Secrets that make it easier

While I was still working in midtown Manhattan I used to do my design work and listen to spiritual audio recordings at the same time. And comedy too, I tend to think comedy falls into a spiritual category, but that’s for another newsletter. While surfing around through Youtube I was entertained by Terrance McKenna, Alan Watts, Ram Dass, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and eventually Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

What I fell in love with was the simplicity of the 70’s era videos that had been uploaded. Panned shots of fields of flowers. Dew resting on blades of grass – sunrises. This was a welcome relief from the hubbub of the office and grueling commute to get there. A little oasis right on my screen. I leaned into the squeaky pitch of the Maharishi’s voice. And for someone like me whose anxiety was at full throttle, his clarity, wit and cheer lifted and transported me. I sincerely wondered how someone could be that cheerful and free of stress.

Years later, when the anxiety I’d been managing went from bad to worse and brought with it the health woes, I turned toward the Maharishi again. I was out of work at that point and suffering greatly. I paid an enormous chunk of money [tapping my retirement account - never a good idea] to get my mantra and training. I showed up for myself 2 times per day, as instructed, for my 20 minute meditation allotments. I did this for two and a half years straight, never missing a day.

What I expected from this effort was to heal. To regain my health. I expected a miracle and at first, I didn’t think that miracle had come. I was pissed that for all the time and effort I’d put in I had very few if any health gains to show for it. So, I got bitter and quit.

The break in meditation helped me to see something wholly new in myself and entirely weird and wonderful. Even in my despairing insomnia-wracked nights, I had the ability to shift and become an Impartial Observer. I found I could actually muster a sense of humor about it. The Impartial Observer in me allowed me to acknowledge that the bitterness didn’t feel good. It gave me the space to make a new choice, to distract myself, without judging my current predicament. This space did not exist before my meditation practice. In the past, I was pretty well convinced that I was the sum total of my thoughts.

Within the container of two and a half years that I was consistent, I never experienced any relief while I was meditating. Which, in addition to healing, was what I was yearning for. The constant, incessant stream of noise in my head never seemed to quiet.

Finally, more than a few years later, I attended follow up training sessions that TM offered. I learned the fundamental secret that would have made it all make so much more sense. Chronic flow of thoughts that interrupt are a biological response of the body. Over-thinking is basically a valve, releasing stress. And since I was in a chronic state of stress, that’s all my body was capable of doing. This is more obviously true of fidgeting, itching or any movement, voluntary or otherwise that distracts you. It’s just stress, don’t attach any meaning to it.

Now, TM isn’t right for everyone. And what I’ve come to discover is that while meditating has been helpful to me, even the circular way that I acknowledged it, really any type of meditation is beneficial. So, to that end, here are some ideas:

Consider your strengths. Are you visual, audio or physically dominant? Choose a practice that aligns with that strength.
Ignore the meditation purists. They think they are the gatekeepers to consciousness, which has no gates.
Walk. Walking everyday, sans headphones. You can repeat an affirmation to the beat of your footsteps if you’re feeling frisky.
Watch. There are wonderful animated gifs you can follow along with here. link: https://www.doyou.com/10-awesome-gifs-for-calm-breathing-59450/
Listen. Pop in your earbuds in and listen to some relaxing meditation music.
Breathe. Just be aware of it, the sensation – no guiding or forcing. You can add saying In on the in breath, Out on the out breath.
Download an app. There are many popular ones to choose from.

How about you folks, any tips to share? I’d be curious to know your experiences with meditation, hit reply and let me know.