To move away from breath based exercises for awhile: here is a meditation loosely based upon a meditation from the yogic traditions that has the potential of leading to rather profound results.
Take a few moments to relax and allow your breathing to become calm and regular, but don’t really focus upon it.
After you’ve allowed some space from the immediate concerns of life, focus upon your foot with as much mental clarity as possible, but certainly don’t allow frustration to develop over lack of absolute clarity. Once the idea of your foot occupies your mind, mentally say to yourself: “This foot is not me. If I was without this foot I would still be me. What then am I?” During the final part of this mental statement, imagine that your foot disappears. Repeat this sequence with each area of the body: the other foot, the calves, the thighs, etc., up to and including the head, face and brain.
What is “I” in absence of the brain. . . . . ?
What insights arise from this exercise after a few weeks of daily practice?
I’ve been using a form of Neti Neti meditation quite intensively recently. It fits in well with Nisargadatta and Douglas Harding – both influences of mine.
This is an absolutely beautiful meditation. To know that we are not these bodies that are finite and imperfect, but something much more deep and pure. It appears that this meditation is very similar to focusing breath and/or attention on the different parts of the body, yet not as focused on the body rather the Being inside. I have always had more success meditating internally rather than externally. John, is this what you meant by saying you have experienced the Self both inside and outside?
Blessings
Rozi
Dear rozi
Yes, the more you see the self at the end of this meditation, the more you will see it externally mixed in all things. Remember this self is the real you.
sincerely
john lee
Hi
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What do you think about such kind of meditation http://www.etapasvi.com
Thanks for sharing this, I shall give it a try on my next meditation practice.
I have practiced this meditation for 32 years and I can tell you from experience that it will lead to enlightment. It is a steep path to follow.
sincerely
john
Do you have a different internal statement? or sequence of going through the process? I’d love to hear any further insights you have on this method of meditative practice. Greg
Dear GREGORY
Glad you asked.
The neti,neti meditation needs to be done with the 5 koshas meditation. Reason being the 5 koshas represent the universe entotal. Once removed all that is left is your own self. By this method I have seen the Self twice , once inside and once outside so I know this type of meditation works. But it takes sometime for it to work. Generally it would be good to have a spritiual guide to help with this matter.
sincerely
john
I really like your blog and i respect your work. I’ll be a frequent visitor.
I really should learn the right breathing. I am sure meditation is then even better. I just let the breathing go as it does. Only at the beginning of meditating I make a few longer breaths. Recently I found a program, well it is recordings, which make it so easy to get into the meditation state, for which I needed at least ten minutes or so. You can read more about it hear: http://bit.ly/3eQ7nh The subliminals can be used while meditating, well the meditation is deeper.
Christa