Meditation

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Today’s guest post was a by-MizFit-request.

After reading the comment below (made on this post) I had to find out more:

Hi Miz. What you don’t know about this particular member of the tribe is that way back when I lived in a inter-religious house- trying to create dialogue to reduce religious tensions on a very very small scale. The year I spent there also involved 3 nuns from different orders, a buddhist, a hindu and a wiccan. Every second day, we would have some quiet time as a group. This is how we got into it:

We would play some soothing music- Enya seemed to be a perennial favourite for maybe three minutes, then we were encouraged to look into the flame of a candle. The focus on the ever changing flame gave me enough to think about that very soon I could remain quite focussed rather than having my worries intrude on any mantra.

The meditation lasted only as long as you were comfortable, which meant that sometimes it lasted 5 minutes, and sometimes it lasted hours.

I hope that helps some of the bumbling band.

Aishchai (His blog name which means fire-life) is a rare creature. Living in England, he’s been getting fitter on the inside and the outside for the past two years or so. After working in a caring profession for years, as a nurse, and then with refugees and victims of trafficking, he realized that his internal batteries were on empty, and no amount of food was going to help them recharge. Forward a couple of years, and you can find him sweating his heart out down in the gym four times a week, and able to whip up his grandmother’s cheesecake and give most of it away.

Please to enjoy his response to my request:

Me? A guest post? Really? Thanks for the invite. I kind of panicked, but then I thought, actually this is something that I do know about and maybe the bumbling band might like to hear a little about it, so here goes!

So I don’t know what kind of shape you’d rather this was in, but feel free to edit this as much as you want.

“Once upon a time, or more precisely sometime after my 18th birthday, I decided that the time had come for me to have an adventure. Most teenagers pack their bags and go exploring, say, the big cities of America or Europe . Me? I decide that my big adventure would be inwards. So I packed my bags and headed off to live in a convent with three nuns, an Episcopalian, a Buddhist, a Muslim and a Witch. The idea was, in coming to live together, we could begin to open up and understand each other, and ourselves a little better. I think they were expecting me, the Jew, to shrug my shoulders and say “Oy!” a lot, and I don’t think I disappointed.  It was a course in life skills that has helped me ever since. That also included learning the importance of finding stillness.

A few posts ago, Miz. Fit introduced the idea of finding 10 minutes of quiet and meditation in our lives. I noticed that many of the bumbling band thought it would be really hard to find a space to be quiet for that long. So here, perhaps, are a few tricks for the busier people out there.

The first thing I learnt is that quiet time, or that time when you find stillness does not mean that you have to be still. Quiet time is a moment to feed you senses and your soul. Its can be about doing things slowly and with purpose.

There is a little preparation. Switch off your phone- mobile and landline. Switch off the monitor of your computer. Switch off the TV or the CD player. Tell the family or your colleagues that you need a few minutes to yourself. And then, begin.

Say it’s the end of lunch. You maybe have an apple. Look at the apple. Really look at it. What does it look like? Does it have a little pattern on the skin? Are there grooves along the stalk? Smell it. What does it smell like? How does the apple feel in your hand? Is it smooth all over? Has it little bumps that you can barely feel? How heavy is it? And when you bite it, think about where the flavour explodes across your tongue, what the apple feels like in your mouth as you chew it. Take your time. You need to do this with purpose.

Or what if you just can’t find the time to sit down? That’s okay. On your way from the car, perhaps as you get out of the car, you can slow it down a little. Think about what you’re doing. Think about where you’re placing your hands- what is the texture of like? Is it warm or cold? Hard or soft? Smooth or textured? What can you smell? Is it a good or a bad smell? Where does the smell come from? Think about your movement- how you hip connects to the rest of your body, how your knees move? When was that last time you thought about how you walk? Isn’t it some kind of miracle that you can walk, moving all those muscles at once? (Just to say, maybe be a bit careful with that one, as the last time I tried it, I ended up at the top of the stairs wondering how I was going to get my body to move in just the right way in order to get to the bottom without me going head over heels!)

And if you are lucky enough that you can go into a room by yourself and find some quiet, but the thought of that past due bill keeps creeping into the back of your brain, perhaps you can ease yourself into stillness by listening to some music. This is not the time for Kanye or Mariah, people. Try something slower, maybe a little repetitive- Enya, some classical music. But make sure you turn it off after a few minutes. You can look into the flame of a candle. Try to keep some focus on the flame and notice how it changes shape or colour. Or look at your hand. Really look at it. Look at how it folds, how each finger connects to the palm. Perhaps you see some veins running just under the skin. Or think about how you feel in you clothes. Maybe you can feel the tops of your shoes around your ankles, or you jeans are hugging the backs of your calves.

I’m betting that after the first couple of times you try this, you find that you have been quiet for maybe a little longer than you thought. And stillness is an exercise. Sometimes you’ll find it easy, and sometimes you’ll find it tough, but however long or short you achieve in being still, you moved just a little bit closer to the centre of yourself. And maybe you, like me, find your self falling into a quick doze. So what? Enjoy the doze!  For the record, I still make the time to find some stillness twice a week. Once I week, I fill up the bath, and allow myself 10 minutes to slow it down. Once a week, I walk down to the gym taking my time to look at everything- the grass, the trees, the clouds, the river. Pretty soon, you’ll be allowing yourself little moments of stillness all through the week. Enjoy it. Treasure it even.”

There. I hope that can be made into some kind of shape to make an interesting post for you!

Yep, I say this often but you must check out his blog.

In a blogworld crammed with people who think they know it all /have a ton to say Aishchai truly DOES & is humble enough to not even realize it.

Now you.

Have you joined us on our quest for calm?

Begun a meditation practice?

Please to share it all in the comments…

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Comments

  2. LOL @ Irene.

    I had some good plans to start a meditation practice after your post before.

    I never did.

    I have some good plans to start a meditation practice now.

  4. I love this: Quiet time is a moment to feed you senses and your soul. Its can be about doing things slowly and with purpose.

    I absolutely agree. A while back I looked up the definition of meditation, and after years of being told one idea, I learned it simply means “To focus on one thing.”

    I sit daily now but it took a long time and I started with 1 minute and gradually increased time. Now I do treasure it.

    These are great thoughts shared today, thanks!

  5. Thanks for this post, Aishchai!
    I really like the piece about the apple.
    So simple to do and I tend to get bogged down in the idea that meditation needs to be fancy and planned out.

  7. Fabulous reminder. Both posts.

    I needed to be told that I can fit meditation in today easily in many ways.
    I can not remember who said it but you are my fitness guidance counselor for sure.

    Thanks Aishchai and MizFit!

  8. I’ve never thought about quiet time like that before. I always felt I had to sit crossed legged dressed in white, burning incense and chanting in Sanskrit to really get the full effect (I have a slightly over active imagination). Can’t wait to try it. Just had a lurk over at your blog……impressed, those progress pics and fabulous…. wooohooo!!!!

  9. Lovely post.

    For me, it is as important to think about being mindful in everything that I do as it is to make that formal time to sit. I am not always so successful at making the time for meditation these days… although I try… but there can be stillness and mindfulness everywhere.

    • so very true Nina. when Im frazzled and life is jameTODDLERpacked simply being present with her entirely and tuning out all else works wonders…

  10. I am not committed to meditation yet however I can commit to doing something slowly and with purpose.
    TODAY.

  12. This is one of my fave Miz guest posts ever. Seriously Aishchai, I found this very helpful and I intend to try ALL of your suggestions over the next few days. (Where were you last month?? LOL.) You sound like a very grounded person. Thanks for the post both of you!

  13. Great guest post!!! I used to do the bath and candle bit when my girls were still at home but have gotten away from it. Will have to give some of his suggestions a try, cause I’d forgotten how much it helps the soul. THANX!!

  14. I used to practice focusing on objects to meditate many many years ago, when the Beatles hung around with Ravi Shankar. I may have been too young or too foolish to understand the full benefit as well as hold my concentration and let this pass as a fad. It may be time to get back to this again. Thanks Aishchai for opening this door again.

  15. I love this post. Sadly enough, this happens to me when I’m folding laundry: the textures of the fabric, the way BKs clothes still smell faintly of him (in a good way, not a stinky way), and the way mine smell like the perfume I wore that day. I don’t care what the feminists say, it’s a bit of nirvana for me.

  16. Ooh this is great. It’s nice to have a really descriptive step-by-step process of how to do it- I’ve learned about this before and how to do it but somehow over the years it was forgotten and had led to me having huge difficulties trying to meditate. Thanks so much Aishchai for reminding me!!

  17. I went back and reread your Om For the Holidays article and Aishchai has written the perfect follow up and companion to it.

    Loved the post and you two make a great team.

  18. LOVE huh? And this post isnt the half of it. He is simply an amazing, generous, kind man.

  19. A good friend of mine did her mediation while ironing clothes and watching the weather channel. I guess mediation is where you find it 🙂

  20. Wonderful guest post!

    Loved Aishchai’s description of the apple – felt like I was actually looking at it.

    Thanks – this is one of the all-time best guest posts!

  23. Ha! I never knew the definition of meditation…I used to be an avid Yoga taker, until a shoulder injury occurred 🙁 But I still managed, after my practice dwindled, to find the time in this hectic City and my crazy life to find some pleasant unwinding time. How did I never realized it was really “quiet time” or a type of meditation…it makes total since especially the good and recharged feeling I have afterwards. I have to mentally get away every now and then and you’d think it pretty tough in a place like NYC…but I’ve found simple walks to the farmer’s market, or choosing to walk home as opposed to taking the bus or a cab a nice release. And yes I totally meander in my purpose; it’s the balance that I find to my everyday life that consists of constantly rushing around. Thanks for the post, it helped me become evermore mindful.

  24. You know, I took a meditation class once where they talked about being present in the moment, even while doing other things.

    But that’s the thing I forget the fastest – I always think I have to Sit Down and Be Quiet in order to meditate.

    Thanks for the reminder. 🙂

  26. I really like that he suggested “realistic” ways to meditate and find time for yourself. I really believe that everyone could find 5 minutes (even though I say I’m too busy), you just need to be more efficient with time. I think it’s more that we’re unwilling to make the time and a priority. After all, we make time to do things for other people, but many don’t for themselves. But, it sounds like something that would really help with our (especially my) busy, hectic lives. Thanks for the reminders and tips!

  27. I really like these ideas. I struggle to turn off that inner voice when I try to be completely still and meditate but to concentrate on hands, apple, music, whatever, that is a great way to get into the habit. Thank you!

  28. I have always wanted to “learn” how to meditate. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has a problem being still both physically and mentally. There’s an Ashram here that has a beginning meditation class and I would love to go. It’s just getting over the fear of trying something new!

  29. very cool about the ashram, tina.
    I’d love to try that as well.

    Monkey mind? One of my big hurdles…

  30. HMMM. I have never tried meditating, but it sounds interesting. Stillness without being still—I sort of get it. Sort of. I think we all need to take some time out of our daily lives to just relax, and if meditation works for you, then that’s great. Great post aish :).

  31. This is very helpful! I love the line “stillness is an exercise.” I love the reminder to practice being present even in small moments. I laugh picturing the standing-at-the-top-of-the-stairs-wondering-at-getting-down moment. I’m wishing I’d had the insight, in my late teens, to make my adventure “delving inwards.”

  33. Thanks for this post. I’ve been trying this all this week, and this post was just the right words at just the right time.

  34. I read, then quiet my mind by breathing. If I don’t do it in the morning, I have a less than stellar day.

    Some of my favorite books:

    1. The Power Of Now
    2. The Tibetan Book Of Living & Dying
    3. Came to Believe
    4. 12×12

    (I’m a member of AA)

    I could no more do without meditation than I could breathing. 🙂

    Great post, and thanks for the heads up on his blog!

  38. A lovely post. I find my quiet time in bits and pieces, here and there. Sometimes planned, sometimes not. Somehow I find it just when I need it, which is always a delight.

  40. Maybe this is wrong, but I can sometimes find those quiet moments while working out. I think about the muscles I’m using and think about really feeling them. Sometimes I think about nothing but breathing – some of the workouts I’ve done enough to not have to think about much.

    However, I’ve not succeeded at the still thing much yet. I haven’t put much effort into it. I should look to it now before things get crazy again.

  41. I especially like the part about the apple!

    I have been using meditation as a stress-reliever and to learn to be present. I have found when I don’t make the time, the consequences are worse than taking the time.

  42. kel, I really like this. Simple. Obvious. TRUE:

    I have found when I don’t make the time, the consequences are worse than taking the time.

  43. I don’t have a regular meditation practice, but I’ve listened to several CDs about meditation and I incorporate some of the techniques when I’m walking or running, or at other times when “monkey mind” is particularly bad. (Like when I’m laying awake in bed, wanting to sleep, and my brain starts racing. I know, when you’re a serious practitioner, you’re supposed to learn to do it and NOT fall asleep, but oh well.) It helps me quite a lot, especially in being more patient with others and with life in general.

  45. This was a great post! I live in very hectic & crowded southern CA so this is really important! It is nice for him to also show that you don’t have to sit & cross your legs & say a mantra if you don’t want to go that way. I like his take on all the different ways you “can calm”! Thx for sharing!

  47. *Love this post* I was reading it….with purpose. It was calming just to read his word and step into his apple world. I’ve tried meditation before and never stuck with it. I like his definition much better and will try it again. Thanks Miz and to Aishchai, “That was an awesome post!”

  49. It is extremely coincidental that you have this post today, or that I got it E-mailed to me today, since I noticed a slight lag time in when the post is posted and when I get it. I was talking to friend last night who kept insisting that meditation would help me so much. He was giving me different examples of how to go about it and how those minutes or ours are the MOST valuable in your day. I was saying that one reason I have never really been able to get into it is because I feel rather unproductive. He begged to differ, and I logically agreed. I don’t think I have talked or heard mention of meditation in MONTHS and then back to back. My friend and a post here! Maybe I should take the hint 🙂

    I loved it though, especially about slowing things down if you are busy. I think that is where I will start today.

    Thanks for helping!

  50. Another brilliant guest post. I love the way he encourages us to slow down and look at things. His life sounds fascinating.

    …of course I’m so neurotic I had check where he was from in England so I could hear it in my head with the appropriate accent LMAO

  51. Just added Aischai’s blog to my feedlist!

    I love the idea of meditation in motion, just gaining that awareness of your surroundings and feelings. I could use more of that in my life.

    I do sometimes just focus on breathing for a while and that calms me.

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