouraged to experience our breath moving along the spine

and expanding into areas of tightness or stress. In the next session, “Sitting

for Meditation”, the instructor patiently arranged dozens of blankets

until every member of the class could sit with comfort, stillness and

steadiness. He then proceeded to make sure every spine in the class was erect

from our sit bones to the top of our heads.

We found our breath in the session

“Relaxation and Breathing in Preparation for Meditation”. The

first step was to understand the anatomy of diaphragmatic breathing. Then,

while in the crocodile position, we were led through a progressive relaxation

exercise which allowed us to discover the origin of our breath and experience

its multiple expansions in the abdomen, lower ribs and lower back.

 

That evening, we watched the

beginning of a lunar eclipse and then proceeded to a class on “Meditation

and the Mind”. The concept of conscious mind and its five active and

five passive senses was easy to grasp. Understanding its relationship with the

ego and with the unconscious mind was more difficult. The suggestion that the discerning

mind (buddhi) can act as a mirror and reflect both the conscious mind and the

divine presence (atman) was hard to grasp.

 

 

We took a break outside to watch the

completion of the lunar eclipse. The full moon had gone but it retained a dim

glow in the dark night sky. It faintly reflected the sun’s brilliance

back to the world. The unenlightened earth and its buddhi moon, provided

insights that made the end of the eclipse an enlightening experience.

The prior days efforts were brought

together Sunday morning with “From Postures to Breathing to

Stillness”. With the assistance of calm suggestions, we remained centered

through hatha yoga, breath discovery, progressive relaxation, comfortable still

sitting and mind focus on breath touch. The last five minutes of this session

established an eternal foundation for future meditation practice.

 

The final session of the weekend was a lecture

on the eight limbs of raja yoga and a “Program for Progress in

Meditation”. We were provided with unique insights into the yamas and niyamas

with anecdotes from great thinkers like Immanuel Kant and St. Augustine. The philosophy of asanas,

pranayama, pratyahara, dharana and samadi was insightful. The instructor was

forceful in his conviction that much effort and discipline is required for the

pursuit of the elusive samadi enlightenment. However, he was convincing when

he stated that “self realization” was within reach with only twenty

minutes of meditation twice a day and a focus on mindfulness in all activities.

The retreat was a joyful experience.

The Himalayan Institute is located on 400 acres in the Poconos Mountains.

Trails through the woods lead to a bubbling stream and down to a rushing

waterfall. Contemplation is induced by sitting at the top of Sound of Music Hill

and observing the panoramic vistas. Tours

of the organic gardens and the herbal laboratory provided insights into the Institute’s

productivity. The vegetarian meals were an occasion to share interests with

others who are in the process of personal transformation.

 

It was time to return to a world

where cell phones ensure that we can be constantly interrupted and where

thousands of daily marketing messages attempt to define our personal identity. The

Dynamics of Meditation had taught us valuable techniques for discovering our internal

identity. It also refreshed our perspectives for enjoying the blessings of a

wonderful word.

November 2003

 

[Guest guest]

Grtitude to Mike for sharing his joy derived from meditation camp at Himalayan institute. The way he described his experience ensured that he rubbed off some of his fragrance to those who were constrained to stay back amidst cell phones and all other noisy stuff in this world of Maya.

RamRealization wrote:

 

 

 

The following are my reflections from a weekend meditation seminar at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA (http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/).

 

Reflections on the Dynamics of Meditation

Halfway between the Newark airport and Honesdale, PA the cell phone signal faded. Intense life styles that are “too busy for relaxation” were left behind. The destination was a three day seminar on the “Dynamics of Meditation” at the Himalayan Institute.

We were welcomed by the director of guest services. Her calm, pleasant demeanor encouraged us to engage in the weekend experience. The seminar began Friday evening with introductory comments on the relationship between the body, breath and mind. We were then guided through our first hatha yoga class with instructions on controlling the body and breath.

 

After a delicious vegetarian dinner, it was time for our first lecture. The discussion on “Inward Journey of Meditation” reviewed the layers (sheaths) of koshas that cover our inner self. The instructor’s joyful exuberance provided hope that all of us could peel through the layers of physical body, breath, lower mind and discerning mind to touch the blissful sheath that covers our soul.

Saturday morning began with “Hatha for Meditators”. This hatha class emphasized comfort and steadiness. We were encouraged to experience our breath moving along the spine and expanding into areas of tightness or stress. In the next session, “Sitting for Meditation”, the instructor patiently arranged dozens of blankets until every member of the class could sit with comfort, stillness and steadiness. He then proceeded to make sure every spine in the class was erect from our sit bones to the top of our heads.

We found our breath in the session “Relaxation and Breathing in Preparation for Meditation”. The first step was to understand the anatomy of diaphragmatic breathing. Then, while in the crocodile position, we were led through a progressive relaxation exercise which allowed us to discover the origin of our breath and experience its multiple expansions in the abdomen, lower ribs and lower back.

 

That evening, we watched the beginning of a lunar eclipse and then proceeded to a class on “Meditation and the Mind”. The concept of conscious mind and its five active and five passive senses was easy to grasp. Understanding its relationship with the ego and with the unconscious mind was more difficult. The suggestion that the discerning mind (buddhi) can act as a mirror and reflect both the conscious mind and the divine presence (atman) was hard to grasp.

 

 

We took a break outside to watch the completion of the lunar eclipse. The full moon had gone but it retained a dim glow in the dark night sky. It faintly reflected the sun’s brilliance back to the world. The unenlightened earth and its buddhi moon, provided insights that made the end of the eclipse an enlightening experience.

The prior days efforts were brought together Sunday morning with “From Postures to Breathing to Stillness”. With the assistance of calm suggestions, we remained centered through hatha yoga, breath discovery, progressive relaxation, comfortable still sitting and mind focus on breath touch. The last five minutes of this session established an eternal foundation for future meditation practice.

 

The final session of the weekend was a lecture on the eight limbs of raja yoga and a “Program for Progress in Meditation”. We were provided with unique insights into the yamas and niyamas with anecdotes from great thinkers like Immanuel Kant and St. Augustine. The philosophy of asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana and samadi was insightful. The instructor was forceful in his conviction that much effort and discipline is required for the pursuit of the elusive samadi enlightenment. However, he was convincing when he stated that “self realization” was within reach with only twenty minutes of meditation twice a day and a focus on mindfulness in all activities.

The retreat was a joyful experience. The Himalayan Institute is located on 400 acres in the Poconos Mountains. Trails through the woods lead to a bubbling stream and down to a rushing waterfall. Contemplation is induced by sitting at the top of Sound of Music Hill and observing the panoramic vistas. Tours of the organic gardens and the herbal laboratory provided insights into the Institute’s productivity. The vegetarian meals were an occasion to share interests with others who are in the process of personal transformation.

 

It was time to return to a world where cell phones ensure that we can be constantly interrupted and where thousands of daily marketing messages attempt to define our personal identity. The Dynamics of Meditation had taught us valuable techniques for discovering our internal identity. It also refreshed our perspectives for enjoying the blessings of a wonderful word.

November 2003

..........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST..........Email addresses: Post message: Realization Un: Realization- Our web address: http://www.realization.orgBy sending a message to this list, you are givingpermission to have it reproduced as a letter onhttp://www.realization.org................................................ Indiatimes Email now powered by APIC Advantage. Help! HelpClick on the image to chat with me