Fragrant Heart Blog

I am going to see a man called Peter Grunwald, who has been working in the field of natural vision for many years.  From extremely blurred vision, Peter Grunwald can now see clearly without glasses.  He has helped many people back to clear sightedness.

His book, called “Eyebody – The Art of Integrating Eye, Brain and Body”, is a very informative book about vision.

I came across this paragraph in his book about meditation. He writes,

“Many people comment that they are physically uncomfortable while meditating.  I remember my own meditations in the past, associated with much pain and discomfort when sitting still.  When I discovered and developed a means to stay within my visual pathway and direct myself in the meditation session from the upper visual cortex throughout the entire visual system, the pain and discomfort vanished, with no more mind wandering.  And after an hour or so my eyes, vision, posture and mental attention are clear and focused.  Meditation can become easy, enjoyable and pain-free.”

Keep on reading future blogs and I’ll be able to tell you more about what I experience in working within my visual pathway to improve my vision, and possibly my meditation practice.

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I read that neuroscientists did research that proves visualization to be so powerful.  In the experiment they showed objects to people.  At the same time they measured which parts of the brain were activated.  The people in the study were then asked to close their eyes and picture the objects themselves.  Did you guess?  Yes, the same areas of the brain were activated as before.  The researchers concluded that our brains don’t distinguish between real and imagined objects. 

Reflect on the times you have visualized something and how that came about in your life.

Being called “a fat head” isn’t usually meant as a compliment.  Now with the increasing scientific research being “a fat head” may well be worth cultivating. 

A group of researchers at UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) have demonstrated that meditation increases grey matter.  So, why would you want to increase your grey matter?  Well, we already know that increased brain matter makes you smarter.  But did you know that if you consistently meditate you would change your emotional intelligence? Yes, it’s about meditation! 

In the investigations meditators showed significantly larger volumes of the hippocampus, and areas within the orbito-frontal cortex, the thalamus and the inferior temporal gyrus.  All these regions are known for regulating emotions. 

Eileen Luders, lead author and postdoctoral research fellow at UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging said, “We know that people who consistently meditate have a singular ability to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability, and engage in mindful behaviour.”  She went on to say, “The observable differences in brain anatomy might give us a clue why meditators have these exceptional abilities.”

This kind of research is inspiring, and encouraging to anyone who has a meditation practice.

My mother who is eighty-five says she has worried all her life and will never stop.  Well, she has been fortunate to live a life of good health despite her propensity to be anxious.  Her world has narrowed these days, but she still find things to worry about like what the neighbours are doing, or not doing, and when the autumn leaves will be raked up. 

A few months ago I asked her if she would like to do some breathing exercises.  They have now become part of what I do with her each day.   I believe they have made a difference to her feeling of well-being.  The same old questions are still asked but not with so much anxiety and agitation. 

There are similar breathing patterns that are included in the audios on Fragrant Heart but if you are reading this blog these will refresh your memory, and you may like to do them.

1.     Four – Seven – Eight Count

Breathe in for four counts, hold for seven counts, and breathe out slowly for eight counts. 

As you do this notice where your muscles are getting tense.  Let the breath soften any tightness and tension in your muscles.  If emotions arise let the breath ease the impact of the emotion.  If thoughts flow through your mind, allow them to do just that, flow on through, and keep with the breath count.

2.     Body Awareness and Breath

If you could observe your thoughts without reacting to them, and the thoughts behind your emotions without reacting to them you would experience continual harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for all of life.  This to me is spiritual unfolding, and it’s a life long journey.  Here’s one of the many practical steps along the way that will help you to connect to your inner intelligence and wisdom.

1. Take your awareness to your head centre.  Be aware of the breath.  Just observe any sensations there.  Just be aware of how the sensations may change if a thought comes into your mind and you begin to have a feeling or emotion about something or someone.
2. Now take your awareness to your throat centre.  Be aware of the breath.  Just observe any sensations there.  If a thought comes into your mind and you begin to have a feeling or emotion about something or someone, just be aware of how the sensations may change.
3. Take your awareness to your chest area.  Be aware of the breath.  Just observe any sensations there.  Be aware of the breath.  Just observe any sensations there.  Just be aware of how the sensations may change if a thought comes into your mind and you begin to have a feeling or emotion about something or someone.
4. Take your awareness to your solar plexus, which is just below your rib cage.  Be aware of the breath.  Just observe any sensations there.  If a thought comes into your mind and you begin to have a feeling or emotion about something or someone, just be aware of how the sensations may change.