Unit 5

The differences between the subtle mind and the loving-kindness meditations was with what we needed to focus on in one.  The subtle mind helped us to focus on relaxing ourselves a little at a time until we felt nothing but calm, in every inch of every part of our being, both our inner and outer selves. 

The loving-kindness guide helped us to focus on feeling and showing loving kindness toward others. 

The subtle mind exercise that we used this week reminded me of Qi Gong, using breath in everything.  It shows how these eastern practices are all intertwined with overall health and how each aspect overflows into the other.  Couldn't you just visualize yourself on a mountain in Tibet?  It is an awesome feeling and mental experience.

I find that outside of the practice session, I am beginning to use my breath during the day to calm myself when getting even slightly edgy.  It has been helpful both in and out of practice sessions.

By relaxing our thoughts, emotions, and bodies, we find it easier to take smaller things in stride in our daily lives.  I know that I do.  By maintaining positive attitudes, by being in a more calm state of mind, stressors become less, and our ways of handling them become greater.  By being more spiritually healthy, by having more positive thoughts, our physical "selves" become healthier, drastically lowering our risks of disease.  I would much rather becoming healthy this way than with the aid of chemicals.

I can't wait to grow further in my spiritual journey.