SERIES 2 MANY PATHS - Class notes 05/21/06 -

Pre-class Discussion:

James: Welcome to the room. We will begin a meditation class at 9:00pm Central Time. Tonights we are beginning our Many Paths series, starting with Vipassana (Insight Meditation). We usually don't start until 10 minutes after, though we can answer any meditation questions while we wait for everyone to get here.
FaL: I've not been here before.. so I'm going to watch quietly
James: Tonight we are beginning a new series. It's called Many Paths.
Lap: Sounds wonderful James
James: We started out at the beginning of the year with a series on beginning meditation, focusion primarily on the universal aspects of meditation. The parts that all the methods have in common. In this new series we are taking the opposite approach. We will be looking at specific techniques, and the traditions that gave birth to them.
Alite: Our class site Meditation Paths (Keyword to: http://meditationpaths.blogspot.com/) James: The summaries of the basic meditation techniques can be found at that site... look for January 8th as the starting point.
Rnbow: did i miss it all?
James: Nope. We are about to begin. I was telling everyone that this series will focus on specific techniques and traditions. In the years I have studied and practiced meditation, I have always felt that knowing different techniques is helpful.. if something is not working you can try something else. We are beginning class. I appreciate your attention.

Series Two Introduction: MANY PATHS

Tonight is our introduction to Many Paths, and in addition to describing what we are going to be doing, we will cover our first method. Which is Vipassana. Insight Meditation.

Vipassna (Insight Meditation) is grounded in the Southeast Asian Theravade Buddhism. It is a process of achieving total awareness of the present moment, with clarity and wisdom.

Cure: where does the wisdom come from?

It is a purely meditation aspect of Buddhism.. it has no religious aspects. Because there are no religious aspects, this practice is used by individuals from many beliefs and religions. Insight Meditation is one of the simplest and earliest forms of Buddhist meditation.

Lap: James--that is so true--I studied the buddist way

It comes directly, without alteration, from the Buddha himself. The purpose of this practice is the development of awareness, or mindfulness. Mindfulness in meditation means being aware of, but not concerned wtih what is happening around you. The meditator brings this high level of awareness to whatever they are experiencing, while remaining neutral and non-judgmental of the experiences. Alan Watts used an interesting example on one of his recorded programs.This was done in the '60s so he is using a record player as an example, as that was what his program was originally listened to on.

James: Does anyone remember record players?
Key: sure
Breezy: lol. yes
Mita: lol
Grace: lol yes
Ck: yes i have a record player

He said if you were sitting by a fire, and the fire was crackling, you might find this relaxing, and it would probably not bother you. But if the record you are listening to is scratched and crackles and clicks, it might annoy or distract you...the sound is almost the same. The difference is your attitude towards it. In Insight Meditation, you try not to judge the experiences as bad or good, you are just aware of them.

Insight comes from a continuity of awareness. Staying in the moment, and having pure experience.. without judgement. There is no fixed object of concentration as there is in most other forms of meditation. The focus is on whatever happens to be the most prominent experience. So no wrestling with the "monkey mind". Its all good. One teacher compares the alertness, calmness, and restraint to that of a cat watching a mouse hole...

Another aspect of mindfulness is called "noting". Instead of letting sensations or thoughts distract you, you note them, label them, as if you are the witness to the experience and not the experiencer. Cultivating the witness is an important aspect of mindfulness.

Sun: they talk about mindfulness a lot when you talk about buddist meditation. as
well as loving kidness toward yourself..and being gentle. well the middle way is
really a lot of noting i think lol

Mindfulness is the process of being in the present moment. It is a continuity of awareness that brings about insight. So for those of you who struggle with concentration, this may be a good meditation technique for you.. you don't have to stay focused on anything. You just try to be aware of what you are focused on.
Sun: oh is this the one where you focus on everything?

Class Discussion:

James: Are there any questions?
Mom: for me the key is just getting very very relaxed
James: anything and everything
Mom: then when im in that state..its like im in a new universe..ya know
Mita: daydreaming.........giggle
Mom: or maybe..same universe..different part..lol
James: Getting very relaxed is the key to most forms of meditation. Stillness opens the doors. So simple yet so powerful.. stillness...
Mom: yes and so hard to achieve at times
Grace: indeed
LT: James..how long have you been meditating? and How long have you been a teacher?
James: But if you are sitting still and your leg bothers you.. in insight meditation you note it.. and do not judge it.
Mom: i am pregnant..so i focused on the babys movement..was really a good meditation experience
James: LT, I started meditating in 1972. So I guess 33 years?
FaL: James.. may I ask if meditating in water is a way to overcome the outside influences that distract?
LT: That is a long time
Mom: ive never meditated pregnant before
Alite: So then James this meditation is one which allows the focus to be on anything and accepting all objects which could be a distraction to be a part of the meditation causing the self to accept all things as part of the meditation?
James: I have taught online about 6 of the last 9 years.
LT: since my teens...I have wanted to meditate. I'm a student at a metaphysical school
James: Yes Alite :)
LT: thanks James
Mom: james..do you think listening to music with headphones..helps too?
LT: and for the past 2 years I have finally learned enough about meditation, to call myself a meditator
Alite: I meditate with music
James: Music helps relax you, but its really more like "foreplay" to meditation.
Mom: its nice isnt it alite?
LT: and becoming a meditator is something I have always wanted.
Mom: ya..i can see that james. the hard part for me is..not falling asleep
Alite: Yes. I flow with the music and the universe become spacious
James: Meditation is awareness, and mostly an inward experience.
LT: yes
Mom: took me along time to get the hang of that
James: Though the type of meditation we are discussing this week would say that it does not matter.. whatever you are experiencing is as good as anything else.
LT: thoughts can be so distracting...and yet, I cna feel great peace when meditating and have that peace in my life makes all the difference
Mita: i can drum and meditate at the same time.....hehe ( but i'm wierd )
James: There are many guided meditation CDs and tapes available to help you learn Insight Meditation.
Mom: i found that...it just takes alot of practice...then you get to a point where you just mute the thoughts
James: Mita, I can see that.
Alite: Thoughts Unity during meditation should be accepted for what they are and allowed to flow away without catching hold of them fully.
LT: James..in your 33 years..have you ever had an out of body expereince?
James: LT, no, that is not the focus of the type of meditation I have pursued. I have had experiences that did not include my body though... Is that the same thing? I mean I don't astral project and wander around.
LT: could be James..not sure..I'm learning about how to do out-of-body expereinces with consciousness
Alite: It depends James on your perception of the experience.
James: I focus on universal energy and my awareness of the physical plane has been known to disolve. Its like a cosmic light show sometimes.
LT: alite...I just let my thoughts be, for the most part, and enjoy the peace I feel.. James have you ever heard of the book the Holographic Universe?
Mom: james..do you ever feel collective pain of others..during meditation..almost like a deep sadness?
Alite: A peaceful meditation then.
LT: yes alite
Mita: we wanted to have a small bon fire last night but it was supposed to rain...so we walked out of the bard I said lets ask the trees....3 seconds later the wind
FaL: I do meditate in water tho.. that really allows me to be able to not contrive outside influences
James: Easters, no I have not. I focus on peace.
Mita: had the trees saying forget it - rain is coming
FaL: the wind always speaks in that way mita
Mita: my youngest was cracking up like how'd you do that mom
James: Are there any more questions about Insight Meditation?
LT: Easters...I do not want to feel sad..so I avoid the news...my life is generally pretty happy these days
FaL: I asked James.. about the water
Mom: for some reason..when i feel that..its not exactly sad..its almost comforting
Grace: No James, but this I am definitely trying for myself. :)
LT: and has only gotten better as I consicously choose on the things I want to focus on
James: Scrolling back..
Mom: life is suffering... but when you accept it...its not so bad
James: Life is suffering, Buddhas 1st Noble Truth. and one of the most misunderstood ones.
LT: can you go beyond suffering into well being Easters?
Sun: who said you have to accept suffering?
James: At the core of our being is Sat Chit Ananda.. or an ocean ofinfinite truth, consciousness, and bliss.. at least this is the belief ofmost of the traditions that brought us meditation.
Mom: yes..unity..i usually do...the sadness part..isnt really sadness..im not sure im explaining it right
James: Easters, you are talking about the compassion for suffering inthe world?
Mom: its just a feeling of collective human experience i guess... ya..like collective empathy
James: Meditation brings us to the awareness that all life is One. We are all in this together.
Mom: yes..thats how it feels
Heart: i need to meditate
Mom: that feeling lets me accept my feelings better
Alite: We will do a group meditation soon
James: We are all going to meditate in a couple of minutes :)
Alite: It is wonderful
Mom: not sure id be good at that
Heart: :)
Mom: im not experienced enough perhaps
James: If you need basic information on beginning a meditation practice, you can look at the summary of our beginning series.. at Meditation Paths (Keyword to: http://meditationpaths.blogspot.com/)
Alite: The energy of us all will flow together very nicely.
James: Wander around till you find the 8 weeks beginning January 8th..
Grace: indeed it does, Alite :)
LT: that is good Easters
James: We try to keep this meeting to an hour.. so as to not overtax your patience at staying on topic and attentive, so we need to get to our meditation now.
LT: James how do you conduct your group meditations?
FaL: well my own experience within that time frame was quite intense. I had done alot of it
James: You are about to find out. :)
Grace: yay... I'm ready :)


GROUP MEDITATION:

First you want to find a position you can have your head, neckand trunk aligned comfortably. Having your knees lower than your hips helps with the balance. On a chair, you migh try feet flat, sitting near the edge of thechair with knees down. Fine somewhere to rest your hands.. either by the keyboard or on your thighs.. palms up if you like. You want your back to be comfortably straight. Once you find a good position, relax.Let the cares of the day drop away.

Breathe deeply and smoothly, to your comfortable capacity. Sit straight up as if your head was suspended from the ceiling on a string.. Then let stillness fall over you like a blanket.. top down.
Relax forehead, jaw, neck, shoulders. Relax your arms, your torso, hips, legs... be very still. Think of a pond of water.. becoming still. it becomes a mirror. Let this stillness settle over you.. remember, breathe deeply and smoothly.

As your body gets used to this stillness, your consciousness will naturally follow. Focus now on the breath.. as you inhale feel your body filling with a warm peaceful energy. As you exhale, let go of all tension.Breathing in warm peaceful energy, breathing out all heaviness.
As your body surrenders to being still, your consciousness will become more spacious. Think of the pond becoming a mirror pool...

As your consciousness becomes more still, you begin to see a deeper part of yourself reflected in it. Feel the peaceful feeling of the breath as it moves through your heart center... (center of your chest) Let your heart open like a flower to this peaceful energy as you take deep, smooth breaths. Let go of any heaviness that is blocking this peace, as you exhale. Feel the warm peaceful energy caressing you from within. Notice the actual point where you feel peace... let this space open more fully. Close your eyes and try to sense the actual point where peace is felt.

Let your awareness attend to this space... feel it washing over your consciousness. We are all one in this peaceful breath.... Taking one final deep breath and releasing, let us bring this meditation gently to a close.

Closing Discussion:

James: thank you all for your attention ...sorry that was kind of rushed
Grace: Lovely James... thank you.
Mum: ty james
Ck: lovely thank you james
Girl: Thank you very much
James: rushed peacefullness
FaL: ty james.. I went swimming:)
James: hurry up and relax
Mita: giggleGrace: lol
Alite: I did not hurry...giggles:
Moon: ugh, brb, afkJ
ames: lol we will try to start a little earlier next time.... If you want to be on the mailing list, please email me. We will post a summary of tonights class on the site soon.
Alite: What is next weeks subject?
James: We will continue this series for 8 to 10 weeks.. I have not decided yet which technique will be next week.. G
LT: James that was beautiful
Alite: It is good to be surprised
James: Are there any questions, or does someone want to tell us how that felt?
Mum: felt good
Alite: Meditation Paths (Keyword to: http://meditationpaths.blogspot.com/)
James: We have been doing this every Sunday since january 8th
Alite: The site
Grace: Snowy... every Sunday night at 9:00 central. this wonderful class is held. :)
James: except 2 weeks ago when my twins graduated college
LT: James it this room here only on Sundays? or in other words..how frequent are the meetings in this room?
James: yes.. so far only on Sunday nights once per week, but we may be expanding to a second night soon
Alite: Sunday nights 10pm est until 11pm est
FaL: well you do keep a good time schedule there..
James: 9 central, 10 eastern, 8 mountian, 7 pacific
LT: ok i see yes...i'm in cenrtral..so 9-10 PM for me
Alite: I am in Eastern Standard time
Grace: that covers it, James! :)
FaL: as I am alite
Alite: :smiles:
James: Email me if you wish to receive reminders and topic announcements.