I must say that I really did not enjoy this particular meditation exercise. I was distracted thinking about how I would respond in my reflection. I was good with visualizing someone who was near and dear to me. I typically use my mother for these types of exercises because I know she loved me to no end. I remember as a child being in her arms and having that feeling of being safe and secure. To me, the love of a mother is the closest thing to feeling the love of God itself or a variation of the same. It is powerful to say the least. I enjoyed visualizing a place that I would enjoy. It was euphoric and I felt very light as if I was floating. In my mind, I reached out and touched the vision and felt it felt very good. I also felt my heart warm up, then my entire body warmed up when I visualized receiving love from my mother. It all went down hill when I began inhaling the suffering of others and exhaling wellness/flourishing for them. I believe in the unified field and how we can extend healing energy from a distance. I practice a healing energy called Reconnection and I’m a Reconnection Level III healer. I’ve been able to help my friends heal from a distance and they recanted their experiences to me about what they felt during the session. Energy work is amazing; however, I’m not on board with taking in other people’s suffering as I’ve had my own share of suffering to contend with throughout my lifetime. Also, I’m on the fence with suffering as I’m leaning towards it being a construct of the mind. By me taking it in, I feel as if I’m acknowledging its existence and power. I also don’t think that is necessary to take suffering in to my life experience in order to dissipate it. I would prefer to disarm suffering by denying its power and affirming positive thoughts. On the other hand, I can see how playing of the role of alchemist by changing suffering into joy is beneficial to helping others end suffering. Maybe I should look at the example with compassion and acknowledge that for many individuals, suffering is real and if it’s real to them I have to acknowledge it in order to help them heal and flourish. Maybe I’m suffering and don’t even know it. I don’t have the answers and I need to think about this one a little further. I might be a little spoiled because if I lost my iPhone and had no Internet for a week, I would call that suffering – LOL! When I look at those who do not have the basic necessities of life (food, water, shelter, love), I would consider that suffering as well. For now, the jury is out. I don’t know if I would recommend the exercise to others. For someone who believes in suffering as being “real” then I think it’s a great exercise.
To me, a mental workout is a daily ritualistic practice of prayer, meditation or contemplation that contributes toward the expansion of our consciousness. Our ego has been running Olympic games for years and if we want to begin living a more conscious life and experience human flourishing, we need to train our mind to be focused on the development of thoughts that aid us in achieving psychospiritual health. Just like we exercise our bodies to achieve a desired result, we also have to exercise the mind in the same regimented manner. I took on the practice of praying, meditating and saying my affirmations first thing every morning. I also end the day with a gratitude list. This practice has improved my life in ways that cannot be measured. I hope you enjoy the post and I wish you all the best in your healing journey.
Regards,
John
Hi, John.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you commented specifically on how you did not really feel that taking in other peoples' suffering would be beneficial, specifically for the reasons you stated. I find myself agreeing with you; however, my primary objection to that particular part of the exercise resides in the fact that a lot of people bring that suffering on themselves. The key to helping them find a better place isn't to negate their suffering: it's to help them realize that they do not need to be a victim in order to receive attention or feel like they have a purpose in life.
I know several people like that, who will go out of their way to place themselves into negative situations with the expected consequences, then expect everyone around them to sympathize and try to "fix" their problems. At what point do you continue to "fix" what isn't really broken versus pointing out to the individual that they are the main source of their own suffering?
Dealing with suffering is, in my opinion, a journey that leads to strength and wisdom as the individual learns to avoid the circumstances that brought them to suffering. Additionally, having someone else "fix" the problem for them does not teach them how to handle the problem for themselves.
Your comments for this blog post were very well thought out, and I want to thank you for sharing your experience!
-Joy Clark
I’m in accord with you Joy. Because suffering may not be real to me, it doesn’t mean it is not real to the individual. And despite my efforts, it is the individual who has to make the conscious decision to end their suffering because it belongs to them and them only. We can only experience life through the lens of our existence and as a result, we have to own what we feel as being ours. That is why I believe in effectuating change by being the change as Gandhi said. Through the power of example, others can see what is possible, hence the reason why I never tell people what to do. I offer examples on how I dealt with similar situations and invite them to view things differently. I can’t make anyone do anything, but I do possess the power of influence so they might be able to make the change for themselves. Thanks for a great response and contribution to my blog!
ReplyDeleteHello John, I can see both points. Yes, acknowledging the power that suffering can have is in a sense letting suffering win. I too live my life squashing the power of suffering by turning the bad to good with positive thoughts and actions. However, you also make a valid point in acknowledging that some do not have the power to do this for themselves and as healers one must acknowledge this for their clients in order to help them push the affects of suffering away to develop inner peace. Yes interesting, very interesting. Also, just because we behave in a manner to help another does not mean this has to be our way of life either. Right?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your journals. You are very thorough and so open. I enjoyed this exercise a bunch. When it came to the point where you had to embrace the negative aspects of your life, it almost got me off track. But I kind of looked at from the standpoint of taking the good with the bad. It's always there. Embrace it and release it. Great reflection.
ReplyDeleteHola DeLeon,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy very much reading your posts, it make me feel as if we are sitting across from each other and you are speaking directly to me. I feel comfortable in partaking in following your posts. Your experiences sound extremely interesting and even though I don't respond sometimes, I do stop in to read.
Will continue to follow you,
JaeC
Maybe you need to look as this as how it relates to you and not how others relate to it. Sometimes people get stuck on the words, like suffering, maybe if it was the word pain it could be easier to imagine. In this I imagined people who have lost loved ones and have heartache. I am not saying you have to love this exercise, but for me I look at it as helping ease anothers heartache. I still know that they have to deal with their own karma, but I can be compassionate and sending them love can only be helpful.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteThis was an eye opening post and you certainly sound like you know what you are talking about! I am a first time learner about human flourishing, I find it to be extremely interesting and I certainly need it in my life! Although, I am afraid it is going to take me a lot longer to appreciate the concept of "contemplative practice'. I did learn that contemplative practice give us the opportunity to plunge into a relationship with our inner self. There is an entire universe inside of us just waiting to be discovered and explored! You really hit home when you were talking about your mother I lost my father when he was 27, I was 7, it was devastating and to this day I have an anger built up inside of me because I did not get to say good bye and I did not get to spend enough time with him! We had so much more to do in life, fishing, riding his motorcycle, which turned out to be his demise! He had plans to remodel our home and make it bigger so my sister and I could have our own room! Life takes you by surprise and we all suffer in so many ways! We have to look at and be happy that we are healthy for the most part and that we have a class like this to teach us that we need to take it easy and unwind, take time to smell the lilacs, watch the birds in flight and the sense of freedom they possess! Admire the beauty the world has to offer. Remember you always have support from me, I can turn a negative into a positive because this is more important to focus on! Why waste all the time and energy on something you cannot change or have no control over! The best to you always!
-Dawn, 2011
I agree Kelly.
ReplyDeleteThank you MzRenee.
Thank you for your interest JaeC.
I see your point lolwsummer. I do realize that I can only create in my reality, but how can one effectuate change if I choose not to see it as suffering, but the other person refuses to see it only as suffering. I don't exist alone although I subscript to the belief of oneness or unity consciousness. Others are part of the collective unconscious as well.
Thank you for your kind words Dawn and you are correct, I've been a this for a while. A phrase that helps me stay in the moment is, "you are exactly where you are supposed to be." When I was struck with the overwhelming feeling of wanting to live my life purpose, I thought the same way, I'm not where I would like to be in my progression or something similar to what you mentioned. Then I read another great quote, "It's not about the destination but the journey." I then realized that I had to be in it for the long haul and the experience was necessary in order for me to become more spiritually aware. All the best to you Dawn. You are well on your way as you will never be the same after this experience. The same holds true for all of our experiences when we start living consciously.
Warm regards to all! Namaste and I wish everyone the best in their healing journey.
John