Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The Holy Man and the Waterfall

Recently I've felt this tremendous pressure between my eyes while meditating. Apparently it's a common issue but the advice on alleviating it ranges from "learn to accept it and continue your practice" to "stop immediately and do something else." Ah, the endless and contradictory wisdom of the internet.

So I've taken a break, just to be safe. My sis said that area between the eyes is a "chakra point." I asked her what that meant and what I can do about it, and she said she has no idea. Haha, oh well!

In any case, until I find a teacher who knows what's up, I'm continuing to read through my Ram Dass book and explore other types of meditation practices.

Dass's book "Journey of Awakening", which provides instructions on many different styles of meditation, is also peppered with stories and bits of wisdom from sources ranging far and wide, including the Christian, Hindu, Taoist, Sufi, Buddhist.

I particularly loved this excerpt, a passage from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. It shows, among other things, that meditation doesn't have to be limited to the act of sitting down and focusing on your breath: (parentheses added for clarity)

There is a sadhu (holy man) in Hrishikesh who gets up early in the morning and stands near a great waterfall. He looks at it the whole day and says to God: "Ah, You have done well! Well done! How amazing!" He doesn't practice any other form of japa (mantra) or austerity. At night he returns to his hut.

How simple. Some would call the above a silly and wasted day, but I can't imagine a day more beautiful or lovely.

2 comments:

  1. That is impressive. He was getting out of himself and appreciating an amazing creation. Seems productive and soothing to me.
    Hope you find a cure for that pressure when meditating. Sounds like you are really putting your self into it.

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    Replies
    1. Yup. Trying to.

      Thanks for your comment. Sounds like you understand the story. :)

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