Comments on: Trusting The Process http://www.abarefootman.co.uk/archives/2006/10/04/trusting-the-process/ treading lightly on this earth Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:33:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Lewis http://www.abarefootman.co.uk/archives/2006/10/04/trusting-the-process/#comment-987 Lewis Fri, 06 Oct 2006 09:00:41 +0000 http://www.abarefootman.co.uk/archives/2006/10/04/trusting-the-process/#comment-987 Yeah, exactly Richard. That's a perfect example there. The tendency is to think of ourselves as existing in the moment as a static thing, but more often than not we have many different times existing inside us at once, as you said, particularly things that get bottled up or held on to - we literally carry part of the past with us in our bodies and minds, and consequently we feel heavier. In a perfect world, we'd express everything right then and there, and never carry any of this stuff with us into other times. We're not perfect, but that's the aspiration, to feel and express as much as we can at the time, so that we remain light on our journey through life. Naturally there will be times when we haven't the skill or awareness to deal with something well enough, and this is fine too: when the time is right, the healing will begin. Your story perfectly illustrates why people are often told to have some kind of teacher when going into deep meditation processes - not that it is completely necessary, but that a teachers experience can be vital in putting such moments into perspective. If you didn't have the experience you have, how might you have reacted differently to that sudden outburst? Perhaps decided it was a failing rather than release, clamped down on yourself hard, or become dispondent and given up meditation altogether as only seeming to make you angrier or having no real calming effect. If we can learn to simply accept whatever happens, then actually whether we can see something as part of a healing or a releasing process doesn't make much difference, we can just watch with interest, and our feelings come and go. But I have to say I do enjoy knowing what's going on... when that rarity arises ;) Yeah, exactly Richard. That’s a perfect example there. The tendency is to think of ourselves as existing in the moment as a static thing, but more often than not we have many different times existing inside us at once, as you said, particularly things that get bottled up or held on to - we literally carry part of the past with us in our bodies and minds, and consequently we feel heavier. In a perfect world, we’d express everything right then and there, and never carry any of this stuff with us into other times. We’re not perfect, but that’s the aspiration, to feel and express as much as we can at the time, so that we remain light on our journey through life. Naturally there will be times when we haven’t the skill or awareness to deal with something well enough, and this is fine too: when the time is right, the healing will begin.

Your story perfectly illustrates why people are often told to have some kind of teacher when going into deep meditation processes - not that it is completely necessary, but that a teachers experience can be vital in putting such moments into perspective. If you didn’t have the experience you have, how might you have reacted differently to that sudden outburst? Perhaps decided it was a failing rather than release, clamped down on yourself hard, or become dispondent and given up meditation altogether as only seeming to make you angrier or having no real calming effect.

If we can learn to simply accept whatever happens, then actually whether we can see something as part of a healing or a releasing process doesn’t make much difference, we can just watch with interest, and our feelings come and go. But I have to say I do enjoy knowing what’s going on… when that rarity arises ;)

]]> By: Richard Barker http://www.abarefootman.co.uk/archives/2006/10/04/trusting-the-process/#comment-981 Richard Barker Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:24:08 +0000 http://www.abarefootman.co.uk/archives/2006/10/04/trusting-the-process/#comment-981 I agree, I couldn't have said it better myself! On the subject of looking at the bigger picture and not just focussing on the moment, I have a story of my own along those lines. I was meditating on Monday night, when some old old feelings of anger came flying to the surface, one minute I was calm, the next fury and violent urges. I lost my focus completely, it was a very powerful experience. The anger was over 13 years old, amazing how things get bottled up isn't it? I realise that that release of old pent up emotional energy is just part of the meditation journey, and my next meditation was a far better experience. The saying that came to mind is "It's always darkest before dawn". I agree, I couldn’t have said it better myself!

On the subject of looking at the bigger picture and not just focussing on the moment, I have a story of my own along those lines.

I was meditating on Monday night, when some old old feelings of anger came flying to the surface, one minute I was calm, the next fury and violent urges. I lost my focus completely, it was a very powerful experience. The anger was over 13 years old, amazing how things get bottled up isn’t it?

I realise that that release of old pent up emotional energy is just part of the meditation journey, and my next meditation was a far better experience. The saying that came to mind is “It’s always darkest before dawn”.

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