I found the subtle mind exercise a little more difficult to do than the loving-kindness. With the loving-kindness, you actually imagine all the people you love and visualize taking away their suffering. WIth the subtle mind, you are essentially trying to tame all random chaotic thought that happens to wander in. I could not really concentrate enough to achieve any results. I understand the benefits of this exercise, but I think it will take a lot of practice to achieve, and a lot of awareness to make it happen all the time.
Being spiritually well can translate into becoming mentally and physically well, because it is all connected in some way. If we are spiritually healthy, we are very aware of it mentally, and being mentally healthy in turn can create physical health because we are no longer tied down to the negativity of a closed mind and closed spirit. We can let the daily stress and other negativity roll off and away from us rather than letting it in and dwelling on it. I really need to practice this because I let myself become stressed so easily, when it is just as easy to not allow stress to affect me.
Hi Kamala,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog posting for this week. You mentioned the subtle mind exercise was a little more difficult for you than that of the loving-kindness exercise. Maybe this is because your mind is more in “tune” with the area of loving-kindness and it is something your conscious mind has already begun developing and is more receptive to.
I was just the opposite; I found the loving-kindness exercise to be more difficult. However, with practice it has become easier and more beneficial. The subtle mind exercise for me was the best I tried thus far, and I am looking forward to incorporating it daily. As you mentioned, I think the key to developing these inner mind skills, is continued practice.
All the best,
~Bridgett