--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "John Davis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > I'm new to this list, so I hope the following post is appropriate. >It is > also somewhat lengthy, for which I apologise - conciseness was >never my > strong point. But I am in search of a spot of advice, and wondered >if anyone > here could help... > <large snip> > There are, of course, non-mantra based meditations. But those that >I have > encountered seem based around the breath. And although this would >indeed > seem universal, what quiet I do find through TM comes when thought >of breath > has fallen away (as a woodwind musician, I am rarely unaware of, if >not > actively controlling, my breath). > > Hmm. I'm not sure there is a question in the above, so much as a >seeking of > thoughts and opinion. Is the mantra used of importance? If so, why? >If not, > why?! Do there by any chance exist other non mantra-based, non- >religious, > 'aimless' meditations? Are my thought processes described above >flawed? If > so, why and how? > > Anyways, thanks for reading this far, and any advice would be >greatfully > received. > > John >
Yes, check out some books by Dr. David R. Hawkins for instance. Western enlightened spiritual guy who gives out secular meditation practices. For the longterm non-secular meditator his books and talks can be excellant advanced checking of spiritual experience. An Interesting synthesis in a life, of apex of Western and Eastern experience with meditation, spiritual experience and enlightenment as, secular. Similar to Eastern veneer of 'gurus' from India or Asia & yet without the cultural non-secular trip-traps of their shows. In his books there often are short description of productive secular spiritual practice meditation. You might like his books for your experience. Highly spiritual and like a modern-day Emerson. -Doug in FF
