WHY meditate?Too fidgety the mind’s compass. - R.S. Thomas
Too much of your surface is exposed to the breath of every wind that blows. You must learn to dwell deep. - Amy Carmichael Meditation offers a calm sense balance and peace of mind. It is common for meditators to experience a greater awareness of the present moment – the vibrancy and power of life itself. This makes it easier to respond to challenges and enjoy the day. Like any discipline, what you get out of it depends on what you are seeking and changes with cumulative experience.
While there are many styles and approaches, meditative practices can be seen as different roads leading to some of the same destinations. You could view this as a train heading to an ultimate destination with many stops along the way where you can disembark for an extended stay. The significance of context Many people successfully meditate without reference to a specific belief system or spiritual frame of reference. It is possible to practice mindfulness meditation without also following its Buddhist origins. It is possible to practice mantra-based meditations, like Transcendental Meditation, without Hindu origins. The method or techniques can be separated from a spiritual context to achieve a state of peaceful calm and increased cognitive ability. The religious origins and context can be stripped out to simplify and focus on the practice and benefits. In fact, the earlier meditation is an example of a meditative technique without reference to beliefs.
However, different styles and approaches may involve hidden assumptions. We wish more teachers were forthcoming about the influence of belief systems in their approach. We believe this can help immeasurably improve results. A shift in perspective“I said to the almond tree, ‘Sister, speak to me of God’ and the almond tree blossomed.”
Nikos Kazantzakis, Report to Greco The monkey is reaching for the moon in the water. Until death overtakes him he'll never give up. If he'd let go the branch and disappear in the deep pool, The whole world would shine with dazzling pureness. Hakuin 18th century Zen Buddhist “Behind every ‘O Lord’ of thine, are a thousand ‘Here am I’s.’" Jalalaldin Rumi, Sufi poet “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 Beliefs about the purpose / meaning of life and higher consciousness often become part of the landscape of all meditative practices, whether expressed or implied. We have practiced many forms of meditation, appreciating what each has to offer. Our own primary practice, the one that we always return to, is what's called intention-based meditation, with origins in Christian contemplative and mystic traditions. When we can, we draw parallels with other traditions. For instance, compassion is a shared value in many traditions. We start with shared values, not differences, which strengthens our common humanity and communication. For the mystically musical who would like to journey deeper into the relationships between meditation, spirituality, and higher consciousness, wisdom teachers recommend picking one tradition and going deep, with respect for the journeys of others. THE FREEDOM OF BEING: A Simple practiceFind a comfortable safe space, a favorite chair in your room with door closed, take a deep breath to settle down.
WHY THIS journey? I started meditating in my 20's to cope with stress and noise pollution. With passing time and increasing experience, it became much more. I remember the early experience of surprising benefits of meditating. I remember the vibrancy of layers of new understandings and revelations through the years. You could say I am time-traveling through this teaching revisiting my own stops along the way. I am revisiting old friends and discovering new companions, inviting the reader to come with me.
I look forward to the teaching possibilities of using new media to further develop programming. This includes other potential offerings like new workshops, webinars, and blogging. Each medium offers new ways of interacting and engaging on multiple levels. It is also about forming a community of those who may only be curious and those who want to do a deep dive. To stay tuned, sign up to receive emails and updates or follow us here and subscribe to our blog, “Flying Lessons.” Read Excerpt from thought wings, THE BOOK
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ABOUT MAUREEN
Maureen teaches meditation as an avocation, with several highly-regarded courses on meditation and prayer. Professionally, she works in publishing and information systems with a keen interest in the strengths and weaknesses of different mediums to communicate content, experience, and sharing.
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Testimonials from Maureen's workshops
“This introductory workshop was the clearest presentation of meditation I'd ever encountered…. I plan to stick with this for the rest of my life!”
“As a practitioner herself, Maureen is open and willing to share her own personal experiences with meditation with humor and understanding to encourage her students.”
"This workshop changed my life."
“As a practitioner herself, Maureen is open and willing to share her own personal experiences with meditation with humor and understanding to encourage her students.”
"This workshop changed my life."