The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.~Black Elk
Good evening and welcome to Monday Group Meditation, we will be sitting from 7:30 to 10:00 PM EST. It is not necessary to sit for the entire extended time, which is set up to make it convenient for people in four North American Time Zones; sit for as long as you like and when it is most convenient for you.
Monday Group Meditation is open to everyone, believers and non-believers of all stripes who are interested in gathering in silence. If you are new to meditation and would like to try it for yourself, Mindful Nature gave a good description of one way to meditate in an earlier diary, copied and pasted below:
"It is a matter of focusing attention mostly. In many traditions, the idea is to sit and focus on the rising and falling of the breath. Not controlling it, but sitting in a relaxed fashion and merely observing experiences of breathing, sounds, etc. Be aware of your thoughts, but don't engage in them. When your mind wanders (it will, often), then return to focus on breath and repeat."
Please forgive me for mixing my Indian "metaphors". The short video below contains a one minute "Eye Deeksha", a transmission of the Oneness Blessing from Sri Bhagavan through eye contact.
I realize this may stretch the limits of belief or acceptance for some people. However I've recently realized that in my efforts to be as inoffensive as possible, I've made a big part of myself unwelcome in this space. It is true I am devoted to Buddhist practice, but before I came to that I studied and practiced in many other traditions, and I did not relinquish anything along the way, I just continued to add to what I already learned.
If a video energetic transmission pushes your limits, please give yourself permission to skip over it. :-)