This week’s Integral Health exercise is the
beginning of our journey through the four levels of psychospiritual development
(Heightened levels of conscious awareness) by using a method called
contemplative practice, an opportunity to enter into a relationship with our
inner self. One type of contemplative practice is called Loving-kindness which
opens our hearts to others and gradually diminishes self-centeredness to get
our minds ready for further development.
The exercise in loving-kindness I found to be
beautiful and exciting yet not something that is easily understood or
experienced fully the first time out. Being
guided first to be in a restful, at peace and ease state to then think of
someone close to my heart whom I hold with great love and tenderness. I naturally brought to mind my son Daniel. I hold him dear not only because he is my
child but because I cherish the relationship we have and continue to build of
respect and communication and love. I
was guided to fully experience the love I feel for Daniel and then was
surprised by the instruction to turn those thoughts of care and affection around
and feel that loving-kindness for myself.
There were a few things that I am not sure I understood about loosening any
grasping or attachment with physical sensations, yet the thought of being in
tuned to myself and my body was interesting.
I found it more difficult to feel for myself than I did to think about
my son. The guide asked to then shift to thoughts, feelings and images that
move in and out of my awareness whether pleasant or not and just give them
equal care, love and kindness, and then to fully embrace myself as the unique
and precious expression of life that I am because loving ourselves is a prelude
to extending love out to others. The exercise
then moves to visualizing a loved one who is suffering, and through in and out
breaths, breathe in the suffering and have it dissolve in the heart and breathe
out health, happiness, and wholeness to the same person and consider how I
could be a specific help to this person and breathe out what would be most
helpful, I found this in concept alone to be beautiful and will be honored to do this regularly. Next I was to expand that to
include strangers and then all living beings which is also a beautiful feeling.
Although very interesting and calming and would recommend
it to others that want a deeper fulfillment of self and consciousness and are
interested in integral health and healing, I found this exercise difficult and
I can see why it is not something everybody is doing. This will take time and
dedication to be able to train myself to be guided in this way let alone move
through such levels of consciousness. The
dedication and training that is needed for this level of change is considered a “Mental Workout” because of the daily
commitment I “we” will have to put forth to attain such levels of
wholeness. Just like Olympians or
doctors or others attaining uncommon levels of success put in hard work and
daily commitments to learn and grow above and beyond, high levels of mental
awareness and health will take the extra effort of those wishing to attain it.
I’m in!!
