About Heart Sessions

Hello all. This blog is intended to honor the group meditations initiated by Tom Sawyer, now carried on by friends of his since his passing. Being physically spread out as we are we have agreed to sit down in our own homes at the same clock time, 9pm EST on Sunday nights. We sit for at least 20 minutes, although sitting for longer periods is no problem if you so choose.


There is no specified technique for these meditations. Precisely prescribed actions sometimes become unauthentic and what is meaningful for one person may not be for another. So if you choose to assist you may use a favored technique or listen within, apply self-honesty, and allow growth. There is no political or economic agenda involved. There are no dues or dogma. The essential point is an honest willingness to help.


Each week there is a suggested focus as posted on this blog. We previously had been using an email list but now, through the kind assistance and generous guidance of Barbara Whitfield and Donald Brennan, we have the pleasure of this blog forum. Loving thanks to you both. Comments may be left by clicking the "Leave Comments Here" link below each post.

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Thursday, August 29

For Sunday September 1st, 2024

Gracious greetings to all. So far the spiritual transformation of humanity has not been simple. Those who cling to personal desires of lust and power are clinging tightly. Those who foresee a more spiritual, heart-centered vision may experience a sense of frustration because of that.

The fact is that the majority of humanity learns slowly, often by way of difficulties. This is their chosen path according to their free will. An integral part of living more spiritually is to honor the paths of others.

So, this Sunday evening, may we sit as observers. May our own personal frailties be like gusts of wind which rise up then pass on by, un-grasped at. May we find an inner peace which allows all to have their chosen paths.

Reverently submitted,

Richard

Sunday, August 25

For Sunday August 25th, 2024

Hello again, life giving people. In general, it may be that the major problems in society today come from a lack of connection with each other. People all too easily go through check-out lines on auto-pilot, as does the cashier. We tend to stare at impersonal phones while collecting impersonal information. We often side-line our own creative expressions in favor of watching and sharing the work of others. The deep beauty of life is displaced by a search for empty activities.

Our lack of fulfilling, authentic, heart-felt connections leaves room for anxieties and fears to creep in, diluting the value of our days.

May we sit this evening aware of our human need for connection. May we find the inspiration to reach out in even the tiniest ways to those we encounter in life. May the simple basic beauty of our hearts show through our daily lives.

Reverently submitted,

Richard

Sunday, August 18

For Sunday August 18th, 2024

Hello beautiful people. The thing is, during meditation, to become aware of what our brain is doing. We all know what 'monkey mind' is and often chide ourselves about it, or become frustrated about it, or waste our energy in any other variation of struggle and worry over it. But, when we look at the human condition we may realize that chiding and frustration are a dangerous waste of time and effort.

There's too much at stake and there is so much available to us when we drop it.

May we sit this evening with the awareness of what our minds are doing. May we see what is needed. May we drop the wasted efforts and plunge in.

Bless you all for all you do,

Richard

Sunday, August 11

For Sunday August 11th, 2024

Hello and gracious greetings to all. As we know, no one Is promised a perfect life. We come into this Earthly form with a willingness to accept the many whims of nature and the chaos of life – in order to love and be loved in return.

We don't know how long we've got, nor how long our loved ones will have. So, we just have to 'go for it', knowing the love we create will far outlast our Earthly forms.
 
May we sit this evening aware of the love we've already created, and knowing there's more to come from our willing hearts.

Thank you and bless you all,

Richard 

Sunday, August 4

For Sunday August 4th, 2024

Greetings good people. J. Krishnamurti and Rudolf Steiner both encourage people to go beyond themselves in meditation. They ask that we manage to not avoid our emotions but to identify them, to not stop ourselves from thinking but to notice the process of thinking. This requires open ended observance, no judgements, no engagement, just simply observing as you would watch a boat pass by on the water.
 
The reason? Because we are not our emotions nor our thoughts. They come from us, but we are not them, we are something deeper yet.

May we sit this evening in 'search' of that something deeper. Emotions and thinking are easier to set aside once identified. Perhaps, just perhaps, we'll find that place of pure observance.

Bless you all,

Richard