Hi, again I have to say that I enjoyed the loving-kindness
meditation. At first I found it a little different from what I am used to in mediation
because of bring others suffering into my heart. Once I allowed myself to let
go and really breathe in suffering and breathe happiness, wholeness, and love
it felt very peaceful to me. I would recommend this to others that are on a
spiritual path of healing only because it is a little hard to understand I
think of someone just starting out. I may be wrong but that is just my belief. Over
all I do like this and I will continue to do it twice a day for the week. I
will let you all know my end result.
Mental workout is what we are doing here so to speak. It
teaches us to expand our consciousness in order to reach our healing capacities
on a deeper level. Using contemplative practice (loving-kindness) daily we can
learn how to be present in the moment as well as being totally aware of how our
bodies react in order to accomplish wellness- wholeness and happiness.
Love, Light, and Blessings to All,
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the meditation overall, but I did not feel good about taking someone else's negative energy into my heart. As a therapist it isn't good to have someone else's energy, or process in your field. So I did everything but, the heart energy meditation. I believe in this world you must be careful what you ask for, or you just might get it. It is not my job to get their lessons. I hope this makes sense, and you can let it go if you just ask the heart to it will. I have decided that I don't want anyone else's energy but my own. Other then that I found the meditation to be very relaxing.
Hi Mary, I have to say that if you do not feel good about this it is best you don't do it. I know at first it was a little hard for me to think that I am taken on someone's pain, but after I realize that I really am not taking on their pain but allowing the pain or suffering to transfer into love, kindness, and happiness and sending it back out gave me a sense of peace. I do respect your feelings on this and in no way should you do something you do not feel right about.
DeleteLove, Light, and Blessings
Barbara
I did not enjoy bringing the suffering of someone else in to my heart or mind either but I can see where it can be beneficial to this exercise. I could not originally grasp the concept of doing this exercise but I thought about how this exercise could be beneficial to someone and maybe doing this exercise again in the future with a clear mind and \heart, I think that maybe I will better be able to do this exercise. I would recommend this exercise to others but only if they are going to do it with a clear conscious as this exercise is not for those who do not have a clear mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Tyler, I understand how doing this does not feel good. When we feel that we are to take on someone else pain and suffering it puts a wall up. No one wants more pain and suffering than we already have for our self. I see this as not literally taken their pain and suffering and making it mine, but as sending it through my heart to transform it into love, kindness, and happiness. I do have to say that this meditation is a bit advanced and it is not a easy one to do for most of us. I really had to rethink what I was doing before I could feel good about it. Once I did it felt very peaceful.
DeleteLove, Light and Blessings
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
ReplyDeleteI found the Loving-Kindness exercise interesting as well. For me, it was also different from anything else that I have ever done. But good nonetheless. I wrote in my blog post that I would suggest that anyone trying this exercise, not be afraid to pause it if they felt the need, in order to complete a thought or series of thoughts. I caught myself being cut short probably twice. However, on the other hand, that may not exactly be a bad thing. :) I did like how this exercise told us how much time it would take to complete. That way, I was able to make sure that I was able to allot the proper amount of time to complete the exercise. The other exercises that we did, did not identify the amount of time it would take to complete, so I found myself feeling somewhat rushed, because I had other things that I wanted to get done.
I too, found the part of the exercise hard where we had to visualize an "enemy" and take on their pain. It is always so sad...I never want to see anyone suffer, even if it is someone that I do not particularly care for. However, I do feel that the exercise was somewhat empowering.
Mariah Joyce
Hi Mariah, this meditation did push us out of our comfort zone. The first time was hard but I realized that it is about transformation and not who is in front of us as much as what we are learning about ourselves. When we become aware of how we feel inside ourselves than we can help others reach this place. I do agree that this is empowering. For me it became about the transformation of sending out love, kindness and happiness which in turn brought love, peace and happiness.
DeleteLove, Light, and Blessings
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the mediation too. It directs you to think about yourself and others you feel about. Meditation allows us to draw ourselves away from the busy world around us and think about relaxing and concentrate on deeper thoughts. I love mediation, it give me a sense of peace. I think I will be trying this more and more also. I'll be looking for your comments on the outcome. Thanks.
Myra
Hi Myra, I am happy that you enjoyed the meditation as well and you are correct that it does bring us to think about others as well as our own feelings. This is what compassion is about, thinking of others and how they might be feeling. I too found that the more I did the meditation the better it became. I realized that it is about transformation and not getting caught in the pain or suffering but allowing it to transform into love, happiness, and kindness. I do believe that more we all send love, kindness, peace, and happiness out into the world the more we will all experience it. For me this is a wonderful thing !
DeleteLove, Light and Blessings
Barbara
Barbara,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your insight on this week's exercise. I feel that you have a very holistic insight on life that not so many have. Has it always been this way or do you have a new found approach after a few weeks into this class? The biggest problem for me within the exercises always seems to be letting go and just breathing/relaxing. These last few months have been so stressful at work, home, and school that my mind is a constant race track where the cars never slow down or even stop. I am hoping by the end of class that my perspective can change.
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris, I have been on this path for a long time. At first it was not easy to do but I did not give up. The more we work at it the easier it becomes. I found that when my mind would wonder to other thoughts I would go back to breathing. This does not mean that all your thoughts will stop it just helps you to have a different focus. Letting go of thoughts means to not get stuck on what your thought is but to just allow it to run through you mind not holding on to it. In other words just acknowledge it and watch it disappear. It does take practice so don't give up it will come.
DeleteLove, Light and Blessings
Barbara
I notice that a few people had a hard time bringing other people's suffering into their hearts. I look at it from the perspective that we need to understand each other. If we do not feel other's suffering, how do we help them understand it? I am stressed about everything this week, so any peaceful moment is well received.
ReplyDeleteHi Erica, I do agree that if we are not will it understand others suffering than we are not able to help them. We can not fix what we don't understand. Also it teaches us compassion which I do believe that we all need. Sorry to hear how stressed you are this week ! Remember to take deep breathes through out the day to help keep you calm. I will but you in my thoughts while doing by loving-kindness meditation.
ReplyDeleteLove, Light, and Blessing
Barbara