The two exercises that I have found to be the most beneficial throughout this course were The Universal Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle Mind exercise. The Universal Kindness exercise could be implemented into my daily life very easily because it centers around four very easy to remember phrases that help to develop a higher state of consciousness. These four phrases are:
May all individuals gain freedom from suffering
May all individuals find sustained health, happiness, and wholeness.
May I assist all individuals in gaining freedom from suffering
May I assist all individuals in finding health, happiness, and wholeness.
This type of exercise works great in instilling a feeling of cooperative living with all other living things in the world rather than feeling alone and separate.
The Subtle Mind exercise was great for opening up the witnessing mind which also raises a person's state of consciousness. Through simple breathing techniques and watching how your mind reacts to thoughts allows you to stay in the present moment and not drift into random thinking patterns.
Both of these exercise have the same goal of raising your level of consciousness and getting better connected to the world through thoughts. Feeling connected to the world gets rid of ego driven thinking that we are all separate entities trying to survive in the world rather than a connected universe. When you understand that you are not alone trying to survive you are one more step closer to human flourishing.
Hi James,
ReplyDeletePersonally I had a harder time with these two exercises then with the visualization and Aesclepius which are the two that were the easiest for me and I got the most out of. I feel like these exercises work to calm me more then to raise my level of consciousness so maybe that is why the other ones didn't work for me maybe I need to be calm before I can do the other ones and have them work for me. I'm glad you were able to get these to work for you.
Heidi
Hi Heidi,
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts on these exercises. I found that the visualization exercises were more work for me and not as relaxing. The time in between the visualizations were to long in my opinion and I found my mind drifting a lot from the intended image that I was suppose to be thinking about which I found a little frustrating. I guess it goes to show that in health a wellness there truly is not a One Size Fits All concept that can be applied to everyone.
Hi James!
ReplyDeleteI loved those exercises too! I do the subtle mind and that specific loving kindness exercise (on p.93) every night now. Sometimes, during the day since I work from home, and obviously take school online at home, I am grateful I have the ability to stop and take an afternoon break to do the subtle mind exercise. I have also been using the visualization exercise. Besides the one in the book, I made up one. I am visualizing good things, happiness, wholeness, and health for others in a specific way. Right now my mom, after the past 10 years of surgeries and mishaps from a bad work injury that broke her back" she had one last final surgery and is going into rehab now for nutrition, physical therapy, and mental well being help. I visualize a happy, healthy, and whole mom again. Next, I think about my sister and visualize a happy, healthy, whole birth since she is due very soon (end of may or beginning of June). Then I think of my friend Ben who is going for his dream job so I envision health, happiness, wholeness. Then I say the loving kindness practice and then wish myself good health, happiness, and wholeness. Just wanted to share that, anyway… I like what you said about "Feeling connected to the world gets rid of ego driven thinking that we are all separate entities". Way too often ego gets in the way, I am glad we now know otherwise and not to let it :-)
Heather,
DeleteIt really shows a lot about who you are and your level of consciousness that you are doing the visualizations for others before you do them for yourself. Another practice that I have been "dabbling" with lately is thought manifestations where I think about something that I want in my life and "manifest" it to be. In the several times that I have done it I was surprised to find that the positive image that I was thinking became very close in reality. For instance I saw a job opening for my dream job a couple of months ago so I started thinking that the job was mine and I would think about myself in the job each day before the interview. I got the job! There are other examples I could give like that and it has reinforced my idea that thoughts and ideas are "real things". You should have your friend Ben do the same and see what happens. it cant hurt :-)
James I enjoy reading your blog, I liked when you said "you are dabbling in thought manifestations where you think about something that you want in your life and "manifest" it to be". I agree when you want that dream job or something in life just claim it, if it's not for you something better will come along. Good luck on getting that job you wanted. Great Job
DeleteJames, you brought up two good points, one, "getting rid of the ego". Why do you think we have an ego when it comes to things we engage in, in our daily life? Is it a "score" for who is the "alpha" dog of the pack? Or, are most of us truly insecure and we search out approval through our many engagements and undertakings?
ReplyDeleteThe other point you brought up is that of "staying in the present moment". How many of us really do that? When we're having a conversation I think often times most of us drift off subject, maybe even unintentionally...losing focus and engaging in another topic of discussion with someone else who could be present, within the same group of people! Has this happen to you? It has for me and to me many times...but I'm making very deliberate steps to curtail this "dynamic" in my conversations, being very intentional at being present, staying focused on that person or people who I'm speaking with, not to be too scattered, all over the place with my interaction. Nice points James, good flow of thought.