It was 1971 and I was in first,
or second grade,
and a classmate’s mother
had taken many of us
to see “Willy Wonka
and the Chocolate Factory”
for his birthday…
My family did not often
go to movies
so this was very
exciting for me.
Timid, and uncertain,
and polite,
I did what I was told…
and gratefully accepted
what I was offered.
And I was offered
hot buttered popcorn…
and what seemed
like a huge vessel
of Dr. Pepper…
a soda I had heretofore
never tasted.
So there I sat,
in the darkened theater,
with my classmates
and several hundred strangers…
eating my popcorn,
and sipping my Dr. Pepper…
and all the while
enjoying the movie,
which I still remember,
to this day.
Upon first consideration
one could understandably assume
that the movie could distract me…
from my snacking,
and sipping
and thus undermine
my enjoyment of them.
But I experienced the opposite
to be true…
that the movie
enhanced my enjoyment
of the popcorn
and the soda…
and the popcorn,
and the soda in turn
enhanced my enjoyment
of the movie.
And this could be
very much
like our practice
of meditation…
where during our inhalation
we silently, and mentally recite,
“This…”
and during our exhalation
we silently, and mentally recite,
“yes!”…
while relaxing
as best we can.
For just as I was able
to observe the movie
while snacking and sipping…
we too could notice our mind
while this-ing and yes-ing.
We could notice sensations,
and flavors, and scents,
and sounds, and sights…
as well as our emotions,
and intentions, and reasonings,
and recollections, and imaginings.
And we could notice
all those things
passively
and non-conceptually.
And as we physically relax
into each exhalation,
for that is what our bodies
have evolved to do….
all that we noticed
could feel
a little less graspable…
and a little easier
to mentally release.
And just as the snacking
and the sipping
did not undermine…
my enjoyment
of the movie
but rather enhanced it…
likewise our silent and mental
recitations
of “This…” and “yes!”
in harmony with our breathing…
does NOT undermine our ability
to watch the play of mind
nor relax into its non-graspable nature
but rather facilitates it.
More than two millennia ago
a Jewish carpenter
is said to have explained…
that man was NOT made
for the Sabbath,
BUT Sabbath for man.
Likewise, I tell you
that we do NOT
sit in meditation…
that we might
more efficiently recite
“This…” and “yes!”…
BUT rather
that we silently
and mentally recite
“This…” and “yes!”…
that we might more
efficiently
meditate…
that our passive
and non-conceptual
observation
of the play of mind…
and our physical, and visceral,
and mental relaxation
into its non-graspable nature….
might be more easy,
and more effective,
and more transformative.
Recall, if you will,
Darth Bane’s
rule of two…
wherein there must be
a master
to have power…
and a student
to crave it.
This is a form
of elitism
and manipulation.
And over the millennia
many so-called
spiritual teachers…
have used cryptic
meditation instructions,
and arcane techniques…
to reinforce
a rule-of-two-like
elitism and coercion.
Some deliberately choose
obfuscation
and coercion…
because they embraced
elitism,
and power,
and prestige…
others
because they lacked
the mental acuity
to know better.
BUT I am here to tell you
that something does NOT
have to be difficult
to be effective.
I am telling you
the opposite.
I am telling you
that something
must be easy
and intuitive….
if it is to be sustainable,
no less effective.
But do NOT take
my word for it;
put it to the test.
Play with these techniques
every morning
and every evening…
that you,
like Rey Skywalker
could meditate
like a Jedi.
Let us conclude
with a simple
call to action
Share this on social media.
Feeling generous?
Then support us on PayPal
Download FREE practice materials at:
Register for the next series of 16 weekly webinars
These spiritual poems are also available on
the “Meditate Like a Jedi” podcast.
Kommentare