--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I've been doing some meditation lately. I am experimenting with not > using the mantra. In past discussions you thought that perhaps it was > going on unconsciously, and I really have no answer for that. It > could be. But specifically I've just been sitting, noticing my breath > and when my mind goes off in a thought,and I remember, I come back to > noticing my breath. So sitting easily is key. When I use a mantra > that seems similar, although after 18 years my old advanced long ass > mantras seem like overkill, so I tend to end up with a shorter version. > There are a couple great meditation teachers who promote experimentation. You may find helpful.
Swami Durgananda - Sally Kempton has a book called "The Heart of Meditation". It suggests different techniques to try. She travels around a lot, I really liked going to one of her meditation workshops. Her teacher Muktananda (sp) knew MMY. He promoted experimentation as well. His autobiography is called "Play of Consciousness" and he emphasizes the "play" part. Adyashanti has some CDs out that can be found used cheap. He has some guided meditations. His whole thing is about loosing the mantra or the breath altogether. For him its all about centering attention. It is even more effortless than TM. I always enjoy coming back to his guided meditations. >From what I can gather TM is one size fits all. After a while it doesn't hurt to come to the practice with a bit of discernment and see whats at work there. I know that my asana practice done in tandem with TM has made a huge difference to how attentive I am during TM. Its all about setting up clear, energetic foundation before sitting down to practice. s.
