Mindfulness Meditation – How to Meditate

Mindfulness – Awareness – Alignment – The Living Truth

—An Interview with Oldriska Balouskova, Part Eight—
Go to Part One of this Interview:
Listening Meditation – Following Breath – Yoga and Meditation

Meditation How: I see what you mean about the word “progress” as it suggests effort and destination. What word is appropriate in reference to what amounts to a fog clearing? The issue is difficult to grasp with language. In your last response, first paragraph, you say– “I go through periods when I put more effort into bringing attention to the present moment”. Is it not the effort that gets in the way?

Oldriska: I like “fog clearing”– that expresses it far more accurately for me and thank you for bringing my attention to what I said about effort– the effort indeed gets in the way– yes, it makes us serious and impermeable and makes us forget who we truly are– you put it beautifully: With motive we are not in receptivity but instead wish to alter what needs no altering—exactly.

Checking in does not have to require effort, not at all, just a slight shift in what we put attention on. What I really meant to say is that sometimes I feel completely receptive to what is, and sometimes I remember to slightly shift my attention to return to reality—but even that remembering really happens on its own. What I said about effort in the previous message did not accurately express what I feel. Thank you for catching it. Noticing that we are out of alignment brings us naturally back to alignment.

Meditation How: I love your last sentence– “Noticing we are out of alignment brings us back into alignment” and you also speak of the remembering happening on its own. How does something divided by focus alone recall its own truth of not having actually divided? Even the “happens by itself” is so easily projected by the belief in source as being separate.

We ARE that which happens. We ARE that recollection (the once again collecting). We ARE all that is happening by itself. In our mindfulness we ARE responsible through the choice of our focus, are we not? Or is this beyond choice? Who notices we are out of alignment and how?

Oldriska: We are the living truth– we are the remembering. In our mindfulness we ARE responsible through the choice of our focus, are we not? Or is this beyond choice? Who notices we are out of alignment and how? It feels to me that I have a choice in what I put attention on, at least to some extent. Awareness notices that we are out of alignment. How? I don’t know the answer to that.

Meditation How: It feels to me that we have reached a natural conclusion to this interview. I have really enjoyed it. It has really been good for me. Thank you so much for doing it. Do you have anything else to add before we conclude?

Oldriska: It has been an amazing journey, though we have never left. It feels complete to me too. It feels great to be able to communicate about these things. I have nothing else to add. Thank you.

Mindfulness - Awareness - Alignment - The Living Truth

About Oldriska: Oldriska lives in South Bohemia in the Czech Republic with her husband and her two-year-old daughter Anwyn Nikoletta. Oldriska is a language teacher, interpreter and town guide.

Law of Attraction – Intuition, Being, Grounding Techniques

—An Interview with Caroline Manrique, Part Three—
>>> Part One: Meditation for Moms, Reiki Energy Healing, 5 Minute Meditations

Meditation How: I think you have described it well with the warmth and the pulling. The pulling sounds “directional” and I wonder if it is synonymous with “attraction”— the law of attraction, and if this is the case do you also feel the opposite when it is something “not right”? I also wonder if you have any explanation for why though you were speaking of the heart that the sensation you describe occurs in the solar plexus.

Caroline: Good point about the “pulling” I never thought of it that way before…and it makes perfect sense. When I feel that pulling sensation, it is attraction. The sensation feels warm and “right”. As the saying goes “follow your gut.” And this is what I do. I follow that feeling. Now you ask about the opposing feeling…that has its own unique sensation too. It’s almost like the feeling you get when someone bad is following you. You can’t see them, but you know that something is wrong. Does that make sense? The feeling is dark and icky.

Meditation How: I remember living in NYC for several years and getting the distinct feeling now and then of being stalked by those with ill-intent and darker motives. It feels exactly like you are saying. It is interesting that we are talking about paths opening up and attraction—a sense of freedom. What I felt during these episodes in New York was a definite trapped feeling or closing in or restriction.

Caroline: Now, regarding the heart versus solar plexus… I guess I always thought that when following my heart, I am following my intuition. For me, my heart is not logical. Following my heart is a leap of faith. And it can be downright scary. That’s when I need to “hone” in on my intuition and “feel”. I am not saying that this works for everyone…but it does for me. I have never regretted any decision I have made with my heart.

Meditation How: Thank you for that. I have two more questions. One is regarding your last response and you expressing your intention to “hone in on intuition and feel”. How do you carry through with this intention? Do you do anything? Turn off anything? Quiet anything? Focus in any particular place bodily or energetically?

Caroline: I do sometimes try to sit and quiet my thoughts. Practice being still. If I have a lot of thoughts swirling around in my head, being still and placing my hands on my solar plexus helps. When I quiet the noise in my head…then I can really feel what I need to know. It’s such a personal thing. But it works for me. And the feeling I get in my solar plexus is always warm and good.

Meditation How: While still discussing a possible meditation interview, you described your meditation practice with— “I do a more laying down style of meditation and intention setting kind of thing before getting out of bed in the morning.” I would like to hear a little bit about what this is and in addition anything else that this interview process has brought up for you.

Caroline: Just before rising out of bed I place one hand in the center of my chest and the other right above my belly button. I take a few very deep breaths. I place an intention out to the universe. It’s usually very simple…something like: “help me to be more aware today.” Sometimes I just visualize being surrounded by white light and I breathe in peace and love.

Doing this simple exercise helps me to start my day off in a calm state of mind. And on days that I rush out of bed and forget to do this…I feel more scattered. So then I just make sure to find time to sit and ground my energy…I may imagine tree roots coming out of the bottom of my feet and grounding me to the earth. Then I just take a few deep breaths here and re-connect.

Meditation How: Hands are so powerful for directing and focusing energy. I like hearing how others ground themselves. Thanks for that description. Well, this seems like a natural place to conclude the interview.

Caroline: This was so enjoyable! I really enjoyed answering your questions and look forward to seeing the post.

Law of Attraction - Intuition, Being - Grounding Techniques

About Caroline: Caroline Manrique is a Mom, blogger, photographer, soul searcher and fear conqueror. Caroline’s “Constantly Evolving” blog can be found at https://whimsywispers.blogspot.com

Benefits of Meditation – Develop Mindfulness – Parasympathetic

—An Interview with Dennis Reffner, Part Two—
Go to Part One of this Interview:
Walking Meditation – Level of Awareness – Mindfulness Practice

Meditation How: Would you say that over time throughout your life as you continue to spend time meditating, regardless of the posture or method, that these episodes of anger lessen? In short, do you feel that there are significant benefits of meditation that carry-over into your daily activities… that there is less sinking back into “personal drama” as you put it?

Dennis: Yes, there is a carry-over into daily life. Instead of finding yourself smack dab in the middle of a storm, you can start to see it approaching in the distance. So you have a little time to make a conscious decision…do I want to go down this path of anger….again? Maybe I have other choices! It’s very empowering to actually choose not to get swept away, to react with a little more compassion for yourself, and for others. It feels like growing up a bit, you know?

Meditation How: I love the image of the storm. It is a great metaphor. Do you see a progression in terms of skill as far as this storm goes? I believe one graduates in skill from being able to temper it to being able to alter it and then to finally be able to stop it altogether and turn it into something positive. Do you find this to be true for yourself? Have your storm-transforming skills advanced and improved as you continue to meditate?

Dennis: There is a progression, but sometimes it’s two steps forward, one step back! Algebra may be linear, but life isn’t! I used to argue a lot with my ex-wife, usually when she had been in the whiskey patch, and it was pretty good training…at first, I was angry within about 2 seconds, then after a while, I would get angry in about 5 minutes, then, later on, I could sit and listen to her rant and rave for almost an hour….but still, I always did lose it eventually. I also learned to just get up and quietly walk away, and—eventually… I never came back. So, yes, you do improve, although it may not always feel like it!

Meditation How: The benefits of meditation. How do you suppose it does this? Is it because by meditating we develop mindfulness? Are we just more alert in the present moment that we can witness our emotional lives so much more readily? Is it that we see the scope of our beings more fully? And what name would you give this skill—mindful relating?

Dennis: One way to view it is by thinking about how are nervous system functions. There are two complimentary systems, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is related to our “fight or flight response” to stress. When engaged, the heart rate and blood pressure go up, we stop digesting food, our pupils dilate, and we get ready to fight, or run away. It’s an ancient response to threats, built into our bodies. The parasympathetic is the “rest and digest” response. Now, the pulse is slower, blood pressure is lower, muscles are relaxed. It’s a physically peaceful mode.

Meditation and mindfulness practices keep us more engaged with the parasympathetic mode of our nervous system, and much more able to respond to situations using a higher level of consciousness. The two systems work synergistically, but it seems that meditation allows the parasympathetic system to have a greater influence. I don’t understand it all well enough to give more information, but there is a book called “The Buddha’s Brain”, that goes into all in detail. The name for this skill— mindful relating sounds about right.

Meditation How: Wow. I am so impressed. This is such great stuff. Our nervous systems are tied into the chakra system and energy centers. Perhaps when we develop mindfulness leads or corresponds to our chakra development. This has been great. Thank you so much for doing the interview. I have really enjoyed it. Perhaps we can do another one on another subject related to meditation at some point.

Dennis: You’re welcome! I enjoyed it as well!

About Dennis: Dennis lives in Northern Colorado and is a long time student of Zen and eastern thought. He is also a certified Yoga Instructor.

Walking Meditation – Level of Awareness – Mindfulness Practice

—An Interview with Dennis Reffner, Part One—

Dennis Reffner is a good friend of mine here in Northern Colorado who practices walking meditation. Interestingly enough, he is a mail carrier here. In this two part meditation testimonial Dennis speaks about Walking Meditation, Levels of Awareness, Mindfulness, The Benefits of Meditation, and Developing Mindfulness.

Meditation How: What exactly is walking meditation?

Dennis: Usually, when we walk, we are focused on getting someplace, with very little attention to the actual walking. In walking meditation, we drop the intention to be anywhere other than where we are. Our intention is just to walk, with awareness… each step taken with mindfulness…with peace…with openness to the present moment. It is meditation combined with a simple activity, and it works very naturally.

Meditation How: It sounds as if you have some experience with it.

Dennis: I have practiced walking meditation for some time now. After college I moved to Hawaii to study and practice at the Diamond Sangha Zen Center, which is on Oahu. They used a 2 hour block of meditation, which was broken up like this: sit Zazen for 20 minutes, walking meditation for 10 minutes…repeat! The Zen center was in a big, old house up in Manoa Valley, and it often rained in the evenings…so it was just beautiful… to sit, and walk, and become quiet, the bells, and incense, and the gentle sound of rain…very peaceful.

Walking Meditation - Level of Awareness - Mindfulness - Conscious

Meditation How: It sounds peaceful. I get a clear image from your description. While you are in walking meditation, are you thinking?

Dennis: Thoughts do continue to rise up, and so you gently bring your attention back to the physical sensations of walking. The feel of your feet touching the floor— the movement of your legs, the sensation of breath moving in and out, the sound of a car going by.

Meditation How: I remember falling into this sort of thing during a daily walk I used to take. This was years ago. I did a little experiment where I tried to retrain myself to walk in the most efficient and simple manner. I believe I had read about Buddha walking very slowly and consciously. I had adopted it as a mindfulness practice. I remember the incredible visceral urge to get going faster or move out of such conscious walking– almost to avoid the level of awareness I was getting in touch with. Did you have similar experiences of “get me out of here—I’m growing conscious” or any other strong resistances?

Dennis: I have definitely felt that urge, although not so much with walking meditation. Usually when I’m late for work and the traffic won’t move! Then the anger wells up, and off we go! My walking meditation has mostly been in a structured environment. The great advantage, is when you know that for the next hour, you are not going to do anything else, well then, you can just relax and go with it. You can devote yourself!

Raising my level of awareness has almost always been an enjoyable experience, at least for me! Kind of like, Ah-ha! How wonderful! It’s when I lose my awareness, and sink back into my personal drama, that’s what feels narrow and restricted, but it’s also so familiar! It’s what delusion feels like to me. The wheels are just spinning away, and so much goes by unnoticed. And I can go on that way for quite some time!

Continue with Part Two:
Benefits of Meditation – Develop Mindfulness – Parasympathetic