The exercise for loving kindness was interesting. I didn't really know what to expect. I ended up falling asleep both times listening to the exercise disc, which felt good, but I didn't have the frame of mind I thought I should have coming out of the practice session. But after experiencing the session twice, reading the readings again I figured out what may be part of the reason I was confused. My worship and prayer time I normally have as part of my day, really was putting me in the same frame of mind the living kindness exercise was suppose to accomplish, so I didn't feel anything new or unusual. I think anytime a person of faith enters into prayer and prays for other people, friends and those we have problems with it puts your mind into the state of loving kindness, if we are sincere in our prayers. My conclusions from the readings is that the flourishing life Dacher is trying to explain to us is the very "life abundant" that those of us who enter into a relationship with the Divine Mind of God at our rebirth experience. The rebirth, if we nurture our relationship with God naturally takes us through the steps Dacher describes in the four steps to psychospiritural flourishing and the Conscious Unity is what the Bible describes as " let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus."Philippians 5:2
The mental workout to develop the mind to me is time set aside to develop the character and to contemplate universal and divine laws and principles. As a Christian this is part of our experience and relationship, but I think that I have much to learn on how to pray using these techniques which engage the mind in a more three dimensional way rather than what most people do with prayer which is just talk to God, without really experiencing the prayer visually and contemplatively. Prayer in this way is more of an experience than words spoken. I like that idea and look forward to experiencing my prayer and meditation time in this way.
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Hello Esther,
ReplyDeleteHow are you? I had to go back to the blog addresses that were posted to identify you blog with your name. I did not want to address you as SoulSearcher unless I knew it was ok with you. I also wanted to connect the proper name to your blog.
You blog is very well put. In my practice of massage therapy, relaxation does cause some people to fall asleep. That is probably a good thing for you because it will give you the opportunity to keep trying. Relaxation exercises send us through a development stage until we are fully successful. It is ok to say that you did not have the right frame of mind. Sometimes I do feel that I do not have the right frame of mind, but I keep trying because I love the feeling of tranquil in mind, body, and spirit. I am glad that you tried again and figured out that your worship and prayer time do put you in the same frame of mind that the loving kindness exercise was suppose to accomplish, so therefore, you didn't feel anything new or unusual.
I am a person of faith too and I do accomplish the same results by being put in a state of loving kindness, because I am sincere in my prayers. I love your explanation, “that those of us who enter into a relationship with the Divine Mind of God at our rebirth experience rebirth, and if we nurture our relationship with God, it naturally takes us through the psychospiritural flourishing steps." That is awesome!
Your view of the mental workout is true because to develop the mind one need to set aside time to develop their inner characteristics. I also have much to learn on how to pray and to use the techniques to engage my mind, body, and spirit as a whole. I daily practice to be aware of my body, mind, and spirit, as a whole in everything I do. For instance, I do not just physically exercise. I know that I have to mentally, physically, and spiritually, process my exercise as a whole for it to be powerful and effective. I have been encouraged to continue with my practice by reading you blog. Thank you. Your blog is beautifully written.
Continue in the faith.... Be encouraged in all that you do. He will say:"Well done my good and faithful servant."
Hello Ester,
ReplyDeleteI found your post really interesting. I can see how this exercise might have seemed similar to what you experience during your normal prayer and worship time. It will be interesting to see how this exercise helps to expand your prayer and worship as well as other areas of your life. My understanding of the conscious unity Dacher describes is different in that I don't see it as the same thing as a connection to a higher power as you do, rather as a connection to all of humanity and all of creation.
I encourage you to try to expand your experience with this exercise and see what it brings to other aspects of your life. Good luck!
Thank you Kelly, conscious unity as I see it does affect and permeate other areas of your life and other humans as have said. When you have a walk with the Divine you see Him in all you meet and in all you see in creation. That is if you believe Him to be the creator. If you do, then you see His character in everything He made, just as you can see the character of an artist in his art, or the character of an athlete in his sportsmanship. One cannot separate conscious unity and interconnectedness with what surrounds you and the universe without being connected to a Higher Power especially if you believe in intelligent design as I do. I hope you aren't offended by my candidness, I am just relating my experience and do not mean to be narrow in my comments, ok?
ReplyDeleteWow, I am so glad that you have such a spiritual side, I think that it has done you wonders. This is apart of me that I am trying to strengthen and bolster. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for you. I enjoy reading your postings and I hope for great things for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Hi Esther,
ReplyDeleteThat was a beautiful perception that you have of the loving kindness exercise. I think your own suggestions of learning to pray in a three dimensional perspective would add more meaning and deeper meditation that exemplifies sincerity. It was uplifting and an inspiration to me to read your words. I pray regularly and it did not dawn on me the similarities between the loving kindness exercise and my personal prayers to God. The experiences do have a striking resemblance to each other as you stated. The only difference was my concentration required some effort with the loving kindness exercise. It was interesting that you would suggest integrating prayers in this manner and it gave me an idea to try it as well. I enjoyed reading your posting and thank you so much for sharing your personal feelings.