June 15th, 2010
When my husband and I first attended Adyashanti’s Five Day Silent Meditation Retreat, I had NEVER been a big meditator. It’s actually been my intention to meditate as a “daily ritual” – for well over a decade. However, spending five full days in silence with Adyashanti is a great way to kick-start a meditation practice. It was for me.
There were six 30-40 minute meditations and two satsangs each day. At the satsangs, Adya spoke, and then answered questions from the group. The focus was simply to relax into the silence and stillness, without resisting any thoughts. Since my life is typically rather intense, I was ecstatic to turn my brain off for several days. I left in a rather dreamy, peaceful state.
Once home, impulses would call me to meditate, which was a bit surprising at first. However, I’ve come to realize that “grounding in silence” is one of my keys to happiness.
Several days after the retreat, I was on a training call where I was inundated with information. I got off the call, and instantly wanted to go meditate. But, I didn’t. I continued to work and work through the end of the day. Finally, before going for a walk with my husband, I said, “I must meditate first.” Fifteen minutes of silence and stillness, and my profound happiness returned. Now when I finish a long series of coaching calls or hop off of an intense training, I claim 10-20 minutes of silence. From this “connected space,” happiness naturally emerges.
How about you? What are your experiences with grounding in stillness?
Filed under Fulfilling Lives, Inner Peace 101, Inner Peace Strategies | Comments (3)
Hi Mary,
The grounding in silence that you learn to do during meditation has to be carried over to the rest of your day.
In this connection, one may ask, “But how can I go about my duties if I’m in meditation? I won’t be aware of the things around me…”
You have to meditate with your eyes open. Be a silent witness to all your sense impressions and thoughts. This includes thoughts suggesting you perform a certain action and the subsequent thought-dialectic for deciding whether to perform the action or not (these are very similar to the thoughts you would have if you were not in meditation). If your thoughts decide you should perform the action, witness the action as you perform it.
Enough said, G’bless! —
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