The paradox of quiet in the midst of crazy activity

18 December 2011 By

Between one moment and the next, between one thought and the next, or between one breath and the next, there is a tiny, often imperceptible gap, a pause point. In the cycle of awareness, we let go of one experience before turning our awareness to another. Before going through another cycle of becoming aware, engaging and taking action, there’s a slight gap, a tiny pause, infinitesimal even. We’re reaching such a natural pause point at present, not that you would think it.

This is in some ways a strange time of year. In the west we all dash madly around doing our Christmas shopping, getting ready for the feast, when paradoxically nature is quietening down and the cycle of the earth reaches an energetic still point at the Winter Solstice. It’s a time of frosts and cold weather. Nature has bedded down for the winter, turning in upon itself in hibernation. Humans though seem to be on an opposite trajectory.

Many of us are acutely aware of this, often feeling very stressed. It’s a kind of “be-perfect” driver in action: the idea of having everything sorted out, all the food bought, all the presents obtained, all the arrangements in place, for the mythical “perfect Christmas”, which is probably based on some very imperfect memory. Queues in supermarkets are noticeably long and bad-tempered, the whole place is jammed with people and the car parks over-full.

Quietly, in the background, nature does its thing, much of it quietly sleeping. Traditionally at the Winter Solstice the yule log was brought in and mistletoe was given, symbolising light and life in the darkness. It is the time of the longest night, before the sun slowly starts its upward course across the sky towards spring. This still point, when energies are quiet, is a superb time for meditation. So it’s good to have a long meditation around this time, and really give yourself time and be still.

This is a challenge for many caught up in the pre-Christmas rush, but it’s an excellent exercise in putting things on one side and connecting with Oneself inside. Thus it’s a bit like life in general, becoming aware of what’s happening, letting go and connecting with Oneself.

We’ll be holding a Winter Solstice free webinar on 21st at 7.30pm GMT, to mark the occasion, and it will include a guided meditation on this whole subject. To sign up, click here.

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Being aware of the mind as contracted consciousness

19 November 2011 By

My own spiritual practice is that of Siddha Yoga, which is derived from the Kashmir Shaivic tradition in India. In that tradition, the mind, chitta, is simply a contracted form of universal Consciousness or Shakti, chiti, the great Consciousness that creates the universe. It is a very useful concept to remember, particularly in meditation. Those words chitta and chiti come from the same root, chit, meaning Awareness or Consciousness.

What troubles many people in meditation are their thoughts. Despite their best efforts, their minds get absorbed in trains of thought and they think they aren’t meditating. In Siddha Yoga, we are taught to let the mind be. That’s not to carry on thinking the train of thought, but to witness it, to become detached from it in a sense, and be the observer of it, not engaged in it. The point here is that the mind is just energy, it is contracted consciousness. Thoughts arise and they depart. They dissolve back into consciousness. So, by letting thoughts be, they dissolve. It is said, “A watched mind becomes still.”

So, when you meditate, when you get lots of thoughts, notice them, and then bring your awareness back to your breath or your mantra. Keep doing this. After a while with this practice, thoughts begin to subside, and chatter away as some vague noise in the background, or cease entirely Instead, we adopt an easy restfulness, simply being aware.

It’s not simply a practice for meditation. It is a practice for life too.

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A good time to practice meditation

28 October 2011 By

Reaching the end of the last week in October, it is appropriately sunny and almost warm here, with the last very golden colours on the trees before the autumn winds wisk them away no doubt very soon. There’s perhaps a sense of a turning point in the earth’s seasonal cycle, before we descend more rapidly into winter and the animals who hiberate start burrowing underground or wherever for their sleep, our evenings are now very much darker and the clocks about to go back. To me it feels like we almost close within ourselves more.

I often recommend people do more meditating at this time. It’s good to go with the seasonal cycle and take the awareness within and rest there a while each day. In a way, nature seems to get quieter, storms notwithstanding, going within itself, and of course all that happens now is in preparation for the next spring. Us humans continue to rush around, but many say they feel more tired and sleep later if they can. So, meditating seems natural.

Very early in the morning, before the sun starts to rise is a good time. That’s when nature is at a still point before opening to the day. Some say the energy level of the earth is at its stillest. It is of course the coldest time.

So, have a room ready and a seat if you prefer that. Have a cushion to place in the small of your back as a support, if you prefer. Ensure nobody will interrupt you. Maybe light a candle, or have a low light in a corner. Maybe have a sacred object, an image or a beautiful scene. Honour this place, as your special place, and if you think that way, those that watch over you or inspire you. Or you can simply honour yourself, as a sacred being.

Taking a simple, upright posture, with your hands on your lap, or one on top of the other palms upward, or placed on your thighs. Take several deep breaths, breathing in deep and breathing out long. As you breathe in, imagine you are breathing in peace and calm, and as you breathe out let go of any tension and thoughts. And now simply sit there a while, noticing your breath coming in…and going out. If any thoughts come to mind, you can just notice them, not engage with thinking them through but bring your awareness back to your breathe…coming in…and going out.

Do this for perhaps 20 minutes, gradually enlongating it to 30 or 40 minutes if you like. It takes regular practice each day to build the habit, which is needed to really start to see the benefit.

I have much more detailed instructions on an mp3 that you can download, with some guided meditations, to help you develop skill in this invaluable practice.

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