Wholistic Fitness

Oh Mighty Hearted Warriors,
The Sacred Peak, yesterday morning. Many of you have commented on the profound and consistent quality of DL’s content since i left my Yoga Teaching Mission in Los Angeles last spring to return to my Beloved Southwest. I only wish i could take credit for the cascade of Dharma, so unique and practical, that flows through this keyboard. Credit and Merit must go only to Brahman and the Prana flowing off the Sacred Peak…all i do is keep myself as Empty as Possible Each Morning In Early Morning Rituals so i can Listen and Feel Accurately. The following DL is another such Divine Gift for all of us to enjoy.

om so ti,
your loving coach

***

WHAT HAPPENED TO PREPARATION BEFORE MEDITATION?

by coach ilg

“In the state of pure awareness, the mind is not disturbed with any kind of movement. The purpose of all meditation practice is to train the mind to perceive this pure awareness.”
– Lama Karma Rinchen

these Kali Yuga* days are inDeed dangerous for the sincere aspirant wishing to learn “how to meditate.”

there are many meditation “experts” out there these days whose books, lectures, and scintillating other forms of presentations actually just confuse the nuts-and-bolts coaching from the Ancient Masters. it now requires Wise Discrimination from the spiritual seeker to sort through all the fluff and clutter from the many “experts”…some of whom have yet to wear thin their own sitting cushions or develop an Elegant and Durable Sitting Posture. to ‘teach’ meditation is actually an oxymoronic phrase. without a doubt, the Highest and Most Treasured Instructions that any Teacher can impart are the guidances toward executing genuine, considerate care and coaching of their students most important tool; the mind.

3 PREPARATORY VARIABLES FOR MEDITATION

for most beginners, Meditation doesn’t lead anywhere. newbies to the sitting cushion get quickly disgruntled, uncomfortable, and write off Meditation as, “just too weird.”

they “don’t have the time,” comes the quick and easy rationalization.

i must differ.

all we have is time, when you Stop
and
contemplate it.

the factors that sends most people’s Meditation efforts into conniption fits can be found within their lifestyle in the months and years preceding their noble attempt to quiet the fluctuations of their thought patterns. what i am pointing out, is that most of us were not well coached in the preparatory arts, skills, and disciplines which must be followed before trying to Meditate.

i will say this again because it is such an ignored and abused and under-appreciated field; not enough PREPARATION is being practiced by most people before beginning to meditate. we just want to jump right from where we are, with all our weaknesses, addictions, and negative tendencies – straight into a blissful, powerful, productive meditative state.

it doesn’t work that way.

i have previously Taught you that Meditation is not something you DO,
Meditation is a Training Effect from that which precedes it:
* Fitness of Body,
* Purification of Nadis (subtle neural anatomy), and
* Mental Cleanliness.

PURIFY AND BALANCE BEFORE AMPLIFYING YOUR MIND

without steadfast work on the Three Preparatory Variables i have pointed out above, Meditation will only amplify that which is already weak and ignorant within us. there are no shortcuts around the body, nor her subtle anatomy, to get access to Mental Fitness Development (although most intellectual-based experts will attempt to lead you otherwise).

Patience is one of the most defining hallmarks of a spiritual athlete. i do not know why we are so impatient when it comes to knowing our own mind.

what is so terribly wrong with pacing ourselves over the course of our life so that when we reach our final Ashrama (Stage of Life) around 75 chronologic years, we can be truly fit, clean, and pure in body and mind to really begin the Highest Production work of Meditation?

why should such long-term pacing of our most innate friendship (our ego with our true mind) be so such a terribly conflicting yoga?

perhaps because of my Cardio Discipline**, i no longer fight yet take delight in the Art of Pacing. perhaps, more meditation “experts” would do well to explore their own Cardio Discipline as a preparatory Inner Tool to learn more about Patience in spiritual work and pass such Patience onto their students?

Buddha did not show Nirvana to His listeners. He said, “Question what I say to you by your Direct Experience.”

Jesus did not show Heaven to us. He only hinted at It’s endless existence within each of us and we had to crucify the poor bastard because of it. then, we sat dumbfounded in our Ignorance as He Ascended, and in His Light was the Dark Shadow of what we did to Him and still crucify Him each day when we do not honor our body, speech, and actions appropriately.

Patanjali coached us right off the bat; “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind-waves.” Uh, yeah, right. No worries, mate!

to Engage a release from grasping,
to Engage a release from tension (suffering),
to Embrace a Higher Mental Tranquility
requires a scientific process of Self,
right from where we are;
and where we are is in a state of spiritual slumber…though we are beginning to Stir.

what did your mommy teach you about disturbing someone who is sleeping?
gently, kindly, and lovingly nudge them Awake.
do not try to shock them Awake.
doing so is violent.

Wholistic Fitness
will always Teach you naturally according to your own inclinations, capacities, and level of attainment. Trust me. It’s easy and profitable to SHOCK people and TURN THEM ON to “high meditation techniques’ yet i say unto you Oh Noble and Patient Ones,
that is not Yoga.
that is harmful.
that is not the Way to a truly go(o)d body and mind.

“Preparation before Meditation.”
you heard it here; from the humble, powerful Temple beneath the Patient Peak.

Stay close to the Tribal Campfire,
soon i will Teach those preliminary steps toward Meditation.

om so ti,
coach ilg

••••
Notes:
picture of Coach Ilg in meditation in the WF Zendo. do NOT republish this unique Dharmashot.

* = the present epoch of spiritual decline that began with the death of Lord Krishna in 3002 B.C.E.

** = one of the Five Noble Fitness Disciplines inherent to the Path of Wholistic Fitness