RickyFitts

Excellent, glad you liked it!

@Gianna That makes sense, thanks for elaborating I struggle with surrender, too - takes a leap of faith, I think

Here's one I posted elsewhere on the forum recently that might be worth a shot, I thought it was very good:

Would you mind expanding on this a little?

I love this

I personally prefer to meditate with my eyes closed - my meditation practice is all about turning attention inwards, and objects in my field of vision are liable to be a distraction.

I second this request, I think it's a hugely important topic in the context of spirituality. I'd be very interested to hear Leo's thoughts on the subject.

I was suffering with severe, debilitating anxiety for most of 2017, and meditation was instrumental in helping me to overcome that. It's also helping me to dissolve energetic blockages and release a variety of emotions, so it's been hugely, hugely beneficial for me personally, yeah. How you go about it is obviously crucial, I'd been meditating (or attempting to meditate, at least) for four years prior to that with rather limited results - I like Adyashanti's simple instruction to 'allow everything to be as it is', I think people often go into it attempting to control their experience in some way (by actively trying to silence their mind, for example) but approaching it in that way is to misunderstand the whole point of meditation, it seems to me. What worked for me personally was to approach it more as a body-oriented practice rather than a mental activity, with a simple emphasis on allowing my body to relax and breathe; it's in the body, after all, that our unresolved emotions and energetic blockages are stored, and this emphasis on physical relaxation helps the body to gradually release those things. I think a big part of it is just being willing to allow the arising of discomfort and pain when you do feel it, and persevering with the practice even when you're feeling frustrated/bored/restless, etc. You truly do get out of it what you put into it.

That much cuteness should really come with a warning, I think I've just grown a uterus

Just came across this article and thought it was an excellent and timely message, so just wanted to share: https://adyashanti.opengatesangha.org/teachings/library/writing#what-would-love-do-

Great idea - I'll check it out, thanks!

@Gianna Absolutely loving the tracks you've posted, so glad you started to thread - introduced me to a lot of music I may never have heard otherwise, thanks so much for sharing

What a great way of putting it ?

Yes! Great way of looking at it, these sorts of situations can definitely be great opportunities for growth if we can remain present

Oh it's just awful, I wouldn't wish it on anyon - so sorry you had to go through that Glad you're feeling better now though Completely get where you're coming from about not wanting to break the masseuse's spirit - I think just being fully present, noticing any tension you might be feeling and allowing it to release can also be very helpful, too. Anyway, hope you have a great massage, you're very welcome soul sister <3

Agree - I'm very much with the Buddha on this one: 'Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional'. The real issue isn't so much the pain as the resistance we build up against it - that inner resistance causes emotional repression and energetic blockages, and we're never really free whilst there's anything unresolved in us. I know that for me in my own healing journey, becoming conscious of that inner resistance, which manifests in the body as contraction and tension, and then allowing it to gradually release has been absolutely crucial.

Demonising desire isn't helpful, as it's only liable to lead to repression. Far better, in my opinion, to endeavour to understand what's at the root of it - inquire into it, feel into it. To desire is human, there's nothing wrong with desire in and of itself. To believe otherwise is to go to war with yourself, and that helps no-one.

Oh no, I'm so sorry you had such a bad reaction to the sugar I guess these sorts of situations are learning experiences if nothing else, though I don't suppose it's helpful to know that when you're suffering - I hope you feel a little better today, anyway ? RE the massage, might be best to just be honest with the masseuse about how you're feeling at the moment, she might be understanding

The following guided meditation for the practice of non-resistance just came up in my Youtube recommendations and I thought it was very helpful, so figured I'd share it here:

It starts, I think, with bringing attention to that within you that isn't at peace, and cultivating compassion for those wounded, traumatised parts of yourself rather than judging or suppressing them. Having compassion for our humanness is so, so important, I feel.