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- Segment 1<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0Building a spiritual practice – As a seeker, Ragini has gone down almost every path possible. \u00a0Like a tour guide, she shares with us a succinct summary of her experience of the key attractions on her journey .<\/li>\n
- Segment 2<\/span><\/a>: Meditation – Many of the Eastern paths involve meditation. \u00a0More people are checking out meditation, but perhaps not with the original intention of meditation. \u00a0What is the purpose of meditation? \u00a0Is meditation any different or better than praying, or contemplating? \u00a0How do we know if we are meditations the right way? Ragini sheds light on meditation based on her 35 years of experience.<\/li>\n
- Segment 3<\/span><\/a>: To Guru or Not to Guru – How do you know if you are following a guru or cult leader? \u00a0What do you want to look for in a guru? What can a guru do that you can’t do on your own?<\/li>\n
- Segment 4<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0Choosing the best path for you- How do you know when you have found the right spiritual path for you?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Blog Post from our Guest<\/span><\/h1>\n
Awake vs Asleep: The Duality of Our Spiritual Journey<\/h2>\n
In the world of consciousness growth and spiritual evolution, being \u201cawake\u201d is a highly valued and desired state of being.<\/div>\n\nWhether you define \u201cawake\u201d as being conscious, alert, aware, present, mindful, or just cognizant of what\u2019s going on, this prized state brings you closer to happiness and inner peace. Thus, striving to wake up from your conditioning becomes the goal.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, you may also set up amazingly high standards for how long you must\u00a0stay<\/em>\u00a0awake in order to really \u201cawaken.\u201d Then, you will unconsciously use that degree of \u201cawakeness\u201d to assess your spiritual development and growth. When you\u00a0do<\/em>\u00a0fall asleep, which I can guarantee will happen, a huge wave of judgment will then arise.<\/p>\n
Self-judgment, criticism, discontent, and deep disappointment in your ability to keep your vows can stream into the body\/mind. You face head-on your undeveloped capacity to produce a continuity of mindfulness and a non-stop flow of Presence to what is unfolding.<\/p>\n
Falling asleep is one of the great hindrances on the spiritual journey to Presence and a life of mindful living. Whether \u201cfalling asleep\u201d appears as snoozing, napping, slumbering, checking out, numbing out, being dead to the world, tranced out, losing awareness, being absent, in denial, avoidance, or just plain lost in thought, it is usually considered a state to steer clear of and sidestep as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it is not so easy to circumvent being asleep to the moment. So an inner struggle for your attention begins \u2013 stay awake and alert? Or relax and fall asleep? The tug to move in both directions can be very strong and very often simultaneous.<\/p>\n
What to Do?<\/h2>\n
To effectively manage this dilemma requires insight into the paradoxical nature of the partnership\u00a0between<\/em>\u00a0wakefulness and sleepiness in our dualistic world.<\/p>\n
Just as your breath consists of an inhalation\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0exhalation to complete itself and sustain the oxygen and carbon dioxide balance in your brain, your mind\/body requires\u00a0both<\/em>\u00a0alertness and rest.<\/p>\n
A respite from attentiveness is required so the mind\/body can re-balance and renew itself in order to keep going. You also require relief from relaxation. Without the arising of tension, no movement can occur and the balance between the two poles will again be lost.<\/p>\n
Your life journey pulses with the rhythm of a dance of duality. It becomes easier, more workable, and more peaceful when you understand the hidden partnerships between seemingly opposing poles; when you can allow them to be what they are.<\/p>\n
Being awake and being asleep are not against each other. It is the tension between the two that provides the territory of your journey.<\/p>\n
I invite you to inquire into your own experience of being awake and asleep to \u201cwhat is.\u201d Explore for yourself how you are currently relating to the two.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the surprise: When you can be present to the Oneness of things hidden in the organic unity of the two poles,\u00a0wakefulness is happening<\/em>; and access to the \u201cpeace that passes all understanding\u201d suddenly emerges.<\/p>\n
Give it a try. It can, paradoxically, be quite enlightening!<\/p>\n
Much love,<\/p>\n
Ragini<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\nAbout our Guest<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nRagini is the founder of\u00a0Facticity\u00ae Trainings, Inc.<\/em><\/strong>, a training and consulting company established in 1988 offering certification trainings in\u00a0Paradox Management, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Ericksonian Hypnosis.<\/strong><\/p>\n
- Segment 2<\/span><\/a>: Meditation – Many of the Eastern paths involve meditation. \u00a0More people are checking out meditation, but perhaps not with the original intention of meditation. \u00a0What is the purpose of meditation? \u00a0Is meditation any different or better than praying, or contemplating? \u00a0How do we know if we are meditations the right way? Ragini sheds light on meditation based on her 35 years of experience.<\/li>\n
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Her original work on the\u00a0Psychology of Paradox<\/em>\u00a0has received critical acclaim and taken her throughout America, Canada, Europe, and India presenting workshops and seminars. She is the creator of eight hypnosis\/meditation CD\u2019s, and the author of two books on paradox with her third,