1. Describe your experience. (Did you find it beneficial? Difficult?) Why or Why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or Why not?
The loving-kindness practice Audio was a practice that I know I need to practice often. I was able to relax enough to breath out health and joy to my loved ones and breath in their pain and suffering, and I was also able to imagine myself surrounded by a circle of strangers and do the same. I did have difficulties with the people in my life that I allow to stress me, cause turmoil, or just an uneasiness (I can’t think of any real enemies maybe Adolf Hitler). So I just used the people in my life that are a life-trial for me. I was not able to take in their suffering and pain...I felt as if I was going to poison my body per-say. Is that wrong? I felt myself getting agitated and losing my sense of calmness.
2. What is the concept of “Mental Workout? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a Mental Work Out? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?
By using the loving-kindness and subtle mind practices as part of our daily lives, we will be able to tame and train our minds, open our hearts, expand consciousness, and progress towards psychospiritual flourishing. As I have implemented a year ago a daily exercise program that has just become a habit (a part of my life), I also need to work on my mental workout and make that a part of my life. I consider the mind and body 2 separate entities, you can work on them separately, but when both are flourishing, you have a mind/body connection. After doing the exercise on Dacher’s CD I learnt that I need to work on being able to help the enemy, take in their pain and suffering and give back to them love and joy (that’s a tuff one for me).
