longing for silence

[Guest guest]

Hello and Sat Nam Derek,

 

Your committment and dedication will bring you through the distractions. " keep

up and you will be kept up " Yogi Bhajan.

 

You know, it seems that often when I want to focus on yoga or meditation, there

is often a convenient " distraction " ... Our yoga class used to have practice on a

very busy street corner. The building was hot much of the time (a distraction in

itself) so it was necessary to keep the windows open. There was a bus stop right

out front and much loud talking from recovery meetings next to us. You could

hear people spitting, drinking, cussing, farting, fighting, honking, yelling,

and even making fun of our yoga chanting. The people and the busses were as loud

as if they were right in the room with us... To speak for myself, it actually

made me stronger and more peaceful... Example: When in sweat lodge last summer,

there was one of those big trance/dance all-nighter parties going on at the same

property. I found it interesting that the " noise " was terribly distracting to

many of the participants in the sweat lodge and even angered several of them,

but I hardly noticed. In fact, I even camped there that night and slept right

through it all. Something has shifted within me and I was not bothered by it at

all.

 

It has become somewhat entertaining to me to observe, as there are often

distractions and temptations when I want to practice self improvement. If I want

to diet then there will be an inevitable feast nearby that weekend, if I want to

complete a challenging goal (such as do my taxes) then I can be certain of

invitation to playtime somewhere even though lonliness prevailed the week

prior... If I really feel like I " need " money, then there will be a stern lesson

in monitary patience for me. Prayer and meditation seems particularly attractive

for distractions and temptations to try to pull me from connection with my

Divine Self.

 

Here are a few suggestions that have helped me.

(1) become very present and in the moment with all of me. A " present and now "

conciousness instantly disolves the resistance. A focus on the now is a great

remedy for disolving resistance. - the book or CD " the power of now " by Eckart

Tolle expands on this perspective.

(2) consolidate my energy. Bring all of me to here now. This strengthens my

auric body.

(3) Recite a mantra. This shifts my vibration and connects me with the sound

current of the mantra playing on the " radio station " , while the sound current of

the noisy static is on another " radio station " . I am " tuned in " to the mantra.

(4) Just let them be them, and let me be me, and then the peace just happens. Go

listen to the classic song " let it be " by the Beatles and then go sit in

meditation!

(5) realize that by you being strong and disciplined, you are actually helping

uplift and open awareness for the distractors too. You help all of us and them

and you through your practice. Thank you! Who knows, they may one day want to

join you.

 

If the mind is thinking about " me being quiet " and " them being noisy " , then the

mind has set itself up for duality. If you can catch yourself doing this and

just observe " us all " doing what " we " are all doing, then you have already

created a big shift in awareness. Observe the situation from outside of the

fishbowl. By realizing that we are all various ingredients in the soup pot,

including the hot (noisy) chili peppers, then we have a neutral perspective.

After all, I guess we do share the same Universe. A quote that I love is " peace

isn't the absence of conflict, it is the absence of inner conflict " author

unknown.

 

Of course, maybe you could go find another place for your practice, but would

the mind then experience the beingness that you desire or would the mind still

continue to find something else to distract it?

 

I encourage you to listen to this song because it is especially profound over

the sound current... but in the meantime, here are the written lyrics to " Let it

be " by the Beatles.

 

Beatles - Let It Be © Lyrics

 

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

 

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

 

And when the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is

Still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be. Yeah

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be,

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

 

Let it be, let it be,

Whisper words of wisdrom, let it be.

 

And when the night is cloudy,

There is still a light that shines on me,

Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be,

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

 

peace,

Diana Bellucci, San Diego

" Make a great day! "