Rhythm Concepts and Practices
March 11, 2014Greetings and a warm welcome to all. This practice reviews some basic concepts and practices on rhythm, with perhaps the added feature of suggesting how to experiment with its practical uses in everyday life. We find it intriguing that powerful spiritual practices, experiences and even concepts are sometimes compartmentalized from most aspects of life, as if the spiritual domain is behind some impermeable membrane, divorced from our other more “worldly” and “material” aspects. This often gives rise to comments as to how some spiritual teachings may seem out of date, and not resonant with our modern life; that they need to be updated somehow. We hope that these contemplations and practices focusing on rhythm will help clarify how modern and useful these teachings are. First, some basic concepts to re-contemplate and experience. Even if these are familiar to you, please consider reviewing them to form a firm base for the coming months. Keep your intention on “rhythm” and allow yourself to re-experience old friends in a new light. 1. Rhythm – 1: a. Concept: As long as there is life, there is rhythm. All of life vibrates, and where there is vibration, there is rhythm. If you like, refer to Newton’s law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This “action-reaction” sequence is rhythm. You may not perceive it as such, it may not fit your idiosyncratic definition of “rhythm,” but it is. This sequence is the basis of the soul’s journey: from Zat, where vibration is implicit, to the Big Bang and the explosion of Sifat: the qualities of God with which we are impressed. b. Contemplation: All of life vibrates, even when I cannot perceive it. c. Exercises: (1) Awareness training: Sit. Begin to settle. Notice the gross movements of body, breath and mind settling... View Article