Recovering from trauma through meditation - an account of a 9/11 survivor

Everything that we do comes through habit...

Humans are habitual beings - through familiarity activities become easier, simpler and more enjoyable.

Just as when we learn a musical instrument, learn to drive - initially it is complex and confusing - but then through practice and experience it starts to become familiar and then second nature.  We forget what it was like at the first attempt.

Habits of mind take us in particular directions.

If you want your life to evolve in a specific way then you need to create the appropriate pattern within your consciousness - meditation helps us create this pattern and make it deeper and deeper.

Yesterday I met a lady who's brother had been in the Twin Towers when they were attacked - he survived, his partner died, he went through a long period of mental breakdown and trauma - he was hospitalized.

Some years later he met a meditation teacher. He discovered that through training in meditation he could train, control and stabilize his mind - he practiced and it worked - he recovered. 

He created a habit of mind which gradually helped him to recover from his traumatic experience, come to terms with his loss and move on in his life and begin to experience peace and freedom.

Learn to meditate online here.

Comments

[Create Mind Space]

Hi Clare

I think the word control can be misunderstood.

Acceptance as you state is essential.

Yes the idea of control can make the mind more rigid.

It depends how you go about it -

For example training in breathing meditation when the mind becomes distracted if you don't try to control the mind by bringing it back to its object then the meditation cannot progress.

This process of bringing the mind back to the object is where we are exercising part of the mind called mindfulness. I believe this is controlling the mind. It can and of course needs to be done very gently.

Or if we suffer from road rage - yes we have to accept that we have road rage but at some point there needs to be a strength and control of mind to stop the rage and replace it with patience and acceptance.

What do you think?

Have a good day and good luck with your walk!

[BeyondAlchemy]

Hi Adam,
Thank you for sharing this with us.

It's wonderful to hear of a story where meditation has been able to help someone through such trauma, in such a gentle and profound way.
Interesting, though, that his teacher taught him to "control" and stabilise his mind.
For me, teaching meditation is about helping students to ** accept ** their mind, rather than control it. In that way, we move more easily towards acceptance of everything else in life - and inner peace.
Trying to control anything is potentially about resistance and non-acceptance.

It's one of the biggest challenges for my students, to learn that they can quieten their mind most effectively by loving and accepting it, rather than forcing it to change!

Would love to hear your thoughts on this one?
Namaste,
Clare

Clare Josa