By Spencer Delisle
A Silent Retreat teacher shares his touching experience with a war veteran who experienced profound healing and deep rest after learning SKY Breath Meditation.
Life can be challenging. Situations don’t always go the way we would expect them or would like them to go. Sometimes we can shake off a difficult experience, learn something, and move on. Like water off a duck's back, these experiences fall from our memory, and they don’t have too much of an effect on us. But then, there are other times.
Research has demonstrated that it is not the event itself that causes the stress but our perception of it. The perception of stressful or traumatic events is often paired with a high level of emotional intensity related to the event. Just as the energy of the sun is essential for the grass to grow, the intensity of a concentrated beam from a magnifying glass can burn the grass to cinders. In the same way, emotions are a natural part of life, they come and go, however, when negative emotions are experienced with a high level of intensity the impression of this event gets lodged in the memory in a deeper way, and can burn our nervous system. When you glide your finger through water the impression only lasts for a moment, but when you glide your finger through sand it lasts longer. Traumatic events are like gliding your finger through cement. The impression is more established and becomes more difficult to let it go, heal, and move on. This can often lead to a vicious cycle where the trauma leads to decreased resilience, hypersensitivity, and then more susceptibility to stress, and trauma, and more impressions, and the cycle continues.
In the same way that oil and dirt on a mirror would obstruct us from seeing our reflection, these negative impressions obstruct us from connecting with the peace, love, and joy that is our nature. Thankfully, SKY Breath Meditation can really help to wipe the mirror clean. No matter what happened, SKY Breath Meditation can remove these impressions from the past with the power of the breath. As the impressions leave we can become more connected with ourselves and start to live from our innermost essence, peace, joy, and love. SKY is not a magic formula to make all our problems disappear but rather a cleansing practice to release stress. Dental hygiene is so important to us that most of us brush our teeth multiple times a day but when was the last time you took care of your mental hygiene? SKY Breath Meditation is cleansing of our mind. Millions around the world practice SKY every day, and with just a few minutes of practice the results are impressive. But don’t take my word for it, examine the powerful results of research done around the world on SKY for yourself.
For survivors of trauma, how the event is perceived often can determine how one’s recovery progresses. That perception depends on so many variables, including one’s childhood, environment, and upbringing. There are so many external factors to be considered in the healing journey of trauma. So much so, that it could oftentimes feel unfair, as though one is stuck swimming against the current in the middle of the ocean with no way out.
How can traumatic impressions affect us?
Recently we facilitated programs as part of a research study examining the effects of SKY on first responders and war veterans in Canada with PTS (Post Traumatic Stress). One of the participants was in such a state of hypervigilance, from among many factors, years of built-up stress, and trauma that he couldn't even sit still. Every little sound would make him jump out of his seat, shaking with anxiety.
Like many veterans, he came back from deployment with intense trauma that caused a whole host of side effects like depression, anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, and even suicidal thoughts. The hypervigilance that kept him alive during his deployment, was now threatening his life back home.
In the last 10 years, the most he had slept per night was four hours. Can you imagine what that level of sleep deprivation would do to you? He was absolutely exhausted. He felt like he had tried everything, and his suffering seemed to be getting worse each year.
In a desperate attempt, he registered for the SKY Breath Meditation research study and prayed that it would help him.
How the power of breath revolutionized a war veteran’s life
He took the veterans version of the SKY Breath Meditation course, and came back the next day with a message from his wife,
“Thank you for giving me my husband back.”
She was so amazed to find her caring, compassionate, and present husband again.
After only his first session of SKY, it seemed like his nervous system finally gave him permission to rest, and he slept the entire night. His wife jokingly asked if she was going to have a lazy husband now because her husband had slept ten hours that night!
For the first time in many years, he had a restful night’s sleep. He came back the next day visibly more relaxed, calm, and happy. He now wants to take the next step and join one of our Silent Retreats.
Guided by a meditation master
This is the benefit of receiving guidance from someone like Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He’s a meditation master that’s living from that intuitive space of centeredness all the time. He knows the mind so well and has designed these programs that enable us to let go of deep impressions, and connect with that beauty, strength, and peace that we are.
You may be asking yourself, How does this all happen?
That, I can’t tell you.
All I know is that every time I finish a Silent Retreat, I feel more free, ready to take on whatever challenge is waiting for me. I will tell you however that the process is not always comfortable or pleasant but if you're willing to go through some discomfort and step into your courage zone then it is very possible that deep healing can happen.
Time to take out the trash!
Gurudev often says that the cleansing process that takes place with our techniques is a lot like throwing out the garbage. You don’t rummage through the bin on garbage day and say, “Oh, there’s the half-eaten sandwich I ate on Tuesday! And there’s the banana peel from Wednesday!”
Analysis may bring some insight, but it often doesn't bring the relief we’re looking for. Our approach is unique and takes this into account. We’re not analyzing impressions, memories, and traumas, trying to figure out where they came from. Instead, we're freeing ourselves from them by throwing them out like the garbage!
We very simply follow the wisdom and guidance of our expert instructors, practice the breathing techniques and hollow and empty meditations unique to the Art of Living Silence Retreat, and then we let the technique do the rest. Some things you can describe with words and others are beyond expression, you just have to experience them. Why not experience the relief, rest, and rejuvenation you are longing for and join The Art of Silence. I’m looking forward to hearing about your experience.
The Art of Living is thrilled to offer many online courses! Click here to check out our upcoming SKY Breath Meditation schedule or click here for our upcoming Silent Retreats!
Power Breath Meditation Workshop is a specialized program for veterans, offered through our sister organization, Project Welcome Home Troops. For more information on veterans programming please explore https://projectwelcomehometroops.org
Disclaimer: This content on the Art of Living Blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Any links to third-party websites are provided as a convenience only and the Art of Living Blog is not responsible for their content.
Spencer Delisle is an international Art of Living teacher. With over 15 years of experience, he has touched the lives of thousands of people, teaching them how to manage their minds and emotions. He’s a sought-after speaker on various global platforms including the United Nations’ International Day of Yoga, The Ministry of Youth and Sport Summit on Peace in Iraq, and the World Culture Festival in India.
