Week Three Usui Retreat- Detachment

Detachment

Jim Spivey is a coach and trainer here in Houston that sends out daily e-mail thoughts. Often I find that what he is writing about will dovetail with issues I am going through at that moment in my life. Our demands and expectations, I.E. attachments give cause to so much unhappiness in our lives that I have decided to use this as the final weeks focus in this our 10th anniversary of the Usui Virtual Retreat. Jim’s contact information is at the end of this letter.

Note: It will be helpful to have a journal and a pen ready to use after the meditation. It is also great if you can have someone read the meditation to you or that you prerecord it and play it back for yourself. When I first did this meditation I wrote down in my journal what I knew I was attached to and wanted clarification about.

But first some wise words on the subject of Attachment that Jim had shared...

"If you look carefully you will see that there is one thing and only one thing that cause unhappiness. The name of that thing is attachment. What is an attachment? It is an emotional state of desperate clinging caused by the belief that without some particular thing or some person you cannot be happy."

Anthony de Mello

"The fear of loss is a path to the dark side. … Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is. Train yourself to let go of everything and everyone you fear to lose. And yet, still love and give of yourself...”

Yoda, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

"Whenever you start to mention detachment, there is the severe risk of being misunderstood. More than that, it is a concept that takes living with and studying a long, long time before it clarifies. My present understanding is clouded by the fact that as much as I would like to lay claim to it, I am mostly anything but detached. ...Many seem to think that detachment basically means deprivation. ... For many, the Lenten practice of 'giving something up' serves as a useful penance and reminder of the sacrifice made for us. However, if most are like me, a great deal of thought is lavished on what is given up. That is, we feel the occasional craving for chocolate, or cigarettes, or whatever it is that we have given up, feeling the strong need we have for these enjoyments. We resist giving in, but have the promise that in another couple of weeks we can be back to normal.

While giving things up is training and strengthening the will in what detachment is about, it isn't detachment. And it has occurred to me that detachment is never an end in itself and it is a goal that is achieved only by means other than seeking it. ...

...detachment boils down to a right ordering of loves. ...

I am thinking more about it, and detachment may also be a training in the right ordering of thoughts and of ourselves in the universe. Detachment teaches us that what is 'ours' is really not ours and is only lent to us as we need it. Even 'my child' is 'the child who, through the grace of Creator, I hold in trust.'

Detachment teaches us to look through the surface of things and see behind them to the true wonder of the fact that they exist at all, all sustained by Creator’s gentle breath and will. ... I rejoice in the rose not for the rose but for what the rose whispers about who made her. I rejoice in the moment, because Creator is with me and within me, sustaining me and helping me see. That is detachment -- learning to love as Creator loves and because I abandon the need to own what I love, I can let it be what it truly is in Him, with no attachment."

Steven Riddle


Meditation on Attachments and Detachment
Using the Awareness of Your Breath

Sit or lay in a comfortable position. Have your journal and pen nearby so that it is easy to reach once you have finished. It is important that you do not fall asleep, but that you are relaxed. Have the intention in this meditative experience to come into a deeper and meaningful relationship with your attachments and becoming detached.

Close your eyes and begin to take deep, slow breaths. Inhale for a count of seven, hold your breath for a count of three, and then exhale for a count of seven. Do not force air from your lungs; allow it to gently leave you. Each in breath brings you to a deeper state of relaxation, each time to exhale you are letting go of all cares, thoughts, and concerns. In this space of time allow your body and mind to fully relax, your energy to expand knowing that you are perfectly safe…supported…and peaceful. If you hear any noise, it will not disturb you. In fact, it will help you to intensify this experience.

Anytime you feel yourself slipping from this state of relaxation, just take a slow, deep, inhaling breath and as you release it, mentally repeat the word “relax” and you will move back into a deep, abiding state of perfect peace.

Whatever thoughts you might have, allow them to drift past you as your mind empties of its chatter and relaxes even more. Do not resist anything. Acknowledge it and release it, allowing it to float away as you move into a deeper, more peaceful state of being…Nothing outside of how you feel right this moment even exists. You are at the deepest, most relaxed state of body and mind that you have ever experienced. You are totally relaxed… your heart rate, blood pressure, and number of breaths have been reduced significantly, leaving your body in a very relaxed state of perfect health and harmony.

Your breath is your lifeline to your physical body and connection to Spirit. Begin to visualize your breath coming in the top of your head and then out of your heart. Do this several times until it feels natural. Then breathe in through the middle of your forehead, which is called your Third Eye, bringing your breath down through your heart and out of the palms of your hands until this pattern feels natural.

Now breathe through the bottoms of both feet, allowing this breath of life to course through every cell in your entire body and out the top of your head. Take note of how you feel. Notice what you are feeling and what thoughts and emotions are coming up for you as you continue to breathe in this pattern.

Shift your attention from your breath and allow yourself to fully experience that you are traveling on a path that is loving and comfortable… Allow yourself to be fully aware of all your senses as you continue your journey… What do you see? Feel the weather on your face as you are walking. Do you feel a slight breeze, the warmth of the sun; what are you feeling and smelling as you continue your journey? Take in all the information about your journey, what all your senses see, feel, touch, and taste.

Ahead you see a door. Notice where it is and what it looks like, what it is made of. As you walk towards the door, you may feel as if this door is familiar, as if you have been here before. You feel perfectly safe and relaxed. How large is the door? Describe the door in your mind’s eye…Is it open or closed? Touch it. What does the door feel like? You know in all your being that the meaning the word you have chosen and how it applies in your life of will be clearer for you once you choose to see what is on the other side of the door. In order to do this, the door must be open and you must step through. Are you ready? Open to your highest and greatest good and step through….allow your mind’s eye to focus as you look around. What do you see? Is there someone there for you? … Feel yourself in the presence of a Being of Light and Love. In your mind’s eye there is someone stepping forward to guide you through your time here. You are open to this experience. Remember in detail how he or she is dressed and anything else that might help you to recognize them in the future.

Your guide motions you to follow and takes you into a space in a clearing. Many other beings are there emanating a great sense of peace and love that you intimately remember. They have taken their place with you to assist you with quick and easy processing of your question about attachments and becoming detached. You tell them that you are questioning about what you are attached to and why and how to become detached; ask them for guidance. They encircle you radiating loving energy to you and ask that you understand about loving and showing love in every aspect of your mind, body and spirit. You look at each aspect of your thoughts and experience thus far, accepting, loving, healing and integrating all of this “knowing” into you. You have some time in silence to experience this work (allow about two minutes to pass) When the process is complete, thank all who are there for the assistance they have given you. Now take a deep, cleansing breath and exhale …you will find yourself back at the doorway. Your guide is no longer there; however, you know that you can come back here at any time. You remember everything. You are expanded, full of wisdom, and ready to return and write in your journal about your experience.

Take a deep breathe and allow yourself to feel where you are sitting or lying. Feel your connection to this space and how your body feels in the present. Keeping your eyes closed, stretch your body slowly, then move your toes, fingers, and stretch out your arms and legs. When you are ready, slowly open your eyes. Immediately pick up your pen and begin to write in your journal while it is all fresh in your mind.

Honor yourself for your work…Being detached from others and out comes gives so much freedom to love and certainly opens the door to so much possibility. I appreciate the time you have taken these three weeks to work through the meditations, send energy to Mother Earth and be with yourself. As we know it is so important to take time to reconnect to our source and clear the space for more light to be there. I hope to see you in the near future. The next 21-day Virtual Usui retreat starts on December 21st

I am leaving you with a few more thoughts:

"Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, regardless of the surface appearance of their circumstances, and the total delight in the recognition."
-- Alexander Smith

"There is a story about a rich father who takes his son on a trip to the countryside to show him how poor some people are. They find and spend time with one particular family in their very simple home. The child is quiet through the whole trip and visit. On their way home, the father asks his son what he learned from it all, to which his son responds: 'Dad, I saw that we have one dog, and they have seven. We have a nice swimming pool in the back yard, but they have a really cool creek running behind their house, with fish and frogs and rocks and flowers. We have many fancy lights and colorful lanterns all around our property, but they can see countless stars at night. We have high walls for protection, but they have lots of good friends all around to look after them. Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”
Fr. Jerry Orbos


Love and Blessings,
Mari

Jim SpiveyRevolution Consulting2219 McDuffieHouston, TX 77019(713) 854-4848www.revolutionconsulting.com

"helping people come ALIVE, and thrive,in their personal and business relationships"

If you would like to listen to an interview with Mari with Bronwen Stein in Australia follow this link: http://www.reiki.net.au/copy.asp?id=PodcastMariH