Teachers of Meditation – How to Meditate

Empty Mind, Expanded Consciousness, Meditation Teachers

—An Interview with Michelle Wood, Part Two—
Go to Part One of Michelle Wood’s Interview—
Shamanic Healing Practices, Healing Energy Meditations

Meditation How: What a beautiful story. Again, I have many questions, so I will try to navigate my way through them. When you went outside to meditate that summer day, were you already familiar with meditation? What made you approach it the way you did? What happened as you were sitting for the first time? What was going on for you?

Michelle: When I went outside that day, yes, I was already familiar with meditation as a consciousness-expanding practice. I had not been meditating with the goal of the empty mind, rather with the idea of expanded awareness and clairvoyance. Empty Mind and Oneness practices came a bit later. I would have to say that intuition made me approach it the way I did. I had already learned that you can’t seek an answer, just open yourself and allow it to come to you.

Seeking is too much of a distraction, and frequently gets in the way of attaining the goal which is an answer to your question or problem. Seeking an answer through meditation requires the expectation of an answer and at the same time surrender to the outcome. In other words, seeking guidance through meditation isn’t a way to find out what you think you what you want to know, it’s there to tell you what you Need to know. There is that requirement that you just let go and drift down the stream.

Empty mind practices are similar in that if you are thinking of an empty mind, you are still thinking! I wish I could say that my very early experiences, say the first few months, with meditation were expansive, ground breaking, and left me wildly excited and breathless. The fact is, they were quite uneventful, and sometimes frustrating. The least little sound would distract me and break my concentration. Thoughts would intrude in a seemingly never-ending stream. Sometimes, sheer doggedness kept me at it.

My desire for expanded consciousness was that strong, but working alone without a guide or teacher was a challenge, and it probably took longer to get to a level of proper meditation, expanded consciousness or empty mind. Meditation is something that you can learn on your own, you have everything you need to do it, but here in the West, people have a lot of cultural education and conditioning to overcome; we are taught from an early age to be going and doing all the time, making goals and working on plans, getting ahead and accomplishing things, and it’s a real challenge for many of us to find that quiet space within. I think that is where a teacher or guide is extremely beneficial. Once I had someone helping and guiding me, I made great progress.

Meditation How: I really enjoyed your response. In particular, the bit about non-seeking and non-doing as a means to surrendering to what is next in terms of inspiration. It resonates with both “art of allowing” and “waiting meditation” as well. I too persevered early on, bent on some higher consciousness or greater awareness. You spoke briefly about the value of teachers. Do you believe a teacher is essential? I want to get on with a deeper discussion of your current preferred meditation practice, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to ask the question regarding teachers.

Michelle: Thank you. There are indeed wonderful feelings of connection when we finally experience that level of Consciousness. Congratulations on your dedication! My thoughts on teachers…….. A teacher is only essential if the student believes he/she needs one. A lot of people use the phrase, “The teacher will come when the student is ready,” which leads some people to believe they aren’t “ready” since no teacher has come into their lives. I think that idea makes a lot of people put their progress on hold when they should just be going ahead with what feels good and feels right.

I don’t think that everyone requires a teacher. Many people are able to follow their intuition and build a practice without additional guidance; all they need to know really does reside within. The need for a teacher arises when a person has a block in belief, they think they don’t already have the knowledge or capability they need (which is sometimes lack of self-confidence), or an inner conflict keeps the student from reaching deeply within to access that inner knowing. I think teachers have a great responsibility to not imbue their own beliefs on students, but rather to help students build confidence and unveil their inner knowing, or resolve the conflict that stagnates their progress.

In my opinion, a good teacher says, “here is what I do, and here is how I do it. Follow my instructions and you will succeed.” The basics may be very well taught, but there is a string attached to the success and the success is measured by how well the student follows instructions and attains the goal or level the teacher expects. A great teacher says “here is what I do, and here is how I do it. Now, use what works for you, forget the rest, and make it yours. You will succeed.” No strings, no expectations, just allowing, just success.

Continue with An Interview with Michelle Wood, Part Three

Spirituality, Teachers, Integrity, Surrender

— Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Seven—
Go to Part One of Lisa Erickson’s Interview—
Mommy Mystic- Meditation, Yoga, Integrity and Surrender

Meditation How: I felt a great deal of understanding, compassion and deep caring in your response. It IS a difficult business, I agree. If you like integrity and integration, try on ignorance and ignoring. I believe our ignorance is due to paying less attention. Ultimately it is up to us to look deep within like an archeologist and unearth all those unpleasant monsters and clean that all up— even when much of it was created out of necessity.

It requires tremendous patience, love towards self, and courage to take on this responsibility, as so many of these shadows are due to our early environment having been internalized. We each carry our own genetic and behavioral inheritance of human suffering. As far as the goal goes, I do believe it is the same for all. I don’t believe freedom comes in different flavors. I believe there is one freedom that we all share. It is that same space, deep within.

When you say that we are all light and peace, this is that same space— where dimension, nature and energy collapse into one heart— and that heart is free. I believe also that when we find it, we know this. Until then, we only sense that it is there and so our goals are defined by what we know. This I believe is what causes these goals to be so diverse— not really understanding what we are looking for, and hearing about it— reading about it— wanting to believe we can find it.

I agree with you about teachers. The human heart is both simple and complex. That level of complexity and refinement when open is so beautiful. We learn so much through the process of relating with other human beings. I think synchronicity and the law of attraction does much of this. If we seek out a teacher then this is one expression that can be met.

I cannot tell you how many times a complete stranger has made a remark that was exactly what I needed to hear— or a non-verbal encounter with someone that will strike hard at my complacency, self-interest, or stubbornness. I am perfect now, of course. This was all long ago. Choke. Cough. I am enjoying our discussion. I am hesitant to throw in so much of what I believe, as the structure of interviewer and interviewee feels as if it starts to break down— and I want to honor the intent of this process. Then I realize that the more I get involved, the deeper the conversation can go, so I keep writing.

I have had someone ask me why I meditate with intent, with the argument that I would be exactly where I am developmentally had I not. I don’t know what to say to this. I suppose whatever there is in me that pays attention will pay whatever attention it can. Is it all really my doing, or is it beyond me? This may remain a mystery— just like any other form of hindsight. Sometimes seeking is the very thing that is in the way. What do you think about this? Would you be exactly where you are regardless of what YOU think YOU do?

Lisa: Well first off (and you probably don’t want this in the interview, I don’t know) on whether the goal is the same for all, I did definitely used to think this way, and on some level I still do. It is what my own experience leads me to. But in the last few years I have been very immersed in a lot of women’s spirituality writings, and also have befriended a prominent spiritual artist whose work I respect, and in both those realms have come across a lot of people who are actually offended by this idea.

I also was reading about ‘star seeds’ recently, an idea used by many Akashic Record readers, and came across the same views there. It’s a big topic, so probably too much of a tangent to share here, but it has been an interesting exploration. As for your actual question, I do think seeking often does become the very thing that is in the way— along with ‘techniques’ and ‘practices’ and all of that. We miss the forest for the trees, or get trapped in pursuing dramatic experiences, or get trapped in a ‘spiritual ego’. I was recently reading Adyashanti’s The End of Your World, and he did an excellent job talking about all the ways we can hang ourselves up on the spiritual path.

Spirituality, Nature, Teachers, Integrity and Surrender in Meditation

But I also think these are necessary phases for most of us, and seeking with some intent is necessary. If that were not true, I think we would have a very different world— the world at large does not (in my opinion) reflect a reality that everyone is awakening to the peace within themselves naturally. We have free will, and so we have to choose to seek, and it takes some effort. To me, this is why mystic traditions have sprung up in virtually every culture around the world— seeking is a fundamental human activity that gets discovered over and over through different means.

At the same time, it does seem like so much of it is beyond me. When you ask “Would you be exactly where you are regardless of what YOU think YOU do?” I think it again brings me back to this idea of surrender, and of the delicate balance between will and surrender on the path. We have free will, and we choose to embark upon the path, and we have to choose over and over to stay true to it— many times along the way we get lost and have to make a choice as to whether to stay lost or get back on track.

It’s like in The Matrix, deciding whether to take the red or blue pill, only we make that choice over and over. And yet, even with all that ‘choosing’, there is still some sense of being swept along by something larger— of being pulled home, almost magnetically. It’s a mystery really, and magic. But then again, back to my first paragraph, maybe not everyone experiences it that way.

Maybe you and I and many of the spiritual seekers and teachers we are drawn to have had similar journeys, but many others out there are being pulled home in an entirely different way, without intentional seeking. I don’t know. I love discussions like this, but at the same time have become somewhat wary of them, mostly because many people over the centuries have claimed to know exactly how it all works, and it usually ends up in a war of some type! I know that’s a big leap, but I also think it’s somewhat true.

Continue with Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Eight.

Teachers, Ideas, Identification, Meditation

— Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Six—
Go to Part One of Lisa Erickson’s Interview—
Mommy Mystic- Meditation, Yoga, Integrity and Surrender

Meditation How: Okay. Honestly, I feel like we have just got onto something. The kundalini conversation took us off to the side a bit. So, I will ask a few more questions, if that is okay. I am intrigued by your answers. Integrity and surrender— integrity I suppose is the quality that arises out of integration. Our biology, for example, expresses impeccable integrity following the designs of Mother Nature. Our bodies are integrated. This integrity is in place.

If we become scattered and lost due to our focus on personality and ego, then we lose touch with this integrity. Our choices arise out of ideas instead of this integrity and health often suffers as a result. So getting in touch with our center is in essence getting in touch with our most integral self— at the core— the source from which this integrity emerges. I can see that, yes. Surrender, for me is similar in that we are letting go of personality, ego, ideas and all that distracts us from heart, core, source, and simply being.

I don’t know if you are familiar with the work of Esther and Jerry Hicks and The Art of Allowing. It is very interesting material and suggests that it can ALL happen by itself. To jump around a bit, you also mention teachers. There is the expression that “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear”. In my opinion, the teacher is already and always here in the form of circumstance. We are surrounded by that which is perpetually giving us guidance if we can manage to pay attention.

For me, meditation IS this paying attention, regardless of what form it takes. If we surrender or let go of motive and ambition and allow, we will witness what we need to. If, on the other hand we remain caught up in our ambitions and our egos, then circumstances will continue to throw us curves attempting to startle us into awareness by a turn of events.

Both these paths, voluntary and involuntary, result in either a temporary or long-term dropping of our preoccupation with peripherals, and so we focus on our center— THE center. So, here come the questions. Do you believe anything beyond this “paying attention” is necessary? Do you believe anyone and everyone is fully capable of getting in touch with their centers, if only the impulse or intention is there? And when, if ever, do you feel a teacher (and I mean another person) is necessary?

Lisa: Well, I have been sitting on this one all day! Because I think I could write pages on it, so I wanted to get down to the essence of what I really think. First off, I love your definitions of integrity and surrender. I had not thought about integrity and integration in quite these terms, and I really like the biological angle especially.

As to whether I think everyone is capable of finding their centers— or in my terms capable of knowing themselves as pure light— YES. I absolutely believe this is the birthright of every human being. But I also think that for most of us, it is a much trickier business than is often portrayed. For most of us, there are layers of conditioning and ego-identification that we need to face and see through in order to find this deepest self.

We can have experiences of this falling away, and more and more people are having this experience in this day and age. But that is not the same thing as knowing this, as dwelling in this light or center, and living from it, all of the time. For most of us, doing that requires digging pretty deep, really getting into our ‘shadows’ and facing them, and releasing them. It goes beyond ‘experiences’.

I am really trying to avoid words like enlightenment, liberation, self realization or awakening here, because I think they can become traps. And I am not sure everyone is always talking about the same things when they use these terms. Who says there is only one spiritual goal or endgame? Who says we are all seeking the same thing? I am not sure we are— I think there may be many different ‘goals’, and thus many different paths.

I didn’t used to think this way. It is a change that has occurred recently. So whatever we are talking about, you asked, do I think it requires more than ‘paying attention’? I guess that depends on how you define paying attention. REALLY paying attention, really being in the now, is seeing reality directly, without the filters of our conditioning or ego-identification. So perhaps there are some people, many people maybe even, who can do this without a teacher.

And certainly I agree that circumstance is often our best teacher, when true intent is there. But many of us can’t break through solely with this, because the ego seeing the ego is a very tricky business. And there are traps we can fall into along the way. Teachings and teachers are meant to help us through this trickiness and these traps. And what kind of teaching and teacher we need is very individual, and will come to us also when true intent is there.

Continue with Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Seven.

Surrender, Teachers, Heart, Meditation

— Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Five—
Go to Part One of Lisa Erickson’s Interview—
Mommy Mystic- Meditation, Yoga, Integrity and Surrender

Meditation How: I’d like you to paint a picture if you will (in words) of the very close-to-home simple value that you experience in meditation. If you had to distill it, and get down to the core reason for why you meditate, what would you say that is? I know you are a teacher, and so you are called upon to describe it for students. I’d like you to take the time to look inside now and tell me why, as if you were looking at it for the first time. What is meditation for you? What is its value for you— just you. Describe what you discover through it for yourself only.

Lisa: What I discover, over and over, is that I am light—that we are all light. That it is all OK. That at the heart of it all is peace—that the essence of each of us is a natural great peace. It is hard to put into words!—for me anyway. Whenever I am asked to answer a question like this, I wish I was more of a poet. I love poetry, especially the poetry of mystics throughout the age, because they can capture something— or rather, point to something— with words that I cannot do. It is really beyond words.

Humans have come up with a lot of words to describe it— every mystic, teacher, and spiritual author comes up with their own words for it. I always just come back to ‘light’. And I’ve already said I’m not all that visual, in meditation anyway, so I don’t really mean the kind of light we see with our eyes. This light is beyond the physical sense, and yet the heart of all experience, physical and otherwise.

Meditation How: That was beautiful and said it all. Your words are rich with what you mean. It is a simple statement to say that the heart of everything is peace, and yet there is so much to that. Hearing this can be extremely encouraging. Just a hint of it is enough to bring us back to meditation. Thank you so much for opening up and giving it a shot, because it is beautiful. It is by its very essence incapable of being put into words as you have said, but referring to it directly helps.

Everything else is simply the means to it, but these are the goods— or rather this is the good. There is so much love in your first paragraph— so much acceptance. Okay, I have one more question. Given that you discover over and over again that you are light, and that we are all peace AND that I find the same thing (though I may call it something different) and may find it by different means, what do you believe these means have in common? I hope you understand what I am asking.

Again, words are limited. Here it is in a different form: What is it that we actually do, those of us who speak of this peace and light— that makes the difference? What is the most essential requirement of a seeker, more than to simply be seeking? Whatever it is, I want to call it meditation— but that is just a name. What does this peace require of us in order to tap into it?

Lisa: Integrity and surrender. I decided to just answer this question intuitively, and those are the two words that came immediately to mind. To me, integrity means always looking inward to our center for guidance when we are feeling lost— trying to connect with our inner compass. We may need external teachers and guides, but in the end, we come back to that center for our final guidance. I have been working a lot with mandalas lately, and they are all about the center-point.

We each have this center point, and staying in touch with that keeps us grounded and truthful as we seek, even in the midst of doubt, or mistakes, or whatever. And to me surrender is letting go. I think meditation, and the entire spiritual journey, is this delicate dance between self-control and letting go, will and surrender. And we get lots of support for self-control and discipline— we receive lots of messages about regular practice, watching our thoughts, taking control of our lives, creating the life that we want.

So that part of the message doesn’t really need more support, at least not in our culture. But surrender gets less play. There comes a point when in order to know ourselves as something larger— not just intellectually, but to really KNOW— we have to surrender control. So integrity and surrender are really what are asked of us, I think. Is that really the last question? I’ll answer more! You ask great questions. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in this process.

Continue with Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Six.

Kundalini, Chakras, Teachers, Meditation

— Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Three—
Go to Part One of Lisa Erickson’s Interview—
Mommy Mystic- Meditation, Yoga, Integrity and Surrender

Lisa: I also like Anatomy of the Spirit by Carolyn Myss, I think it makes the chakras and kundalini accessible to anyone. I also like the work of energy healer Cyndi Dale, although she writes more for fellow healers as opposed to seekers, but there is a wealth of information in her books, particularly for those experiencing physical symptoms, as you did.

There is also a book that came out last year called Kundalini Rising from Sounds True publishing that is a compilation of essays by many different seekers, teachers, scientists and authors, all on different aspects of the kundalini experience. The first part of the book is personal experiences, which is very helpful. Beyond that I think it really depends on what a person is going through.

As you mentioned, the internet is now full of information, and there are many more yoga teachers who work with kundalini now also. Part of the reason information was hard to find for so long is because the kundalini traditions were historically very secretive. It was believed that explicitly working with the chakras and kundalini could be dangerous.

I interviewed Cyndi Dale awhile back, and she mentioned that she was given a hard time by some when she first started writing books for the public on the chakras and kundalini. Many felt that kind of information should only be passed from teacher to student. But of course, this is a very old story— virtually every mystic tradition in every culture had strict limits on access to information at one point or another.

Personally, I think the age for all that is past. There is a groundswell of spiritual interest and awakening occurring at this point in history, and much (if not most) of it is happening outside of traditional lineages and institutions. So it’s time for all this information to be available— people need it. As for the more general question of where to turn, although it may sound cliché, I do believe in the adage that ‘when the student is ready the teacher will appear.’

I do think that when we truly put out intent or a question, we will be drawn to the right book, teacher, individual, or situation to help us. So that is always the first step, in my view. Does that answer your question? I wasn’t sure if you were looking for concrete resources, or more general insight.

Meditation How: That was perfect. Great information and exactly what I was looking for. I’d like to focus back on your own personal and direct experience with meditation. I feel it is most encouraging to hear stories of personal success along these lines. Of course, success implies a goal and as you mentioned in response to my first question, effectiveness focuses on this same goal which can be very different for each individual.

In my opinion, these paths ultimately lead to the same point— that being heart, center, and greater awareness— which is evidenced in grounding, relaxation, healing and even transcendence. Regardless of path, self is realized more fully— a self compete with all of its diversity from one individual to the next. That being said, what method do you yourself routinely fall back on or gravitate towards personally that gets you most centered and self-true?

Continue with Interview with Lisa Erickson, Part Four.

Zen Buddhist Meditation – An Interview w/ Genko Rainwater

—An Interview with Genko Rainwater, Part Six—
>>> Part One: Shikantaza Meditation – Sitting, Practice, Techniques

Meditation How: There was something I wanted to get at before, but it was not clear. In the interim it has emerged from the fog and so I want to address it. I believe that we have agreed together in the course of this interview that all human beings are fallible— that emotions are what they are (though we may learn to observe them as if a storm). You believe that a teacher is essential— someone you can trust. I believe that nature itself can be trusted— trusted to be itself, whether human or any other expression— ultimately beneficent.

You mentioned that “there is a force in the universe that cares and has power to change one’s life”. Is this not a single force that is embodied in all nature? Why isolate this nature and trust it in a few persons only? I would be concerned over being somehow prevented from experiencing nature in its full range. You say “Everything that has happened to me is part of what has given me the insights I have so far.” Is this limited to formal teachings? I wonder if you could address this.

Genko: Oh, that is skillful means— a teacher, that is. I believe that for me, it has been essential to have a teacher, and probably the specific teacher(s) I have found. Who knows what karmic conditions led me here? The teachings are what we sometimes call “a finger pointing to the moon”— cautioning not to value the finger over the moon itself. We can’t really put into words what this is.

In Zen we talk about Emptiness or Suchness— a thing as it is or sometimes “that which is greater”—that which we can’t define or put into any sort of words. I don’t know that it is a single force. I certainly wouldn’t isolate it or try to define it. I’m not sure I would agree that Nature is beneficent. I think it is much more neutral than that—saying that though, I would agree that there is a lot to learn from Nature—from simple observation and reflection.

My teacher is definitely fallible. I can see him as the goofball he is, with the failings he has, and also see him as Buddha. I have projected a lot of stuff on to him, and he simply sits there and absorbs it, to my great gratitude. I see myself projecting stuff onto him—see all the ways I falter in my relationship with him. And I see him as essential to my finding myself. At some point, I will be able to leave him behind. There are many sources of teaching—all my experiences, everything and everyone I meet day to day, moment by moment.

There are endless writings and commentaries of teachings. In Buddhism we don’t have an agreed-upon canon of writings, though there are many that most Buddhist groups value. Nothing is left out. No one is left out. It is not mine to tell anyone else what their path is. I can only find my own path and follow it to the best of my ability. If someone can find some value in observing me, in my relating my experience, that is my wish.

Meditation How: All very well put in my opinion. Thank you so much for opening your heart and sharing so much of your personal meditation experience. I have enjoyed this process. I have no more questions. I just want to thank you.

Genko: You are welcome. It is part of my vow, of course, to cultivate just that openness and willingness to share. I’ve enjoyed it too. It always gives me more grist for my own reflections. I’m trying to write a dharma talk, and this has actually provided me with some material. So thank you also for pursuing your questions.

Zen Buddhist Meditation Experiences - Interview w/ Genko Rainwater

About Genko: Genko is a monk at the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon. She has been in residence there for ten years. She occasionally teaches workshops on zen meditation.

Breath Counting Practice in Meditation – Paying Attention

—An Interview with Genko Rainwater, Part Two—
>>> Part One: Shikantaza Meditation – Sitting, Practice, Techniques

Genko: The state now varies considerably. There are still times when I’m sleepy, chatty, agitated, etc., but there are also times when things are just peaceful— when I just feel a lot of gratitude— when I feel part of everything around me in a luminous way. My ability to deal with the sleepy, agitated, anxious, etc., states is considerably greater, i.e., I can simply notice what’s happening and sit still with it, seeing if it has something to teach me, knowing that it will eventually pass.

The advantage of a theme-less type of meditation is that the subject of meditation is my own mind, and I’m free to pay attention to that. I know that other forms of meditation get one to the same place, and sometimes this is more difficult for people— especially at first. We do seem to have to go through some years of wondering whether this is all worth it, and what is the point of meditation.

I’m not sure I totally get it, and I still have days when I feel like I’m really not very good at this meditation stuff. But when I look back at 3 years ago, 5 years ago, 7 years ago, 10 years ago, I realize there have been some important shifts in my abilities here. I worry much less about what mind state I’m in at any given moment. I find it’s easier to approach it with curiosity and acceptance.

Meditation How: It is good to hear about those times of agitation in addition to those more frequent peaceful experiences. I am assuming the peaceful is more the rule than the exception. With this in mind, and the fact that you are not sure you “totally get it”— what is it that keeps you at it? You spoke of the advantages of the theme-less approach, and I was not clear from your response as to whether it is your preferred form. I am still curious if this is the case. Also, I wonder if you could tell me a little bit more about the alternatives of breath counting and mantras.

Genko: The best answer I ever heard to the question of why do I do this was given by a teacher, who said something like “I like myself better later in the day when I get up early to meditate than when I don’t.” I can tell that things are better in my life when I meditate regularly than when I skip even one day. And even when it is a struggle, I can feel the difference later that I persevered. I don’t know that I would say peaceful is more frequent. But it somehow doesn’t come down to quantity.

There is a quality that abides underneath everything else at some point, and gradually I am coming to recognize and rely on that. Maybe it’s an awareness of that quality that I am seeing that allows me to feel better about myself, to like myself better. I suppose I could say I “prefer” theme-less, because it is what I have trained with. However, preference is one of those things I watch for, acknowledging that sometimes I don’t get what I prefer, and that can be quite all right, and sometimes even better.

Other practices, like breathing meditation (breath counting) mantras, body-scan, etc., are sometimes useful. My experience with them has been that they can provide a useful adjunct to my usual meditation practice, especially when I’m feeling stuck or lost. Sometimes it’s good for a jumpstart when I first sit down. It can give my mind something to do, and sometimes that’s useful. But what I also find is that before all-that long, the mind figures out ways around any practice and goes on its merry way doing whatever it wants to do regardless. And so I abandon it or go on to something else.

Our practice, such as it is, with mantras is that our meditation teachers encourage us to make up our own, something meaningful to us. I’ve found that what works best for me is very short and simple, to keep the mind from going all gaga. “Here. Now. ” (each on exhalations, alternating, repeated) is one of my favorites. Another, similar, is “Sit Still. Do Nothing.” People sometimes use a line from the liturgy that speaks to them.

Another practice is with sound— paying attention simply to the sensation, noticing when we go to labeling and then on from that to story-telling. Classic example is “barking dog”—first the sound, simple sensation—second, labeling it as a dog barking—third, all the stories about it— how irritating that is, what’s the matter with the dog, what’s the matter with the owners, wish it would stop, I remember a dog once when I was young … etc.

The more we can stay with the simple sensation, or at least get to labeling and then let it go, the closer we are to the true mind of meditation. One other thing that has been helpful is my teacher’s pointing out that when we become aware that our minds are wandering or agitated or sleepy, or whatever, that’s perfect meditation in itself—notice that moment of awareness and rest there. I’m gradually getting to where I can do that.

>>> Part Three: Techniques – Body-Scan, Breath-Counting, Barking Dog

Tantra Practice and Techniques- The Heart Meditation

—An Interview with Rahasya, Tantra Meditation Teacher, Part One—

In this eleven part interview, Rahasya shares his understanding as a teacher of Tantra. I begin by asking him about his own experiences with meditation, and from there we discuss Tantra itself, Heart Meditation, the “Big Yes” of Tantra, and Advaita (the core philosophy). Finally, we discuss the spiritual integrity behind Nature, Evolution and Human Beings.

Meditation How: What do you find to be the most effective form of meditation?

Rahasya: From my own experience and from watching my students, it is clear that there are more and less effective methods available at distinct stages of awareness. Some techniques, in their niche of application are quite remarkable, but are quite useless in wrong timing or application. There is one technique though that I and most of my students have found indispensable—very useful indeed, over a wide range of application— The Heart Meditation of Atisha.

We find it useful from the moment that a student’s path becomes painful. A tantric approach requires bravery and risk, so things can get very tough very quickly. At first, it eases general levels of pain and discomfort. An effective medicine that helps with the unavoidable hurts of living with courage (heartfulness). Later on, it becomes a valuable tool, a probe that can move swiftly through the layer of hurt which obscures truth.

Finally, it can become an exercise in compassion and give substance to one’s spiritual willingness. Two days ago, I introduced a dear friend to it. This evening, last of a three week group, I taught it again. It is definitely the most useful and single most used technique in this school. One of the very first things I wrote for the web was about this venerable meditation. If you like, I could try to condense a description for inclusion in this answer.

Meditation How: I would like you to condense it for me if you don’t mind. I think that this context might change how you convey it and also revisiting it allows it to refresh. There will be more spontaneity and the present in your response. I am also very curious about you having responded with “from the moment that a student’s path becomes painful” as if it is a given that it will become painful. Also in regards to your words “unavoidable hurts of living with courage”. This blog on meditation covers many approaches to meditation and so perhaps a brief (if that is possible) orientation on how Tantra meditation differs from others… what distinguishes it most.

Rahasya: Tantra claims to be the fastest of paths— faster because lessons are drawn from worldly involvement and sexuality. Lessons from these areas of life are intense and hard to take. A classical renunciant rejects these areas as too distracting or dangerous and prefers the slower, steadier approach of asceticism and/or the monastic life. Tantra is not easier because it is faster—quite the contrary. The lessons that existence has for a seeker are accelerated and enhanced, not smoothed or eased. Faster basically means rougher, harder and more impactful.

Californian Tantra tends to emphasize sexual power, bliss and merging. Certainly, a Tantrika’s life has delights—great delights—true enough, as far as that goes, but not the area people tend to have problems with—Hence, my emphasis on this practice. A Tantrika of any sincere intent faces emotional shocks comparable with moving house, divorcing, losing friends and relatives to death … on a regular basis. A robust and deep emotional capacity is a requirement. This practice helps develop that capacity while easing the intensity of painful emotions in the meantime.

The Heart Meditation of Atisha (brief description):
This practice is most accessible when you are hurting—particularly emotional pain. Especially when it has been intense enough for long enough that you feel pain at the center of the sternum. The basic idea is to breathe hurt and suffering into your heart center and breathe out love, compassion and bliss in return. Sit comfortably, or lie down. It can help to touch the center of the chest to draw your attention to that area of the body, and the sensation of pain.

Close your eyes and get in touch with the pain, open to it and submit to the fact that you feel it. Breathe in, drawing the sensation of hurt directly into the heart center. Accept it and, as far as you can, welcome it. It can take a few inhalations, a lot of feeling and perhaps some tears before you feel you have managed to take the immediate hurt in. Be willing to be wounded by it.

When an inhalation has a feeling of completeness – that that particular hurt has been accepted and felt in its fullness – breathe out from your heart center. Repeat this cycle, emphasis on the inhalation to accept and allow whatever hurts to just hurt, as much as it needs to. Alternate to: Emphasis on the exhalation from the heart, which is most likely to be felt as warm, loving and giving.

It can happen that each inhalation brings in pain and hurt and each inhalation returns love, or it can take a few inhalations then a few exhalations in turn. Allow your own rhythm with it. When breathing hurt in, draw it from your heart at first. When that pain seems eased, draw hurt into your heart from your whole body. If you go long enough and take the feelings in willingly enough, you may come to feel that all current hurt in the body has been felt (and released as love on your out breath).

At this point, seldom before half an hour into the practice for a beginner, draw hurt, pain, all forms of suffering that your awareness can reach to. Just the general massed vibe of suffering from any cause or none. Breathe it into your heart center and breathe back love and compassion. An hour to two is usually the best timing. Marathon sessions, even through an entire night can happen too, especially in times of intense suffering and distress for you, personally, or for the planet at large.

This practice is attributed to Master Atisha who said: “As you breathe in, take in and accept all the sadness, pain, and negativity of the whole world, including yourself, and absorb it into your heart. As you breathe out, pour out all your joy and bliss; bless the whole of existence.”

There are safety instructions. This is a deceptively simple yet extremely powerful practice. If you have any weird health problems (particularly an intense pain in the sternum, feeling like physical damage) which start after you have been using this meditation, do check back here if perhaps you forgot (or, like me, willfully ignored) the rules at first sight.

Rule 1: Your own hurt first. Start with pain at the heart, then gradually outward through your body, accepting and feeling all current suffering. First you, thoroughly, before reaching out.

Rule 2: You may find the movement of energy in this meditation very palpable. Easy to direct and guide. Particularly if you have experience of martial arts, intuitive massage, Reiki, Magick, Chi-gung, Taoist or other practices which can activate/enable perception of subtle-body energies. Do Not. Do not personalize – do not direct where you draw hurt and suffering from. Do not direct it either. Just let the love return to existence, unconditionally.

If you break the rules and bring on the likely suffering, there is one medicine: This practice. Practiced with sincerity and honesty, pretty much daily for a month or so before improvement happens. Perhaps several months before the body feels it is back to normal.

Continue with Interview with Rahasya, Tantra Meditation Teacher, Part Two

Ramana Maharshi, Meditation (Spiritual) Teacher

Ramana Maharshi, Meditation (Spiritual) Teacher
I had a friend in Northern California back in ’01 try to tell me about this man, but I wasn’t paying attention. It wasn’t until ’08 that I was apparently ready for him. He is beautiful. I will likely say that about all of these meditation teachers, but I have a particular affinity for Ramana. I believe this is because his techniques I find extremely effective and helpful.

There seems to be a natural timing to what we find interesting. It is like two shapes meeting—the need and what will fill it—even when that need is as subtle as a developing awareness. Ramana has a few great books and the first one I came across was a thick book full of daily questions posed to Ramana along with his answers. Someone recorded these question and answer sessions word for word over the course of years, providing side notes on what was going on. The book is titled “Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi”.

There are many books and many sages—masters—teachers out there, past and present. Very few of them actually offer suggestions and techniques that address the subtler processes engaged in during meditation. Most of them have simple straightforward advice that gets you started but that is it. Ramana Maharshi goes into great and specific detail in regards to stilling the mind.

I was finally ready to begin to still the mind—the operative word here being “begin”. The technique I am referring to here is his “I” thought technique. This technique is incredible and it absolutely works. It took me some time to really understand what he was talking about but eventually it clicked. I will offer links to further described techniques at the bottom of this article once these “technique descriptions” have been written.

I want to point out the difference between advice and techniques. Advice is something we can find plenty of—some good and some bad. Ramana’s advice is incredible. Some of his assertions are a little “out there” and yet impeccable. On the other hand, techniques are practical and usable descriptions of practices and mental or physical tasks that bring one success in the realms of deeper meditation.

Meditation Techniques - Stilling the Mind

About Ramana Maharshi
And now for a little background on this man and what he did. This is directly from the foreword of “Be as You Are—The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi”.

In 1896 a sixteen year old schoolboy walked out on his family and, driven by an inner compulsion, slowly made his way to Arunachala, a holy mountain and pilgrimage center in South India. On his arrival he threw away all his money and possessions and abandoned himself to a newly-discovered awareness that his real nature was formless, immanent consciousness.

His absorption in this awareness was so intense that he was completely oblivious of his body and the world; insects chewed away portions of his legs, his body wasted away because he was rarely conscious enough to eat and his hair and fingernails grew to unmanageable lengths.

After two to three years in this state he began a slow return to physical normality, a process that was not finally completed for several years. His awareness of himself as consciousness was unaffected by this physical transition and it remained continuous and undimmed for the rest of his life.

So he goes on to eventually become a great meditation and spiritual teacher on this same holy mountain for many years. He attracted many students from all over the world and his lifestyle was extremely simple in terms of things. He had a special relationship with the animals in and around the Ashram. There are videos of him, and many books that feature his teachings.