Practice While Flying

An excerpt from my audio book, how to fly with less stress. This is a section on meditation and contemplation, Meditation is a wonderful way to be quiet, clear your mind and receive inner blessings, calm and peace. I believe it is one of the best ways to relax and restore yourself.

Transcript

Chapter 11 Meditation and Contemplation Meditation is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself to transform your state of mind. I've found it to be of great value when flying. People have been meditating since ancient times and with a few basic techniques you'll find that you too can meditate and come to a place of peace and relaxation. It can be easy to get to a very clear place of meditation when you're in flight. When you're 35, 000 feet above the earth you're in a very different space than you are in your normal environment. I find it very conducive to go into a deep meditation when I'm flying. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 8% of U. S. Adults meditate. In meditation a person learns to focus attention. Research is underway to find out how meditation may influence health. Most meditative techniques start in Eastern religions or spiritual traditions, But today many people use meditation outside of the traditional religious or cultural settings. The NCCIH survey says, In 2012 meditation included mantra meditation, Mindfulness meditation, Metaphysical meditation, Spiritual meditation, And meditation used as other parts and practices, Including yoga, Tai chi, And qigong. In 2002 and 2007 use of meditation was asked broadly and not if practiced as part of other complementary health approaches, So the data is not comparable between surveys. But we're finding that more and more people are meditating. On the Insight Meditation app, As many as 10, 000 people are meditating at any given time across the country on just that one app. There are so many ways to meditate indeed, But if you've been using the affirmations and prayers that were available in the other chapters, It's very valuable to take some time to meditate. Prayers and affirmations lay the groundwork for a field of enlightened energy to be attuned to God. If you only have time for one of these practices, I recommend meditation. Even if you just spend five or ten minutes in the time when you're flight, That can be the most important time that you take. It's your way to connect with your inner self and God. His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, As human beings we all want to be happy, To avoid suffering. In my limited experience, If we are to achieve this, It's immensely valuable to be able to cultivate and maintain a positive state of mind. In the Buddha tradition to which I belong, One of the most effective means of doing so is to engage in meditation. Meditation can sometimes mean sitting in a formal posture and stilling the mind, But primarily in continuously formulating ourselves with positive thoughts. I adore and honor His Holiness the Dalai Lama and I certainly agree with the idea that we can be affected by positive thoughts. As I said, Our prayers and affirmations are laying the groundwork for our connection to God. When we sit quietly in a safe space, We can stop thinking. When we meditate, We do no harm. We just experience our true nature. We can just be with God. By just being in meditation, We become more aware of our true nature and inner presence of our soul. There are many forms of meditation. Guided meditations have become more popular because they give us a way to just let go and to listen, As words are spoken that are very calming and soothing. In the mantra practice, It's a way to focus our busy minds on one phrase or word. It's very different than just going into the silence of meditation. When we go into the silence, Many things will arise into our subconscious mind and we may feel uncomfortable seeing what arises there. However, By being aware of what is being brought to our attention, We can experience and release any issues that have been buried there within us. Meditation does not require that you do just one way of meditating. As I mentioned, That insight timer I use has hundreds of guided meditations. It's being used by thousands of people around the world. You might think of getting that insight app called insight timer. Here's a secret key for you. We can amplify God by being with God. For we are humans being with God. Jesus said, The Father and I are one. And I believe we can experience the same oneness, For we are this oneness with all. We are God in form. By combining the gifts of affirmations, Prayers and meditation, We can amplify God. And this is where meditation really kicks in. With meditation, We can be with God. Just be. To become aware of that living energy of creation that is God, We can leave an opening for the light and love of God to come in. That's direct energy and energy holds light. To be able to plant a fertile field, You can use the sacred tools of right intention as your affirmation, Prayer and meditation. In meditation, You need to hold a single focus on a point of light. If you have an intent to go to the soul level, You can give your mind directions to go to the soul. Then concentrate on that intent and believe you are there. Once at the soul level, You can direct the mind to practice the exercises outlined in this book. Our minds like to follow directions, But the more challenging part comes when you ask your mind to be still and do nothing. Concentration can hold the mind steady in the light and allow the soul to be present in your awareness. It's necessary to be aware that thoughts will come and go, But with a concentrated focus, You can always bring the mind back to your point of focus. The more you make friends with your internal dialogue, The easier it is to direct it. Meditation is one of the most valuable tools you can ever use. It offers huge benefits and insight that can truly change your life. It certainly can help you when you're flying. And once you take the time to meditate, You'll find that it is one of the most important things you can do. Here are a few tips for meditation. And remember, It's good not to try too hard to concentrate, Not to try too hard at anything. A light touch and a good focus can get you where you want better than creating a battle zone with your mind. Take a few deep breaths. Breathe in deeply, Remembering that breath sweeps mind. Just breathe in deeply and relax and let go. Let go of any stress. Let go of any thoughts. Let go of any worries. Just be present. For a few seconds, Don't think of anything. Just focus on your breath. Breathing in deeply and breathing out. Close your eyes and go deeply into a state of meditation. You can focus on your third eye above the center of the eyebrows. Notice any changes of light that appear there. Direct your higher self to go to that inner place within that is your connection to God, Your soul. Imagine you're in a beautiful golden room. And say to yourself, Be still and know that I am God. Be in that presence. For you are part of that presence. Be in that light. Breathe in that light and let it fill your body. Feel it coming down through your head. Down your neck into your heart. Down to your solar plexus, Your pelvis area, Down to your legs, Your thighs, Your calves and down to your feet. You are bathed in light. You are surrounded by light. You are that light. The one light of God is you. Be still in that light. Follow your breath. Choose one word that you would like to focus on. Maybe that word is love. Be with love. If your mind wanders, Return to love. Don't worry if your mind drifts. This is very common. Just be aware. My mind is drifting. And come back to love. Ah, Breathe in that love. Feel how good that love is. Set your mind's intention to be that love and be with that love. And as you come out of meditation, Wiggle your toes and your hands. Thank God for the presence and the energy of light and love. And close the meditation. Know that you can achieve this state of mind anytime you close your mind. Meditation is the key to achieving the keys to the kingdom of God within. It will give you an all-access pass to the light and love of God. Embrace and welcome meditation into your life and find out how it can help your life. I'm going to give you a few keys that you can use in your meditation. Using the breath. Breath is the underlying principle of life. It carries your life force and is a very important aspect of meditation. Our thoughts often direct our breathing patterns so use your breath to clear your mind before you meditate. So you have a clean base from which to receive new energy. Breathe in light and let it flow from the base of your spine up to the crown chakra at the top of your head. Breathe into the light and let it align your spine so that you're sitting comfortably with your back correct. Place your hands on your knees or cup them just below your navel or fold them right there at that base. This is a good point to recite an inspirational prayer to attune your energy. You're allowing a clear energy vibration throughout your whole body. I've included a lot of selections of different words, Prayers and affirmations for you to read. Choose any that work for you. Align yourself. Take a few moments to align your body, Mind and soul and your emotions. You're allowing a clear channel of energy to flow right through you. This will aid in sending and receiving energy from the soul and will help you in your meditation. It will help you in your trip as well because we often become unaligned. Our body may be not feeling real good, Our mind may be racing and we may shut off our emotions of anger. So be aware of your alignment. Let yourself work as one integrated unit of energy. Again, See light coming from the base of your spine to the top of your head and your head on down into your entire body. Have a clear alignment of breath flowing up and down your spine. Breathe in that light from the base to the top, From the top to the base of the spine as you breathe out. In from the base, Up to the top, From the top of your head straight back down your aligned body. Dwell in the soul. The soul's nature is light, It's eternal. It's yours throughout lifetimes and lifetimes. Your relationship with your soul is a very important and lasting one. For the soul holds the essence of who you are. Here's a simple exercise to find that you need only to do within that space and quiet of the soul. Breathe in. Find that still point within. Go deeper and deeper as you arrive at that center that you know is your true self. That part of you that always speaks to you, That watches over you, That knows you, That knows you better than anyone. Call upon your soul to be with you. You may experience your soul as pure energy. Allow yourself to be in the presence of this pure energy of your soul. Your soul will connect you to spirit. Breathe in the soul energy and move and allow the presence of spirit to be poured forth into your soul. The soul's vibration is such a high frequency. It's attuned to the light of creation. When you sit there in silence you're in harmony with the source and the space of pure being. Be receptive to these higher frequencies of energy. Experience this higher consciousness that is in harmony with the universal and cosmic consciousness. Dwell in the space that allows the universal harmony to come into your being. Put your soul in the light of God's love. Allow the creative force of the universe to flow on through you as a living current so that you are indeed the living energy from the creator. For you are one with the creative force of God's loving nature. Breathe in this pure energy, This prana, And sense it pulsing and pouring through you. Bathe in this energy. Feel its healing radiating through every cell of your being. Breathe in the love that comes from the soul and feel the blessings of being one with the source of all love. See this love radiating out from your heart to your inner guide, Your teacher, Your master, To God. Then feel the experience of unconditional love pouring back to you a hundred fold. Again, Go into your heart and see this love you have for the Lord or your teacher or master or guide. Let it spiral forth. And when it reaches that pure being, That master, Feel the energy of that love spiraling back into your heart a hundred fold, Opening and clearing anything that's closing the heart, Opening and clearing anything that might be there in the heart. Be with this love. You are this love. Receive the light of this love into your heart and let it bring you complete peace and harmony. Let it bring you calm. Let it bring you understanding of who you really are. Now send the love you have in your heart out to the world and see it circle the world. Let it circle the entire planet with pure healing, Loving energy until the whole world is lit with love. Now see that light coming back to you, Re-energized into your heart and soul. Listen for the absolute and perfect silence of love. And just be, Just be. All is well. All is in perfect harmony. You are one with this love. Now take the positive light energy and ask that through this light of your higher nature, Your mind, Your body, Your emotions will all be redeemed and restored and revitalized. Put the highest white light around your body and know that this energy will stay with you throughout your day, Throughout your trip, Throughout your journey. Bless your day, Bless all of those with you and give thanks to God for your life. And so it is. Thank you God. Sending and receiving positive energy. Meditation is key to sending and receiving positive energy. Time spent being in the light can bring you real strength and real purpose to your life. It's very nice when you're on a plane to just take some time to send light and love to those you love. You'll find that this develops a loving relationship to others in spirit. You can do this at any time when you meditate daily as well. The love and light you experience can transform your life and it can aid in transforming the world. To receive energy you must be still and receptive. All your sensory preceptors should be open and attuned to the light. Release any issues of unworthiness that might arise so you can be open to God's light and love. This is a time to recharge your batteries and be renewed. You are a child of God, Born of light and love. Say that to yourself. I am a child of God, Born of light and love. You are one with that energy so receive that energy and be made whole by it. Let your trip and your life become a yes to God's light. A yes to God's love. A yes to life and living. A yes to the whole of it. A yes to what you ask for and yes to giving the blessing of positive energy to yourself and all those around you. A yes to the entire creative process of the universe. And when you say yes to God, God says yes to you. At the end of every process of using light, Thank God for the light. As you live with that light, Thank you in your own heart for receiving that love so you can use that love in your life. Know how great a gift your life and the light are. Thank you God for all of it. So be it and so it is. Make a perfect plan. Most people make a plan of how they want to spend time on their trip. They have their itinerary safely stashed and they review it time and time again. But most people never make a plan for their time in transit or on the plane. Take a moment to meditate on this. Include attitudes of patience, Kindness, Compassion, Understanding. How would you like to handle the distractions when they come up? How would you like to spend your day in transit? Would you like to read some books that you've been waiting to read? Would you like to plan your trip or read about where you're going? Have you always been waiting for some time to write or to journal? To do some work or to meditate? Choose what you want to do and plan the time you have in the waiting room and on the plane and in transit. Using these meditations. One of the differences between meditation and prayer is that meditation is not about asking but listening and receiving. Most every single part of this book was written from my reflections after I was meditating. When you meditate, You're taking a journey into the core of who you really are. You travel through many layers of thought and explore your mind to find a clear and quiet place to be with your soul. You sit quietly. You focus on your breath and your own inner connection. Allow yourself to integrate your experience that you have in meditation into your life, Into your mind, Into your body, Into your emotions. Breathe in deeply and allow your breath to restore you with great peace. Spend time in silence. You might find the following meditations to be very relaxing simply by just reading them. They include a variety of subjects that will lead you to a very deep space where you can be in tune with your soul. After you read a meditation, Take a moment of silence and go within to that place you have within that is your connection to your soul and see what comes to you. Here's a process to use in the following words and meditations. Find a message that resonates with you. Take three deep breaths to clear your mind and thoughts and then read the message. Focus on how that message might resonate and work for you. Pause for a moment and reflect. Then take a few moments to meditate in silence and receive any messages that might come to you. There's always a word or some thought that might come. If you have a journal, Write the message down. You'll be amazed at some amazing messages and guidance that can come to you. You have it. You have what you've been looking for. You have the truth within. As you journey onward, You'll find your path where you began. And though you sometimes forget, It's always been there with you. You have what you've been looking for right there inside of you. Soul Connection. One of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself on your journey is to strengthen your inner connection to your soul. The power of the love and light that's there can support and guide you. This connection is such a valuable, Unlimited connection. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply. Calm your mind, Your body. Be still. Experience your energy. If your mind wanders, Just focus on your breathing. Say, Be still and know that I am God. Find that inner connection. Where is that still point right within you? What is that part of you that is aware of that still point right within you? Be with that awareness. Make friends with that connection. Make friends with your inner self. Breathe it in. Give thanks for it. And so it is. Safe house in your soul. If you find yourself frazzled or in a spin, Take a few breaths and go within. There is a safe house in your soul where you can be clear and let all your worries go. Be in the silence and you will find you can refocus and renew and be with your state of mind. If you're frazzled or in a spin, Go to that place where there's peace within. Be that peace. Feel that peace. There's an ease of grace inside that peace. At one minute. In the depths of your very being, In the center of your divine presence, Breathe in the energy of that inner place that holds the love that you are. Breathe this precious love deep into the very core of your being. Let it be brought to life with the power of your soul. See this brilliant light that shines like the brightest sun, The brightest star. Recognize this light. Identify with this light. Attune yourself to this light and recognize that light you are. Recognize the power that it holds. Feel the way it meets and is at one with the love there inside of you. A love that is God, That nurtures and heals, That forgives and releases and brings great joy. As the light and love become one, A oneness that is within every single living thing, In every atom of your body, There is this light, There is this love, There is this oneness, Feel this oneness and let it join you with all. The love and light of the universe is there at one with you. Be grateful for this amazing grace that brings us together at one in love and light. This is our at-one-ment. This is our atonement. For we are one. Guardian Angels, Do you believe you have guardian angels watching over you? Angels that love you and see who you are and your true potential? Invite them into your presence right now. Recognize they're always there with you. Allow them to be with you now and let their light and love and peace surround you. Feel and recognize the gift of their presence. Ask for their blessings on your journey. Ask them for their protection. And give them your deepest thanks for all they do for you, With their unconditional love, Watching out for you always. Thank you, Guardian angels. Be present. What are you afraid of? Stop and let yourself really see. You will survive this journey and your soul will always be. So just be present right now in this very moment. Let each breath set you free from all the worries that take over when you let them take control. Go into that secret place inside that's safe and far from fear. Go there now and just be present. Just be clear and know you are safe and free from fear. For right there in your soul, God's presence is waiting there. Miracles. Expect miracles on your journey. Leave your mind and heart open to them. For in truth, All of life is full of miracles. Every day we are blessed with miracles. This very moment is a miracle. We may not see or recognize it, But ask for miracles. Expect miracles and believe in miracles. And be oh so grateful when they happen. Be still. Some of the most powerful words I know are, Be still and know that I am God. So right now, Just be still and find that God that you are. That God right there within you. Just be still. Breathe it in and be here right now. Just be here now. Let your mind go. Release your hold. Let go of the ego. And you are right here, Right now in the stillness of the presence. The I am that I am. That sacred place inside where you can be still and know that I am God. Let yourself be. Let yourself be and finally be free. Be here now. Be still in that presence that knows the I am that I am God. Breathe in that light. Let it fill your heart with love. Breathe in that love and let your heart be open and full. Feel the love in every single part of your body. And let that love fill you. It comes from the soul and from the soul it will grow. Feel that love growing and spreading throughout your chest, Your body, Your arms, Your hands, Your legs, Your feet, The plane, The sky, The heavens, Into infinity and on forever. Let yourself finally be free. Listen and you will know. Be with the love that you are and let peace be in control. Be still and know that I am God and then that truth of truths will flow. Let it flow through you and go with that flow. Be still and know that I am God and feel that love within your soul. Open the door. Come inside. Let any healing you need flood your soul. Let yourself be healed and whole. Let yourself be full of joy and see it's all meant to be. There are no mistakes. Be still and open that door where there is nothing but joy and love and all is in perfect harmony. When you open that door, The master is waiting. The teacher is there to guide your way. Open that door. Knock and he is waiting. Let him guide you on your way. The light inside. On your journey, Take a moment to find that light that is inside you. Find the darkness that's hidden there too. Just be with all of who and what you are, The abraxis of it all. The dark and the light, The whole. Don't fight the truth. Don't hide from what is. Just come to terms with all of you. Accept the drama that life provides and the human blight and all the strife is all the play that we play here in our human life. Accept what it is. Smile and say, Okay, That's part of who I am. I accept it and all of who I am. Let God be your manager. On this trip, Ask for God's guidance. Be led by the light of God. Say, May my heart be open to the unconditional love of God. So accept the love that's there. May I be able to live my life to serve the way heaven may be brought to earth so that humanity may understand the great gift God has given to us through his son. May I be inspired by all those who have understood their true purpose, All the masters and the teachers. Be aligned with God's will and God's love and light. For God is your manager and he will always have your back and make sure that everything comes out all right. Breathe it in. Believe it. I can. Breathe it in. Say it to yourself. I can. Believe it. Say it to yourself with conviction. I can. When you think you're down and you're just too weary and you've traveled so far and so long and there's still a ways to go. Stop and take a moment. Breathe deep and go inside. And see how anything is possible. Call upon that inner strength. Call upon your guides. And remember to believe. Breathe it in and say, I can. And you will survive and thrive. A bridge. See if you can build a bridge, Some objective perception between your fantasies and your high expectations and the reality of what is right now when what comes your way. Imagine you can convey what's really there inside that you need that you cannot hide. And it's what's inside that will determine how you understand what you digest and your perceptions on this journey and how you deal with it all. There are lessons that will be coming. There are lessons every day. Let those lessons reach the peak of guidance and accept them and carry you on your way. Find that bridge to what is real and what your soul wants you to know. And let it carry you over from the fantasies and mistakes and the miss expectations that you know. On this journey of life, There are many bridges we cross, Many rivers to cross. There are lessons that carry us all over that bridge. Let your life and this journey be a learning bridge. See the reflections. Our path of life reflects back to us what we need to find. If we're in tune with our hearts and feeling love, We will see that love around us. If we're angry, We'll encounter anger. Life is a very clear, Strange mirror. We project often what we're seeing in that mirror on others. It seems that we can see beauty if we have that space in us open to see it. We can find love if we are open to it. Keeping a journal as a mirror is a great way to reflect back to yourself what you're seeing and learning. When you write, You're able to express what you are going through. You're able to see the reflections that life brings. Spirit and form. While traveling, Embrace the spirit and material form with love. Embrace the love of material form with spirit. Let the form and spirit merge. Be the spirit in material form. How does it feel to be that spirit here in form? What would that spirit like for the temple of this body, This form we live in? What would form like from spirit? Listen. Allow both to have a voice. Write down what thoughts come to you. Allow yourself to understand spirit and form and have compassion for spirit and form. Great expectations. What are your expectations for this trip? Take a moment. Be quiet, Meditate, Think. Are your expectations realistic? What are you looking for to find and to discover? Are you running away from something? Ask yourself what you're really looking for on your trip. And then ask for help from your guardian angels and God in finding it. Intent. With every trip you have a chance to make your dreams come true. It helps if you set an intention for your journey. Maybe in the waiting room or once you're on plane, Take a moment and set an intention for your trip. Set a good intention because many times when we set an intention in our goal, Our goals and our intention do come true. Whether we quite know the way they're going to come true or not is another story, But you will find out. So go inside to that still point of your soul. Let your highest self choose an intention for you to know that is good for your highest good. Be open to any way it may be fulfilled. Visualize your intention. See it, Feel it, Believe it. Accept that with God all things are possible and give thanks to God. And so it is. Let go and let God. Sometimes after all the prayers are said and after all the struggles have happened and we try to figure out why. After we hold on to the hopes to control and go beyond trying. There is a moment that's so important we find to let go and let God do what he may to make it through the day. To let the ego go and give up our control. So take a breath and go deep inside and find that place within your soul to go into the light. And just let go, Let go, Let go. And let God be in control. Authentic self. As you venture out into the world be sure to bring your authentic self to pack. Leave the attitude, Leave the ego behind, Leave your extra baggage. Travel light, Travel wise. Travel with the joy of the unknown. The world is your stage and you can play out your role. But bring your authentic self to know what a great adventure that you are going to find. And the play has just begun as you venture out into the world and bring your authentic self forward to find. Meditation on identity. What is your true identity? Is it what you really see? Is it what's on the passport or your driver's license? Can others really understand what you need? What truth are you searching for? What makes you you and so unique? Are you lost out in the wilderness? Is it hard to see the way? Or do you have a different face that shows the true amazing grace of who you are and what you need? Strip away the many layers that cover up the pain, Remove the mask, And remember to find your soul at last. Lord, Help us to let go of the illusions that we can't face. To find a true joy waiting with abundant love and forgiveness to be embraced. To find our true identity. What resonates within and what it takes to the life that's right there waiting once we're ready to awake. Shed off that old skin and purge away the past so you can become the new you and celebrate who you are at last. Get down to the roots past the DNA to your original identity that's always right there and is alive in spirit before you came to earth. God, Let me identify with you and all the abundance that you are and the power of your identity. And the love of the mother and the father and the son and the cosmos and the stars. Meditation for inspiration. It's time to arise again and be transformed anew to let go of the past and find the power that's right inside that will renew. Breathe in the light of a brand new day and feel the regeneration that comes when you embrace a higher way. We are all on this journey of life's long and winding road. Each of us with our burdens to carry, Praying to be free at last and find what we need to be shown. And we see glimpses on the horizon. We feel these stirrings in our soul. We hear the words that encourage us to carry on to reach our goal. So we open up our eyes to see the glory of the one, The promise given to us to become the messengers of the new dawn. Each torch is lit to show the way, Each heart enlightened with golden rays to inspire us with a greater purpose that God's love gives to us each day. Meditation on now. All there is, Is this eternal moment wrapped around all life right now. With our minds trying to hold on to nothingness by trying to define what it's all about. And Spirit's presence holds this life reflected through us to receive the blessings which are sometimes so great we cannot even see. Father, God, Mother Divine, You gave us our life to find how to awaken to be the reflection of Your light, Alive in love eternally. I thank You for the lifeline You throw to reach the depths of our hearts and souls. And when this life seems to get You down, I pray for Your presence to be found. At the end of every breath, There is the power of Your true essence that carries Your very presence, That holds the mirror of heaven. Here in this creation's play, We dance between the night and the day, In the beginning an endless circle. We pray to find God's truth to guide our way. There are so many demands we create to fill the space we have to take, More and more things that we make to just believe we really are great. And so we spin round and round, Gathering speed and running around till we discover we finally found there's always some challenge to surmount. And perhaps it's just inner peace we need, A sacred space where we can retreat, Where we can stop all the insanity and find the time to just be. And we can dwell in that center of life and breathe in the energy of that one great light. And we can find our eternal soul that shines so bright, That can be shown the blessings of that sacred site, That vision that inspires and makes things right, Is there, Waiting all the time in the silence we find deep inside. And at the end of every breath, There is this power that is your true essence that carries the grace of that presence and holds the mirror of God in heaven.

Reviews

Thank you for listening! I hope you found this helpful for your journey or meditation. Please be aware that if you have issues with the word God, you can also use the word Source, Creator, or love. Blessing of peace, light and love always.
Cindy