Loving Kindness
The focal point in loving kindness is the loving compassion for others and less focus on ourselves.
Subtle Mind
Breathing is the focal point and in order to focus on ourselves and reach calm-abiding.
Compare/Contrast
The pauses were pretty long for both exercises. Both require great concentration and the exercises advise to stay attentive and refrain from allowing the mind to wander. Both are exercises to train the mind. They were very different exercises due to the fact that they have different focal points.
The connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness is very important. It is essential that mental thoughts are well, allowing the physical aspect of overall wellness to achieve good health, reach goals, and stabilize productivity. Our mental state definitely affects the way or body’s function due to our reactions and actions. Spirituality also affects our mental state and the way we handle the outside world. It seems that people that have some type of spiritual awareness or practice are able to connect with the mind and body by starting from the inside out. That affects the way the mind thinks and the way the body functions. The connection is manifested in my life because I choose to pray when times get hard and even when they are good. It helps me to maintain faith and have positive mental thinking. I also think that the way we think, is basically who and what we are. Our physical(body, race, gender, etc.) does not depict who we are, but ultimately, out mental state does because it determines our movements, accomplishments, mistakes, etc . All of those aspects are part of the mental training process to achieve complete wellness by way of acknowledgement.
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Seniqua,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the pauses during both exercises were pretty long. In fact, I found my mind wandering and found it difficult to concentrate on the speaker. I typically don't find it easy to focus during guided meditation regardless. I liked what you wrote about how you life is connected with what we are studying. Prayer is a common, and powerful form of spiritual connection and has really proven to have a positive effect on our lives!
Thanks for sharing!
Samantha
It has been very difficult for me to meditate through the last six weeks of this course. Like many other Americans in today’s society I seem to pay more attention to what is going on around me in the outside world verse what is going on within me. I now have come to the point where my happiness revolves around concepts of external circumstance. I understand that through meditative practice my awareness will be redirected to focus on myself and the inner part of me that will offer serenity and peace. This can benefit each and every one of us on a different level. I am determined to find a meditative practice that is right for me and offers me the chance to look at myself from a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteHave you had a chance to go over the meditation on page 93 yet? I think you will like it. I couldnt remember all of the words, but i did one line at a time for about 4 minutes. I was actually calm after I was completed. What did you think about this weeks class?
SARAH PRATT