I found the subtle mind exercise to be more challenging than the loving-kindness exercise. Primarily, I thought the loving-kindness exercise was easier because the entire exercise was guided. I was surprised how much my mind wondered with the subtle mind practice. The way Dacher decribes it as "grasping" onto thoughts was a perfect description. I found that initially it was easier to catch a thought and let it dissolve, but the longer that exercise went on, the more difficult it was to catch the thought right away. I would catch myself down the road from the initial thought onto my third or fourth thought, which would quite often even be on a different topic than the initial thought my mind had "grasped" onto.
Although it was more challenging to me as the exercise progressed, I did have some success with the exercise as well. I was able to experience my open, expansive mind while observing my thoughts and having them dissolve away. I have to admit it was pretty awesome. Another thing I liked about the subtle mind practice is that once you know how to do it, it can be done without the tape. Which means it can be done anywhere, and anytime. I have found that aspect to be helpful, and it increases the likelihood of me continuing it.
Just as the mind and body are interconnected, our spirit dwells within us and is interconnected as well. Our ability to access it is determined by our ability to move from our witnessing mind, to our subtle mind of calm-abiding, and eventually to unity consciousness. The ability to access our spirit occurs as we grow psychologically and mentally. Conversely, desiring to grow spiritually creates within us the to desire to grow psychologically. In this way the two work hand in hand. At times it is the desire for psychospiritual growth that drives us, and at others it is the desire for spiritual growth that drives us. Either way the outcome is that as we grow psychologically we ultimately grow spiritually. The physical body benefits from this growth because our thoughts and emotions drive our physiology. When we are healthy mentally and spiritually, we are going to be healthy physically as well.
In my personal life, I find that any positive experience or growth psychospiritually or spiritually increases my feelings of well-being.
Kathy
Hi Kathy! Did you find that you kept having the same thoughts wander in? I did. There was something that I had to do, so I went and took care of it, then I had no problem after that. I really liked working with my subtle mind and am working to get better at this particular exercise. It is my goal to be able to practice anywhere and especially when life sneaks up and grabs me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to grow in my mind-body-spirit health! I have always known that there was more that I could do...that my mind had more power than I was using. The trick will be to nourish all parts equally...but that's okay. As one part heals and grows...the others will follow. This is the exciting part! With the tools we are learning, the rest of my life will rock!