For the blog post with regards this session, I am choosing ‘Dharana’ related quotes that I find on the internet as the content. That’s because I can’t begin to describe how beautiful this session was.
Dharana is the 6th stage of Sage Patanjali’s 8 limbs of Yoga. I am beginning to understand from meditational experience that the depth of Dharana is where mental imagery ends and soul pleasures begin.
The two quotes here are by Paramahansa Yogananda.
The first quote here has nothing to do with Dharana. It is the quote that I have been looking for. The holy book of Bhagwad Gita mentions that spiritual growth is irreversible. I think of it as cycling or swimming. One can forget what one has eaten for breakfast without forgetting how to balance a cycle. The learning is irreversible. The holy Gita speaks similarly about spiritual development. The quote is as follows:
"In this path (of yoga action) there is no loss of the unfinished effort for realization, nor is there creation of contrary effects. Even a tiny bit of this real religion protects one from great fear (the colossal sufferings inherent in the repeated cycles of birth and death)." —The Bhagavad Gita II:40 -- http://yogananda.com.au/gurus/yogananda02quotes.html
The following quote is about Dharana:
Dharana - the power to use the interiorized mind to become one-pointed concentrated upon God in one of His aspects through which He reveals Himself to the inward perception of the devotee. (sc p.1182) -- Read more: http://yogananda.com.au/gurus/yogananda_quotes33concentration.html
2 Duration: 33 minutes at 11:28 PM
Depth:
I don’t think it matters anymore that I make an effort to describe in great detail my meditations. What I am about to mention was enough to experience and is enough to write about.
At some point in this meditation, it began to turn bright behind my shut eyes. As usual, I opened my eyes to check for any passing traffic’s lights. Nothing. There were no moving headlights by my window.
I seem to be at the end of all mental imagery that my mind is capable of. I seem to be at the beginning of my soul.
I may have filled my head with optimal amounts of Peace. I may see the light that powers all imagery. I may have arrived at soul silence with the help of a fluid Peace.
May I be able to hear anything that my soul has to say. May I develop a good ear for my conscience.
🔤 Activity title: Working as press at BaLMUN 2023
👀 Type of activity: Service
⏱ Duration: 3 days
📅 Date of start: 21.4.2023.
Learning outcomes:
Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
Activity description:
BaLMUN is a traditional MUN conference, organized by our school, that welcomes students (delegates 😁) from a list of different countries. After an online conference, due to the pandemic, everyone was so excited for the opening day to come. A group of students, including me, volunteered as the press on the conference. We took pictures, made interviews and wrote texts, all while meeting new friends. 😊 I was situated in the Town Hall with two of my friends who were also volunteering. We did such a good job that a real journalist approached us and asked if we worked for some kind of press. 🤣
Reflection☀️
While this was a completely new experience for me, I found it very enjoyable. I was a bit nervous that I would seem annoying or invasive asking all the questions, especially considering that some people had to travel for a long time and were exhausted. To my delight, many people said I seemed persuasive and interested in the topic which made the conversation very pleasant. I also tried to crack some jokes, and they said I made their day better. 😭 That felt amazing! 😎 The icing on the cake was when people actually involved with the press congratulated us on actually being pretty good and professional. It may sound like I'm bragging, but I'm more than determined to justify all of it at the next conference. 😉
Note: Everyone in the pictures gave their consent to be posted publicly
Nein, die Krätze sei das nicht, sagt die Dermatologin, da könne sie mich beruhigen. Das sehe eher nach einer atopischen Karriere meines Heuschnupfens aus und ja, so heisse das in der Fachsprache. In ein paar Jahren lasse sich die Allergie vielleicht noch mal etwas anderes einfallen, damit sei zu rechnen.
My grandmother just died, the narsicistic psychopath one. I can't say I feel sad. But knowing my... well, queer things I've experienced in the past, I am glad I have my dog here with me for tonight and the next. This ghost is the one I would not wish to face alone, if it comes.
Loki... keep her away. I have nothing to say to her and no message I'd care to hear.