Accident leads to meditation practice

January 15, 2010


Accident leads to meditation practice

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

When Chuck St. Romain was granted a new lease on life, he also received a new view of how to live that renewed oppportunity more fully.

A hunting accident came perilously close to killing St. Romain, but his traumatic journey through that experience led to an appreciation of meditation and a spiritual awakening.

"I was duck hunting south of here," St. Romain said. "I slipped, heard a bang, got shot and was bleeding from my head. At first, I was terrified. Then that shifted into sadness, and I told those with me to tell (wife) Barb and (daughter) Claire that I love them, because I didn't think I'd see them again.

"Then I shifted into this incredible awareness of my breath. I was so present with my breath, so connected. My terror had eased dramatically."

The surgeon at the hospital in Cameron Parish told St. Romain that if the bullet had been a half-inch from where it was, he would have died instead of suffering a frightening scalp wound.

"I wanted to understand," said St. Romain, a licensed clinical social worker.

"It was no accident that it happened. I was overwhelmed. I wanted to let the universe teach me. I decided to go investigate meditation."

St. Romain has been practicing meditation for 14 years now. He has translated that discovery into Spirit Path Meditation and Spiritual Enrichment Center in Lafayette, which provides weekly meditation sittings, frequent retreats and book study for clients.

He also teaches courses through UL's Potpourri program, this spring offering Insight Meditation.

"Lafayette has been amazingly open (to meditation)," St. Romain said. "There are a lot of wonderful things going on."

As with his brush with death, St. Romain starts participants on their journey by Vipassana, a focus on breathing. They grow to appreciate Metta, compassion and loving kindness practices.

"Most who try meditation are experiencing some kind of distress," St. Romain said. "We try to help them. Some come through curiosity, and they love the idea. But you can't come and sit one time and expect a miracle. It's a daily thing. In our culture, people plan. They can't just be in the moment.

"Some are afraid of what it will do to their religious beliefs. But I'm gentle with that. Some are afraid, because as you get quiet your body begins to reveal the tension it has.

"The body is incredible. It's wounded. Emotions come out. People get afraid and want to move. In our culture, we do a lot not to reveal pain. But they need to get that fear out of the way. The human condition is that we have a great capacity for unbelievable joy and pleasure."

St. Romain guides clients through those stages of hesitancy, concern and uncertainty to a calm state. It's something that takes patience, which he has learned.

"We deal with impatience," he said. "They begin to feel tense and agitated. But you have to be present for everything. You have to stay with that breath, stay in the moment."

Advanced meditation practitioners can find themselves in an "altered state."

"I sometimes have the feeling I'm levitating," St. Romain said. "Of course I'm not, but we're so not used to the capacity we have."

That awareness can come on the cushion on the floor during sessions, or in exercises focused on each movement in walking. Touching a car door handle or brushing teeth are other opportunities for previusly unrealized sensasions.

"We have the capacity to experience life fully," said St. Romain. "I've come to appreciate the moment."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Calendar of events

This Week In Mankato

Mondays



Meditation

7:00 pm to 8:15pm



Location: First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Ct, Mankato


This is a meditation class good for experienced and beginneing open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.



Wednesdays


Sutra Discussion group





6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)



A group discussion of Buddhist sutras, beginning January 20th.



Meditation Group II

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.



Sundays





Meditation

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

We will practice Metta meditation for about 40 minutes, followed by Dhammapada studies. The Dhammapada is a collection of Buddha's Dhamma teachings on the way of life that leads to ultimate happiness.

Paramitha Group

4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a committed group that studies the practical application of Dhamma in day-to-day life. We share specific documents via e-mail and read them prior to the meeting. Contact Bhante Sathi for information on joining this group.



Announcements

*** Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

for more info Click



*** Buddhist Teacher Certification
(Course 1 - Buddhist Teachings for Daily Life) more info Click


***Journey to TGN's second home in Chanhassen, MN

For more information click here

Five tips for better meditation

This posting is from yesterday's Chicago Tribune. Enjoy!



For some novice meditators, the quest for inner peace can get a bit … stressful.

Do I "om?" Picture a white-sand beach? Breathe white light out of my nostril? Can I scratch that itch on my back before I lose my mind?

Studies show that meditation has many health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to boosting happiness. But nothing defeats the purpose like stressing out about it. So let's keep it simple.

Stephan Bodian, a California psychotherapist and author of "Meditation for Dummies," recommends mindfulness meditation as best for stress reduction. In mindfulness meditation, you let yourself be fully present in the moment by focusing on your breath.

Bodian offered five pointers:

1: Breath: Breathe naturally, without forcing anything. Notice the sensation at your nostrils, and the rise and fall of your chest and belly as you breathe. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.

2: Posture: Feel free to sit cross-legged, kneel, sit on a chair or lie down — whatever's most comfortable. The most important thing is posture: Your back should be straight but not rigid, so imagine that you're being pulled toward the sky with a string attached to the crown of your head. Try not to fidget or squirm; instead of immediately reacting to discomfort, be aware of how it affects you.

3: Eyes and tongue: Close your eyes, keep them open or leave them half open, but pick one way and stick with it throughout the meditation. To stabilize your tongue, rest it lightly on the roof of your mouth. This Zen technique is believed to cut down on subvocalization, which is when your tongue moves slightly with the thoughts that pass through your head.

4: Routine: You're more likely to incorporate meditation into your daily routine if you have a designated time and spot for it. Pick a quiet corner in your home, and turn off electronics. Mornings are good, before you drink any coffee so you're not wired. Try not to meditate after a heavy meal or just before bed because you tend to be sleepy. Set a timer to alert you to the end of your session to frame the meditation and give it a ritualistic quality. Aim to meditate at least five days a week; there's not much benefit if you do it once a week or every now and then.

5: Time: Meditating 20 to 30 minutes daily is ideal, but if you only have five or 10 minutes, go for it. There is no "right" way to meditate, so let go of goal orientation, and don't try to track your progress.