Social Distancing & Self Distancing | An Opportunity In Crisis

Social Distancing is the new norm. In these difficult times, there is an opportunity to go within and even take a distance from the self, which becomes a powerful meditation. Listen to the 10-minute discourse & meditate along with a 20-minute guided practice.

Be Well,

Dhyanse

Transcript

A very warm welcome to all of you in this meditation live stream with me,

Dhyan Se,

From my home in Basel,

Switzerland.

I hope you're settled into the new normal or settling into this new normal where social distancing is something that we are all learning.

We're learning what this means.

We're learning how to really remember it while we are outside meeting other people.

This evening I was taking a walk and I saw really people maintaining an arm's length and this was quite a surprise to see how everyone has taken this as the new normal.

Perhaps it's good for everyone,

It's good for everyone's health,

But I would like you to contemplate about what are the psychological implications of this social distancing.

Not right now,

But imagine if we continue doing this for some months,

What happens afterwards.

It's quite interesting to think about and contemplate about what impact does this have on our psychology,

On our relations to others.

How will we ever,

Once again,

When everything goes back to normal,

Bring this social distancing away and once again can hug each other,

Can shake hands with each other,

Can kiss each other,

How will that change?

Another important thing to notice is that something that was almost an autopilot in us,

This greeting when we were meeting someone,

We were shaking hands,

We were almost not really paying attention to that.

But now,

Suddenly there is an attention in that moment.

Suddenly in the moment of meeting someone,

In that very moment,

The awareness is there.

The awareness is there to maintain the distance and one can not only be more present,

Is more present in the moment,

But one is aware of this gap between oneself and the other.

I find this very fascinating to be aware in that moment,

To be aware of that gap between oneself and the other.

And we are learning how to really be comfortable with that gap.

But what is significant for the spiritual side of things,

Because that same awareness,

The same mindfulness that we have,

While we in those moments suddenly come out of the autopilot and make sure that we have this distance with the other,

Is the same awareness that when we turn inwards,

When we utilize this inwards,

This takes us to places in the spiritual journey.

I also see people coming up with new ways of greeting.

Some of them are now using Namaste for greeting each other,

Not knowing what this means,

But just as a gesture to maintain the social distance.

People are using Namaste.

I would like to take this moment to really contemplate and understand together with you,

What is this Namaste?

Because if you don't look at the spiritual aspect of it,

You could just also think of it very simply as feeling the presence of the other.

And even forget about Namaste for a moment.

If you are meeting the other person,

This could be a new way of being aware and also greeting the other person where for a moment,

For a second,

For two seconds,

For five seconds,

You may close your eyes or keep your eyes open,

But be aware of the presence of the other.

That would be a beautiful greeting to really be aware of the presence of the other.

Actually,

Namaste also somewhat means the same.

In Sanskrit,

It means Namaste,

Which elaborates as I bow down to that which is in me and that which is in you.

That same which is in me and which is in you.

The acknowledgement of that which is in me,

Which is in you.

What is that?

Is it the body?

Is it we don't have the same body?

Is it the mind?

We don't have the same mind.

Then what is this that which is the same in me is the same in you?

In order to understand that,

In order to experience that,

We have to meditate.

We have to bring in the meditative consciousness,

Which is going beyond the body,

Beyond the mind and deeper into oneself to really experience firsthand.

What is that which is in me,

Which is in you,

Which is the same?

How to do that?

The same what you do with social distancing is what you will do with the self distancing.

The first step is to take a distance from the body,

Just like you are taking the distance from the other in the very same fashion,

Being aware that you are maintaining a distance from your body.

In the meditation,

You will take your awareness inwards and as if you are in the body,

Not the body.

Let me repeat,

As if you're in the body,

Not the body.

In that sense,

In that awareness,

You will slowly develop a certain distance from the body,

Settle into it,

Rest into it.

Then we will move on to the same for the mind,

Where we will observe what is going on in the mind and take a distance from the mind that we are having the mind,

We are not the mind.

Just this remembrance that we are having the mind,

There is an experience of the mind,

But we are not the mind,

Is going to create a certain distance,

A certain awareness.

When you will be having the distance from the body,

Distance from the mind,

Everything will point inwards to something that can be called as self.

Let your awareness settle on yourself for a while until it's away from everywhere else.

There are no distractions and you're fully centered in self.

The journey does not stop there,

Then it really starts.

Once we have reached the self,

Then what we will do is what is known as self distancing,

Even taking the distance away from the self.

This is more advanced if you are a beginner,

If you are just keeping your awareness to the self,

That is already good enough.

It brings peace,

It brings a sense of centeredness,

Calmness and being in the present moment,

That mindfulness.

If you wish,

You can move further with me in the journey where you will also start taking a distance from the self.

How to do that?

Relax.

Let go of yourself,

Slowly relax yourself.

The only thing you could do is to allow yourself to relax and let this grip over self slowly loosen up and rest happens on its own.

Where the awareness starts reflecting on itself,

Where the awareness slowly becomes brighter,

There is no body,

There is no mind or in other words,

There is body,

You are not the body.

There is mind,

You are not the mind.

There is self and you are not the self.

What are you then?

Awareness.

Pure awareness,

Which has no form,

Which has no shape,

Which has no container.

In that pure awareness,

You are that which is also the other.

If you recognize yourself in those moments,

That awareness,

There is a chance that next time when you meet someone,

You will also recognize the same awareness in the other and then the namaste would be perfect.

Then the greeting would be perfect.

Then there will be a meeting even if there is social distance.

With that,

I invite you to join me in this meditation by closing your eyes,

Finding yourself a calm posture.

If you are still watching,

Listening to this while doing other things,

Take a few moments to put everything aside.

Sit wherever you are sitting in a posture that is comfortable with your back straight,

Shoulders down,

Head straight and a gentle smile on your face.

As your body settles,

Take a nice deep breath.

Inhale from the nose and exhale from the nose.

This relaxes your entire body and brings you to this very moment to enter meditation with me for the next minutes.

Turn your awareness inwards for a moment towards your breath.

As the awareness settles inwards,

Remember you are in the body.

Not the body.

You may become aware of your body as if you are watching your body from the inside.

All your awareness inwards.

Watching your body as if you are in the body,

Not the body.

Allow a small gap to arise in your consciousness.

A distance from your body as your awareness settles more and more inside.

The distance from your body as your awareness settles more and more inside.

Let the body settle on its own while you maintain a gap from your body.

Inhale and exhale from the nose.

Inhale and exhale from the nose.

Inhale and exhale from the nose.

Breath flowing in and out naturally and your awareness inwards,

Maintaining a gap from your body.

Breath flowing in and out naturally and your awareness inwards,

Maintaining a gap from your body.

Shift your awareness to your mind and quietly notice that your mind is active or silent.

Thoughts arising and falling.

Awareness on your mind.

Awareness on your mind with a distance observing your mind silently.

Mind may be active,

You remain silent.

Silent,

Aware and distant.

All your awareness inwards.

All your awareness inwards.

Silently witnessing your mind from a distance.

Silently witnessing your mind from a distance.

Silently witnessing your mind from a distance.

Notice yourself that is observing the mind,

That is aware of everything.

Shift your awareness towards the self and let it rest.

Become more and more silent.

Awareness away from the body,

Away from the mind,

Towards yourself.

Let the self rest.

Let it be silent more and more with every breath.

Silently witnessing your mind from a distance.

As the self rests,

It also fades away,

Leaving pure awareness.

Allow it to happen,

Allow yourself to rest,

To dissolve,

To melt.

And only the awareness remains.

Stay like this for another couple of minutes.

Silently witnessing your mind from a distance.

Silent and aware.

This awareness is you,

Your true nature.

This awareness is the same in the other.

Take this moment to recognize this awareness as yourself,

As the other,

As everyone.

And very gently and slowly,

You may open your eyes while maintaining the sense of silence,

Centeredness and awareness.

Take these moments after the session to reflect on whatever you want to reflect about your life.

Beyond the mundane,

More spiritual,

More about your deeper self.

With that,

I thank all of you to join me in these live meditation sessions.

I'll see you once again tomorrow night at 9.

30 p.

M.

CET.

Namaste.

Reviews

Worthwhile to listen to o post-lockdowns to process what we went through and heal. Thank you 🙏🏽

Danke für deine Inspiration, deine lehrreichen Sessions und für deine Begleitung auf meinem spirituellen Weg! Diese Meditation war für mich eine wichtige Erkenntnis heute.

Namaste 😊, and thank you for your teachings and guidance - always well timed to bring me back if my thoughts have crept in, but not invasive/abrupt.

Truly amazing! Definitely one to return to. I have been avoiding COVID19 related practises for some escape from the situation but this was done really well. Thank you and namaste 🙏

Beautiful. Truly inspiring. I am bursting with love from the inside out . Thank you Dhyanse

I am so grateful for your superb reflection and teaching. You expressed so clearly what I knew was in my heart, and now can share with others. Namaste 🙏 indeed!

I am so grateful for your superb reflection and teaching. You expressed so clearly what I knew was in my heart, and now can share with others. Namaste 🙏 indeed!

Interesting & wonderful 💙

Thank you 🙏❤️🙏

Just right. 💫🌈🦋

Beautiful meditation Thank you 🙏

Very much needed. Thank you so much. Namaste 🙏🏽

A profound reflection about our worldly state and that within. Thank you

Wow so relaxed. Insightful