Whether you’re interested in practicing mindfulness exercises in private or inside groups, the state of mind in terms of attitude will be the same for both cases. Any resistance must vanish.
The correct approach to participate in mindfulness exercises is where “you” or the sense of participator must vanish. We cannot have a “personal agent” present.
By “personal agent,” we’re referring to the ever-present sense of control and ownership which we carry ourselves throughout the day. You see, Mindfulness, meditation, and all these practices are not that complicated as we make them. Mindfulness is our nature; it is not something we do.
We must also consider that even though participating in small or large groups might help some people; it might also be more demanding in terms of success. As with many things, as James Thurber said:
“Two is company, four is a party, three is a crowd. One is a wanderer.”
-James Thurber
Basic Understanding Before Participating in Mindfulness Exercises.
Mindfulness is what we are, not what we do. Thinking is what we do, engaging in the world is what we do; actions and actions are what we do. Anything which requires movement and change is what we do, NOT what we are. We are the changeless presence having these experiences; prior and beyond all these, we are Mindfulness in essence.
Therefore, for us to reach a state of Mindfulness, we merely need to STOP! But we don’t mean stop physically moving or fighting with your mind to try and make it still; that’s just illogical. Thinking and physical activity are part of our humanity; it helps us explore, evolve, grow, and engage with our environment.
Stopping means breaking the hypnotic relationship with your thinking mind, to cease identifying with every thought that arises inside your head, thus, using your mind as a tool instead of allowing it to be the circus ringmaster.
Breaking this hypnotic cycle requires only one action, becoming aware and observant of all these thoughts BEFORE blindly obeying them. With this simple “shift,” you will liberate an enormous amount of energy and will regain balance and peace of mind in your life.
Applying this Understanding While Participating in Mindfulness Exercises.
If you understand the above concept fully, this step will be effortless. You can now recognize that the inclination towards practicing Mindfulness exercises within a group or community is not coming from the ego nor a random thought that you are following without observation; you are now aware and capable of differencing between a selfish desire and a true calling.
The recognition that the ego is not in control will immediately allow a peaceful, mindful state of being. This state is the one that you must “allow” yourself to be in BEFORE participating in any mindfulness exercise. It might also be possible that your need or interest in participating in mindfulness exercises will disappear.
It is also crucial for one to understand that we, as human beings, are intellectually complicated by nature; therefore, we must be ready for possible friction of personalities while participating in Mindfulness groups, communities, or any other meditation gatherings.
Should I be Interested in Participating in these exercises if I’m already in a Mindful State?
Of course, you can feel interested in exploring many things which you find compatible or attractive; in this particular situation, the experience can be out of fulfillment and joy instead of lack or seeking.
You will realize that you might not find yourself compatible with certain groups or styles; this is fine as well; you will find it easy to move on to a community or method where you can connect.
Two Mindfulness Exercises That Anyone Can Participate
The following are some Mindfulness Exercises that are easy to do. Some you can try with one additional person, others you can invite a few people to practice and participate together.
Exercise #1: Mindful Sounds of Awareness (2-person exercise)
Step 1.- Sit in front of another person facing each other; make sure to be at least about a meter apart.
Step 2.- Close your eyes and take 1 or 2 minutes to breathe and relax (you can use a timer)
Step 3.- Once you are ready, set your timer once again for 1 or 2 minutes.
Step 4.- Close your eyes and begin counting from 1 to 5, taking turns on each number. You will start counting out loud the number 1, followed by the person counting out loud the number 2, then back and forth until you reach number 5 and continuing counting until the timer alarm goes off.
Notice how “the sound of” your voice and the sound of the other person’s voice emerge from the same space of emptiness and silence. This field is the same place where your mind-body mechanism and the other person’s mind-body mechanism are temporarily localized. Stay in this field; do not overthink.
Place your attention to this field and see how in “reality,” there is NO separation. When you rest your awareness into its source, into this space, the experience is one of non-duality, oneness, and Mindfulness.
Duality vanishes; there is no longer anybody sitting anywhere, counting anything doing this or that; all it is left is consciousness-awareness and phenomena.
The numbers counted out loud become mindful sounds of awareness expressed by this empty field of consciousness. This understanding and realization is the essence of Mindfulness.
Exercise #2: Mindful Breath of Awareness (2 person exercise)
Step 1.- Stand straight up on your feet, resting your back on another person, make sure your back and the other person’s back are in contact with one another.
Step 2.- Close your eyes and take 1 or 2 minutes to breathe and relax (you can use a timer)
Step 3.- Once you are ready, set your timer once again for 3 or 5 minutes.
Step 4.- Close your eyes and begin slowly breathing together.
Step 5.- Concentrate and synchronize your breathing with one another.
Step 6.- Continuing until the timer alarm goes off.
Notice how your breathing and the other person’s breathing emerge from the same space of emptiness and silence. This field is the same place where your mind-body mechanism and the other person’s mind-body mechanism are temporarily localized. Stay in this field; do not overthink.
Place your attention to this field and see how in “reality,” there is NO separation. When you rest your awareness into its source, into this space, the experience is one of non-duality, oneness, and Mindfulness.
Duality vanishes; there is no longer anybody standing anywhere, nor synchronizing anything; all it is left is consciousness-awareness and phenomena.
The breathing becomes a mindful breath of awareness expressed by this empty field of consciousness. This understanding and realization is the essence of Mindfulness.
Conclusion
The most straightforward path towards Mindfulness is the one compatible with you. If you’re inclined to join groups and communities to participate in, then go ahead and explore those scenarios; however, make sure to put your ego out of the way and leave your mind at the front door.
You’ll notice that all exercises shared in this article take us to the same place, the same understanding, and experience. The reason for this is simple; Mindfulness is always the same across the board; there is no you and no others. A real mindful state of mind is one on non-duality, one where no separation is displayed.
Try these 5 Minute Meditation Exercises inspired by methods & teaching from Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Adyashanti, Ram Dass, Neem Karoli Baba, and many other truthful and honest teachers.
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