Post by Mysti on Jul 7, 2007 12:19:01 GMT -5
BasLog-Meditation4-061107
MEDITATION - Part 4
THE TEN-FINGER METHOD
I want to go into the Ten-Finger method again tonight and bring out a few tidbits I skipped last week. This method should really help any of you who have difficulty with any of the other methods we've looked at.
REVIEW: Very quickly, a review: You sit in a chair with your upper arms almost vertically up, hands should be open palms upwards. You recite a mantra aloud. At the same time you focus successively on your left thumb, then index finger, then middle finger, then ring finger, then little finger of left hand then change over and repeat process starting with right hand little finger back to right thumb. You say the mantra once for each finger.
ENERGY: As you recite the mantra each time, you feel energy going up to the tip of the finger you are focusing on and then into space. Likely you will feel the energy coming down the arm to the finger. When you've done the whole ten finger cycle, you begin again with the left thumb, repeating this same process. Do this whole cycle aloud at least twice, (twenty fingers). Then, if you are feeling the energy going to each finger in sequence, you may drop your hands to your lap and continue the repetitions silently. Be sure fingers are kept apart from each other, and that none of the fingers or hand touch any bare skin, palms upright. If you don't feel the energy in each finger, continue saying the mantra out loud while holding the fingers apart and your upper arms upwards, until you do.
Here, in John Gray's technique, the Ten-Finger system, we are actually sending energy out to the universe. The mantra acts as a sort of generator to draw energy into your fingers, each one sequentially. Then out of the tip of the finger into the atmosphere.
QUESTIONS ON THE PROCEDURE?
Sagegreenspirit: I have always been told that leaving your fingers open like that that you have the chance of having bad energy come through and lose the good energy. Or do you need to just protect your self better?
GS: Yes SAGE, we must always use protection before any spiritual exercise. The "Wall of White Light" we learned a couple weeks ago will do the trick, but next week we'll learn an even more powerful protection -- "the Armour of Light."
AN ENERGY EXERCISE: Here is a little exercise we can do right now.
EVERYONE. Put your two forefingers together at the tips. So they are touching each other. Then think of, sort of mentally push, energy flowing down your left arm as you exhale and out to the tip of the left finger. Then as you inhale, feel and pull mentally the energy from the tip of the right index finger up the right arm as you inhale. Repeat this as you breathe out and in until you actually feel energy (or something) going dowwn your left arm and up your right arm as you exhale then inhale. You will probably see/feel/sense that energy as starting from and returning to the heart chakra. (the center of your chest). Then as you really feel this energy going down the left arm and coming back the right arm. -- very slowly pull the two index fingers apart oh just a quarter of an inch or so. You will see a faint ribbon of light between the tips of these two fingers.
See how far you can pull your two index fingers apart and still keep that ribbon of light present. You ought to be able to pull the tips of the index fingers apart three or four inches before the ribbon of light breaks off. If you'd like to experiment a bit, think of the energy going down the left arm as blue or orange, then check to see what color the ribbon of light is. You can think of other colors or try a reverse flow from right to left. See what happens.
BACK TO THE TEN-FINGER EXERCISE.
Suppose your mantra is "Oh GOD, my heart is open to you, come dwell in my heart." You'll probably feel the energy in whichever finger you are focused on, going up from the base in the first words of the mantra and radiating out from the finger tip as you say or mentally think the last part of the mantra "Dwell in my heart." So in a sense you, through your fingers, are sending a prayer outwards. And, you may have selected a seed question at the same time. So, the seed question is sort of staying behind the mantra. As a flower bed might stay behind a picket fence.
John Gray says to do this 15 minutes twice a day. I myself, do it once a day for 30 minutes. You must find what's most comfortable for you. Your mind will drift and wander. When you are aware that the mind is drifting, pull your mental focus back to the mantra and the fingers. And, don't be dismayed if your mind goes off to Aunt Edna's plum pudding or thoughts about the election results, many many times during the meditation. It happens to all of us. Just pull the mind back to the finger and mantra.
Remember, as we start learning meditation usually our answers will come a day or two after we've asked the seed question. The answer will pop in when your mind is focused but not busy thinking. Like, when washing the dishes, mowing the lawn, driving to work, etc.
The Ten Finger method works so well, I'd like you all to give it a try and see if it's your technique too. Remember to record how the techniques goes for you in your Journal and any impressions, thoughts, visions, etc., that occur during the meditation sessions.
...........................
AN EASTERN ORTHODOX METHOD
This is a meditative technique used by contemplatives in the Orthodox Church, notably in the Russian Orthodox Church. The technique is to recite a short mantra continuously all day long They use what's called The Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon me." And they repeat this mantra aloud or mentally constantly, during all of their daily activities. Eventually, their starez or spiritual counselor will tell them to recite it a certain specific number of times a day, maybe 6,000 repetitions. 6,000 exactly no more, no less. My thinking is that with the careful counting you are alerting the inner child to the importance of the mantra.
But we don't have to use the Jesus Prayer: "I am in attunement with the Universal Source" or “Oh Lord Buddha come into my heart." or "The Light of Almighty God shines brightly with in me." Or "the Great Spirit guides me on my path." Any such phrase will work quite adequately. Again, I suggest that if you want to try out this technique, that you develop a mantra or phrase that feels right to you.
And, for myself, that counting to 6,000 times or whatever would drive me bonkers. But what you might want to do is to select a phrase that appeals to you and use it, repeating it over and over, whenever you think to use it during the day. Maybe while you are jogging or doing physical exercise? " I am an instrument of the MOST HIGH" or "The Light of the Universal Source shines through me." Pick something that uplifts you, that brings you to feel a closeness to the way you see Deity.
...................
HOMEWORK: Well, that's about all I wanted to say about MEDITATION. So let me give you the "DREADED" homework.
1. Adapt the ten Finger meditation technique mantra to your own path and your own words.
2. Try the Ten Finger technique a few times this week. See if it works well for you.
3. Don't forget the daily visualization exercise.
4. Be sure to give love and kindness to your inner child.
EXTRA CREDIT; Try out this Eastern Orthodox affirmation technique. Pick a phrase or mantra that appeals to you. And, use the technique during idle moments: On the bus, mowing the lawn, washing dishes, driving to work, etc. See if it does something to you over a period of time.
................
SUGGESTED READING:
John Gray, How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have
R. M. French, translator: THE WAY OF A PILGRIM and its companion sequel, THE PILGRIM CONTINUES HIS WAY. These two are in paperback bound as one volume.
Everyone should read MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS by John Gray. It really helps in the male-female relationship.
.................
NEXT WEEK: Protection and Cleansing Affirmations -- "The Armour of Light"
..................
MEDITATION - Part 4
THE TEN-FINGER METHOD
I want to go into the Ten-Finger method again tonight and bring out a few tidbits I skipped last week. This method should really help any of you who have difficulty with any of the other methods we've looked at.
REVIEW: Very quickly, a review: You sit in a chair with your upper arms almost vertically up, hands should be open palms upwards. You recite a mantra aloud. At the same time you focus successively on your left thumb, then index finger, then middle finger, then ring finger, then little finger of left hand then change over and repeat process starting with right hand little finger back to right thumb. You say the mantra once for each finger.
ENERGY: As you recite the mantra each time, you feel energy going up to the tip of the finger you are focusing on and then into space. Likely you will feel the energy coming down the arm to the finger. When you've done the whole ten finger cycle, you begin again with the left thumb, repeating this same process. Do this whole cycle aloud at least twice, (twenty fingers). Then, if you are feeling the energy going to each finger in sequence, you may drop your hands to your lap and continue the repetitions silently. Be sure fingers are kept apart from each other, and that none of the fingers or hand touch any bare skin, palms upright. If you don't feel the energy in each finger, continue saying the mantra out loud while holding the fingers apart and your upper arms upwards, until you do.
Here, in John Gray's technique, the Ten-Finger system, we are actually sending energy out to the universe. The mantra acts as a sort of generator to draw energy into your fingers, each one sequentially. Then out of the tip of the finger into the atmosphere.
QUESTIONS ON THE PROCEDURE?
Sagegreenspirit: I have always been told that leaving your fingers open like that that you have the chance of having bad energy come through and lose the good energy. Or do you need to just protect your self better?
GS: Yes SAGE, we must always use protection before any spiritual exercise. The "Wall of White Light" we learned a couple weeks ago will do the trick, but next week we'll learn an even more powerful protection -- "the Armour of Light."
AN ENERGY EXERCISE: Here is a little exercise we can do right now.
EVERYONE. Put your two forefingers together at the tips. So they are touching each other. Then think of, sort of mentally push, energy flowing down your left arm as you exhale and out to the tip of the left finger. Then as you inhale, feel and pull mentally the energy from the tip of the right index finger up the right arm as you inhale. Repeat this as you breathe out and in until you actually feel energy (or something) going dowwn your left arm and up your right arm as you exhale then inhale. You will probably see/feel/sense that energy as starting from and returning to the heart chakra. (the center of your chest). Then as you really feel this energy going down the left arm and coming back the right arm. -- very slowly pull the two index fingers apart oh just a quarter of an inch or so. You will see a faint ribbon of light between the tips of these two fingers.
See how far you can pull your two index fingers apart and still keep that ribbon of light present. You ought to be able to pull the tips of the index fingers apart three or four inches before the ribbon of light breaks off. If you'd like to experiment a bit, think of the energy going down the left arm as blue or orange, then check to see what color the ribbon of light is. You can think of other colors or try a reverse flow from right to left. See what happens.
BACK TO THE TEN-FINGER EXERCISE.
Suppose your mantra is "Oh GOD, my heart is open to you, come dwell in my heart." You'll probably feel the energy in whichever finger you are focused on, going up from the base in the first words of the mantra and radiating out from the finger tip as you say or mentally think the last part of the mantra "Dwell in my heart." So in a sense you, through your fingers, are sending a prayer outwards. And, you may have selected a seed question at the same time. So, the seed question is sort of staying behind the mantra. As a flower bed might stay behind a picket fence.
John Gray says to do this 15 minutes twice a day. I myself, do it once a day for 30 minutes. You must find what's most comfortable for you. Your mind will drift and wander. When you are aware that the mind is drifting, pull your mental focus back to the mantra and the fingers. And, don't be dismayed if your mind goes off to Aunt Edna's plum pudding or thoughts about the election results, many many times during the meditation. It happens to all of us. Just pull the mind back to the finger and mantra.
Remember, as we start learning meditation usually our answers will come a day or two after we've asked the seed question. The answer will pop in when your mind is focused but not busy thinking. Like, when washing the dishes, mowing the lawn, driving to work, etc.
The Ten Finger method works so well, I'd like you all to give it a try and see if it's your technique too. Remember to record how the techniques goes for you in your Journal and any impressions, thoughts, visions, etc., that occur during the meditation sessions.
...........................
AN EASTERN ORTHODOX METHOD
This is a meditative technique used by contemplatives in the Orthodox Church, notably in the Russian Orthodox Church. The technique is to recite a short mantra continuously all day long They use what's called The Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon me." And they repeat this mantra aloud or mentally constantly, during all of their daily activities. Eventually, their starez or spiritual counselor will tell them to recite it a certain specific number of times a day, maybe 6,000 repetitions. 6,000 exactly no more, no less. My thinking is that with the careful counting you are alerting the inner child to the importance of the mantra.
But we don't have to use the Jesus Prayer: "I am in attunement with the Universal Source" or “Oh Lord Buddha come into my heart." or "The Light of Almighty God shines brightly with in me." Or "the Great Spirit guides me on my path." Any such phrase will work quite adequately. Again, I suggest that if you want to try out this technique, that you develop a mantra or phrase that feels right to you.
And, for myself, that counting to 6,000 times or whatever would drive me bonkers. But what you might want to do is to select a phrase that appeals to you and use it, repeating it over and over, whenever you think to use it during the day. Maybe while you are jogging or doing physical exercise? " I am an instrument of the MOST HIGH" or "The Light of the Universal Source shines through me." Pick something that uplifts you, that brings you to feel a closeness to the way you see Deity.
...................
HOMEWORK: Well, that's about all I wanted to say about MEDITATION. So let me give you the "DREADED" homework.
1. Adapt the ten Finger meditation technique mantra to your own path and your own words.
2. Try the Ten Finger technique a few times this week. See if it works well for you.
3. Don't forget the daily visualization exercise.
4. Be sure to give love and kindness to your inner child.
EXTRA CREDIT; Try out this Eastern Orthodox affirmation technique. Pick a phrase or mantra that appeals to you. And, use the technique during idle moments: On the bus, mowing the lawn, washing dishes, driving to work, etc. See if it does something to you over a period of time.
................
SUGGESTED READING:
John Gray, How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have
R. M. French, translator: THE WAY OF A PILGRIM and its companion sequel, THE PILGRIM CONTINUES HIS WAY. These two are in paperback bound as one volume.
Everyone should read MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS by John Gray. It really helps in the male-female relationship.
.................
NEXT WEEK: Protection and Cleansing Affirmations -- "The Armour of Light"
..................