Search - Pamela Miles & Steve Gorn :: meditate

Brushing the tangles out of the mind

Amy Weintraub | 12/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pamela Miles has worked in integrative health care for 45 years. She's a Reiki Master, who has written an excellent book on the subject, Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide. Steve Gorn is a master of the Indian bansuri flute. The new CD contains 9 tracks, beginning with basic instructions. Gorn's bamboo flute interludes, accompanied by the meditative drone of the fretless tamboura are woven throughout.



"Meditation," says Miles in the welcoming first track, "brushes the tangles out of the mind, rejuvenates the mind, and makes it shine." She likens the mind to a "subtle organ that needs care" and suggests that you approach the practice with confidence. People feel they fail, she says, only when they have an impossible vision of what meditation is.



Miles spends time helping new meditators explore sitting postures that might work best for their bodies, and then introduces a simple and accessible breath observation practice to begin the meditation experience.



Although consistency matters, and Miles recommends sitting to meditate every day, at the same time, you might consider keeping the CD on your listening device, perhaps even your computer, and taking brief meditation breaks. Track 4, "Observing the Natural Breath," for example, is only 3:44, and might just focus your energy so that you feel more productive as you return to your work. Don't forget, at those busy, challenging times, when we most often tell ourselves we don't have time

to meditate, is when we need meditation most!

"

A Very Helpful Tool

Lisa F. Langer | 12/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This meditation CD is a fantastic teaching tool for beginning meditators and a helpful guide for more experienced meditators. For beginners, Pamela Miles explains clearly and simply how to meditate as well as providing valuable information regarding spirituality. For more experienced meditators, Pamela reminds us of our seat and our intentions. Her soothing voice and ability to articulate intelligently make the CD the best meditation CD I have found. Steve Gorn's accompanying music creates a profound setting for us to turn inward in a peaceful way. The CD is best used in parts, depending on the length of the desired meditation. I am recommending it to all of my students who are interested in developing a meditation practice.

Lisa Langer, Yoga Instructor, NYC"

Accessible meditation!

Beth Lowell | Morristown, NJ | 01/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Meditate! (By Beth Lowell for 'The Reiki Digest')



Unlike many of my fellow Reiki practitioners, I don't come from a yoga background. Meditation was new to me when I learned Reiki, but I knew it was key to my success as a practitioner. I just wasn't sure how to go about it. Meditation loomed large and intangible in my mind. I envisioned that after years of practice I would be able to go into some sort of a white zone where my mind could become an empty slate. I was eager to do it, but the problem was that when I sat down to practice, I could barely endure two minutes. My goal seemed impossible. If only Pamela Miles' and Steve Gorn's Meditate CD had been available, my problem with meditation would have been resolved quickly and painlessly.



Accompanied by the incredible music of Steve Gorn, Pamela Miles welcomes the listener in the opening track and immediately gets to the heart of what makes it so hard for many to embrace meditation. She explains how meditation "brushes the tangles out of the mind" in a way that makes meditation more accessible, and therefore offers a real possibility for the listener's success. She hones in on common misconceptions about what people think meditation is or should be, and simplifies the process, immediately putting the listener at ease.



Pamela drills down to the significance of music as a gateway to awareness and explains the healing effects of the tamboura, the flute and the gong, which are featured throughout the CD, and her points about flexibility and non-judgement of the experience allow the listener to understand the essence of what meditation is, fostering confidence.



As the CD unfolds, Pamela weaves in detailed information about the relationship of the body, mind and breath. She guides the listener through posture and breathing, giving practical advice on variations of the techniques for those who may not be flexible enough to sit cross-legged or breathe through their nose. Along the way, Pamela also explains how each part of the posture contributes to the overall experience. As she takes the listener step by step through positioning each part of the body, she notes its effect as the listener feels what it's like to sit in the space between heaven and earth and ultimately to receive the highest understanding of being human.



Those who are not new to meditation will love the CD just as much as beginners will. Pamela shares so many insights gained from a lifetime of practice that with each subsequent playing, new understanding will be gained. Users can program their listening devices to repeat instructional tracks and skip to whichever evocative musical piece they prefer. I'll be listening to this CD for years to come. I know you will be, too.

"