Gurdjieff’s Stop Exercise
(Stop Dance & Stop Exercise Meditation Technique)
Stop Dance Meditation is a simple way of stopping mind. This meditation technique known as “Gurdjieff’s stop exercise”. it ‘s a wonderful meditation technique used and taught by a unique sufi spiritual master Gurdjieff, he use to give exercises to his disciples to move, walk, dance, shaking, jumping, laughing, crying or allow them to do whatever they wish to do. Then suddenly he will shout “Stop”. It was a signal to stop any activity they were doing irrespective of where they were. It was to stop the activity by freezing themselves in that position when he shouts “Stop”
This sudden stopping makes them experience the silence within. Then again suddenly he say start again then again they can move & do whatever they wish to do. Then again he will shout ‘Stop”
For example, if the disciple was doing something by raising the hands and if, at that time, He shouts “Stop”, they should stop and freeze like a statue in that position. It may be when the eyes, as well as the mouth, were open; leg was raised for the next step in walking, etc. At the moment when
shouted, they should remain like a statue without any movement. They are frozen in the position where they were. After some time, He will tell to continue the activity whatever they were doing, and as it continues, He will again say “Stop”.
Below is the modern version on this powerful meditation technique to stop the mind.
Stop Dance Meditation
How To Do This Meditation
This Meditation can be done for small or large number of groups. You can choose different fast and energetic dance tracks.
Stage 1 (20 Minutes)
• Start some music dance or move anywhere as per the convenience. Dance joyfully to merge in dancing fully, after few minutes, suddenly Stop the music. Once the music Stops everybody Stops and become like a statue.
• Remain like a statue for the next few minutes with an awareness of what’s happening inside and what’s happening outside. After some time, the music is resumed again and starts the dance…. This process of stopping and resuming is repeated for many times using different intervals between stops & duration of music.
Stage 2 (15 Minutes)
• Let go of the technique, slowly bring your hands & legs down and relax in Shavasana with complete silence with eyes closed. Just remain in silence and don’t focus on anything in particular. Allow yourself to become aware and watch whatever is happening inside your body. Just relax and be a witness to experience. Continue this for around 7 to 10 minutes.
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