Tantra Tip of the Day – True Meditation and Self-Inquiry

The Buddha said that the causes of suffering were grasping and aversion. True Meditation supports you in being present and accepting what is. The habit of looking outside of youself to find happiness begins to dissolve. You become more spacious and open. When you are quiet, wisdom has a place to arise. You have laid a foundation for your spiritual practice. True Meditation also involves a second step.

While allowing everything to be as it is frees you from grasping. Adyashanti recommends adding a second step he calls, “meditative self-inquiry.” Adding it your meditation practice will deepen your awareness even further. He came upon this practice on his own, later he learned that it had a long history in India, where it is sometimes called Jnana Yoga.

Ramana Maharshi, a 20th century Indian sage, was a well known teacher of this method. The first question he recommended exploring is “Who am I?” Adyashanti prefers the question, “What am I?” The easiest way to begin your investigation is often to examine what you not. As you recognize what you are not, slowly you begin to discover your true nature is awareness. You discover that this “I” that you have thought of as who you are, is not what appears to be.

Try this: Spend some time today exploring the question, “Who or what am I?” Enter this process fresh, letting go of any preconceived ideas. Stay as present as possible, don’t hurry your exploration, find the deeper truth. Don’t just think about the question engage your full consciousness in your investigation. See what you discover.
http://ramanamaharshifoundation.org/
http://www.adyashanti.org/cafedharma/index.php
(C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.
www.TantraForAwakening.com
www.TantraGal.Blogspot.com

Tantra Tip of the Day – True Meditation

In my exploration of Tantra as a path of awakening I find myself guided to what will support my next step. I love that Tantra is an inclusive path embracing what life offers as path to truth. Over the past few months I have been diving deeper into sitting meditation and meditative self-inquiry. I have been reading and listening to Adyashanti, Gangaji, and Eckhart Tolle and while I doubt any of them identify themselves as Tantra teachers all of them speak to awakening which is the path of Tantra.

I love finding new resources that are clear, concise and offer new tools that are simple to use. In True Meditation, Adyashanti clearly describes a form of meditation he developed over many years of trial and error, called “True Meditation.” It is a form of meditation that relinquishes the concept of controlling the mind. It is based on the knowledge that enlightenment is our natural state of, so we need only allow the mind to return to its true nature to wake up. The practice is to sit, relax the mind and allow everything to be as it is. My experience is that this form of meditation is liberating on many levels. You not only discover peace on the cushion but are able to take this attitude into every moment of your life.

Try this: Sit quietly, relax your mind and just allow everything to be as it is. Your attitude is one of innocence and openness. See what you discover.

(C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.
www.TantraForAwakening.com
www.TantraGal.Blogspot.com

Awareness Resists Nothing

I read this quote by Adyashanti yesterday and it really touched me. In Tantra we express this same understanding, by saying Yes! to what is.

Last night I gave an free introduction to the weekend I am teaching called, Awakening the Ecstatic Body, 16 people came, many were new to Tantra. Over the course of the evening, it was wonderful to watch people let go and stop resisting the moment, allowing themselves to be seen. As the evening progressed I guided a ritual, called a puja, where we move around the circle looking into each other's eyes and acknowledging the divine in each other. I am always amazed at how this simple ritual tranforms people. By the end of the evening the room was full of sparkling energy and open hearts. www.TantraForAwakening.com

When we let go of resistance magic happens. I love teaching Tantra. It is such a gift to offer this path for awakening to others. The power of the work is so accessible and immediate. More to come...