July 2005 | Cover Report
Flow Notion
If you have an idea about practicing meditation more regularly or deeply, what’s holding you back? One thing’s for sure: You are in the right place
By Ritzy Ryciak
A few years ago, a car jumped the median near Marysville, causing a head-on collision. A rescue team hurried to the scene. There was blood on the pavement and the highway was a mess. It was the kind of accident that makes you cringe, turns your stomach and leaves you thankful it didn’t happen to you.
But Alan Bollen, who has worked as a Webmaster for Boeing for 10 years, drove by the scene and didn’t have any such reaction.
"Instead of being grateful that it wasn’t me," explains Bollen, a meditator for two years, "I tried to send the people involved in the accident light and love. The practice of meditation has made me look at everything differently."
Visualize a world where, when another hurts, you hurt too and the power of meditation becomes apparent.
Meditation, described as mental concentration and focusing the mind, is practiced by millions of people all over the world for physical, mental and spiritual reasons. It is endorsed by both mainstream doctors and alternative practitioners and has been clinically shown to lower the stress hormone cortisol in the blood, speed recuperation and improve the body’s resistance to disease.
A doctor at Group Health prescribed meditation to Bollen as a way to relieve job-related stress. As it turns out, meditation calmed him down and offered an added side effect.
“For me, meditation is about expanding your consciousness until you become closer to God," says Bollen. He describes a meditation where you visualize your body filled with light. Your light expands to fill the room that you are in, then the building, surrounding neighborhood, city, state and country. Eventually, your light fills the universe.
“By the time your light is out in the galaxies you are already beyond any place that you can comprehend intellectually," Says Bollen. “Something happens when you try and take your consciousness to that level.”
That lift in consciousness abounds in the Seattle area, where meditation classes are offered every day of the week. You name the time, location and skill level (see below). The power of meditation will do the rest.
Ananda Seattle, a “church of Self-realization” based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, offers a nonsectarian approach to meditation. Located in Seattle’s “metaphysical belt,” a term coined in the early ’90s describing the Roosevelt District, it is a prime Pacific Northwest meditation center.
“The definition of meditation has broadened," says Terry McGilloway, Seattle Ananda co-director and a meditator for 30 years. "But then again, so has our knowledge."
McGilloway, an avid runner with the sinewy physique to match, has noticed trends in Seattleites that may help explain our city’s abundance of spiritual opportunities.
“I find that people here generally consider themselves to be independent thinkers and not joiners—at least not without conscious deliberation and intention," he says.
Begin with the breath
There is one consistent theme within meditation, no matter if you are a flat-out beginner or have been a tried-it-don’t-feel-very-good-at-it participant: Meditation begins with the breath.
Seated in a quiet room, you observe your breath. You let all thoughts fall away and, if you stick with it long enough, things begin to happen. Perceptions begin to shift.
“Breath is the first and the last sign of life in the body,” explains McGilloway. “The presence of breath is how you know that someone is alive. It is the link between the mind and the body.”
It also happens to be a challenging body function upon which to focus. Many beginning meditators complain about restless thoughts and unceasing mind clutter and noise.
“In the beginning the distractions are overwhelming," says Noreen Flack, education program coordinator at Ballard’s Vajralama Buddhist Center. "It is difficult to enjoy the practice because the distractions are so enormous and constantly bombarding you.”
But there’s hope and peace ahead. Experienced meditators confirm the beginning—the initial quieting of the mind—is the hardest part. McGilloway likens the meditation journey to a marriage—with yourself.
“You are getting to meet yourself," he explains. "The good and the bad. It is just like entering a relationship and you need to think long-term.”
One-minute meditation
Beginners should find solace in the fact it doesn’t take a lot of mind stillness to make meditation worthwhile. Ananda encourages meditators to meditate for the length of time that works for them. If through your efforts you find 30 seconds or one minute of total quiet, you will benefit. The depth of meditation is more important than the time.
Remember that. Repeat it to yourself. The depth of meditation is more important than the time.
The next step in meditation is learning to understand your own mind.
“See which states of mind cause suffering and which cause peace and happiness,” explains Gen (teacher) Kelsang Jangsam, a Buddhist monk and resident teacher at Vajralama. “That is quite exciting.”
Jangsam, a monk for 11 years, is dressed in a maroon and saffron donka (wrap shirt) and a maroon shamdab (skirt). When monks are ordained, they stop wearing layperson clothing. Their robes and shaved heads signify the transition to monk-hood. Originally from England and a graduate of Oxford University, Jangsam describes himself as being a “hot-air balloon” before he began meditating.
“I was blowing here and there by my internal states of mind,” he says, in a warm English accent. “I had no control of them. As I started to meditate I started to understand more clearly what was going on and gain more control over my own mind.”
Seeding your life
Jangsam would describe this experience as cultivating love and compassion.
“Everyone has these seeds of love and compassion within their mind,” he explains. "Meditation provides the best conditions for those seeds to grow.”
Liz Benefiel, a meditator at Vajralama for six years, cultivated the seeds and changed the relationship she has with her mother.
“Meditating has given me a deep understanding that the only way things can change is by changing your mind,” she says. "My relationship with my mother changed because I changed my mind about how I view her.”
Benefiel, who has eyes as clear and blue as an alpine lake, stopped viewing her mother as a negative person who didn’t understand her. Instead, she learned to view her mom with compassion and worked on seeing situations from her mom’s eyes as well as her own.
Jangsam explains that many people cultivate their love and compassion seeds within their immediate circle of friends and family. But Buddhism and meditation attempt to cultivate those seeds on a universal level too. As a meditation practice progresses, a sense of unity with all things increases.
“Instead of simply focusing on your own suffering and unhappiness, you are meditating on love for all beings," says Noreen Flack.
Joining a meditation community is a helpful way to sustain a consistent and often more powerful practice. Incorporating chants, affirmations, mantras and creative visualization are effective ways to keep your practice rich and varied. Keeping meditation fresh and inspired is similar to maintaining an exciting life or marriage.
Truth behind happiness
One of the basic building blocks of Buddhism is that happiness depends upon the mind and not upon external conditions such as wealth and fame.
“If people could realize and practice this truth, the world would be so different," offers Jangsam. “The belief that if you have things then you will be happy creates dissatisfaction, anger, resentment, jealousy and pride.”
Consumerism will do it every time.
Buried deep within the collective American psyche there is an ingrained belief that something or someone out there is going to save us. Meditation works to challenge those beliefs and focus our attention on inner peace and joy.
“Does happiness come from outside?” Jangsam asks. “This is probably the biggest brainwashing in the history of the species.”
His words gather momentum.
“The race for external goodies has quickened," he says. "It is destroying us, isn’t it?"
Ritzy Ryciak is a Seattle-based writer and biology teacher who lives on Queen Anne. She is a regular contributor to Evergreen Monthly.
CLASS ACTIONS
There are lots of local options for starting or renewing a meditation practice. Here’s your chance:
SEATTLE INSIGHT MEDITATION SOCIETY
When/what: The group meets weekly Tuesday evenings for a 40-minute meditation session and either a dharma talk, or discussion night. The schedule alternates weekly. Classes are led by SIMS guiding teacher, Rodney Smith. A beginning meditation series is offered 4 times each year (for 6 weeks on Monday evenings). Floor cushions or zabutons are available, or bring your own cushion for folding chairs.
Where: St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral on Capitol Hill, 1245 10th Ave. E. 206-323-0300.
More info: www.seattleinsight.org or call 206-366-2111.
THE WAY OF SEEING
When/what: Free meditation classes every Monday. After a few classes, participants report feeling less reactive, more relaxed and a greater sense of clarity. Beginners: 6 p.m.; Intermediate: 7 p.m.; Advanced: 7:45 p.m.
Where: Ramada Inn, 2200 5th Ave., Seattle (on the corner of 5th and Blanchard).
More info: www.thewayofseeing.com.
VAJRALAMA BUDDHIST CENTER AND KADAMPA TEMPLE
When/what: The General Program is for those curious about Buddhism. Monday classes (7 to 9 p.m.) are open to the public. $10 donation suggested .Casual atmosphere - most people sit in chairs.
Other programs: Prayers for world peace Sunday mornings 10 to 11:30 a.m. $5 donation (call ahead to reserve complimentary daycare); lunchtime meditation Mon/Wed/Fri - Noon to 1 p.m. $5 donation. Special July 9 workshop for beginning students in understanding the symbolism and tradition of creating a shrine. $40 includes vegetarian lunch.
Branch classes: U-District, Columbia City, Capitol Hill, West Seattle, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Shoreline and Everett.
Where: Kadampa Temple, 6556 24th Ave NW, Seattle.
More info: www.MeditateInSeattle.org or 206-526-9565.
ANANDA OF SEATTLE
What/when: All levels welcome at this month’s Yoga for Meditation series. Tuesdays, July 9, 12 and 19. Yoga at 6:30 p.m. Meditation at 7:30 p.m. Yoga and meditation: $55 each. Meditation only: $45.
Other programs: Guided yoga and meditation sessions, Wednesdays: July 6, 13 and 20. All levels, $8 per class. All levels of Meditation Training described on website.
More info: www.anandaseattle.org, 6509 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle or 206-523-4343.
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