May I Sit with You?. Tom Catton
heart rate is a constant presence of the human life, it can deceive us in moments of fear or doubt as our blood flow increases and adrenaline surges through our bodies. Yet we can control our breathing; coming back to the moment naturally calms us, allowing the heart to follow our breath into the moment of now. Be mindful, as the next breath could contain the greatest joy you have ever experienced.
The practice of mindfulness brings great significance to the most mundane actions. The simple walk from one room to another, done with complete attention, can be like surfing a perfect wave. The present moment contains everything we are seeking. Practicing presence with all we do opens the door to joy, and being truly present for others is an offer of humble holiness and service. We are of service to others by giving our personal attention to each individual we encounter on our journey through life.
The occupation of mindfulness has my complete attention. For all those who practice, it is job security for a lifetime. Each moment we begin anew, returning to the breath, to the moment we are involved in now.
“When the flower blooms, the bees come uninvited” was one of many realizations by the nineteenth-century Hindu mystic Sri Ramakrishna. Our own blossoming occurs in meditation, and we experience peace as we begin to unfold like Ramakrishna’s proverbial flower. The simplicity of paying attention to our breath finds its way into all areas of life. Practicing mindfulness turns our daily routines into both a sacred and practical path; we find magic while embracing each moment and each other. The next time someone says “Pay attention,” let it be your reminder to become mindful of the present, beautiful moment.
Television shows are inundated with advertisements promoting some new drug or other to combat illness of the body or mind. Commercials show people waltzing through green fields, basking in sunlight, smiling, and enjoying their new lease on life because of yet another magic pill. These ads are followed by the warning of menacing side effects, such as diarrhea, sleepiness, sexual dysfunction, restlessness, and depression that may even cause suicidal thoughts—oh, and be sure not to drive heavy equipment.
The viewer must consider if the harmful side effects outweigh any potential benefits. And, of course, there is the ever-present fine print at the bottom of the screen that is too small and too lengthy to read, and appears for too few seconds to comprehend. Yes, at certain times and in certain circumstances, some people need to take medication. But I wonder how many aches and pains and even illnesses could be eliminated or reduced if simple meditation were prescribed rather than an arsenal of medications.
I don’t recommend that you stop taking any medications without first consulting with your doctor or medical provider.
I do recommend that you let your doctor know that you meditate or are considering it, and explain the benefits of doing so. Practitioners of Western medicine do good work; science has given them many tools to treat the sick or injured. Maybe your medical provider will share your insights about meditation with others. Another opportunity for you to serve others.
Since the late sixties and early seventies, meditation’s ability to help with stress reduction has been explored. The scientific community’s research has proven that this simple, daily practice can improve one’s overall health and quality of living. Meditation had its coming-out party on the world stage in the 1960s with the book Autobiography of a Yogi. This book and The Beatles’ visit to Maharishi’s ashram in India gave Transcendental Meditation (TM) its wider exposure and its vehicle to spread through the United States.
One of the first studies on the physiology of meditation was the dissertation of UCLA graduate student Robert Keith Wallace. In 1970, part of this study was published in a science magazine. Since then Dr. Wallace has contributed to the increasing body of research into the physical benefits of meditation and consciousness.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, also a pioneer in the study of the benefits of meditation, has helped spearhead a movement that utilizes mindfulness meditation for stress reduction. His methods go back to the late 1970s after he attended a meditation retreat led by Thich Nhat Hahn and began to realize the benefits of meditation for both mental and physical health. Today many HMOs offer meditation groups for patients to learn how to relax into a healthier body.
In 2006, researchers at Harvard, Yale, and MIT released a study on the effects of Vipassana, or mindfulness meditation, on the human brain. They discovered that experienced meditators actually had improved brain function, improved attention, and improved ability to process thought.
Like the medications advertised on television, the practice of meditation may also cause side effects. Some of these may include the following: recognizing love in everything; feeling deep compassion for all sentient beings; experiencing spontaneous joy; being at peace in the moment; wanting only to serve others; listening to the guidance of a still-small voice within; seeing light with eyes closed; having an urge to dance when no one else can hear the music; knowing great peace while moving through a difficult challenge; and generally acting as a fool while playing your part in the cosmic show. These “side effects” sound a lot less harmful than the pharmaceutical side effects we are familiar with from the television ads!
As I said previously, do not stop any medications without checking with your doctor first. But don’t the side effects of meditation sound wonderful?
The practice of Step Eleven is fundamental for the awakening of our spirit, but the ancient practice of meditation is finding its way into the medical and therapeutic communities. And, as mentioned above, research continues to document the physical and mental health benefits of meditation and can be found in numerous scientific journals. Visiting your meditation cushion more frequently could result in improved health and well-being. Excuse me, may I sit with you?
Thoughts That Encourage Enlightenment
Anticipation is a path to the future.
If I step upon it, I’m no longer present.
Practicing the presence is job security for a lifetime.
It was a hot, sunny day. As I bent over to take a drink from a garden hose, the warm sun embracing my shirtless body and the cool water running down my throat and spilling out on my bare feet, a joy suddenly swept over me. I found myself crying uncontrollably—experiencing the simplicity of being caught in the moment.
While breathing in, know you’re breathing in.
While breathing out, know you’re breathing out.
This simple practice can transform lives.
Expectations are the footlights on the path to suffering; acceptance is a guiding light on the path to peace.
Whether an emotional, physical, or other type of roadblock is encountered on our path, we can embrace it, and it can act as a slingshot toward the divine.
Daily and with great intention, return to your inner life.
The path our heart follows is determined by what motivates us. When you awaken each morning, ask yourself, “What can I do for someone else?” This is love put into action, the glue holding the universe together.
The inner drive for perfection is a step on a path that can only lead to pain. Mindfulness will transport us to the sacred path of recovery.
Embracing our imperfections, we give birth to our spirituality.
The simplicity of “lightening up” will spawn our enlightenment.
There are no dharma or meditation police. Your practice is your practice. The way you work your program is the way you work it. Blame becomes obsolete.
The truth that can set us free is simple: What we put into life in this moment determines the next moment.
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