This article serves as the fourth installment of a five part series called “What is Group Meditation?” This article will focus on collective meditation. Collective meditation is suitable for all levels of meditation practitioner.
The usefulness in a collective meditation is the group or collective energy. Group energy is influential; this is true for all kinds of support groups. Focused intention within a group has been proven to change not only external structures but also the participants of the focus group. An example of this is the United States (US), the US formed through focused intention... The Founding Fathers (the original focused intention group of the United States) enacted internal and external change with their collective energy. This is powerful stuff! Another example of collective energy is an athlete on a sports team or a musician in a symphony, each player has a part and while they are not themselves “the team”, they are part of “the team” – the collective or team suffers without them as part of the whole. The differences of the parts become strengths when they harmonize… and weakness when they are in conflict. These are the energy dynamics at work in any group system.
Support helps us exceed in life and reach our goals. Without a basis of support, even small challenges can seem insurmountable. Powerful energies of collective meditation reside within individuals and are brought into fruition by group participation. The energies of each practitioner combine to become one energy, imbalances become neutralized by strengths of others. This One energy is the harmony we often seek outside of ourselves. Peace and unity are always present, yet, experiencing peace and unity within collective meditation is often necessary along the path of developing self-awareness, wholeness and balance. Within a collective meditation our awareness is given a chance to grow to a higher level unobstructed by our own shortcomings.
We develop sensitivity to others and ourselves over time and can begin to understand ourselves on a fundamental level through group transactions or exchanges. Any aspect of ourselves that has been denied or disowned can be experienced in another and integrated through group transaction. Simple honest dialog with one another or use of a themed guided meditation followed by an open discussion initiates collective transactions. Reflection and assimilation of awareness are encouraged. It is through our experience of ourselves, that we begin to feel our oneness with each other. The more we are self-aware, the more we are aware of others. The feeling of oneness brings joy and unity to the group, which in turn allows for deeper practice. The feeling of peace and unity is a wonderful experience in and of itself.
While this form of group meditation may take on an extroverted tone due to individual awareness externalized within the group exchange, the element of self-reflection is the focus of all meditation formats. Sharing and reflecting during group collective meditation is also beneficial to mental and physical health. Connection, support and feelings of oneness derived from group collective practice bring about decreased incidence of depression and feelings of isolation, increase problem-solving abilities, and support behavioral changes.
Group collective meditation leaders guide the group themes and exchanges as moderators. Participants engage at the level that they are comfortable. Diversity is an asset to any collective meditation. Oneness is not equal to being the same; differences are valuable tools to work with. Eventually, the group leader allows participants to assume the role of the leader, thus, everyone takes on every role within the collective.
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Up next in this series on group meditation is the retreat meditation experience. Until next time, keep practicing! Remember there is no right meditation, there is no wrong meditation, there is only meditation.
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