Body as Soul Map

Body as Soul Map

                Epigenetics (the study of how genetic material is formed) has shown us what many ancient wisdom traditions knew by direct experience- that our bodies are formed and transformed by influences that are genetic, environmental and experiential. The Gautama Buddha is quoted as saying “Within this body one fathom in length, I can show you the rise and fall of the many universes.”

                This seems esoteric but in light of recent epigenetic research combined with the findings of quantum physics, this is not so farfetched! Within our bodies, we can find all the wisdom we need to follow our true soul’s path.

                Many traditions. e.g. Vipassana, which use this method of self-development have similar procedures. The first step was always to develop an awareness of how to focus the mind. This is the primary goal of mindfulness and a skill which with the in-turning of humanity to our limited needs and wants, is being lost. Technology is also robbing us of the old ways of teaching this to our children. Indigenous culture that are not influenced by technology, teach and practice this simple quiet sitting with what is.

                Watch an elder from one of these cultures and you will witness the quiet ability to simply be with what is, in the moment. After hiking some of the ancient green roads in Ireland, I took the train back to Dublin. An elderly couple got on at a stop in one of the western country towns and sat down beside me. I was plugged into my music and busily doing Sudoku to make the time pass. The older woman sat beside me and simply sat down and looked straight ahead for the entire two hour trip, she didn’t talk, read, or fidget. She glanced out the window occasionally, but mostly she simply sat and experienced the journey from a place of open awareness. Wow! How did we lose that!

                Probably younger people would say-how boring! But actually, this kind of practice sharpens the senses and mind and clears the mind so experience is fuller and more satisfying. The more we try to fill up the empty spaces the bigger they become! How often I remember my mother saying “Stop fidgeting!” even if what was happening was really boring (like listening to sermons in church) but I learned to sit quietly even if I wasn’t being entertained by my environment. This also taught me self-regulation, a skill which is sadly lacking in today’s young and adults and in more extreme cases manifesting as ADHD, emotional dysregulation, defiance and personality disorders.

                For the next week, practice focusing the mind. It is an infinite skill so even if you have a focusing technique that you currently use, practice it with even more one-pointedness. And just notice what is happening at this point. This first step is the hardest and will bring you face to face with personal habitual, ancestral and environmental pressures. It will reveal your coping strategies to survival issues, holding of trauma in the chakras and body, and emotional responses to stress, anxiety and depression. At this point, do not attempt to change or cure yourself, just observe! If you try to “heal” yourself too soon, you will just be putting more ego layers on the dysfunctional aspects of yourself. If you have a child, adult or elder in your life who is having emotional distress, this may be one of the most helpful ways you can support them in their struggles, just practice mindfulness together for a few moments every day.(Hi, lets sit and breath together for the space of 10 breathes, then we can talk, ok?) They might think its weird at first, but over time, they will look forward to it and you will notice that communication between you is vastly different after a short time of mindfulness.

Try This!

1.       The first step to developing the mind is to commit to the discipline of it. So take some time to decide-when will you practice this? For how long? Perhaps try a week’s commitment and then review your commitment after that time. For example, I like to practice at the end of the day or if I’m doing yoga at home, at the end of yoga. My favorite time is while I am walking (the first mediators simply walked through the land, noticing).

2.       There are as many mind focusing techniques as there are meditators. Perhaps try a few, see which one suit you. I simply count my breaths up to ten and then return to one again. Sometimes I let go of the counting and simply rest in a theme less meditation or state.

3.     Notice what your resistance to just sitting is. Notice what your joys are. Keep practicing. Don’t let your mind wander into phantasies about past or future. Don’t let your mind be distracted by inner visions (lights, ecstasy, voices etc.) or outer distractions (noise, perceived commitments to other projects, solving problems, going through your laundry list). Don’t resist these thoughts or chastise yourself for having them (Bad me! Distracted again! I wonder why…opps!) Just return to the practice (One, two, three, last night was awesome, I loved that way…one, two three…). Keep practising. Even if it’s just five minutes a day.

Next Week: Step Two in Body as Soul Map