The highlights of this month have been two attempts at long meditation. The first one was near home – a short drive across the main road. I used to visit this Centre off and on during the last phase of my working life. The lady who heads it insisted that I did a short course with them to understand their philosophy. The discourse that followed required a lot of unlearning on my part in which I failed but it did provide me with a spiritual anchor.
This month when I went to the Centre we had a lot of catching up to do. She again insisted on a recapitulation of the earlier discourse which took up time. Since I had only half an hour in hand the meditation had to be cut short. A disappointment!
One of my sister-in-laws is into Buddhist chanting. I wanted to experience their monthly group chant but due to my prolonged illness it was stalled. This month when I expressed a desire to attend she readily agreed and Whatsapped the date. Though it was at the other end of the city being a Sunday the roads were clear of traffic and it took me just an hour to reach.
It was a welcoming group of six people – four less than the usual ten who could not attend for some reason or the other. The chant was relaxing followed by reading, singing and experience sharing. Personally, I would have preferred a longer chant. At the end of the session, my sister-in-law handed me some reading materials which I intend to go through. The group insisted that I become a regular.
Let’s see what the next month brings along…
Written for Natalies’s Monthly Wrap-Up
Sometimes the journey itself becomes the meditation. What begins as a search outside slowly becomes an invitation to look within. Different paths may use different words and practices, yet sincere seeking ultimately leads us toward the same inner silence.
May these experiences deepen not merely your practice, but your understanding of yourself. Let the coming month unfold without expectation sometimes the next step appears only when we stop searching for it. 🙏
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Well said Vijayji. I absolutely agree with you
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Hopefully you would get more meditation sessions in October! Happy October!
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Thank you Ganga
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Enchanting! 👍🏻
I used to do Mongolian chanting with a group of Bahai’s. It’s pretty free form, very gutteral, and you sometimes get some interesting harmonies going.
It’s good to meditate. You can do it in your spare time, or while walking. I’m guessing you know this. 🙏🏻
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We have the famous Lotus Temple of the Bahais located in our city.
But it has become a tourist spot and is too crowded though their prayer hall is fascinating.
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That’s interesting. It’s a beautiful building. Pity it’s touristy. Same thing happened to York Minster.
Ah, India. I think most British love it. 😄
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I’ve never participated in Buddhist chanting, but I’m curious about it. I’ll have to look it up on YouTube to learn more.
Have a wonderful day!
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Chants are rhythmic which is supposed to bring back the rhythm or cadence of the body, mind and soul. I am sure you will like it though the language may be an issue.
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Sounds like you had a good experience with the Buddhist chanting group. Hopefully you’ll enjoy both meditation and Buddhist chanting in October. Thank you for linking up with #MonthlyWrapup.
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Thank you so much Natalie
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I hope the Buddhist chant is worth it more than the stressful traffic.
I’m sorry I’m so behind. Our electricity a few days ago is on and off.
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The Buddhist chant was good Hazel. No issue about lagging behind. Have a wonderful day.
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Thank you, gc. Enjoy your day!
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अच्छा ही होगा गीता दी,इंसान को जिस चीज की तलाश होती हे वो उस से मिल ही जाती हे,हां कभी सफ़र छोटा तौ कभी लंबा होता हे
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,नुसरत तुमने बहुत खूब कही है। सफर लंबा सही मंज़िल तक पहुंच ही जाएंगे कभी न कभी।
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मंज़िल से आगे बढ़ कर मंज़िल तलाश कर
मिल जाए तुझ को दरिया तौ समंदर तलाश कर
हर शीशा टूट जाता हे पत्थर की चोट से
पत्थर ही टूट जाए वो शीशा तलाश कर
सजदों से तेरे क्या हुआ सदियाँ गुज़र गई
दुनिया तेरी बदल दे वो सजदा तलाश कर.(Ismail Nadvi)
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वाह! बहुत खूब ।
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With time I have learnt my misconceptions of meditation; earlier I used to think that I need to focus very hard, attempt to clear my mind and with time I have understood it is recognizing the emotions that absorb our minds and then gently letting them go, and I am sure there are other schools of thoughts too. But feel my feelings is what has helped. I started an offline yoga class about five months ago and I now understood how meditation, yoga are better done when in a group.
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In a group the collective will works. You are in the right direction in meditation. I generally go off to sleep. ☺️
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Thanks for sharing these highlights! I consider myself a perpetual spiritual seeker and for this reason love learning about other people’s spiritual and religious experiences. It may’ve been my interpretation though, but I got a feeling you felt pressured by both the lady at the longer meditation thing and the group of chanters.
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