From Pause to Poise - Part — II

We keep activating the ‘pause’ button while watching TV, mobile, or computer, why not activate it in our physical system. It was indeed an interesting conversation between Ms. Rachael O’ Meaera, author, TEDx speaker, and Ms. Purnima Ramakrishnan, host of the show.

I read this joke that we keep checking messages on mobile, social media, Whatsapp, etc. just the way we check a baby’s nappy — whether the baby has soiled its diaper or made it wet.

My insights and takeaways after listening to the interesting conversation between Purnima and Rachael are as below.

Purnima mentioned that meditation teaches us to ‘pause’, to go within, to connect with Universal Love, and to resurface, refresh and rejuvenate with full potential.

Rachael mentioned the analogy that in case of an emergency on a plane, one is asked to put on the oxygen mask for oneself first, and then go to help others if required. The point being I need to focus on myself first if I must save others. This is not being selfish, and it is self-care.

Rachael gave a very nice tip for this that is ‘Digital Device Pause (DDP)’. Digital Device Pause is to switch off the mobile and laptop or computer and keeping the mobile away in the drawing-room just 30 minutes before going to bed at night. She suggested limiting our social media usage because when we become curious to see our device especially when we hear the notification chime. We would like to see a ‘like’ on social media and it releases Dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter but the issue with Dopamine is that it is fast and quick and goes away within seconds, 20 seconds, and it’s not there. That does not last for long and it does not make us feel good in the long term. So, we need to come up with better ways of feeling satisfied and we want to change that.

We actually need to create a true connection with ourselves in limiting social media, potentially having a tech-free night. That is something she has tried, instead of watching TV, she reads books or plays some board games, cards, or can be in conversation with others. She feels that it does not need to be around technology 24x7.

Racheal also mentioned that while cooking a meal, we are being careful with the knife but at the same time we are noticing, hearing the chopping board; we are hearing the sounds outside the window. We are noticing the colors of the carrots and the spinach and so on and so forth. And that is being mindful.

This has reminded me about Nispandhabhava which I learned in the yoga institute a few years ago and ‘Nispandbhava’ where one sits in a comfortable position with eyes shut, making no movements and only listening to the sounds around without thinking — Passive Listening. This is a very useful technique that can be practiced quietening the mind and keep out the negativity, we are responsible for our world, we make it or break it by our way of thinking. Our thoughts define our feelings. Therefore, it is extremely important to quieten our minds and then convert our negative energy into positive energy.

Imagine if one foot is injured, the mind constantly goes to the pain felt there and feels sad. Instead, if one could sit in ‘Nispandbhava’, then one could separate oneself from the body by listening to the sounds around and not feel the pain as much anymore. Pain or sadness is felt when the mind visits the painful spot, therefore if the mind can be guided to a peaceful thought process then we can experience peace. It is said of Raman Maharshi that he was suffering from cancer in one of his arms and had to undergo an operation for the same. He refused anesthesia for the procedure. The doctors were shocked and tried to convince him otherwise without success. While operating, the doctors observed his blood pressure and pulse constantly for fluctuations, but they were steady throughout. Raman Maharshi practiced ‘Nispandbhava’ at that time. The mind was concentrated on the sounds far away and was therefore separated from the body. The mind could not feel any pain since it was taken far away and maintained like that for the duration of the procedure. The operation was completed successfully. This event is recorded. Constant and regular practice of this technique can work wonders and help us to quieten our minds.

We can say that the period of lockdown during Pandemic was also a ‘pause’ for us to introspect, to cut down extravagant expenses, to donate more to others who are in need, to change internally and our lifestyle, to appreciate the freedom we had, to coexist with other creatures of Nature. As we noticed, other than human beings, other animals were freely moving about in Nature. That was a very introspective perspective.

I am a student of Heartfulness meditation and I have learned in Heartfulness meditation that when we are angry, it is a sympathetic system that is active, and the right nostril will be strongly activated and dominant and it is the same thing with fear and anxiety. During the sympathetic response, the hormones adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine are released into the blood, so our heart beats faster and faster, our blood pressure goes up and we become highly aware. We are ready for ‘fight or flight’. So, when I started the technique of breathing from the left nostril 9 times with the right thumb on my right nostril and with the process of inhalation and exhalation 9 times, I have activated the parasympathetic system and I have learned to become calmer.

I know and identify when I get angry or anxious that I am still a ‘work in progress’ and aiming towards perfection though I slip and fall and I remember the story King Bruce of Scotland and the spider wherein the King learned not to give up in life and Rome was not built in a day. I encourage all the readers to practice these few techniques for better health benefits.

Watch the REPLAY of the webinar, “Power of Pause” below.