Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness
exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the
benefits, frustrations etc.
At the start of the Subtle Mind exercise I found it difficult to concentrate on my
breath through my chest falls but on the contrary was ease focusing on my
breath through my nostrils. I felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety just with
trying to center my focus on my breathing instructions. As a result, I was
feeling slight frustration because it reminded me of working with my hands on a
tedious object that I was unable to handle. I did not experience interruptions
of chaotic thoughts outside of my focus because I practiced this exercise while
lying in bed with only the white noise of my fan in the background of my
headphones as I listened to the speaker’s voice. Again she had a calming tone
of voice but disturbed me when she began to speak after the duration of oceanic
waves and music that I associated with Native Indians (I don’t know why that
is, but I presume because their culture if very absorbed in rituals that
involve sounds from nature). The musical ambiance was more calming than the
ocean atmosphere because of the soothing flute. The Subtle Mind involves a direct relationship between the breath and
the mind, a peaceful breathing, a peaceful mind, a still breath, and a still
mind. Stabilization of my mind be establishing a witnessing consciousness was
successful through this technique and will involve several attempts to make it
a routine. The term subtle covers an array of meanings such as intelligence,
understanding, delicate, and ingenious. I know associate my mind with each one
of these meanings because the mind is composed of these ideas and much more.
The Loving-Kindness
approach entailed opening my heart and concentrating on someone that I love
dearly. Developing a full experience directed me to care and provide affection
to myself, my sensations, my loving-kindness, and create spaciousness with ease.
This exercise fixated on thoughts, feelings, images, and the observation of
each. Similar to the Subtle Mind
concept, stillness, peace, and gentleness are the main attractions of the mind.
The loving-kindness was interpreted as a natural home with substantial surroundings
of straightforward awareness in which mental activity hovers. Loving and
kindness are words of comfort and worked towards more of a behavioral thought
process that the subtle mind engaged performance of breathing practices.
Discuss the connection of the spiritual
wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is
manifested in your personal life.
The connection of the spiritual wellness to mental
and physical wellness is the evolution of the interchanging from body to mind
to spirit. It is a swing in encounters and distinctiveness from the physical domain.
It is a transfer that accentuates existence, impulses, and personality to a
refined and indescribable mental domain. The mental wellness centers on thoughts,
purpose, and centralizes a bond to a refined spiritual domain of recognition,
perception, and unity.
As we become stable after psychospiritual
development, higher levels of consciousness and enhancement of experience and
its subtleties of the mind-body connection, we begin to recognize the aspect of
the spiritual body. Broadening the boundaries of the human experience poses the
topmost conception of the human body.
This connection is part of every individual’s
personal life. Particularly, in my life, my mental and physical wellness are
key to opening the door for my spiritual wellness. My physical aspects are my
body (physiological/biological), my home, my children and mother (all of these
are standing tall). My mental aspect speaks to my organization of the collected
responsibilities, management of my anxiety disorder and depression, and more subtle,
being able to think on impulse. If I have a balance in the physical and mental
department, the spirituality cultivates and shows me that highest point I strive
to reach daily. Every day I wake up with my physical body, I open my eyes,
stretch my legs and arms, and wait for clarity in my mind. When my mind and
body connect I can determine the intentions for the day (whether routine or
not). I am well-rehearsed is habit and as I age, I see the spiritual side of me
peeking through the door like the sun through the clouds. It is there always,
just waiting to be uncovered.
I'm impressed that you were able to stay focused through the entirety of the subtle mind exercise. That takes great focus and mental training. You should be proud of this accomplishment. I had a couple distractions but was able to return to center. I am understanding the concept better which has brought me a lot more peace in my life...weird, but true. I know what you mean by the 'disturbing' of the speakers voice after the soothing sounds of the ocean. I don't know if you listen to stations on Pandora, but I do, and I created one called "Calm Meditation Radio" because I wanted just straight calming sounds without the talking. They have a lot of Native American sounds that I also love if you like that kind of music. I don't know about you, but I get nervous about being able to find my spiritual side. I'm scared that I won't. What would you say you are spiritual about? Maybe we can help each other. You have been through child birth which I've heard is the most amazing experience in the world. I have not so I can't even begin to fathom what that would be like. But is there anything that you think was spiritual about that that may help expand this area of your being? I'm sorry, I hope I'm not over stepping. I've also suffered with depression my whole life, and although it's only been a short while, I almost feel like I have some clarity through these meditation exercises. I've tried all sorts of supplements, vitamins, and prescription drugs, and this is the only thing that has seemed to help. Have you found any peace through these exercises?
ReplyDeleteLove and Peace,
Juliette Ries
Juliette,
DeleteFirst, I love your name! My daughter's name is Julianna. Also, your not overstepping any boundaries, so no worries! I find that I am spiritual about a lot of my dreams and feelings when I am around people in the public that I know nothing about. I definitely follow my instincts because they never steer me wrong. I suffer with depression and anxiety disorders too. Water, lots of water, self-coaching my mind that I will be okay and that I am not the only one who is experiencing this and that we will survive all of this helps me bring myself to a focus. Unfortunately, I did not have either of my children by natural child birth, so I feel that I might have lost out on a natural bonding that mothers create when they have a vaginal delivery. I had a hysterectomy last week (so no more kids for sure), but I had a tubal ligation seven years ago when I had my daughter so it was easy to let go of the idea that I can't have any more children. However, two is enough and I love the two that I have, boy and girl. Life is hard as single mom and I couldn't fathom having any more children in this world today. You will get through it all, I promise! How old are you if you don't mind me asking? Do you have lots of mental support? My mother is the only person I have and without her I would have nothing, she is everything and quite spiritual herself. She reads tarot cards and used to have spiritual classes in our home when I was a young child, which I couldn't understand the concept until I began learning through classes similar to this one. You can private email me too if you want! Take care and hope to hear from you soon!