Finding freedom, releasing restriction

Freedom is in the Mind

I remember one of my first silent retreats in which every day we were in silence, with no verbal or non-verbal contact, meditating for entire days and nights. It was very challenging moment – but very productive at the same time.

In the beginning “my mind” was looking for distractions, so I was trying literally to escape from what I was confronted with. There were moments I was not comfortable in my body. My mind got lazy and unmotivated. But as soon as I went through all the discomfort, I could let go of heavy stored emotions. I literally felt myself moving through some blockages and from that moment I had access to a deeper and more authentic self.

I remember that during one of the walking meditations I got interesting insights. 

If you are familiar with walking meditation you know that you are asked to be present with each step. Any time the mind moves somewhere else during the meditation you are asked to pause walking and return to your breath and your feet. As soon as you are present again you can continue walking.

The walking meditation took 45 minutes. We were walking outside in nature, and we were asked to explore a few questions during this meditation.

The questions were: Who is walking? Why are they walking?

Thoughts came up. It felt like a spiral which brought me to an insight.

Who is walking? A prisoner of their own mind.

Why are they walking? To free themselves from the prison of their own mind.

Finding freedom: lockdown as practice to learn ‘freedom is in the mind”

After a short chat with Yoganesa members about how you feel about the curfew in NL, something came to me: “freedom is in the mind”.

Although we’re confined at home  it doesn’t mean that our true freedom is taken. The lockdown and curfew may feel like being in the prison, but  remember when one door closes another opens. And right now, the door is opening into a space of beautiful opportunity to become free:  being honest with yourself, to notice what keeps your attention at the surface, and then  going deeper to commit to what is really the most important. It is a great moment to meditate