My early attempts at meditation were often thwarted by a struggle to empty or focus my very busy mind. I mostly saw it as a personal spiritual practice which never quite landed for me. One book that did inspire me early, was Be Here Now by Ram Das, helping me to understand meditation as an effort to be present to life in the here and now.
In more recent years, I have very much appreciated the contribution of Neuroscience to meditation in the form of Mindfulness. The scientific approach of Mindfulness has helped me to better understand meditation as simply the effort to be present, as “an invitation to come home” from the demands of past and future concerns. I have been inspired by the studies on the affect of mindful awareness on emotional regulation, changes in thought patterns, and modification of behavior.
Today, along with practices that help me to let go of the chatter and to focus my attention, I try to primarily remember to take moments of observation to notice my surroundings and relationships; to notice what I am sensing, thinking, and feeling. Aware by Daniel J. Siegel, MD is a helpful guide for practicing mindfulness.
“When we speak of mindfulness, it is important to keep in mind that we equally mean heartfulness. In fact, in Asian languages, the word for “mind” and the word for “heart” are usually the same. So if you are not hearing or feeling the word heartfulness when you encounter or use the word mindfulness, you are in all likelihood missing its essence” Jon Kabat-Zinn
The movement of mindfulness to heartfulness is a movement toward a deeper connection with self and others, a movement toward increasing Emotional Intelligence. In his book From Mindfulness to Heartness, Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu expounds on several areas of attention to focus the practice of mindfulness on the Journey of the Heart. These areas are Vulnerability, Authenticity, Connectedness, Listening, Acceptance, Gratitude, and Service.
The journey from mindfulness to heartfulness involves cultivating inner Coherence, the alignment and harmony between the head and heart. The HeartMath Institute has been studying the connection and communication between the heart and brain for over thirty years. Through measurement of heart rate variability, brain waves, and the electromagnetic field, HeartMath has scientifically explored the effect of focusing the breath and positive emotions like appreciation and gratitude.
My experience has confirmed that the practice of coherent breathwork, along with the mindful focus of my attention on gratitude, provides a reliable tool for shifting my internal energy and focusing my life’s direction. I have found that mindful moments throught the day brings me home, and home is where the Heart is. I have come to believe that it is only through the Journey of the Heart that we find the path of personal, relational, and cultural transformation.