I just finished up a summer program, working with a group of young people transitioning to high school. On one of the days we all filled out questionnaires to discover what our learning styles were. This activitity took our answers and tallied them to pinpoint whether we were auditory, kinesthetic, or visual learners. Also, whether we were musical, mathematical, interpersonal or intrapersonal learners. We were all a mixture of the styles, I scored high in the visual, verbal, musical and intrapersonal categories. It helped to explain how best I learn, there were some surprises, but most I had discovered when things didn't work out in a classroom.
Taking this quiz a bit further, I wonder, if we all have strengths in our learning styles, might we all have different ways in which we have a higher success rate with one meditation style versus another? I run every day, it feels great, and I have time to work through life situations with which I might be concerned. The steady even rhythm of my footfall lures me into a meditative state. So maybe I am actually mediating, it just looks different than a Tibetan monk's practice. Some people might need music, others a lap pool. Anything that quiets the mind so that a state of peace can enter. The word meditation itself derives from the 13th century, "discourse on a subject," from meditari "to meditate, to think over, consider." Today I meditate on the many styles of meditation that are available to me. It's ok, I am doing it right, I just need do it.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI love this post and found it most helpful in my own pursuit of meditation.
Love ya
Joan
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI believe successful meditation, like good writing, must be done in private, which is why your meditation is spiritual. No course or program can help you meditate successfully any more than a writing class can make you become a good writer. Techniques and nostrums for meditating -- or writing -- are palliatives that may impose a certain discipline on the process, but end up distracting you from what you're really after -- a view into your soul. I began meditation in the Army when one early morning I sat up in bed a few hours before sunup. I had been pretty worried having learned our entire unit was shipping out to Vietnam in a week. So I sat there and sort of let my mind go adrift and finally accepted everything would be all right so long as I wanted it to be. Since then I usually wake up around 3:30 a.m., sit on the edge of my bed and let myself slip into a blank state for about 15-20 minutes, then go back to sleep refreshed and confident everything will turn out all right. It pretty much has. But this is what works for me.
I love reading your blogs because so much of your personality shines through. I especially loved your blogs from Italia. You've realy got the gift and I know I'm very lucky to have you for a teacher. Your somewhat pedantic (but devoted) follower.
Ciao,
Chris