Awakenings

Rev. Jonalu Johnston, Adult Religious Educator
First Unitarian Church
Oklahoma City, OK

What does the process of awakening mean? Here are some exercises to try alone or with your family.

How do you wake up? Burst out of bed or linger in the warmth? What do you notice when you first wake up – smells? Sounds? Light? Tomorrow morning, take time to notice how you awaken. Talk with others in your household about waking up. Different ways of awakening physically, such as gradual or sudden awakening, may relate to different ways of waking up spiritually.

Awakening involves seeing things in a new way. Look at a common everyday object (a plate or a stick, for example) in a new way. Notice things you haven't noticed about it before. How many ways can you think of using the object? For example, a blanket could be a tumbling mat or a tent.

Draw with a different hand than you usually use. What does your picture look like? What do you learn from looking at something differently?

"Used-to-thinks" are old ideas that we have given up. I used to think that teachers knew everything. I used to think that aliens might get you in the dark. I used to think that electricity was magic. When we have awakenings, we give up old ideas. Share some of your "used-to-thinks" with others. Maybe they used to think the same things you did.

Buddha's awakening came as he meditated under the Bo tree. Many religious traditions view meditation as a way to spiritual awakening. It may give you a fresh perspective. If you have never tried to meditate, practice for at least 10 minutes every day for a week. Gradually, lengthen the time. Find a comfortable position, seated with your feet on the floor. Here are some things to try:

Breathing meditation. Focus on your breath. Feel it move into your body and out. Breathe in counting to four; hold your breath while counting to four; then breathe out while counting to four. Repeat this sequence over and over.

Watch the flickering of a candle. Focus intently on the flame and its movement until your awareness is completely with the movement of the light.

Empty your mind. If a thought pops into your mind, imagine a balloon around it, and let the balloon drift away into the sky.

Chanting. Repeat a simple chant over and over. Here are words to one: "We are one with the infinite sun forever and ever and ever."

It's okay if meditation is boring at first; it's supposed to be. Eventually, though, your perspective may change, as you have time to relax your mind.