Meditation

TOWARD the WITHIN strongly emphasizes meditation in all offerings. Whether a gong meditation, moving meditation or breath practice, the goal is always to quiet the mind by giving it a singular point of focus while also withdrawing the senses, bringing them toward the within. Doing all of this at once, while also letting go, that my friends, is the cherry on top!

According to Patanjali, this meditation exercise is the combination of two of his 8 Limbs of Yoga:

• The 5th Limb: Pratyahara—the withdrawing of the senses by turning inward and bringing focus and attention toward the within. There, in that empty eternal landscape, be unaffected by external stimulation. Instead, expand awareness. To be honest, once we get this far, it naturally expands on its own, as if expanding is its nature when exposed to those circumstances. Like tipping a cup full of water, once tipped, the water will spill from the cup. This is the nature of water (and the expression of gravity.) We do not need telekinesis for the water to spill. It does so naturally on its own. Just provide the right conditions: tip the cup! The water will flow. So too will awareness. (In the right conditions!)

• The 6th Limb: Dharana—single point of focus meditation; focused attention; training the mind to stay in one place. Often practiced with chants, mantras or any activity requiring intense focus and concentration, such as crocheting, drawing, painting, playing a musical instrument, playing basketball or gazing at clouds, flames, fires.

This is the main way but not the only way TOWARD the WITHIN emphasizes meditation in its offerings. There’s more…

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