23 Settling the Mind in its Natural State (3)
Just as in physics where matter in the universe may be considered crystallization of the energy in space, tactile sensations may be the congealing of energies in the space of the body and mental events may be crystallizations of energies in the space of the mind. It’s important to know stillness and movement in field of perception as well as stillness and movement of your own awareness. Examine whether feelings of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral are absolutely or relatively so. Meditation: transition from full body awareness to settling the mind. 1) full body awareness. Focus on the tactile sensations arising in the body. Identify your affective baseline (neutral) and note any fluctuations of pleasant or unpleasant. Simply observe both tactile sensations and feelings moment by moment without distraction or grasping. 2) settling the mind. Let your eyes be open, with gaze resting vacantly. Turn the full force of your mindfulness to the space of the mind (thoughts and images) and the subjective experiences. As before, identify your affective baseline (neutral) and note any fluctuations of pleasant or unpleasant. With introspection, ensure that breathing continues to be effortless. Recognize when awareness is still and when awareness is carried away. Meditation starts at: 11:40