Mystic Musings

Mystic Time : Part Three, Optimizing The Waiting Chore

2011-07-30T03:16:00.000-07:00

In Part Two we explored simple yoga methods to overcome fear when faced with situations that trigger the adrenaline hyped up fight-or-flight reaction. The techniques of shifting the point of focus using affirmations and relaxation using breathing are meant to limit if not eliminate any element of fear that may interfere with the positive effects of adrenaline on the mind or body in such situations. They can also counter effects of anxiety such as "butterflies in the stomach" or mind-blocking nervousness while anticipating an event. Anxiety and nervousness are the products of the slowed perspective of time caused by adrenaline as the body and mind become hyper-concentrated on the task ahead. While these are for imminent fight-or-flight situations ( Click Here to Read Mystic Time Part Two), adrenaline is also the drug of choice that the body produces when we are excited about an event yet to happen and that may still be distant in time.

The waiting game in these situations can be agonizing at times and almost always frustrating. Usually the event is some form of entertainment. The event itself usually does not require much in terms of our performance, we just have to attend and enjoy– like going to watch a much awaited for movie, a much anticipated party, meeting or vacation and such. Even if the event is hours or days away, the excitement that adrenaline causes is the source of "tunnel concentration". Tunnel concentration, like tunnel vision is when we are acutely focused on only one particular subject that nothing else matters. Tunnel concentration can make us become so focused on one subject that all other matters, no matter how important can easily be ignored. As soon as tunnel-concentration starts time will be perceived moving slower (Part One of Mystic Time reveals a connection between the perception of time and concentration) and the waiting game starts.

The wait which is always too long is exasperated by concentration which slows the perception of time further. The main problem apart from the fretting caused by the wait is the inability to do anything else but wait. This renders one so debilitatingly helpless to whatever else that needs to be done. The waiting becomes an unproductive use of time. Even if you tried to make the time productive it might not prove worthwhile because you will have to tussle with the tunnel concentration.

Here is an example of a tunnel concentration situation. Nathan is going to his college alumni party that he had been eagerly waiting for. He is excited about catching up with his old college mates and wants to make a great impression. Two days before the party while still in a more normal level of excitement he decides exactly what to wear and when to leave. Moving forward to hours before leaving for the party he begins to feel the adrenaline rush of excitement. At this point all he can think about is what it's going to be like at the party. He rehearses conversations he is going to have and how he would introduce himself and so forth. All other priorities or chores that he had set out to do before the party becomes inconsequential. When he tries to do any of the chores, like something from work the tunnel concentration on the party renders the effort pointless. So instead of fidgeting around he tries to get some rest, but with adrenaline flowing in the system even resting is a struggle. The mind is just too active and the wait is starting to get to Nathan. He keeps looking at the clock hoping miraculously that it is almost time to go, but time seems agonizingly slow. With all this waiting, the excitement becomes exasperating. So to use the time Nathan decides he should tryout the suit he is going to wear for the party. He had decided what he was going to wear earlier. He puts the suit on, everything seems fine but....the tie! Something seems off with the tie. He goes to his wardrobe gets out all his ties and puts on one after the other and simply cannot find a suitable one. Here again is another symptom of tunnel concentration. Tunnel concentration is not a good state of mind to be in to make decisions. It is a great state of mind to be in when executing a plan of action but the worst time for revisiting decisions or to do planning. Because Nathan's mind is hyper-concentrated every tie he puts on seems to be flawed. He can always find the proverbial black spot every tie he puts on. Nevertheless time passes albeit unproductively, until it is time to leave for the party. So Nathan does his final prep, and when it comes to what tie he is going to wear he goes with original decision. At last Nathan is at his eagerly anticipated alumni party and has a gala time. Next day in a moment of retrospect while playing catch up with his chores he wonders why he couldn't have got all those chores done instead of wasting the time needlessly. It doesn't makes sense in retrospect, but considering the incapacitating tunnel concentration effects of adrenaline in certain situations, the wasting away of time was only natural.

In yoga philosophy tunnel concentration is called a vritti. Vritti, literally translated from Sanskrit is whirlpool. These whirlpools in the mind can suck and contain all the resources of the mind and body toward a single point of focus. In many situations this function of the mind of creating vrittis as a natural effect of adrenaline is very helpful. A student writing an exam will find a vritti very helpful because her mind will be very focused and all the faculties of the mind–memory, intellect, creativity–will be primed and ready to serve efficiently. Likewise an athlete waiting at the starting line will be in a vritti which will eek out every nuance of required resources from the body and mind and keep it tweaked for optimal performance. However in the "waiting chore" vrittis are never useful, except perhaps for a short period just before an event.

What is the antidote to the mind-narrowing tunnel concentration or vritti? Yoga provides a number of techniques to cure vrittis. Yes, there are different types of vrittis caused by different faculties of the mind. For the "waiting chore" the most effective and efficient cure is provided by a particular series of hatha yoga exercises. This series has three poses, and mystically these yoga poses work with the second chakra (spiritual centers) within the spine. The second chakra is the svadishtana chakra. This chakra controls moods, emotions and some intellectual function. All vrittis are generated out of some kind of emotional energy in the mind. These yoga poses, namely janu sirshasana and paschimottanasana, effect the second chakra directly and balances all the energies within this chakra. While these yoga poses are are done tunnel concentration will unravel and dissipate naturally; and the subconscious mind will go through what I call a 'master reset'. After the master reset one will gain a quiet composure and the energies of the mind can be ready to be directed into whatever needs to be done. Below is a youtube video from on my hatha yoga tutorial that explains and will guide you on how to perform these yoga poses.

Let's go back to Nathan's scenario before he left for the party to learn where and when he should have done these yoga exercises to prevent getting stuck in a vritti. He has got a few hours to go and had earlier planned to get some chores done. He wants to get the chores done and rest before going to the party but realizes that the excitement he is feeling in anticipating the party is starting to cause tunnel concentration. Upon this realization he takes five minutes and does the three yoga poses. One of the amazing things about practicing hatha yoga is that despite Nathan being a novice yogi and is unable do the poses very well, in fact he has to use a small towel because he cannot touch his toes with his fingers in the foward backbend, the unravelling of the tunnel concentration still occurs. While he bends forward he visualizes bright yellow colour and takes slow, relaxed, deep breaths and exhales equally slowly. He holds each pose stationary to the level he can bend comfortably and does six cycles of breath before moving to the next pose. When he finishes all three poses he feels relieved from tunnel concentration and has all his mind faculties back at his disposal to do as he pleases. Whenever he finds tunnel concentration creeping in, he does another round of the yoga poses and he quells the vritti again. Thus the optimizing of the waiting chore.

Mystic Time : Part Two, Managing the Fight or Flight Situation - Countering Fear

2011-07-18T03:24:00.000-07:00

In any fight or flight situation, the adrenaline pumping into our bloodstream can cause all sorts of physical and emotional reactions. One these is that time seems to slow down. As we get ever closer to an anticipated event, the passing of every minute seems to get longer. If we are positively excited about what is about to happen this is good, we will be roaring to go like a racing car waiting for the lights to turn green. However if we are fearful, the fear can be both dangerous and counter productive. In such cases how does one manage the fight or flight situation to his or her advantage? In yoga two techniques come in handy. One is relaxation, the other is moving concentration to an alternate point of focus. (Click Here to Read Mystic Time: Part One)

Let us look at the first situation where we need to relax. Such situations are when we are either anxious and/or fearful of upcoming proceedings and their outcome. The waiting or anticipation is exasperating. Some examples of these kind of situations are being stricken by stage-fright, panic-attacks because of phobias, facing an examination, waiting to give a presentation or even for soldiers or policeman waiting for an imminent battle.

In these situations relaxation techniques especially breathing comes in very handy. It may be counter productive to eliminate the reason for the anxiety entirely, but fear does no good. If one is simply anxious and can transform this feeling to a calm concentrated poise, this is optimal management of the situation. Anxiety can be turned to positive excitement or calm poise by visualizing or affirming a positive outcome of the event or situation. The fear can be eliminated using simple breathing and visualization technique such as the one below.

Take a deep breath and fill up your lungs with as much air as you can possibly hold. Then hold the breath in for about two seconds. After the two seconds, begin breathing out as slow as you possibly can through your nostrils only while visualizing bright blue colour of clear sky. Try to make the exhalation last between fifteen to twenty seconds. You can also affirm to yourself of the positive outcome you are anticipating as you are doing this. If it suits you better the visualization of sky blue can be replaced with a prayer. Do this either for 6 or 9 cycles of breath and you will feel the fear dissipate without loss of concentration or other positive heightened effects of the senses that adrenaline causes. You would be in a state of poise as that of a zen master. You will still feel the slowed perception of time, but it will be to your advantage as positive energies flood the body and mind during the wait. (Click Here to Read Mystic Time Part One)

Mystic Time : Part One, The Relationship between Concentration and the Perception of Time

2011-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

In my study of time as a mystic, I have come to the conclusion that the perception of time is connected to the degree of concentration. This relationship between time and concentration is an inverse relationship, where the higher or more acute one's concentration, the greater the degree one will perceive that time is slowing down. This relationship between concentration and time effects all of us and to a mystic the fact that the perception of time can be altered means that time is an element that can be mastered.

Of course the perception of time slowing down or speeding up time does not have anything to do with the clock. One second remains a second, but concentration gives the ability to get more things done in that second. In other words we become more efficient and use the time more productively, which in turn makes us perceive time moving slower. At the opposite end of the spectrum, when we are not concentrating on anything in particular, for instance when we are relaxing or enjoying something effortlessly (like watching a movie), it can seem as if time sped up. Before we realize it two hours has gone past when it felt more like an hour.

A clear analogy on the relationship between time and concentration can be found in the evolution of microchips. As microchip design becomes more efficient in cramming more and more transistors in ever smaller spaces computing power increases tremendously. As the microchips clock in faster processing times it is explained that the perception of time for the computer (if computers have consciousness) slows down. That is, if a computer gets a new and more efficient microchip than its previous chip, and if the computer somehow could perceive, it would feel as if time had slowed down because it can do more in less time.

Before I get into the application of the ability to contort the perception of time let me first qualify the mystic hypothesis that the perception of time can sped up or slowed down. One of the most powerful concentration drug that is manufactured by our body is adrenaline. Adrenaline can bring our mind to such an acute point of focus that we can shut off all other unrelated perceptions or distractions very effectively. The most common situations when adrenaline gets secreted in high doses into our bloodstream is either when we are anxious or excited, also known as the fight or flight reaction. In both these cases one can perceive that time has slowed down considerably.

Lets take anxiety. Whatever the reason for anxiety, doesn't anxiety make time slow down as we anticipate an event. This kind of anxiety is caused by events that we rather get over with quickly. We may be afraid of the outcome or hopeful of a positive outcome from the event. Either way it will seem as if the wait is too long. Adrenaline also is the base of excitement, where we cannot wait for some event to occur, where any amount of waiting seems just too long. During these times the mind is so focused on the event that its ability to multi-task is shut off and all one can do is wait anxiously by pacing up and down or fidgeting with something.

In the next installment of Mystic Time: Part Two will will look for yoga solutions to managing some adverse fight or flight conditions.

The Value of Natural Disasters

2011-04-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

There is a mystical perspective known as the mountain top perspective. Quite simply it is derived from the fact that from high vantage points such as the summit of a mountain the view is always majestic. Even the path up to the summit that is riddled with dangerous, life threatening challenges look awesome from the summit. Imagine if we had seen the tsunami from such a point of view. From this perspective where the trials of people down on the street are invisible to the naked eye, the tsunami would look awesome. However this perspective is not enough to quell the quandaries, for it simply does not acknowledge the pain and suffering because it does not see it. A broader perspective is required, and this can be found in outer space and time. From outer space Earth is a precious sanctuary of biological life. Compare earth to the extremely inhospitable climate of space and the rest of the eight planets in the solar system, (perhaps seven planets since the status of pluto is being debated) and their moons and the wonder that is Earth is obvious. We must also take into account that Earth today is a product of billions of year of violent geological history. Compared to what science has discovered about its terrific past, our earth today is placid and pleasant, even if it rattles our lives on occasion. Armed with this perspective of outer space and time lets go back to the questions, "Why this tragedy had to happen?" and "What do we do to deserve such fury of nature?"

Why do natural disasters have to happen?

We live in a planet whose ability to sustain life is based on balancing extreme conditions. Whether we accept that the perfect distance we are from the Sun that allows water to exist in liquid form in most parts of Earth is a coincidence or divine design, it is just as important that our planet spins on its axis at the rate that it does, for our lives exist on Earth because of these and many other intricate balancing acts of nature. We are of course directly impacted by this valuable duty of nature. For the most part we take Earth's climate for granted. The bigger picture that we are living in this beautiful sanctuary of life easily escapes us. So comfortably do we succumb to the lullaby of Mother Earth that it seems cruel when she becomes a tempest on those rare occasions. However these violent events of nature are important to all of us in some way or another so that we can continue to enjoy those mainly wonderful placid days of living. Like parents who have to be stern with their children on occasions for some good reason, Mother Earth has to shake and rumble, spew molten rocks and ash, create storms of all variety on occasion to maintain her balance that makes our living possible. Perhaps global warming has a role to play in the recent spate of strong earthquakes and this is just one way Earth is balancing out access heat. Earth's weather and nature are still mysteries that have much to reveal as to their dynamics. Who is to question why Mother Earth does what she does? This is simply who she is, and it is for us to accept the inescapable fact that we live on Planet Earth and we are of Planet Earth.

What do we do to deserve this?
Nothing, we all deserve this as part of living on Earth. If we can accept the mostly peaceful days of living that most of us six billion humans enjoy with regards to the weather, then we should also expect to endure some sort of trial that nature will offer, not to test nor deliberately be cruel to us, but to help maintain the equilibrium on Earth that we all cherish. If we have to go through some kind of natural disaster on those rare occasions, then our endurance counts as a sacrifice for the entire race of life on Earth. I believe because of this we should refrain from judgements of any kind on the people who have to endure natural calamities for their sacrifice is important to all life on Earth. If anything we owe a debt of deep gratitude to them. It should also remind us that when we plan our life we must be proactive in anticipating natural calamities in our locale. No part of earth, ocean or atmosphere is exempt from the docile and destructive forces of nature. Thus, part of living positively on Earth is accepting the responsibility that we must prepare for all possible eventualities in our area.

This blog is part of a Life Postive Forum titled, The Rejuvenating Powers of Nature. Click Here the rest of the content of this forum at my Pondering blog with the same title.

A HELPFUL E-BOOK ON PREPAREDNESS

The Perspective of Fact & The Foundation of Love

2010-10-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

In the last blog, I explored my theory of the perspective of fact. The perspective of fact is based on accepting situations or conditions as they are. This point of acceptance provides a most effective platform in working with any situation since it is free from denial, regrets or worry. The other perspective is the conciliatory perspective. The conciliatory perspective is akin to the proverbial half-full or half-empty cup. Both these perspectives have important roles to play in life. A mystic strives to predominantly maintain the perspective of fact, and applies the conciliatory perspectives when there is a need.

Continuing in the exploration of the perspective of fact, this time we will get into how understanding the source of this perspective can be valuable to us. The perspective of fact is based on a strong foundation of love in the subconscious. This foundation of love can be provided by any source such as family, friends, creed, a cause, spiritual enlightenment, even a pet. This foundation of love creates the condition of security in oneself. The natural perspective that arises from this condition is the perspective of fact. When one views life and is able to handle its challenges from a strong base of security in oneself one feels equanimity and wholesomeness even in the face of adversity. This perspective also allows one to enjoy life holistically with a subconscious free from insecurity.

The lack of a firm foundation of love is the cause for insecurity in the mind. Without this foundation of love there is little direction or purpose in life and confusion eventually sets in. If this condition remains with no solution, confusion eventually becomes depression.

One of the signs to look out for to diagnose the onset of the condition of insecurity is a developing addiction. especially chemical addiction in the form of drugs, smoking and alcohol. The use of these substances may not necessarily be a sign of insecurity. I know people who smoke and drink alcohol purely for recreation and are not addicted to the habit. It is when the substance becomes a source of security that addiction occurs.

From the mystical point of view the most effective solution to recover from insecurity, confusion or depression is to start at the source and rebuild a foundation of love. One does not need to go through extensive psycho-analysis to find out why one is in a hole of negativity. The quickest solution is to first create a new foundation of love first. Once a new sense of security is established then one can return to the perspective of fact and unravel the morass of the past using acceptance and forgiveness. (Click here to go to the Yogic Self-Development Seminar on the power of acceptance and forgiveness)

The conciliatory perspective of the proverbial half-full cup comes in handy in recreating a new foundation of love. It starts with taking stock of the good that still exists in ones life. During this period of introspection one can uncover a passion or hobby that has remained unrealized. This passion or hobby must be something through which care and love can be expressed. Some examples of such effort include being a volunteer in a welfare organization, doing community service projects, taking care of a pet, cultivating a garden, growing food, learning to play an instrument, song, drama, dance, rekindling faith in God, joining a loving religious community.

With the heart and mind active in developing this new passion in life a new foundation of love will begin to form. As this foundation becomes strong one will begin to feel security in oneself and gradually a sense of purpose in life will appear. At this point one can regain the wholesome perspective of fact and let go of the conciliatory perspective. From this firm footing complete recovery from previous conditions of confusion or depression is possible using techniques of acceptance and forgiveness.

This is the yogic solution for rekindling the zest and purpose back in life and coming back to the wholesome perspective of fact. I must also point out that it can be dangerous to unravel states of confusion or depression without first establishing a condition of security because, if the cause of the confusion or depression is resolved successfully one may end up seeing a deeper abyss in the mind than previously. Especially for those facing chronic depression, the depression itself may have moulded into a habit of life that without it one can feel very insecure. The yogic way is safer as it involves creating an alternate habit that will become the source of security which will act as a safety net. This method also does not substitute a chemical addiction with a different chemical addiction.

Modern psychiatry can learn from this yogic technique and even possibly free its patients from the use of anti-depressive drugs by first making an effort to develop a foundation of love in its patients. Once the sense of security is established, the source of depression and confusion can be resolved with the help of professional psycho-analysis without the need for drugs (or at least much less drugs) to deal with the backlashes of this tedious process.

In conclusion, the perspective of fact is a natural perspective of life when there is balance in ones life. This balance arises from a strong and stable foundation of love in the subconscious.

The Perspective of Fact - Video Blog

2010-10-06T01:28:00.000-07:00

The Spiritual Perspective of Fact–It Is As It Is

2010-08-16T23:19:00.000-07:00

How do you see half a cup of liquid – is it half empty or half full? I guess this question has been around for such a long time, that it is a cliche. Our trained response will be half full of course. What if you don't like what is in the cup. Is it okay then to say that the cup is half empty? Or is it heaven forbid!

The crux of the matter is that perspective is a very powerful faculty of our mind. How we understand the world or view it in our mind determines how we act. If we like what is in the cup and decide that it is half full, then at least we can enjoy that much, though we may be craving for more. If we despise what is in the cup, at least we can console ourself that it is not a full cup of torture!

Besides these two perspectives of halves there is another perspective that is often overlooked and even underestimated. This is, that the cup is half filled... so there! It doesn't matter that it is half-full or half-empty. It is just plain fact that it is half filled and there is no need to console oneself one way or another to accept this fact. This is a brave spiritual perspective that the mystics know as, 'It is as it is.'

Holding this perspective, especially for serious events in our life is not easy all the time (that's why there is the half-full perspective). It does not allow room for blame transfer or transfering responsibility to anyone but oneself. It takes stock of any kind of situation we may be in and puts us is the thick of it. If the situation is a mess, then we hand ourself the broom to clean it up. If the situation is good one, then we enjoy it to the fullest without any baggage of guilt or remorse. The challenge of this perspective is that we have to be completely honest with ourselves. However this also entails a powerful feeling of freedom and clarity within ourself.

'It is as it is', is the perspective of the enlightened ones, and this is why such souls are sought after. The unreserved honesty in perspective that they hold is occasionally valuable to others who hold the consoling perspective of 'halves'. The 'half-full' or the 'half-empty' perspectives are mirrors of some form of inability to accept fact. In fact, the half-full or half-empty perspectives puts emphasis on the empty part of the proverbial cup. It assumes that we have to consider the empty part and do something with it. Instead the perspective of fact, doesn't concern itself with the empty part of the cup at all and focuses entirely with the filled part and working with that.

One of the first lessons on spirituality that one learns in training with an enlightened master is to accept that whatever the contents of ones mind, especially memories as one's own and that it cannot be transfered to another person to be resolved, if it needs to be resolved. I am referring to those heavy memories that cause all sorts of problems and negativity within a person (these are the memories that may be cause for us to look at the cup as half empty). The perspective of fact gives the ability to correct all wrongs by first pointing the finger at oneself. From this starting point one has the full power of the spiritual faculties of acceptance and forgiveness to put right all negatives and move forward positively. Any form of denial curtails spiritual power from utility.

The positive memories (these are the memories that may be cause for us to look at the cup as half full) are much easier to handle though they can sometimes be a hinderance in spirituality if one pines for that which we can no longer have. The perspective of fact teaches one to enjoy the consequence of memory without craving. (To find out more about the subconscious mind, resolved and unresolved memories click here.)

I don't want to totally discredit the 'half-full', 'half-empty' perspectives. They are useful where there is the need for consolation. However, if we are looking to live life to the fullest, we will have to gradually develop the courage to look at life as it is in all its grandioseness, ordinariness and even its rawness and accept it wholeheartedly. From this pinnacle, we can improve what we can and adapt to what is as it is.