Divine Meditation
Let me tell you about an amazing experience I had in Burma in 1993.
I used to think that meditation only was for the Beatles and hippies. But after meeting an East German-born traveler in Jakarta, I really wanted to find out what the fuzz was all about.
So, I made my way to the same Buddhist monastery where he had stayed, in Thailand. I didn't know what to expect at all. It was my first trip to Thailand and it would also be the first time to set foot in a Buddhist monastery.
I used to think that meditation only was for the Beatles and hippies. But after meeting an East German-born traveler in Jakarta, I really wanted to find out what the fuzz was all about.
So, I made my way to the same Buddhist monastery where he had stayed, in Thailand. I didn't know what to expect at all. It was my first trip to Thailand and it would also be the first time to set foot in a Buddhist monastery.
The Thai Monastery
I ended up spending a week at the Thai monastery, learning sitting and walking meditation. While meditating the mind became really calm and I often recalled old memories, that I hadn't thought of in years, with great clarity.
The meditation was physically demanding. God, could I feel the pain in my back, hips and knees after sitting cross-legged on the floor for hours. The reason I packed up so soon, was because the physical aches and pains became unbearable.
Exploring Burma
As it were, I checked out of the monastery and set out to explore Burma. After two days in a charming town called Mandalay, I got on a small bus heading southbound for Inle Lake.
There were no air conditioned buses around, so the regular coach had to do the job. It was a small vehicle with about 30 seats and at first it didn't look like it would fill up, but I can assure you that the bus was full to the brim by the time it rolled out of the station grounds.
The sun was really hot and the windows didn't open up much and with well-over 60 passengers the little thing heated up in no time. It was so packed with people that my shoulder got squashed up against the window. I wished I had stayed in Mandalay.
Peaceful Meditation
About two hours down the road, I was about to give up. My left shoulder that was pressing against the window was getting really sore and the heat was exhausting. The ride to Inle Lake had turned into a nightmare.
I decided to close my eyes and meditate for a moment, in an attempt to escape my misery. After a few minutes the mind became completely still, everything turned blue and it felt like being in paradise. I thought to myself, "I must have tapped into something divine."
After about 15 minutes, I opened my eyes. At first, I couldn't remember where I was. The meditation had taken me to a place so far away that I had totally forgotten about the bus altogether. I felt really calm and refreshed, my batteries had been fully charged.
The last hours of the journey were a breeze. The heat and the physical discomfort didn't get to me anymore.
This sublime experience inspired me for years to come. I continued to practice meditation and what I wanted more than anything else, was to experience the same thing over again.
Spiritual Practice
You are not a mother, father, sister or brother, you are consciousness. Stop identifying with mental concepts. As you already know, intellectualizing won't solve your identity crises. The way to connect with your true self is by turning your attention inward.
With some practice you will discover an inner world filled with vibrant stillness, hidden under a thick layer of mental chatter.
Guided meditation can serve as your first step along the path. Here you can download three guided meditations free of charge. No previous experience needed, practice makes perfect.
To reap the fruits of spiritual practice, always give relaxed attention to your meditation object. Relax, don't try too hard.
Best of luck!
The meditation was physically demanding. God, could I feel the pain in my back, hips and knees after sitting cross-legged on the floor for hours. The reason I packed up so soon, was because the physical aches and pains became unbearable.
Exploring Burma
As it were, I checked out of the monastery and set out to explore Burma. After two days in a charming town called Mandalay, I got on a small bus heading southbound for Inle Lake.
There were no air conditioned buses around, so the regular coach had to do the job. It was a small vehicle with about 30 seats and at first it didn't look like it would fill up, but I can assure you that the bus was full to the brim by the time it rolled out of the station grounds.
The sun was really hot and the windows didn't open up much and with well-over 60 passengers the little thing heated up in no time. It was so packed with people that my shoulder got squashed up against the window. I wished I had stayed in Mandalay.
Peaceful Meditation
About two hours down the road, I was about to give up. My left shoulder that was pressing against the window was getting really sore and the heat was exhausting. The ride to Inle Lake had turned into a nightmare.
I decided to close my eyes and meditate for a moment, in an attempt to escape my misery. After a few minutes the mind became completely still, everything turned blue and it felt like being in paradise. I thought to myself, "I must have tapped into something divine."
After about 15 minutes, I opened my eyes. At first, I couldn't remember where I was. The meditation had taken me to a place so far away that I had totally forgotten about the bus altogether. I felt really calm and refreshed, my batteries had been fully charged.
The last hours of the journey were a breeze. The heat and the physical discomfort didn't get to me anymore.
This sublime experience inspired me for years to come. I continued to practice meditation and what I wanted more than anything else, was to experience the same thing over again.
Spiritual Practice
You are not a mother, father, sister or brother, you are consciousness. Stop identifying with mental concepts. As you already know, intellectualizing won't solve your identity crises. The way to connect with your true self is by turning your attention inward.
With some practice you will discover an inner world filled with vibrant stillness, hidden under a thick layer of mental chatter.
Guided meditation can serve as your first step along the path. Here you can download three guided meditations free of charge. No previous experience needed, practice makes perfect.
To reap the fruits of spiritual practice, always give relaxed attention to your meditation object. Relax, don't try too hard.
Best of luck!
There were no air conditioned buses around, so the regular coach had to do the job. It was a small vehicle with about 30 seats and at first it didn't look like it would fill up, but I can assure you that the bus was full to the brim by the time it rolled out of the station grounds.
The sun was really hot and the windows didn't open up much and with well-over 60 passengers the little thing heated up in no time. It was so packed with people that my shoulder got squashed up against the window. I wished I had stayed in Mandalay.
Peaceful Meditation
About two hours down the road, I was about to give up. My left shoulder that was pressing against the window was getting really sore and the heat was exhausting. The ride to Inle Lake had turned into a nightmare.
I decided to close my eyes and meditate for a moment, in an attempt to escape my misery. After a few minutes the mind became completely still, everything turned blue and it felt like being in paradise. I thought to myself, "I must have tapped into something divine."
After about 15 minutes, I opened my eyes. At first, I couldn't remember where I was. The meditation had taken me to a place so far away that I had totally forgotten about the bus altogether. I felt really calm and refreshed, my batteries had been fully charged.
The last hours of the journey were a breeze. The heat and the physical discomfort didn't get to me anymore.
This sublime experience inspired me for years to come. I continued to practice meditation and what I wanted more than anything else, was to experience the same thing over again.
Spiritual Practice
You are not a mother, father, sister or brother, you are consciousness. Stop identifying with mental concepts. As you already know, intellectualizing won't solve your identity crises. The way to connect with your true self is by turning your attention inward.
With some practice you will discover an inner world filled with vibrant stillness, hidden under a thick layer of mental chatter.
Guided meditation can serve as your first step along the path. Here you can download three guided meditations free of charge. No previous experience needed, practice makes perfect.
To reap the fruits of spiritual practice, always give relaxed attention to your meditation object. Relax, don't try too hard.
Best of luck!
I decided to close my eyes and meditate for a moment, in an attempt to escape my misery. After a few minutes the mind became completely still, everything turned blue and it felt like being in paradise. I thought to myself, "I must have tapped into something divine."
After about 15 minutes, I opened my eyes. At first, I couldn't remember where I was. The meditation had taken me to a place so far away that I had totally forgotten about the bus altogether. I felt really calm and refreshed, my batteries had been fully charged.
The last hours of the journey were a breeze. The heat and the physical discomfort didn't get to me anymore.
This sublime experience inspired me for years to come. I continued to practice meditation and what I wanted more than anything else, was to experience the same thing over again.
Spiritual Practice
You are not a mother, father, sister or brother, you are consciousness. Stop identifying with mental concepts. As you already know, intellectualizing won't solve your identity crises. The way to connect with your true self is by turning your attention inward.
With some practice you will discover an inner world filled with vibrant stillness, hidden under a thick layer of mental chatter.
Guided meditation can serve as your first step along the path. Here you can download three guided meditations free of charge. No previous experience needed, practice makes perfect.
To reap the fruits of spiritual practice, always give relaxed attention to your meditation object. Relax, don't try too hard.
Best of luck!
With some practice you will discover an inner world filled with vibrant stillness, hidden under a thick layer of mental chatter.
Guided meditation can serve as your first step along the path. Here you can download three guided meditations free of charge. No previous experience needed, practice makes perfect.
To reap the fruits of spiritual practice, always give relaxed attention to your meditation object. Relax, don't try too hard.
Best of luck!