Meditation

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different. Enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will). Being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t). -James Baraz

Spring is here! It’s my most favorite time of the year. This afternoon after getting off work I came home and moved the kitchen table outside to the patio where my roommate and I have sitting outside and working on all the things for the last few hours.

Just moments ago we looked at each other and agreed that we had to stay out here until the sunset graces our space. A glass of wine may be to come in a few minutes. This is the life that I live for.

So with this seventy degree weather and a sweet cool breeze in my hair, I decided that the setting was just perfect for a meditation service. I clicked away and found that the Kansas City Meditation Group of SRF just launched their first zoom meditation service a few days ago. One more click and I was there (well sort of) with Brother Chidananda.

As I write this post I am feeling quite zen like and light. I’m sure that the glass of wine is going to be the cherry on top of this delightful feeling. With that all said, I think this post will be short and sweet.

The SRF stands for Self-Realization Fellowship. It was founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda. The Fellowship is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding and harmony among the world’s various religions by teaching the fundamental principle of religion: how to commune personally with God.

Now I have been a fan of meditation for a little bit now. Yoga, meditation, centering I am a big fan of it all! Again, this service would have been a joy to attend in person but the COVID-19 has changed those initial plans. Honestly, because I am sitting outside in my lawn chair with my kitchen table and laptop in front of me, I really can’t complain. To be honest, maybe this is an even better setting to enjoy a meditation service.

If I am being honest, I do wish that I had a more routine meditation practice. I tend to keep it up for a couple days then let it slip and before you know it, it has been a few weeks since I can remember being intentional about my practice. I suppose it is what it is but when I do make that time for stillness, I end a session remembering why it is that I love meditation so much.

For me personally, meditation is a space that I can just focus on hearing my thoughts (which there is allot of) then let them go without judgement (this tends to be harder said than done). Recognizing and releasing. Hearing ones inner self. Yes, something like that! And in between all of that, trying not to fall asleep half way through. Yes, this tends to happen too. I’m a work in progress!

This particular meditation service was an hour long. There was a ten to fifteen minute introduction time and then Brother Chidananda lead everyone into prayer and chanting with a thirty to forty minute silent meditation. To end our time together Brother Chidananda stood up and vigorously rubbed his hands together and repeated another prayer then ending with an Aum and Amen!

What I really loved about this service was that Brother Chidananda was very open towards all different types of religious leaders. There was mention of God and Guru’s and many other different names that I could hardly pronounce let alone spell. I have to say as someone who doesn’t pray or follow a Guru (I’m not sure which term would best describe having a Guru), I felt completely comfortable with everything said during our time together. There was no awkward feeling at all that I wasn’t a regular attendee of their services.

This was such an enjoyable service to attend! I am not sure if all would consider meditation a religion but I am counting it as one because many people do attend the Kansas City Meditation Group of SRF and they hold strong to what they believe in. To me that is the heart of religion. Showing up and making space for something that you believe in, something that you can feel within, something that connects you to a deeper part of yourself and with something higher than you.

I put my hands together and say an Aum and Amen to anyone reading this right now…