Meditation, a complete technique to transcend
One of the best attributes about meditation is that it can be used irrespective of our beliefs or “stage” of our journey. It is a technique that transcends even the “religion” for which it was supposedly developed. Buddhism most specifically, developed a detailed process towards enlightenment, uses meditation as a way to observe oneself.
It allows us to understand ourselves while still remembering that we are human, that we are unlearning patterns, that we are putting intention to change limiting behaviors.
It is a technique that helps us understand our own humanity.
If you have done plant medicine ceremonies like ayahuasca, you have experienced a glimpse or perhaps enjoy the factual knowledge that there is so much more than meets the eye. In it evident that we are beings beyond comprehension, that we experience the gift of being alive and have conscience to know this fact.
Despite all these realizations, there is a road to be traversed and journeyed through to reach this limitless potential we see when enjoying our highest state of being. Meditation has been for me, the tool I have used to observe the walls keeping me from achieving this truth.
The road we can journey through with meditation as our tool for observation is more vast and clear than doing it so without it.
I have noticed that when I meditate I enjoy a clearer mind. Even though stopping to meditate has not “gotten me back” to where I started, its impact in me is evident.
There are different types of meditations, and the one that has helped me have the most perspective about myself has been Vipassana, since its technique is aimed at developing space within ourselves to allow for self-reflection to be easier.
It is always worth mentioning that what allows this to work is the consistency with which we meditate. In fact, I’d say that the one thing that allows us to transcend into higher dimensions of behavior and Self, is consistency. No matter what are bridge is (shamanism, Asana yoga, therapy) the avenue itself is Consistency.
Might sound obvious to many, but how consistent can we be to meditate during 30 days every morning for twenty minutes? How about going to Asana yoga 3 times a week and then having a guided meditation on friday before an ayahuasca ceremony on saturday?. Rest Monday and attend a guided meditation on Tuesday, go to therapy on wednesday? It takes consistency to keep it going, and keep dwelling deeper.
Then comes integration, the after step of consistency. The space where we integrate what we learn, to our daily lives. This step is crucial and so often overlooked that it is the main reason why we see people behaving exactly like they did 10 years ago when they started their journey into Asana yoga or meditation.
The process itself is what teaches us the most, it is the way from which we move from realization to realization, from one “aha” moment to the next.
I see it as the fabric of our experience, the very material of which all this life is made. The process from one phenomena to the next.
Yogais the actual road to self-realization and there are the 4 major paths of Yoga (schools of thought, philosophies) Each of them help us journey the process in a way that manifests our highest truths in this existence.
To me, they are building blocks to reach enlightenment.
Jnana Yoga (pronounced Yana) focused itself on experiencing whatever phenomena is happening.
Bhakti Yoga focused on devotion. The most common focus of Bhakti is devotion of deities (symbolism). However, the most important devotion is to our ourselves, to our process of experiencing the ultimate truth.
Karma Yoga focused more on action. How we act in alignment with our highest-self.
Raja Yoga emphasizes the practice, particularly of meditation, and it includes Asana, which is what most of the world knows today as “Yoga”.
Raja is considered both a method and the way of obtaining self-realization. The importance of meditation, for those who are journeying this way, is reflected on this path.
Meditation can have massive benefits especially to those experiencing plant-based ceremonies. Our “aha” moments can be so profound that having the power to sustain these truths psychologically will help us grow exponentially.
I am interested in reading about to your experience meditating and find out which types of meditations have work for you. Use the comments if you feel like sharing!
Luisfe
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