Episode 190 Exploring the Depths: A Know-Your-Soul Meditation

In this episode of The Real Enneagram, we delve into the theme of meditation, specifically focusing on a "know-your-soul" meditation. Joe shares his insights on the importance of understanding our essence and soul, emphasizing that our true identity goes beyond the mind.

We discuss Joe's personal journey with meditation, recalling his first experience at a study group during his time as a graduate student at Yale. He reflects on how meditation has transformed his life, allowing him to find stillness amidst the chaos of daily life.

Joe also introduces us to Heartfulness meditation, a practice that emphasizes the heart as the primary organ for connecting with our soul. He recounts his experiences at an ashram in India, where he learned this unique approach to meditation.

Before guiding us through a meditation session, Joe offers valuable advice for those new to meditation or returning after a break. He encourages a gentle approach, emphasizing relaxation and the importance of being present without expectations.

We conclude the episode with a guided meditation that invites listeners to connect with their inner selves, embodying aspects such as compassion, creativity, wisdom, and joy. This meditation serves as a reminder of the wholeness and serenity that can be accessed through mindful practice.

Thank you for joining us today! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends and family.

To learn more about the Institute for Conscious Being, visit: theicb.info

Transcript

Scott:
You are now listening to The Real Enneagram, a podcast by the Institute for Conscious Being. To learn more about the Institute and its offerings, visit theicb.info. That's T-H-E I-C-B dot I-N-F-O. Welcome to The Real Enneagram. I'm Scott Smith, and I'm here with Dr. Joe Howell. Hey, Scott. Hey, Joe. How are you doing today? I'm very well, thank you. I'm glad to be here. Well, I'm glad you're here, too. Our other host, Nanette Mudiam, is away on a trip this week, but never fear, she will be back in the next episode. Joe, I understand today you're going to share meditation with us.

Joe: Yes, I am. As the producer, you thought that it was time for us to have a meditation demonstration. And so I'm going to cooperate. And I thought you had a good idea.

Scott: Well, thank you, Joe. Thank you. Yeah, I mean, we talk about meditation a lot, so why don't we do a little meditation? Very good. At first, I thought maybe we'd talk just a little more about meditation. Okay, very good. So, today's meditation is a know-your-soul meditation and that's actually our theme for this year. So, what makes it a know-your-soul meditation? Could you tell us a little bit about that phrase?

Joe: Well, that phrase means a lot to me, Scott, because the more that I study the Enneagram and pursue my own spiritual search, the more I am beginning to understand that who we are is our essence. our soul, basically. And someone spoke to me just yesterday about the fact that with artificial intelligence coming into its own, humankind will have a mind that is really better than the human mind. It has access to all of the information that not one human has access to. And in that, jobs are going to be done away with. New ways of living in this world are going to evolve. in ways that we had no anticipation of before AI came into being. And as a result, humanity is going to have to find out who it is without looking to its mind for defining it. So if we are not our mind, or if there's a better mind through AI than the human mind, then what is a human? And what is good as a human? Those are huge questions. And for me, the question of who is the soul, what is the soul is a huge and vital question, because then humankind is going to have to answer it, because that's the definition. That will be the definition of who we really are.

Scott: Yeah, I feel like AI, you know, it has the potential to be much more clever than us, but I wonder if it can ever be truly wise. Probably not. Because I wonder if wisdom comes from the mind or if it comes from somewhere deeper.

Joe: Well, I believe that it comes from our depths, which is, I personally believe, which is where our soul is. The wisdom of the soul is far deeper than just the mental gymnastics and strategies of the mind, however clever they may be.

Scott: So, Joe, you've guided a lot of meditations at our retreats, our conferences, all sorts of events. What is that like? I mean, what qualities do you strive to embody when you're guiding a meditation?

Joe: Well, another good question, and that is when we're leading a guided meditation, the person who is the leader, I believe, needs to be very grounded. and grounded in first and foremost stillness. I never will forget at his Einhorn retreats, Eckhart Tolle went into great detail to explain the importance of stillness for the mind. the quieted mind that is able to reach the depths where the soul is. And that is a tremendous amount of grounding for us because once we are transparent, to that divine wisdom. Our words and our mentations are not really our own. They come from that deeper place in us where we are tethered really to the divine. I love that word groundedness. And so the words to me, know your soul, have been a mantra of my own and my own personal spiritual pilgrimage. And that includes so much of my study of and journey through the Enneagram and consciousness studies. And that is the title of my new book, Know Your Soul, Journeying with the Enneagram. And in that book, I tell about my personal story of different times in my life when I have had to rely on my soul, even if I wasn't at that time in my life, like in college, consciously aware of what I was doing.

Scott: I do love how your new book has personal stories, how you talk about yourself. It's quite lovely and refreshing in a way. And speaking of personal stories, I wonder do you remember the first time you meditated? And if you do, what was that like, Joe?

Joe: Yes. Well, I remember the first time I was exposed to real meditation. I was about 22 years old. I was a student, a graduate student at Yale. And I remember a small group invited me to visit them. It was a study group. They studied spirituality and meditation and the metaphysical. I believe the name of it was a breakout from an organization called the Association for Research and Enlightenment. They were very nice people, students as well, and a couple of people who just were in the association who happened to live in New Haven, and six or eight people. And it intrigued me, their meditation, because I had heard about transcendental meditation, because this was the late 60s, early 70s, and for me, early 70s, and transcendental meditation was something that was advertised as having a positive effect on the body, that the heart rate was lowered, And the science said that and the science also said that it lowered blood pressure and made us more receptive to our thoughts. And we were able to understand more of ourselves in a deeper way. So I was already very inquisitive about meditation. So when they invited me to the study group that began with meditation, I was very glad to be a member. It opened with some physical exercises with breathing, and then the word om, which was a beautiful word to say that they said opened up the area of your forehead where vibrations in the frontal lobe would stimulate your frontal lobe, om. And so that together with the breathing exercises and then sitting in the stillness with quiet was just fantastic for me. Because as a student, my mind was always racing. I was in a brand new and very stimulating environment. So quietness and stillness were not on my daily routine or lists of things to do, but I found out how powerful it was. And I had to take the student bus around campus because I was going to various classes in various parts of the university. And when I sat on the bus, I would meditate. And I remember having the thought, now that I know about meditation, I will never have to be bored again when I'm waiting or when I'm waiting to get somewhere.

Scott: Amen to that. Makes waiting in the doctor's office a lot less uncomfortable. Absolutely.

Joe: Just think you can always have something to do that is productive and that helps your brain and your spirit.

Scott: I've done a fair amount of mindfulness meditation and embodiment practices that have a definite meditative quality. And you know, washing the dishes isn't as much of a chore as it used to be. There's like a simple, subtle pleasure in ordinary things that we sort of… I don't know, lose sight of, I think, and it can be lovely to get back in touch with that. Absolutely.

Joe: Yeah.

Scott: So, there's also a specific type of meditation that you and Lark have gotten involved with in the past couple years and you've been sharing with us at our ICB events and it's called artfulness. I wonder if you could maybe tell us a little bit about what that is and why you find that it resonates with you so much. Thank you.

Joe: Yes. Well, Heartfulness is an international, actually a movement. It's a spiritual movement that comes from an ashram in India near Hyderabad, India, which is in the south, nearer to the east. It's a very large area with millions of people, the ashram is out in the country and is as large as, if not larger than a Disney World. It has tremendous facilities for retreatants who come to learn and to meditate and to listen to the teachings at the ashram. I had the wonderful experience, Lark and I did, with Nanette, the other co-host of this podcast, and her husband Sai Moodyam, of going, that's his home, Hyderabad, of going to India. a couple of years ago, and to be at this ashram and to learn the meditation that they teach. And I was just thoroughly impressed by this meditation that doesn't work through the mind only. In fact, it works through the organ of the heart primarily, and then the mind, and then the entire body. So, it has the Enneagram's three centers right there, mind, heart, and body. But the lead organ is the heart, which I like and they explain it as being that was the first organ that really was made in us that began operating. The brain was there, but it was very, very small. But the heart was beating even when we were very, very young fetuses. They believe that the heart and the emotions are the center point for going into the soul. I learned this meditation from their spiritual guide, their global leader, whose name is Daji. And we were very, very glad to have this private time with Daji, who explained this meditative exercise and who did it with us. So it means a lot. And since then, we have returned to heartfulness and have stayed there for a longer period, the ashram in India, and become more attuned to its finer points. And we meditate online every week with a representative of heartfulness who is called a preceptor. who has also trained and we have very much enjoyed our connection with Heartfulness Ashram and with their meditative practices.

Scott: How wonderful for you and Lark to have found that and to have shared it with all of us in the ICV community. Our pleasure. Well, Joe, before we get into this guided meditation that you've prepared for us today, do you have any words of advice for people that may be meditating for the first time or may just not have meditated in a while? I mean, general meditation advice and anything specific to this meditation? Sure, sure. I believe I love the word

Joe: Gently. In heartfulness meditation, the first thing that is said is gently close your eyes and gently relax your body. I love that word gently. And then it is said, sit very comfortably. Some meditations, you have to sit very, you know, in a lotus position or with your back very, very straight, etc. Rigidly rigid. Yeah. That is really not comfortable. And for me, it is for a lot of people, I'm sure. But the word gently and comfortably, those words are very important because it's a tenderness toward your being. It's an honoring of your being that to be part of this beautiful nature, this natural world, is not a stress point, but a relaxation point. To blend in with this world instead of being a rigid beacon to try to receive it. You're just one with it. So I like that, to be aware of that. The other thing is to not have any expectations. That the thoughts that come, if they're there, just come. and pass by like clouds in the sky or like boats on a river. You don't fixate on the thoughts. You don't try to make them go away. You just trust that they will gently move along. And that after the meditation is over, It's a good idea to review what happened because you're into your pre-conscious and subconscious minds in meditation, obviously, and what comes up is kind of like a dream. can be like a dream. They're going to be practical shopping list things that come up, but by and large, many of the topics are symbolic for what your psyche is needing to work on, just like the dream material is very important for what we are working on spiritually at that time in our lives. So to take a pad and paper and make a list of what came up during the meditation can be a wonderful thing for introspection and to do some inner work with. So those are my few little things for people to be aware of there.

Joe: That's very helpful, Joe. Thank you. Well, shall we meditate? Sure. and gently close your eyes and relax your body, your mind, your entire being.

Joe: With your feet on the floor, allow yourself to absorb the energy from Mother Earth beneath you. And as this energy comes from the earth through the floor, through the stories above the floor that you may be, through the joists, through the cement, through the carpet, allow Mother Earth energy to come through the soles of your feet, up through your ankles, up towards your knees,

Joe: And now gently from your knees upward to your hips. And now allow that relaxation to center on your lower pelvic area, your pelvic bowl, your cough, which is about just three fingers below your navel. and inside, and then from your navel, the entire torso with all the organs that it carries, intestines, stomach, kidneys, the lungs, the liver, and the heart itself. and upwards to your neck, your trachea, your esophagus.

Joe: And let your shoulders just melt and let that warm relaxation go down to each finger and each thumb. As you're aware of your body being filled with this beautiful Mother Earth relaxing energy, notice the serenity and tranquility that you have.

Joe: Allow it to come upward into your jaw from your neck. and relax your jaw and tongue, your cheeks, your nose and ears, your eyes, your eyelids, and let go of your eyebrows and your forehead. Relax your scalp. and all the way down your back, relaxing each of the vertebrae all the way to your sit bone. Notice now the absence of tension, the absence of frenzy or anxiety. Notice the serenity that you are having in this still moment. Notice that in the tranquil mind you are not planning anything for the future, but you are able to live in the now, in this moment right now. Drop your attention from your mind down to your heart and focus on the fact that the light inside your heart is inviting you inward and in that heart, in the center of your emotional life, connected to your soul. your entire chest is filled with the beating and the coherence of your heart with your breathing.

Joe: And then that feeling of light fills your entire body going toward your brain from your heart down toward your feet.

Joe: down from your shoulders to your arms and fingers. In this state, you are vulnerable and you are powerful because of your vulnerability. You're vulnerable because you are open. and you are protected because of your intention and meditating from the divine within you. Now, focus on alignment with all within you that is sacred and righteous. Righteous meaning aligned. Alignment with the divine energy. Within every cell of your being, within your mitochondria, within every part of the inter-cell structure with every cell of your body linked to divine energy. Now, focus on the compassion that you have for yourself and gently understand all that you have been through It gets you to this point of reaching out for spiritual energy, spiritual insight and growth. And now the compassion that you have for other people. Embody that compassion. by sensing that it is too part of you on your cellular level.

Joe: And now, think of the part of you that's not only compassionate for yourself and for others, but that is benevolent and gives to yourself and to others.

Joe: empathically and genuinely and generously.

Joe: Now understand that you are a being of action and of intention and at the place of sacred action.

Joe: allow yourself to see that the stillness energizes you and gives you energy to involve your body, mind, and spirit in action that makes you and the world better. Sacred action is the beautiful part of how we move in the world in consciousness and that all of our behaviors are to that end. And now move to the point of sacred creativity.

Joe: the creativity of your soul as a co-creator with this divine power that formed our very being.

Joe: In oneness with that power, we know from whence we came.

Joe: We know where our groundedness and our footing is, and we know our purpose.

Joe: From this, we have creative ideas.

Joe: about what to do in the world to create more things in this world that will bring enlightenment and betterment to all of the people on this earth.

Joe: We go now to the place of wisdom, sacred wisdom,

Joe: Just think of all the people who have come to you for your advice, for your know-how, for your guidance. This is your sacred wisdom. And now, as you get in touch with and embody that wisdom by understanding that it is part of how you move in the world, what you do, who you speak with, what you say, the knowledge that you acquire, know that that sacred wisdom

Joe: is what informs your sacred action.

Joe: And as you go to the place of sacred kinship, think of all of the friends and people who you have in your life.

Joe: The connections, the networks, the family,

Joe: all of the kinships that you have with people whose ideas are very aligned and syntonic with you. And those kinships with people whose ideas may differ with you, but that the agreement to be in relationship is definitely there.

Joe: This sacred kinship and all of these people are your teachers and your students. They are your companions in this life. They help bear our burdens. They help articulate who we are. They walk beside us. And they can carry what we cannot carry. And we can carry for them what they cannot carry. Next, we go to sacred joy.

Joe: And just that word brings a smile to our face.

Joe: This is sacred joy, which is different from egoic joy. Sacred joy. is all of the deep abiding joy that is in our depths, the gratitude for life itself, the knowledge that what we need will be given when we need it, the anticipation of all that brings laughter, and enjoyment into our lives. The deep joy of knowing that the connection to the divine remains even in tragedy and in hardship. Then imagine all of the people and activities that give you joy.

Joe: the deepest kind, the joy of children, the joy of a wonderful friendship, the joy of deep family connections, the joy of sacred kinship, the joy of giving and receiving, the joy of fun,

Joe: the joy of sharing and kindness. And now we turn to sacred power. And in sacred power, we understand our strength, our ability to move mountains, Our ability to make things happen and bring things into focus and bring things further along. Our ability to reach out to those who need and with our power and strength enable them to find their own strength.

Joe: The strength that we have when we are in adversity that reinforces the fact that we have what we need.

Joe: The strength of a fire to burn deeply within our hearts for the things that we know that make the world better. and can bring the world into its more evolved and ever-evolving form. Think of your power and the powerful people who have taught you and given their power to you and affirmed you in your own strength. Now, think of sacred love. All of the people in your life who have loved you and brought you into being, taught you and nurtured you, salvaged you, and engendered in you the qualities of your soul,

Joe: Think of the unconditional love that you have been given and that has been your saving grace when sometimes you didn't believe in yourselves, but they loved you enough to see you through that time. Think of those who you have provided that for. and think of how your soul has grown because of the power of love.

Joe: Love for yourself and in turn love for others. As you

Joe: Look around and you see where you have been, beginning with sacred alignment and righteousness, which is point one. And point two, sacred compassion and benevolence. And point three, sacred action. And point four, sacred creativity.

Joe: And point five, sacred wisdom. Point six, sacred kinship. Leading us to the next, which is point seven, sacred joy. And point eight, sacred power. And we have been to each of those points today, signifying the wholeness within each of us.

Joe: signifying the fact that we have access to all nine of these aspects of our divine nature.

Joe: And as you are aware of your breath now, gently sit in stillness, embodying all of these aspects, infusing them into your spirit. And when it's time, and your body will tell you when it's time, allow yourself to open your eyes very gently. And when you return to the room that you're in, be aware of the condition that you're in, this condition of wholeness, serenity, peacefulness, stillness. and the quietness of being, true being, and the authenticity and genuine nature that we have once we touch all of these divine aspects within ourselves. And at the right time, you will know as you enter

Joe: the space of where you are, that your meditation has formally ended, but you can remain in this condition for as long as you wish today.

Scott: Thank you for listening to The Real Enneagram, a podcast by the Institute for Conscious Being. To learn more about the Institute and its offerings, visit theicb.info. That's T-H-E I-C-B dot I-N-F-O. The music for today's podcast was composed and performed by ICB faculty member Drexel Rayford.

Nanette: Thanks for listening today.  We  hope  you  liked  what  you  heard.  If  you  did,  please  subscribe, l eave  a  review,  and  share  this  with  your  friends  and  family.