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A Spiritual Smorgasbord => Zen Moments Golden With Awareness => Topic started by: Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us? on Jan 14, 2017 01:47 pm



Title: Relaxation
Post by: Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us? on Jan 14, 2017 01:47 pm
Guys, I really forgot about the original point.

Bro...Ahem, (person's name left out), you have a way to be too serious with things and to clash with other people who have a likewise serious way. I suggest that you relax in this forum, relaxing is what a forum should be about, beyond discussing constructively.

I was looking for a heading in the search bar for 'Relaxation' but was unable to find one. I was meditating in below freezing weather recently and noticed how my body tensed up. I had to mentally go thru different parts to relax them.

Mccoy I think you are thinking about a different type of relaxation here. It's to be relaxed and comfortable with other people. I just believe that relaxation is a very important ingredient to meditation and cooperation with other people. So I was hoping that we could investigate this topic at some point and find some helpful ways of being relaxed at anytime.

I do not mean to single out others on this topic. Yet I think it is a great topic. So I will single out myself. The most recent way I have found that I need to practice 'Relaxation' is to relax my thoughts during meditation. I wonder if any one has ever realized the power of thought and how it affects the body and mind? I'm sure we all have to some extent.

The best example I can give about relaxation with other people is my relationship with my friend Eric here on the forum. We disagree on politics but fortunately are still friends. I am not sure though... that we are going to come to any harmonious resolution on this topic at anytime in the future. So it has entered my mind that we may just be spinning our wheels; so to speak. At this point I am just observing the situation. What I mean is that the mind continuously goes over a topic and can be a detriment to social and spiritual progress and I believe this is what Mccoy's point was.However if I am wrong...Let me know.

In the case of Eric and i; he believes that others should be given a chance. While I do not disagree I take a more cautious view and I am reminded of what Paramahansa YOGANANDA said about treachery. He said that once a person has proved to be treacherous you cannot trust them. He did not say you can't forgive them just that you cannot trust them. What I find is that we often make the same mistakes with people over and over. We become victims of their aggression and hostility. There is a time we need to let certain people go or at the very least relax on the topics that may be confrontational because at the time there may be no resolution for them.

I also noticed that I was experiencing an impasse with a friend over a couple of issues and feel that we just might need 'space' between us since niether of us seem to be able to compromise our values on the issues. Sometimes it is just better to leave differences behind till someone sees an opening that can bring understanding. Perhaps that is part of the relaxation process. I see this as a better way to handle a situation rather then 'blowing up' or using more subtle 'passive-agressive' tactics. There comes a time when we have to recognize that 'discussion' has become 'arguing' and no longer serves any helpful purpose.



Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: guest88 on Jan 14, 2017 06:36 pm
i can agree it's appropriate to detach from situations or even people in order to still thoughts. my gf was in this manner, she would need to escape to find her peace whereas i was more head on- yet it was her actions that would provide creative insight. exactly as you said, discussions turned argument... although i think she found my approach just as beneficial, sometimes its okay to face things head on bringing thoughts to light can ease misconception.

have you had your sip of sake recently? the latest talk of peace i find very suitable to your thirst for relaxation.
http://musicmeditate.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,1166.105.html for your reference

hot showers filled with steam help me relax. i also think it's appropriate to get off the computer, turn the phone off, be in nature. this helps me relax. reading spiritual pursuits help place me in the state of mind.

cheers brother.


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us? on Jan 14, 2017 10:05 pm
Nomaste Eric

Thanks for your insights. I too find the shower very relaxing and it helps me focus on my breath more since your breath
mixes with the steam in the shower. Hope you spend some vacation/retreat  time here in Michigan. Stay with me I'll show you all kinds of nature in the Manistee Forest!  I am not sure what you mean by justifying my views. I think you will need to explain. But yes I believe we have come to an impasse on our views about Donald Trump. I doubt very seriously that anything is going to change in our views anytime soon. I believe history will show his legacy. I am happy to see your posting here to balance out our political differences with something we really agree on... Thanks

P.S. some of this thread may not make sense because my response was based on what has become edited and deleted material by another member.


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: guest88 on Jan 15, 2017 01:14 am
hi steve,

yes i deleted it in obliging to your request to relax. =) i did send you a private message further clarifying since you asked for an explanation. feel free to reply whenever you're able.

peace.  :)


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us? on Jan 15, 2017 03:08 am
hi steve,

yes i deleted it in obliging to your request to relax. =) i did send you a private message further clarifying since you asked for an explanation. feel free to reply whenever you're able.

peace.  :)

I was primarily thinking of myself relaxing. I really believe I need to investigate this subject and to be able to relax not only my body but my mind, breath and heart beat to experience my greater being. At times I am able to do this. However it would be nice to do it at will and anytime and not be subject to the imposition of tenseness and restlessness.

I am requesting nothing of you Eric. Sometimes I have to go back to what I have said to understand how you come up with some of the things I say. In this incident I pulled up everything I have said about you in this thread below but find nothing about requesting you to relax. What makes this forum unique is that people can express what they want, when they want about any subject as long as they are not derogatory about other members. I think you read into things in a subjective way which seems to be a pattern. Please consider that when I say things it is difficult to spend extra time with long clarifications and explanations. My posts are long enough and time consuming as well. Unless I directly state something try not to 'read into my words' for a personal meaning. For this reason I am cautious about sending a private message to you lately. If someone finds something helpful that may apply to them...That is great! But without asking it is very difficult to know what is going on in someone's head when they make observations about life and who they may apply to...Perhaps many times they apply to myself!!! I am fortunate to have many people I spend time with and my comments here are not directed at anyone in particular but rather are my experience with people and situations in my life from many years and incarnations. Here is what I said about you:


The best example I can give about relaxation with other people is my relationship with my friend Eric here on the forum. We disagree on politics but fortunately are still friends. I am not sure though... that we are going to come to any harmonious resolution on this topic at anytime in the future. So it has entered my mind that we may just be spinning our wheels; so to speak. At this point I am just observing the situation. What I mean is that the mind continuously goes over a topic and can be a detriment to social and spiritual progress and I believe this is what Mccoy's point was.However if I am wrong...Let me know.

In the case of Eric and i; he believes that others should be given a chance. While I do not disagree I take a more cautious view and I am reminded of what Paramahansa YOGANANDA said about treachery....

Nomaste Eric

Thanks for your insights. I too find the shower very relaxing and it helps me focus on my breath more since your breath mixes with the steam in the shower. Hope you spend some vacation/retreat  time here in Michigan. Stay with me I'll show you all kinds of nature in the Manistee Forest!  I am not sure what you mean by justifying my views. I think you will need to explain. But yes I believe we have come to an impasse on our views about Donald Trump. I doubt very seriously that anything is going to change in our views anytime soon. I believe history will show his legacy. I am happy to see your posting here to balance out our political differences with something we really agree on... Thanks

P.S. some of this thread may not make sense because my response was based on what has become edited and deleted material by another member.


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: guest88 on Jan 15, 2017 04:24 am
 ;D :D ;D love u brother! Peace  ;D


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us? on Jan 15, 2017 05:41 am
Paramahansa Yogananda talks about relaxation he says;

Physical culturist health enthusiasts and spiritual teachers all talk on the subject of relaxation; nevertheless, few persons understand what perfect relaxation of body and mind really is or how to achieve such relaxation. Some persons have learned how to relax physically but not mentally. And even mental relaxation is only one of the first steps of metaphysical or super relaxation, in which there is complete voluntary withdrawal of consciousness and energy from the entire body, and full of absorption in one's true identity: Spirit This release of Consciousness from the delusion of duality affords the highest kind of mental relaxation. Before the mind can be free of all distractions -- those induced by sensory impressions from without and within and those created by restlessly wandering thoughts-- some degree of physical relaxation is necessary. Those who are very strong-minded may be able to overcome physical distractions by the command of mind alone; but usually the beginner yogi finds that it is easier first to overcome physical restlessness by some physical method.

In SRF Lesson 70 he gives such methods.


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: guest88 on Jan 15, 2017 08:01 am
namaste Steve, if i may add more to the subject from my teacher of interest so we may compare our notes and continue to explore this area of relaxation...

Vol. 4, Mental Purification
11. Mystic Relaxation (1)
How to Relax

The question is, how does one relax? It is not by sitting silent with closed eyes; for when the mind is giving attention to the body by thought or feeling, then the body is not relaxed, because the mind is torturing the body. And when feeling is giving attention to the mind, then the mind is tortured. And this torture, even if the eyes are closed, even if we are sitting in a certain posture, does no good. With relaxation one should consider three points of view:

the point of view of the physical body,
the point of view of the mind, and
the point of view of the feeling.
The point of view of the physical body is that one must accustom oneself to get power over, or to have influence on, one's circulation and pulsation; and one can do that with the power of thought and with the power of will together with breath.

By will-power one can bring about a certain condition in one's body so that one's circulation takes a certain rhythm. It is decreased according to will. One can do the same in regulating one's pulsation by the power of will. No sooner has the will taken in hand the circulation and the pulsation of the body, than the will has in hand a meditation of hours. It is for this reason that sages can meditate for hours on end, because they have mastered their circulation; they can breathe at will, slower or quicker.

And when there is no tension on one's nervous or on one's muscular system, then one gets a repose that ten days' sleep cannot bring about. Therefore to have relaxation does not mean to sit quiet; it is to be able to remove tension from one's system -- from one's circulation, one's pulsation, and one's nervous and muscular systems.

How does one relax the mind? The method for relaxation of the mind is first to make the mind tired. He who does not know the exercise for making the mind tired can never relax his mind. Concentration is the greatest action one can give to one's mind, because the mind is held in position on a certain thing. After that it will relax naturally and when it relaxes it will gain all power.

Relaxation of feeling is achieved by feeling deeply. The Sufis in the East in their meditation have music played that stirs up the emotions to such a degree that the poem they hear becomes a reality. Then comes the reaction, which is relaxation. All that was blocked up, every congestion, is broken down; and inspiration, power, and a feeling of joy and exaltation come to them.

It is by these three kinds of relaxation that one becomes prepared for the highest relaxation which is to relax the whole being: body in repose, mind at rest, heart at peace. It is that experience which may be called Nirvana, the ideal of thinkers and meditative souls. It is that which they want to reach, for in it there is everything.

In that condition each person becomes for the time as a drop that is assimilated or submerged in its origin. And being submerged for one moment means that all that belongs to the origin is attracted by this drop, because the origin is the essence of all. The drop has taken from its origin everything it has in life. It is newly charged and has become illumined again.
http://hazrat-inayat-khan.org/


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us? on Jan 17, 2017 06:15 am
Quite a lesson on meditation and relaxation Eric. I have read it twice. I am not sure about the idea of 'willing relaxation'. It seems to me that relaxation would be more of an awareness. Perhaps it takes an act of will to relax? I find that i want to read it more. I want to digest it and make it part of my being as I do some other thoughts that are like little seeds that can manifest dreams and dimensions of reality if we nourish them. They become like seed thoughts. It is interesting how a thought can have so much power.


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us? on Jan 18, 2017 05:39 am
Eric

I have done some more awareness in this area I find that it is true; there is much 'will'  involved in the breath and it's function in meditation. Yet in the end we have to relax the will also. I believe the will becomes involved in various breath or pranayama exercises. I would be interested to know which ones you use or anyone else that wants to share. The more you think about something, the more you become aware of something. Soon we are able to let go of thought and awareness comes into gear. Then a bit later we can find our selves in the flow. Once there we have really gone beyond sitting and have entered the first real experience of meditation. We may even be fortunate enough to be aware of our breath stop or our thought extinguish. If this happens only for a few moments we go beyond peace and experience bliss. Many people say that is an experience of God's presence in our life. If you choose to call it God you may or you may just say it is bliss.


Title: Re: Relaxation
Post by: guest88 on Jan 18, 2017 07:41 pm
Quite a lesson on meditation and relaxation Eric. I have read it twice. I am not sure about the idea of 'willing relaxation'. It seems to me that relaxation would be more of an awareness. Perhaps it takes an act of will to relax? I find that i want to read it more. I want to digest it and make it part of my being as I do some other thoughts that are like little seeds that can manifest dreams and dimensions of reality if we nourish them. They become like seed thoughts. It is interesting how a thought can have so much power.

It looks like you were sipping on some sake yesterday! Here is the bowl of saki from 1/17/17

Thought draws the line of fate.

     Bowl of Saki, January 17, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

As mind is naturally impressionable, that means that man is naturally impressionable too. Most often his illness, health, prosperity, failure, all depends upon the impressions on his mind. They say 'Lines of fate and death are on the head and palm,' but I would say that it is the impressions man has on his mind which decide his destiny.

   from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XIII/XIII_5.htm


...


One must always say every word with consideration, and should not say what one does not wish to happen. Those who do not understand the value of suggestion walk after their own fate with a whip in their hand, and those who understand its value and control their word and use it rightly, they are a bliss to themselves and a source of happiness to others.

   ~~~ "Githa I, 'Amaliyyat 5", by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)