The Conscious Lifestyle: Awareness Skills - Diving Deep

My son Gotham and I enjoying scuba diving together

This is the fourth in a series of posts about skills in awareness; the first three skills were being centered, paying attention, and holding focus. You might want to review them since all four skills make a totality. The reason I'm calling these "skills" is that most people pay very little attention to the quality of their awareness - they are too distracted by the contents of the mind, the constant flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensations. But if you think about it, the ability to remain centered in a crisis is a skill, as is the ability to pay attention to what is happening in a complex situation and to remain sharply focused on the problem at hand.

To complete the set of awareness skills, there is the ability to dive deep into your mind when you need answers and solutions. Decision-making depends on this skill, since bad decisions are mostly made when someone's mind is anxious, confused, conflicted, or superficial. It’s crucial to get past these obstacles somehow.
When I think of my mind, I see the image of a river. On the surface there are lapping waves, and the current flows fast. Dive beneath the surface and the same river flows slower; there are no waves agitating the water. Keep diving, and the water slows even more, until at the bottom there is hardly any motion at all. Yet it’s all the same river. Most people spend 90 percent of their waking hours at the surface of the mind, which is tossed and turned by daily events. It would be easy to believe that this restless activity is the mind. There is nothing else until you dive deeper and experience it.

Dreamhawk.com

We’ve all had moments when our minds grow more peaceful – millions of people go on vacation just to find this experience. But the world’s wisdom traditions teach that the very nature of the mind is silent, vast, and calm. The mind’s activity is secondary. The silent mind is primary. But why? You won’t know the value of silence until you acquire the skill to get there and explore on your own. In kindergarten restless children are told to put their heads down for a few minutes. You probably remember how impatient this made you, how quickly you wanted to get back to playing and running around.
In adults, this same impatience has worn a deep groove. We resist being still because what we know is activity, a constant state of mental churning. If the nature of the mind is silent, calm, and peaceful, it’s not part of our experience. Millions of people in the West have heard of meditation by now. A large number have given it a try. Life is stressful and hectic enough that getting a short respite every day sounds appealing. But the spiritual teacher J. Krishnamurti said something very important when he declared that true meditation lasts twenty-four hours a day. True meditation occurs when you dive deep into our mind and stay there.
Diving deep brings you closer to your source. At the mind’s source is creativity, intelligence, peace, and bliss. You don’t have to work to achieve these things. They are part of the landscape. A glimpse of silent mind isn’t hard to experience, and with repetition, the glimpses grow into a view. Your mind will like what it sees, and so the desire to dive deeper increases on its own.
To dive deeper right this minute, here’s a simple breath meditation. Sit quietly by yourself. Make sure that you won’t be disturbed. Close our eyes for a moment to clear your mind and make it receptive. Now place your attention on the tip of your nose. Feel the air gently going in and out as you breathe. Do this for 10 minutes. If your attention strays from the tip of our nose – as it naturally will – easily bring it back. Don’t force your attention, don’t try to control your breathing. Just be natural and easy.
Before you open your eyes, sit and appreciate where you are inside. Let the feeling sink in – just be with it. Now open your eyes and go about your day. Almost everyone will find that the effects of this simple meditation linger for a while. Colors seem a bit more vivid, or sounds seem clearer. There’s a sense of calm inside and less tendency to be pulled out into activity. If your day is frantic and you plunge quickly back into it, this lingering will be slight. But meditate twice a day for 10-20 minutes, and then you will begin to taste a lasting difference.
In a society where a disturbing number of school children are diagnosed every year with hyperactivity and attention deficits, the chance that they will grow up to acquire awareness skills seems slight. In the next post we’ll discuss how to turn the four awareness skills you’ve learned into a practical way of life.

Meditation in the Ocean (with Rumi Poetry)

The Meditator Ep. 18

Courtesy of The Chopra Well

(To be cont.)

Deepak Chopra, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, Coauthor with Sanjiv Chopra, Brotherhood: Dharma, Destiny and the American Dream (May 21, 2013)

In New York and Los Angeles

New York

Place: 92 Street Y

Kaufmann Concert Hall

Lexington Avenue on 92nd,

Time and Date: 8:00 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Los Angeles

Place: All Saints Church- Beverly Hills

504 North Camden Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 9020

Time and Date: 8:00 pm (Reception 6:30-7:30 pm), May 23, 2013

Hosted by Live Talks Los Angeles

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Victoria Doria 2^nd

Executive Assistant | Personal Assistant
Your article is timed perfectly since I am teaching my own version of meditation to my 92 year old employer: "non thinking focus." Many people are not open to phrases that sound like meditation. A rose by any other name is just as enriching, ha. Thank you
1h
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Janet S.

Freelance Writer/Travel Journalist at Independent Contractor
Deepak, Thank you for being the living link between the East and the West, expressing the beauty of love by pure example, and offering it to the world through your teachings.
1h
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Arqt º Welton S.

http://arqweltonsantos.blogspot.com
Habitat includes Quantum of quantum physics in the study areas is now pertinent issue in our society. A new view of the universe and our role within it emerges into new concepts of modern physics, Advances in this area and science and its relationship with social behavior and health to the environment, thus bringing a new branch of study which is the Quantum Health . Who's in comado? http://arqweltonsantos.blogspot.com
1h
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Francis K.

Owner, Brainbalance
thnx
2h
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Marlene K.

Owner, Intelligent Skin Sense
Thank you for this wonderful meditation.
2h
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Dr Anil S.

All India sales Manager OTC and Ethical at M/s Maximaa Proyurveda
I asm keen to meet you as I passed 30 yaers in Ayurvedic Industry and Pulse reader. I am 3rd generation in our family and working on Non Curable diaseases Suggest me how with regards Dr Anil Sharma Pl reply at ashann@rediffmail.com or 919870083651
3h
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Jacqueline S.

Owner/Consultant, Creative Life Consultations
An excellent guide to back to basics 'mindfulness of breathing' meditation and encouragement to use the healthy activities we choose that deepen awareness both internally and externally. My choice of practice for deepening awareness and stilling the waves of distraction to focus and discern is archery. One-pointedness in life, work and creative expression is an important ability.
5h
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Edgar S.

CEO at Simed Development Group inc.
Just tried it! I feel amazing everything feels so tangible even the air around me just amazing!
7h
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Barbara H.

Owner at Let's Flourish
Please come and give a talk in Wales, Mr Chopra. You are inspirational!
7h
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Shailen S.

Manager - Tool Engineering and Planning at Tata Motors Limited
Excellent!!
7h
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Jessie N.

District Sales Executive at Expeditors International
I like the analogy using children who are 'diagnosed' with 'hyper activity'...perhaps if minders of children (be it parent or teacher) took the advice of the aforementioned article and centred themselves first and then applied the method to teach the child the same or similar methods (age appropriate). they would in turn harness an environment that is enjoyable for both themselves and the child. Far too often these days people stick labels (mostly unfairly so) on kids or situations, purely because they are too lazy or too 'busy' to get to the bottom of something. Mostly children just want to be children, and rightfully so, they need to be accomodated in this way and then gently taught that it is okay to be a child, have fun - be rambunctious from time to time - they should however also be taught the discipline that there is a time and a place for everything. Using this method to centre yourself as an adult first will go a long way to assisting children to become grounded individuals with a chance at greater success being focused adults. Thank you for a thought provoking and attainable skill Mr. Chopra.
9h
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Susan R.

Owner, Birth Right Aust. Pty. Ltd.
Remaining centered and connected during labour and birthing is what I support and empower birthing women to do. It is such a huge privilege to observe a birthing woman who is truly connected with her baby and birthing body. Thank you Deepak for ongoing inspiration.
9h
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chandran K.

EX SENIOR SALES MANAGER at FIRST FLIGHT COURIERS LIMITED
meditation is the solution to he wandering mind and it works
9h
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Prakash Ranjan S.

President at JRL Group
excellent thought to imbibe .
10h
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dr.vinod kumar A.

Consultant Sr.Physician & Acupuncturist
i find the following a wonderful tip. But if you think about it, the ability to remain centered in a crisis is a skill, as is the ability to pay attention to what is happening in a complex situation and to remain sharply focused on the problem at hand. any meditation is v good,healthy
10h
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saroj K.

Sales Director at Own Company ANI Properties
http://propertiessohna.blogspot.in/
10h
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saroj K.

Sales Director at Own Company ANI Properties
http://propertiessohna.blogspot.in/
10h
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Vijay T.

Fabric Printers
Great. Very very useful, if we practice the 10 minutes meditation. You may also take a 10-day-residential course in Vipassana.
11h
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Qinhui W.

procurement specialist at Carl Zeiss Vision Technical Service(GZ) Ltd.
wonderful presentation. thanks
11h
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Monica G.

Proyect Coordinator at Mondelez International
Thanks for helping us to go deep inside
11h
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