Heart Meditation

[IainH]

Meditation has been a common practice in both the East and West; although the methods vary, they share a common purpose, the exploration of the self in order to create an illusion of control over their lives. 
  I've been practicing what I'm calling "heart meditation" ; its purpose is to train myself to be able, at quiet times, to quickly establish a connection via my heart to the throne of grace. I can do this already but, I have to be in a quiet darkened room with no distractions, for a while, to connect heart to heart with my savior. When God is the initiator, it doesn't matter what kind of racket is going on, He gets straight through.
 Like so much of this stuff there is no "one size fits all" like American Christianity.

[Ed Hurst]

Amen to none of that one-size-fits-all religious experience. For me, it's often best to be walking or riding my bicycle. The physical fades into the activity, while my mind slips into a space of servanthood. That business of the brain taking a passive role did not come easily, but with considerable practice. I'm still working on it, but it seems to grow with time.

[IainH]

Amen to none of that one-size-fits-all religious experience. For me, it's often best to be walking or riding my bicycle. The physical fades into the activity, while my mind slips into a space of servanthood. That business of the brain taking a passive role did not come easily, but with considerable practice. I'm still working on it, but it seems to grow with time.

  The key for me is, as you say, getting the brain passive. I can do it listening to music but most often it's when I'm riding my old Sporty. For starters, she is more than just a machine, her "p'tater..p'tater..p'tater" sound is like a beating heart.. There are moments when it's just me, Buttercup and Jesus which brings an exhilaration unlike any other. It's like I'm alone with my Redeemer His heart and mine are one. This is the point where language breaks down entirely and the moment is pure Spirit. It doesn't happen every time I ride and there are no prerequisites. It is for His Glory and whenever I stop for a break His Glory shines through and touches those I meet. There is no "script" to "lead" a person  onto the heart led path, that is God's doing. When the opportunity arises we may not even mention Christ because, again that is the Spirits domain, we are His vessels shining forth His Magnificence.
Shalom Y'all and remember to K.O.K.O!
With continuing Love, Affection and gratitude to my dear friends, 
                                                                                                                   Mr Iain.

[jaybreak]

Amen to none of that one-size-fits-all religious experience. For me, it's often best to be walking or riding my bicycle. The physical fades into the activity, while my mind slips into a space of servanthood. That business of the brain taking a passive role did not come easily, but with considerable practice. I'm still working on it, but it seems to grow with time.

  The key for me is, as you say, getting the brain passive. I can do it listening to music but most often it's when I'm riding my old Sporty. For starters, she is more than just a machine, her "p'tater..p'tater..p'tater" sound is like a beating heart.. There are moments when it's just me, Buttercup and Jesus which brings an exhilaration unlike any other. It's like I'm alone with my Redeemer His heart and mine are one. This is the point where language breaks down entirely and the moment is pure Spirit. It doesn't happen every time I ride and there are no prerequisites. It is for His Glory and whenever I stop for a break His Glory shines through and touches those I meet. There is no "script" to "lead" a person  onto the heart led path, that is God's doing. When the opportunity arises we may not even mention Christ because, again that is the Spirits domain, we are His vessels shining forth His Magnificence.
Shalom Y'all and remember to K.O.K.O!
With continuing Love, Affection and gratitude to my dear friends, 
                                                                                                                   Mr Iain.

Thanks for this explanation. I should, maybe paradoxically, consciously figure out the best way for me. I could probably do this on the bus ride home from work, or when I walk in the morning. I generally like to read on the bus so the walk might be a better fit. Sometimes I don't walk though, so if this were to be a daily thing I'd have to figure something else out. The problem is, the best times when I should be passive, I'm thinking about things: stories or ideas, etc., so out of anything I need to learn/train myself not to do that so much.

[Ed Hurst]

The brain and heart can work in parallel, and the awareness filters through later. The key is to develop the linkage by taking a few moments every now and then to reorient, the "turn on" your awareness of the heart at work. Keep re-centering as often as it occurs to you. It's not so much walking and riding, but being in a quiet place where I can talk out loud to God. That's more important than any activity.

[jaybreak]

The brain and heart can work in parallel, and the awareness filters through later. The key is to develop the linkage by taking a few moments every now and then to reorient, the "turn on" your awareness of the heart at work. Keep re-centering as often as it occurs to you. It's not so much walking and riding, but being in a quiet place where I can talk out loud to God. That's more important than any activity.

Thanks for this, Ed. I want to try getting to a place where this becomes a good habit. I'm not there yet but I'm going to at least start soon.