The aim of Mindfulness - Stillness meditation is to learn to relax the body, calm the mind and to progress using mindfulness into the deeper stillness of meditation.
Meditation flows naturally and easily if we let it flow.
- Water only flows from the tap if we open the tap.
- Bees can only feed on an open flower
- Birds fly because they spread their wings
How does one meditate???
A. Directly, meaning one just sits in a deeply relaxed body with calm, still mind. Doing NOTHING. Other than…..just ”BE”
B. Indirectly, means learning through techniques and methods to calm body and mind to come to stillness. (It would be a fair judgment to say that our western mind has the need to ”learn” how to relax and let go.
One can do this through joining classes, read books or use tapes.
What can be helpful?
1. Create Conducive Environment
Even so one can learn to meditate anywhere, at any time it can be helpful to prepare your environment to support you in not being disturbed and t hold you in a space of supporting self.
2. Relax your body
Several relaxation methods can be used to help you let go of tension. Starting at the feet you can move your attention to body groups and visualize relaxing them one by one……….feel the muscles soften and relaxing..One by one…….
3. Bring attention to Mindfulness
By using relaxation of your muscle groups you will notice that your mind is also starting to settle and you can than bring attention to the sounds around you…further away from you……..just notice them…….no need to judge them………name them…………nor let them distract you………….Let them pass just as you were to pass a stranger in the street……….you Might smile at people passing you…but you do not stop to engage with them………….nor do you need to engage with your thoughts………..just let them come and let them go………………
Just NOTICE….without getting distracted or having to react…………..this is mindfulness!
4. Notice the stillness within
Stillness lies within all of us………Stillness is there at all times………Stillness is not something we ”create” …Stillness underlies all thought, all emotion and all reaction. By practicing mindfulness, one will notice that there is a silence…a feeling….which might have a ‘’special” quality and it might feel deeply comforting, peaceful and strangely enough…….it might seem very familiar.
And then we might notice that out of this stillness arises a sound, a thought, a feeling….and it settles back down again into ”Stillness” and as we stay aware of the movement, stay the ”Observer” without naming, we will remain in stillness.
As we progress in Meditation there will be no longer a distinction between the stillness and the movement……….we just let go…………..and rest within it.
..anywhere……….anytime……..however long you wish and choose !
Blankets are in Queensland at the moment.
Come and watch the teachings of Eckhart Tolle.
Every 1st Sunday of the month come and talk to the birds at the Eco Centre. 
Well!!!……..the Blue hat project has moved into te Eco Centre as you might know in St Kilda 
