Embodied as the Universe

I’ve been doing a practice that mixes two recent meditations I recently stumbled across. Here are the two ingredients.

1. Diane Hamilton’s talk at the Buddhist Geek’s conference about the Big Mind process. Rather than explain it here, I’ll let you listen to that talk. It’s really good.

2. The At home in the body meditation I reblogged recently from Microwave Meditations a few days ago. Again, check it out if you haven’t yet.

When I’ve tried the the Big Mind meditation, I get stuck at the Universe level. I really have difficulty identifying with that level. So I had the idea of starting with at home in the body, and then, metta style, expanding that scope gradually up to the Universe level. This worked for me, and I am able to experience the “at home in the Universe” feeling. I’ve also incorporated the concept of blurring the line between identifying with and identifying as each level. Because, really, is there a difference?

So, it goes something like this. I typically repeat each stanza twice and pause to really take it in.

I am at home in the body, of the body, as the body.

I am at home in this family, of this family, as this family.

I am at home in this town, of this town, as this town. (I use my real town name here.)

I am at home in this state, of this state, as this state. (Again, I use Massachusetts here.)

I am at home in the United States, of the United States, as the United States.

I am at home in the World, of the World, as the World.

I am at home in the Universe, of the Universe, as the Universe.

This practice has been helpful to me in feeling more embodied, and expanding the concept of self to encompass all things. Try it out and let me know what you think.