Hello,
Both loving-kindness and the subtle mind was great, because
they both brought emotions and feelings out of me that I keep going back and
forth with. The loving-kindness exercise is still my favorite, because I think
it help me to get to the subtle mind. The only thing in my mind that is holding
me back I think more is love and happiness, but doing the subtle mind exercise
will help me learn when my thoughts and feelings arise how to properly let them
fall so they can dissolve. Both exercise I catch my mind drifting, I think with
practice these exercise will help me stay focus through the whole exercise.
Sometimes I think that practicing these exercise with a group would be more
beneficial, because you learn to be calm with your surroundings of individuals
like you and everybody connects on a deeper level with understanding how to
learn things like the loving-kindness and the subtle mind exercise. I wish
sometimes I could practice this exercise with my family, but they are not open
to new things; which I think that’s why we hurt more, because they are busy
trying to tear someone down to build their self-esteem up. The problems I have
more in my mind is about my family, which I wish we were closer. My mom is my
only center of gravity, because I can talk to her about anything and when I’m
having a bad day her voice always calms me and put me back in the right
direction. This amazes me that my mind goes to her and the guidance of God,
because they both make me physically, mentally, and spiritually whole when I’m
experiencing different emotions, trying to figure out my feelings, and just
need to inhale and exhale to feel better.
Hello Sonya, I can relate with you on how your family isn't open to new things. Mine isn't really either. Over the past few years we have grown so far apart and I find I have a difficult time trying to connect with them. I think that If I could actually do these exercises all the way through it would help me with being more open. I honestly don't have any of my immediate family to turn to and it kind of saddens me.
ReplyDeleteHi Sonya,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you found both activities useful and beneficial to your life. I think I agree with the fact that the loving-kindess is still the one I had the most success with out of it and subtle mind. I could not focus for the subtle mind exercise. I understand a lot of the inner emotions you have regarding your family. I still have some family members that I do not completely get along with but I pray and take it day by day. My dad is my level head. When I need another opinion outside of my husband, I call my Pops. Me and my mother are close as well but she is not as talkative as my father which growing up I hated but now I am more accepting and just appreciative I do have someone to go to when I need to. I am happy you and your mother are so close. Its also great to have someone you can confide in.
Courtney
Sonya,
ReplyDeleteOur views of the loving-kindness exercise is similar in that we both feel that through practicing it more often, the subtle mind exercise will be possible to complete without being disturbed. I also struggled to stay focused in both, but with practice I am confident that we will be able to achieve the peace of mind that we need. *high five* I know how you feel not having an open-minded family, and i find myself wishing I could share these things we're learning with my grandmother and my boyfriend, but I know that neither of them would seriously give any of these practices the time of day and focus necessary to experience a positive effect from them..
You are so right that one of the fatal flaws of humanity is that instead of building ourselves up as individuals, we tear other people down. Instead of making note of all that is "wrong" with everyone else, not enough people choose to consider what qualities in ourselves we could improve. I was surprised to learn that Kaplan taught classes like this, and if they are willing to offer it in a college program, maybe one day classes like this will also be offered in public/private schools so that compassion and self-love and loving kindness can be practiced and learned at earlier ages.
-Ajax