…dissolving attachments, negative emotions and ignorance.
The R4B Method is an adaptation of ancient spiritual disciplines blended with contemporary psychology. This powerful practice of meditative movement is explained in stages. In the beginning stage a goal, affirmation, mantra or prayer is carefully formulated, then silently repeated in rhythm with breath, in rhythm with movement. This may create internal conflict with historical experiential programming from parents, school, relationships or culture. If this occurs, fine tuning of the cognitive input is called for to dissolve the internal conflict.
When this beginning stage is flowing without internal conflict, the R4B practice shifts to the intermediate stage. This involves practitioners expressing their intention aloud, in rhythm with breath, in rhythm with movement. This stimulates practitioners’ brain/mind immersion into a more penetrating and expansive awareness of the intention that is being expressed aloud. This immersion heightens the practitioners’ perceptual sensitivity to hints, clues, signs and signals related to the intention.
Problem solving, decision making, planning and other skillful means accelerate learning and progress during the intermediate stage. As progress toward manifestation accumulates, the risk at this stage is a strengthening of the ego’s desire for more. Visualization during the advanced stage tends to enhance creativity and innovative solutions to persistent problems and dissatisfactions. This may intensify the practitioner’s self congratulatory ego. Thoughts of I/me/mine may increase, as well as egotistical comparisons to others who appear to be less fortunate or capable.
These three stages support satisfaction of needs and wants when they are expressed as goals and objectives that are repeated in rhythm with breath and movement. The view from ancient spiritual disciplines, however, cautions this path may lead to suffering that arises from attachment, anger and ignorance. These have been called the three poisons.
Mastery of the R4B method is like that of other more traditional spiritual disciplines. It includes mastery of an enlightened view and additional nuanced practices. Dissolving attachments, negative emotions and ignorance of the dharma clarifies the path to a more joyful life with demonstrably less suffering and dissatisfaction.
The journey toward Mastery includes balancing a focus on needs/wants with cultivation of empty awareness through meditation. Moments of insightful wisdom are more likely to arise as empty awareness is cultivated. These moments can become threads of a delicate tapestry of guidance for the journey from ignorance to insightful self awareness and enlightenment.
As clinging to the satisfaction of unnecessary wants is recognized, mindful breathing can support the process of letting go by consciously extending the duration of exhalations. Mindful breathing with extended exhalations also supports the necessary dissolution of anger and other harmful emotions.
The dissolution of ignorance, however, involves more than mindful breathing and a recognition of the generic causes of suffering [attachment, anger and ignorance]. Dissolution of ignorance includes the motivation to better understand and follow a dharma path.
There is a vast multitude of teachings on the dharma. Possibly the simplest approach to living the dharma involves cultivation of the four immeasurables: kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.
The R4B Method can be used to cultivate kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity
Cognitive inputs can be repeated in rhythm with breath in rhythm with movement as well as repeated as a meditative mantra when sitting quietly . Consider these examples using the “I am…” input stem:
- I am not my thoughts, feelings, body or behavior. I am awareness.
- I am cultivating kindness and compassion
- I am being kind and compassionate
- I am experiencing more joyful living
- I am cultivating equanimity
In the mastery stage, consider shifting from the “I am…” input stem to using mantra to support the process of becoming. These key inputs can be repeated in rhythm with breath in rhythm with movement, as well as when sitting quietly and repeated in rhythm with the breath on the inhale and exhale.
- being kindness
- sharing compassion
- being joyful
- experiencing more equanimity
Repetition of these inputs will increase awareness of moments when they arise in the direct experience of daily living. This contributes to a dissolution of suffering that has previously arisen from attachments, negative emotion and ignorance of the dharma.
There are, of course, many steps to cultivating a kinder, more compassionate and joyful life. Consciously programming one’s body/mind/behavior to manifest such a life can become a momentous step into the direct daily experience of such a life.
May such a dharma journey unfold for all who take this step.and the world.
🙏💕🌎
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