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Other Preparatory Instructions:
- Please no sugar, alcohol, recreational drugs, or chocolate for as many days prior as possible, (2 weeks would be minimal,to
reset some of the subltle biochemistry, but ok even if for 2 days prior). This will benefit your ability to more clearly work in the
subtler aspects of the meditations.
-Do what is necessary to be well rested with extra hydration for the 2 days prior to the retreat
LOCATION; This will be sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to the retreat along with other preparatory instructions.
You will also need to purchase a set of yoga blocks for the retreat.
- Please no sugar, alcohol, recreational drugs, or chocolate for as many days prior as possible, (2 weeks would be minimal,to
reset some of the subltle biochemistry, but ok even if for 2 days prior). This will benefit your ability to more clearly work in the
subtler aspects of the meditations.
-Do what is necessary to be well rested with extra hydration for the 2 days prior to the retreat
LOCATION; This will be sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to the retreat along with other preparatory instructions.
You will also need to purchase a set of yoga blocks for the retreat.
| STEP TWO Write down the answers to 2 questions and Email Lawrence the answers within 2 days of your payment completion: |
-Begin a very simple 5 minute morning practice before you get out of bed: with your eyes still closed,
scan your body with your awareness. You may experiment with going from one part to the next or
blanketing your entire body with your awareness. As you do this, breath the part or area into your heart
on a gentle in breath, and extend your kindness or an inner smile of greeting toward the part or area
from your heart on the out breath. If you like, continue with the same part or area for 3-5 breaths and
move on. OR just one breath and move on. It is normal to fall asleep, so be sure to use the snooze
button on alarm clock. This practice is very useful even if you fall asleep. If you have time when you
wake up again to do at least one more scan..Great!
-After 3 days..Do the same thing as above , but note any aliveness in the area or it lack. Either is fine and
if lacking, then it is very helpful to offer this place your embrace of unconditional acceptance with your
awareness. You are just noticing and not trying to change anything. Once AGAIN.. You are just noticing
and not trying to change anything
-Some suggestions if you use an alarm clock.. Set the alarm to 10 minutes earlier than usual as you may
fall back asleep during the process. Hit the snooze button when you wake up rather than turn it off. ( I
use the Zen Alarm Clock that is very conducive to timing this, but any alarm clock is fine)
-Begin 1 week after doing Meditation 1, (continue doing Meditation 1 as well) If you are an advanced
practitoner or you have a long standing meditation practice, then do this after your regular meditation
practice for another 5-10 minutes. ( I am happy to discuss why if you need that). If you are meditating
with another, though infrequently, technique; then use this at the beginning and end of each meditation
for 5 minutes each. (However, PLEASE do this everday now until the retreat..even if it becomes the only
practice in addition to the Meditation 1 above)
-We’ll call this practice “just sitting” or simply “sitting.”
THE PRACTICE ( PLEASE PRINT THE FOLLOWING 4 PARAGRAPHS & READ this at each sitting just
before you begin this practice)
For this practice you can sit on a chair, couch, or meditation cushion. The only requirement is that you
stay in one place for around 10-20 minutes. You don’t need to be rigid. If you’re uncomfortable, you can
shift your position, move your legs or your hands, scratch an itch, stretch your neck, and so on, but don’
t get up and move around or relocate your body. Remain comfortable, quiet, and awake.
Within these parameters, simply do whatever you’re doing. Think what you’re thinking, feel what you’re
feeling, experience what you’re experiencing. There’s no right or wrong way to meditate. If you’re
following your breath, follow your breath. If you’re reciting a mantra, recite your mantra. If you’re doing
nothing in particular, do nothing in particular. There’s no need to follow your thoughts, nothing to
concentrate on, nothing you need to do. If you’re captivated by a particular line of thought, a feeling, or a
physical sensation, that’s fine. If you observe this process, you do; if you don’t, you don’t. There’s
nothing to correct or adjust, no guidelines about what you’re supposed to be concentrating on, such as
breathing, thoughts, feelings, or sensations.
If your eyes are open, let them be open. If they’re closed let them be closed. If you open them, close
them, then open them again and let them wander around, let all this happen. If you need to distract
yourself, then, within the parameters of this practice, distract yourself. It doesn’t matter whether you’re
concentrated or distracted. In fact, because there’s no object of meditation and no need to meditate,
there are no distractions. You don’t need to do anything other than what you’re doing. You can’t go
wrong. If you enjoy a session, you enjoy it; if you don’t, you don’t. Enjoying your contemplation is no
better than enduring it.
Because it consists of doing whatever you’re doing when you’re sitting, this practice incorporates any
other meditation practice you may be engaged in. To begin this practice, you don’t need to know how it
relates to this course or even why you’re doing it.
OTHER MEDITATION CONSIDERATIONS YOU MAY WISH TO READ ABOUT CLICK HERE
practitoner or you have a long standing meditation practice, then do this after your regular meditation
practice for another 5-10 minutes. ( I am happy to discuss why if you need that). If you are meditating
with another, though infrequently, technique; then use this at the beginning and end of each meditation
for 5 minutes each. (However, PLEASE do this everday now until the retreat..even if it becomes the only
practice in addition to the Meditation 1 above)
-We’ll call this practice “just sitting” or simply “sitting.”
THE PRACTICE ( PLEASE PRINT THE FOLLOWING 4 PARAGRAPHS & READ this at each sitting just
before you begin this practice)
For this practice you can sit on a chair, couch, or meditation cushion. The only requirement is that you
stay in one place for around 10-20 minutes. You don’t need to be rigid. If you’re uncomfortable, you can
shift your position, move your legs or your hands, scratch an itch, stretch your neck, and so on, but don’
t get up and move around or relocate your body. Remain comfortable, quiet, and awake.
Within these parameters, simply do whatever you’re doing. Think what you’re thinking, feel what you’re
feeling, experience what you’re experiencing. There’s no right or wrong way to meditate. If you’re
following your breath, follow your breath. If you’re reciting a mantra, recite your mantra. If you’re doing
nothing in particular, do nothing in particular. There’s no need to follow your thoughts, nothing to
concentrate on, nothing you need to do. If you’re captivated by a particular line of thought, a feeling, or a
physical sensation, that’s fine. If you observe this process, you do; if you don’t, you don’t. There’s
nothing to correct or adjust, no guidelines about what you’re supposed to be concentrating on, such as
breathing, thoughts, feelings, or sensations.
If your eyes are open, let them be open. If they’re closed let them be closed. If you open them, close
them, then open them again and let them wander around, let all this happen. If you need to distract
yourself, then, within the parameters of this practice, distract yourself. It doesn’t matter whether you’re
concentrated or distracted. In fact, because there’s no object of meditation and no need to meditate,
there are no distractions. You don’t need to do anything other than what you’re doing. You can’t go
wrong. If you enjoy a session, you enjoy it; if you don’t, you don’t. Enjoying your contemplation is no
better than enduring it.
Because it consists of doing whatever you’re doing when you’re sitting, this practice incorporates any
other meditation practice you may be engaged in. To begin this practice, you don’t need to know how it
relates to this course or even why you’re doing it.
OTHER MEDITATION CONSIDERATIONS YOU MAY WISH TO READ ABOUT CLICK HERE
| Meditation 1 |
| Meditation 2 |
a) What is your reason for taking this retreat? Please make it about what
you want to gain, rather than get rid of ..For example: Say you wish to be
free of a pain or limitation of any kind. It is fine to put that in your intention.
However, please add what your life would be like without that issue, (Dance
more, play with my children more, do yoga, more intimacy, etc). Then
perhaps add what that would feel like or how enriched you would be and in
what ways, ("Playing with my children more makes my heart soar and I feel
like a more complete parent"). Please note that it is ok to change your intention at
anytime. You are not locking yourself into what you write down now. However it is very helpful to
create an intention now, as it will work on you as well as clarify things more--).
b) What type of meditation practice do you have, if any, and how is it going
for you? Once again, please EMAIL RESPONSES TO LAWRENCE within 2
days of your payment registration you have already completed.
you want to gain, rather than get rid of ..For example: Say you wish to be
free of a pain or limitation of any kind. It is fine to put that in your intention.
However, please add what your life would be like without that issue, (Dance
more, play with my children more, do yoga, more intimacy, etc). Then
perhaps add what that would feel like or how enriched you would be and in
what ways, ("Playing with my children more makes my heart soar and I feel
like a more complete parent"). Please note that it is ok to change your intention at
anytime. You are not locking yourself into what you write down now. However it is very helpful to
create an intention now, as it will work on you as well as clarify things more--).
b) What type of meditation practice do you have, if any, and how is it going
for you? Once again, please EMAIL RESPONSES TO LAWRENCE within 2
days of your payment registration you have already completed.
 |
STEP ONE Complete a few more agreements for the Retreat CLICK HERE |
| STEP THREE Begin 2 Meditations ( See below in blue section for more details) . I deeply appreciate all meditation forms. Please bear with me as what follows is essential in preparing your nervous system to get the most out of the retreat. If you have a long standing practice, please begin incorporating these as well, the second one tends to deconstruct the subtle effort that can creep into any practice. MEDITATION 1 On waking each morning, before getting out of bed for 5-10 minutes. Just a few sweeps of the spine is enough unless you wish to do more. It is fine to fall asleep or not be clear during this practice. Be sure to have a snooze alarm. MEDTATION 2 After completing the first meditation, sit up and read the second meditation. Then sit for another 5 minutes and follow the instructions you read. Please read the meditation each time. Please note that you may not have ever been able to meditate, or even hate meditaton, and still like these. For those of you who are advanced meditators, the second one is at the same time the most advanced, and the most basic; as it deconstructs meditation altogether. It will serve to fine tune your current practices. The second one is great to do before you start your established practice. |
| A Special Note About Part 2 of the Retreat If you have not considered taking Part 2, or wish for clarification; I offer the following... This is an 9 hour immersion into taking the enhanced ability to remain more deeply connected to your inner resources from Part one and using it in mocked up real life situations. The results are life changing and integrating to such an extent that many experience their life as meditation with all the benefits of Unconditional Presence in more and more situations with greater depth and ease. The class is limited to 8 of the Part 1 participants. While many of the participants will be from helping professions, We have had teachers-student; parent-child; and other relational mock-ups as well . The cost of Part 2 is $100. You can register by going to http://www.networkspinalawakening.com/RetreatSchedules.html Hours are 9-6:30 on the Monday following Part 1 I cannot be more excited about the results folks are having with this new version of Part 2. In fact, the reason I started giving these retreats was to get folks to experience part 2 CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON Part 2 |