Mental Fitness - The Subtle Mind

Hello, and welcome to week five of ten! Half way through the term, and it's hard to believe!

The topic for our blog this week is about cultivating the subtle, calm-abiding mind. The Subtle Mind Exercise provided proved to be quite helpful.

This week’s Subtle Mind Exercise was much like that of last week, the Loving Kindness Exercise. They both offered calming direction and guidance throughout the exercises. The peaceful sound of the ocean’s waves provided simple focus, replacing the outside chatter of the world. It reminds me of when I go down to the ocean alone, and just sit and listen to the waves come and go. Similar to breath used as a focal point; which is helpful to me in shutting out the clutter of the mind, blocking my ability

The Loving Kindness exercise directs the listener to find the focal point of breath, to find the inner-self and become in touch with the inner-spirit; attention is then directed toward a  loved one and their suffering, using the intake breath to absorb the suffering and replacing the suffering with loving kindness via the exhaling breath. While focusing on the breath and using this focal point to remove suffering and replace it with loving kindness, the subtle-mind is visited and from there the ability for the listener to practice taking in the suffering of all mankind with each inhalation and replacing it with loving kindness for all mankind with each exhalation.

The Subtle Mind exercise also uses the breath as a focal point to clear the mind of outside noise and distraction, allowing for a better connection with the calm-abiding mind. As with the Loving Kindness exercise, this exercise begins with the first step of self and takes the listener through the last two levels of subtle-mind practice recognizing loved ones and, of course, reaching the stabilized, calm-abiding mind of unity and oneness.

I did not find either of these exercises difficult or frustrating. They were definitely calming and at times were able to put me into a light sleep. I could still hear the guide, when speaking, but was able to take my mind to a quiet place and feel the results of a calm mind.

Knowing lots of practice will be needed to become much more proficient at these exercises, but with daily practice (sometimes more than once a day, if possible) soon enough the ability for me to achieve a higher level of human flourishing will exist.

Yours in health,

Marcella