Meditation and awareness
Hi Open,
I have a couple questions I would appreciate your thoughts on.
You've recommended meditating for long periods sometimes, especially in nature. So, if I were to meditate for 24 hours or more at a time, what would that look like? Would that mean not moving, consuming any food or water, or opening my eyes for the whole time? Or would moving a bit be alright, like leaning against a tree to stretch out, or doing some type of moving meditation?
I know some traditions insist that you should maintain a rigid meditation pose and any movement distracts from the meditation.I went to a vipassana retreat many years ago that was like that, and I remember it was pretty painful sitting without moving for such long hours.
And this isn't exactly related, but I've also been wondering about the best way to die. I don't mean that in a morbid way, and I hope it doesn't sound weird. I'm honestly just curious about what to focus on at the moment of death.
I assume I'm not going to be enlightened when I die, so I wouldn't be able to leave my body consciously. But at my current level of consciousness, what should I do? Would it be like the breakthrough approach, where I would do my best to fully accept and experience whatever is going on and not resist the situation?
Thanks for any reflections. π
Zoe
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Enlightenment and Empowered Passing on in The Shift π
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Hi Zoe, good to connect π
In terms of the meditation, I would say there's no rigidity necessary for it. Definitely its important to break through the resistant layers of the identity, and this can be greatly helped by sitting in stillness - you're bound to encounter resistance by the ego in so doing. But as you break through, then attention shifts more to the felt-sense of the soul, which tends to want to move.
I recall an Openhander going on a Vipassna retreat some years ago. Indeed, the rigidity of it did enable them to break through many layers. But when the said person started going into full-blown kundalini activation, they insisted she leave "because of the disturbance"!! A tad ironic, I would say!
So when the felt-sense of soul becomes apparent, it will want to move and express in different ways. Yes, you could happily sit for hours. But it will likely also want to sway, dance, move and play too. It's just about going with the feeling of rightness.
With regards to your other question, about consciously passing on, I've been writing about exactly this for the concluding chapter of the new book, Avalonia. So your timing is perfect!
I would suggest waiting until the book is released, because it goes into some detail on it. But basically, I do believe the process of Maya Samadhi, empowered passing on by the soul, will become quite widespread as the Shift draws to a powerful climax here.
Don't assume that you won't be enlightened by then. You're on the path. And as things accelerate, you'll likely find you'll progressively want to ditch countless hooks of the old construct. I'd say you're well placed.
Much love
<<< Open π
Losing pieces
In reply to Enlightenment and Empowered Passing on in The Shift π by Open
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Thanks Open, that all helps. And I'm looking forward to reading Avalonia!
I had a goofy incident last night that kind of relates to this. I went to a ballet performance in my city, so I wore a pair of nicer shoes that I rarely wear. And when I was walking from my car to the theater, about a 10 minute walk, the soles of my shoes literally started falling apart. A few large chunks fell off on the sidewalk as I was walking. I didn't have an extra pair of shoes in the car or anything, so all I could do was pick up the pieces, throw them in the nearest garbage can, and keep walking.
I'm sure there are many layers of symbolism in all that. I definitely feel like parts of me are falling apart, and there's nothing I can do but throw out the pieces and keep walking. I have no idea where I'm going, but I guess that's all part of the process.
Best wishes π
Zoe
Losing your soles but gaining soul π
In reply to Losing pieces by Zoe
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That gave me a smile Zoe... "Losing your soles but gaining soul!"
<<< Open π€
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