Hour 60 Meditation – Open Sky Meditation – Accessing Vastness

Open Sky Meditation – Accessing Vastness

Introduction to Open Sky Meditation

Open Sky Meditation is a very effective method that utilizes the symbolism of the limitless, open sky to enable the practitioner to tap into the boundlessness of the universe and his or her authentic nature. Through this practice, the practitioner applies the imagery of the open sky to induce an expansive state of awareness and interior spaciousness. By equating the mind to the vastness of the sky, this meditation enables one to transcend the ego and narrow-minded thinking, and touch the infinite potential within.

In Indian Yogic philosophy, the sky is commonly understood as a metaphor for unadulterated consciousness or awareness – boundless, unlimited, and untainted by attachment. Open Sky Meditation facilitates this vast awareness, inviting the practitioner to rise above personal self and reach out to the infinite space beyond personal thoughts and feelings.

This meditation is especially helpful for individuals who feel trapped by their mental habits, emotions, or constricting beliefs. It provides a means to taste freedom and liberation through the exercise of awareness and the development of an open mind and heart.

The Essence of Open Sky Meditation

At its essence, Open Sky Meditation is a matter of letting the mind become as expansive and open as the sky. Just as the sky contains everything – clouds, birds, storms, and sunshine – this practice assists the practitioner in taking in the entirety of their experience, unattached and without judgment.

Key Elements of Open Sky Meditation:

Immersive and Infinity: The meditation is about being one with the concept of a boundless, expansive sky beyond the horizon. The immensity is a metaphor for boundless awareness.

Escape from the Ego: Like the sky that has no limit, the meditation invites practitioners to let go of the limitations of ego so the mind can be free to flow into a state of unadulterated awareness.

Non-Attachment: The sky doesn’t cling to any specific cloud, but it contains them all. Likewise, in Open Sky Meditation, the meditator learns to see their thoughts and feelings without attachment.

Spacious Awareness: The meditator becomes sensitive to the space between thoughts, feelings, and even the breath. This space is compared to the open sky, a space that is expansive, transparent, and boundless.

Practical Guide to Open Sky Meditation

Open Sky Meditation is an easy yet profoundly transformative exercise that can be performed by anyone, anywhere. Below is a step-by-step manual on how to practice Open Sky Meditation.

Steps to Practice Open Sky Meditation:

Preparation of the Space:

Identify a quiet, cozy place where you can sit undisturbed.

You might prefer to sit outdoors in nature to amplify the sense of oneness with the sky or inside by a window where you can visualize the enormity beyond.

Get comfortable seated with your back aligned. You might sit on a cushion, chair, or meditation stool.

Setting an Intention:

Before beginning, set an intention for your practice. It could be as simple as “I am open to experiencing the vastness within me” or “I am ready to connect with infinite awareness.”

Take a few moments to reflect on the vastness of the sky, knowing that this is a reflection of your true nature.

Focus on the Breath:

Gently shut your eyes and focus on your natural breathing. Feel the inhalation and exhalation without attempting to regulate it.

Let your breath be the anchor that keeps you present in the moment.

Visualization of the Sky:

Start imagining the open sky above you. Picture yourself sitting under an infinite sky, extending out in all directions. There is no boundary, no limit to this infinity.

See the sky as expansive, transparent, and open. Breathing in, let the expansive energy of the sky infill your existence. With every exhalation, let go of any limitation or constriction.

Embracing the Thoughts and Emotions:

As you are sitting under this vast sky, observe any thoughts or emotions that come to mind. Let them drift by as clouds in the sky.

Do not try to push them aside or get entangled in them. Just watch them, understanding that they are like transient clouds that pass and disappear, but the sky is expansive and untroubled.

Opening to the Boundless Awareness:

Change your awareness from the image of the sky to the sense of the expansiveness itself. Release any boundaries, limitations, or identification with your thoughts and feelings.

Tune into the sense of spaciousness inside. Just as the sky contains everything without clinging, permit yourself to contain the totality of your experience in a sense of spacious awareness.

Expansion of Awareness:

As you sit within the expanse, permit your awareness to open wider than your physical form. Imagine that your consciousness is as expansive and open as the sky itself. Sense the boundless connection to all that is about you.

Permit the feeling of vastness to pervade your being, infusing a feeling of freedom and liberation from the boundaries of the self.

Coming Back to the Present Moment:

To end the meditation, slowly bring awareness back to the physical body and the space around you. Breathe deeply a few times, sensing the body and the space.

Slowly open your eyes, carrying the sense of vastness and openness into your day.

The Benefits of Open Sky Meditation

Open Sky Meditation offers numerous benefits that can transform the practitioner’s mental, emotional, and spiritual life. Some of the key benefits include:

Expanded Awareness:

By connecting with the vastness of the sky, the mind becomes more open, and awareness expands beyond the ego.

Emotional Release:

This meditation enables practitioners to let go of emotional blockages and attachment, enabling emotional freedom.

Stress Reduction:

The practice of expansive awareness reduces mental tension and stress.

Increased Clarity:

Open Sky Meditation promotes clarity through the creation of mental space, enabling greater insight and understanding.

Connection to the Infinite:

This practice reminds one of their connection to the infinite, which promotes a sense of unity and wholeness.

Spiritual Awakening:

By developing extensive awareness, the practitioner feels more closely connected to the spiritual aspects of life.

Challenges and Challenges in Open Sky Meditation

Although Open Sky Meditation is easy to practice, it does pose challenges for other practitioners. Here are some of the common challenges and how to deal with them:

Restlessness of the Mind:

Solution: Accept that restlessness is the process. Permit the thoughts to arise and pass away without participation, similar to clouds passing in the sky.

Reflection: How do you handle it when the mind is agitated? Are you able to watch it like watching clouds without becoming entangled in them?

Attachment to Thoughts and Emotions

Solution: Practice non-attachment by watching thoughts and feelings without judgment. Keep in mind that they are transient and do not define you.

Reflection: Do you identify with your thoughts and feelings? Can you practice watching them without becoming attached to them?

Difficulty Visualizing the Sky:

Solution: If you find it hard to visualize the sky, simply attend to the sensation of spaciousness or vastness. You can also practice by meditating outside, directly with the open sky.

Reflection: How does it feel to be outside in nature or under the open sky? Can you feel the vastness even without visualization?

Reflective Questions

How does the metaphor of the open sky speak to you? How do you feel its vastness in your practice?

What feelings or thoughts arise for you when sitting in stillness under the open sky? How do you engage with them?

How does Open Sky Meditation practice influence your feeling of freedom and liberation from the ego?

During times of feeling restricted or bounded, are you able to access the limitless awareness of the sky inside you?

How does the metaphor of unlimited awareness shift your understanding of your life and spiritual path?

Conclusion

Open Sky Meditation provides a deep method to access the limitless potential that resides within you. Through the practice of spacious awareness, you are able to transcend the confines of the ego and tap into the vastness of consciousness. Through consistent practice, you can come to accept your true nature as limitless, expansive, and unrestricted.

May your meditation practice in Open Sky deepen your feeling of connectedness to the universe and aid you in being aware of the unlimited potential inside yourself.