Archive for July, 2013
Abide in Peace
Wednesday, July 31st, 2013
Meditation is about mental transformation. Meditation is more than relaxation and feeling good. The questions we need to ask ourselves about our meditation are: Am I changing? Am I kind? Am I more compassionate and less judgmental?
It takes more than one morning or one sitting or one weekend to go into these questions and go within. When people say they don’t have time to meditate, are they really saying, “I don’t have time to listen to my heart?”
It’s a continuum of looking at our meditation practice and noticing what is changing for good in our life.
Is what I am meditating on for the benefit of all?
Am I being more loving, kind, compassionate, and joyful?
What am I willing to transform?
What is the focus for my meditation?
Am I willing to focus on peace?
Notice what happens when we abide in peace.
How are we more peaceful with ourselves and one another?
Photo by Mary Anne Flanagan
Listening as a Path
Wednesday, July 24th, 2013
Meditation on the Breath
Thursday, July 18th, 2013
A Mother’s Embrace
Saturday, July 13th, 2013
Yesterday marked the 13th anniversary of my mom’s passing. In the past I spent the day quiet, weepy, and often withdrawn. I decided to do something different to honor my mom.
The hugging saint, Amma, is in New York City July 11-13. An embrace by Amma is a unique, inspiring, and personally transformative experience. Amma spends hours as people line up to receive their hug.
I spent my mom’s anniversary in Amma’s presence. As I waited my turn for a hug, my whole body started shaking. And then I looked up and Amma was in front of me. Amma looked at me, smiled, and pulled me into her chest. She put her lips right to my ear, rocked me back and forth and said, “My Dola, My Dola, My Dola, My Dola.” It took me awhile to understand that she was really saying, “My Daughter, My Daughter…” I was overcome with tears as I felt as if my whole body was being comforted and loved.
My daughter. My daughter. An embrace by Amma reminds me just how much I miss and love my mother. I returned to my seat and closed my eyes. I felt my beloved mother and her embrace. Amma’s embrace filled me with the love I have for my mom.
Heaven to earth. Earth to heaven.
Dedicated to my mom, Catherine Flanagan.
Mother
Friday, July 12th, 2013
Grief softens
Time passes
Pain lessons
Life returns
Heart opens
Love expands
Remembering my beloved mother.
Everything Is Meditation
Wednesday, July 10th, 2013
After a recent conversation about my healing work, I sat in meditation listening and felt such an alignment with my mind and heart.
I teach meditation.
What kind?
Prayer meditation.
Prayer?
Yes. Isn’t every thought or word to the universe a prayer?
I never thought of it that way.
Our voice is our prayer, is it not?
Yes, everything is a prayer. Everything is meditation.