32 days - gosh. An ever-present reminder of time's dauntingly swift passing, isn't it?
The commitment feels strong. But no room for complacency.
I want to share with you all a meditating buddha screensaver, which I like very much indeed: http://tinyurl.com/casx9 with thanks to Sonia of Leaves of Grass: http://tinyurl.com/casx9
Ai, I've missed a couple days of posts here. Mary, so sorry for your scare and I hope they catch these people soon. Ruth, glad to hear that you're doing better.
I seem to have been on an emotional roller coaster lately - had another swing way down over the weekend, accompanied by insomnia. Seem to be back on the upswing a bit after taking some steps toward changes. One big problem is that I work at home, and I like it, but it can be so isolating. I start focusing on my problems and don't get enough outside myself. I realize it's the opposite for many people - too much energy spent on other people and not enough for themselves. Anyway, I have plans to get out more. And I'm grateful for the friends I have online, too, since you're all like my co-workers during the day here.
Good yoga last night. Sitting has been spotty, but I'm continuing with the commitment.
I never noticed that, Nicole! We're on day 32 of 1!
Unfortunately, Jean, I can't download the Buddha screen saver since I use a Mac. I did, though, enjoy the two paragraphs, one on the body, one on the mind. And agree fully, except that we also need to maintain individuality in the flux, the impermanence, both.
Lesley, I hope the roller coaster evens out in the ways that you would like it to. The sturm und drang of emotion can be quite invigorating, but wearying too. It sounds like a good idea to get out more.
My practice, as ever, unbroken. It's not difficult and I feel apologetic for that. This last week my focus has been on removing resistances. Anyplace where I feel defensive, where I feel the need to 'push away,' and I hope, by removing my resistances, to let those I love in even closer. And as I focus on removing resistance, I feel even my body relax into a welcoming place.
Our resistances, afterall, take a great deal of energy to maintain.
So I think of removing resistances to things I most would like to do. Letting defenses down, undoing knots, dissolving blocks, worries, concerns, whatever, and there is a flow towards.
It's hard work. But I remove the resistance, the idea that it has to be hard work, and let it be easier... :)
I didn't meditate yesterday, after having not gotten much sleep the night before. But last night I made up the deficit, and I just now sat in slanting noontime light.
Hugs to Leslee, and Ruth, and everyone needing them. Leslee, I can relate to your sense of isolation. Although I teach in person two days a week, I tend to fall into sluggish stay-at-home patterns the other days.
After having stopped going to the belly-dancing (!!!) and yoga classes I so enjoyed in the fall, this week starts a new term: a Reason to get out of the house (and MOVE!) twice a week. So I hope you get as much out of your yoga class as I hope to get out of mine.
Ruth, I'm afraid I don't have much insight into how to deal with criticism: it's always hard, I think. I try to remind myself that I'm not identical to what I do: if people criticize my teaching, writing, etc, they aren't criticizing *me*. But as logical as this sounds, it's difficult to always *feel* that way.
I guess ultimately we're all on a long road to self-acceptance. When you feel okay about yourself, criticism isn't enough to push you off your balance...but when you're feeling shaky or uncertain, it takes so little to topple you over.
So I guess cultivating a daily meditation practice is largely about finding your own inner balance, and granting yourself the kind of compassion & acceptance you'd grant a friend or stranger.
I sat this morning briefly before going to (another) job interview, and again this evening for 10-15 mins.
Thanks to everyone so very much for the good wishes and suggestions re the burglary scare. The have helped enormously. I slept through last night unscathed in my bed. It's interesting, there's been a couple of other instances of low level crime in my vicinity recently, in what has previously been a very quiet and peaceful neighbourhood in London terms. It's hard not to get dragged off your centre by the fear and disquiet, and I am finding my quiet times do help.
Brenda: I have a cat who spends a lot of time indoors while I'm away so unfortunately he would set off an alarm ....
I am trying to look at my own internal boundaries around areas where I feel 'leaky' and unsafe - including my own lack of healthy structure in some areas - as well as taking the necessary practical steps to protect myself. The last time I was the victim of crime (a mugging) there did seem to be a correlation with what was going on with me internally ....
Nicole; you made me smile ..:-)
Leslee: so nice to see you here. Since I have been temporarily unemployed this last week or so and in the house more than normal I am feeling much more isolated. Good luck with the steps you are taking.
Feb. 1 ... did you remember to say "rabbit rabbit rabbit" this morning?
Tomorrow is Groundhog Day ... waiting to see what he predicts for the next six weeks
Nicole - how did you do that? I've see several comments "deleted" over the past several weeks, and I can't find any place that allows that
Bowing this morning. We do three standing bows before sitting ... to Buddha (facing altar), to Dharma (facing cushion), to Sangha (facing others). I sit alone now, and you are my Sangha.
Janice, if you're logged into Blogger as "you," you should (???) see a little trashcan icon next to the date stamp of any comments you've posted. If you click this trashcan, it allows you to remove your own comment.
Mary, Leslee, best wishes for the problems you're facing. I know it would be very hard for me to live alone, and espcially when facing fears like being broken into! So I wish you peace and tranquility and good sleep.
Today I had the second round of medical procedures, and to my great relief, everything is fine and I am supposedly released from this sage to simply take care of myself and recover completely. I've been so grateful for my meditation practice and the support here. Today I had a long wait, sititng in a hospital gown facing a wall, so I tried my best to use it to meditate - not that easy, with people and stretchers and equipment constantly passing, and lots of noise and talking, but the connection to the breath was there and it really helped, in spite of all the distractions.
Brenda, thanks for your continuing comments about your longstanding practice. It's encouraging to someone like me who has only practiced intermittently over the years.
Beth, meditating facing a hospital wall, oh! And, also, what a great place to meditate. Sort of both, simultaneously. I'm glad the second round of procedures showed an 'all clear' (if I'm reading that correctly) and you are now to focus on 'taking care of yourself' and 'recovering completely' (those ways of saying sound like music). Healing is very beautiful, isn't it. Something whole and inclusive about it. That whatever it was has cleared and there is a new lease on life now, an extra opening, a miracle to step into.
10 Comments:
Nicole, that's funny!
32 days - gosh. An ever-present reminder of time's dauntingly swift passing, isn't it?
The commitment feels strong. But no room for complacency.
I want to share with you all a meditating buddha screensaver, which I like very much indeed: http://tinyurl.com/casx9
with thanks to Sonia of Leaves of Grass: http://tinyurl.com/casx9
Ai, I've missed a couple days of posts here. Mary, so sorry for your scare and I hope they catch these people soon. Ruth, glad to hear that you're doing better.
I seem to have been on an emotional roller coaster lately - had another swing way down over the weekend, accompanied by insomnia. Seem to be back on the upswing a bit after taking some steps toward changes. One big problem is that I work at home, and I like it, but it can be so isolating. I start focusing on my problems and don't get enough outside myself. I realize it's the opposite for many people - too much energy spent on other people and not enough for themselves. Anyway, I have plans to get out more. And I'm grateful for the friends I have online, too, since you're all like my co-workers during the day here.
Good yoga last night. Sitting has been spotty, but I'm continuing with the commitment.
Best to all.
I never noticed that, Nicole! We're on day 32 of 1!
Unfortunately, Jean, I can't download the Buddha screen saver since I use a Mac. I did, though, enjoy the two paragraphs, one on the body, one on the mind. And agree fully, except that we also need to maintain individuality in the flux, the impermanence, both.
Lesley, I hope the roller coaster evens out in the ways that you would like it to. The sturm und drang of emotion can be quite invigorating, but wearying too. It sounds like a good idea to get out more.
My practice, as ever, unbroken. It's not difficult and I feel apologetic for that. This last week my focus has been on removing resistances. Anyplace where I feel defensive, where I feel the need to 'push away,' and I hope, by removing my resistances, to let those I love in even closer. And as I focus on removing resistance, I feel even my body relax into a welcoming place.
Our resistances, afterall, take a great deal of energy to maintain.
So I think of removing resistances to things I most would like to do. Letting defenses down, undoing knots, dissolving blocks, worries, concerns, whatever, and there is a flow towards.
It's hard work. But I remove the resistance, the idea that it has to be hard work, and let it be easier... :)
Good day, everyone!
I didn't meditate yesterday, after having not gotten much sleep the night before. But last night I made up the deficit, and I just now sat in slanting noontime light.
Hugs to Leslee, and Ruth, and everyone needing them. Leslee, I can relate to your sense of isolation. Although I teach in person two days a week, I tend to fall into sluggish stay-at-home patterns the other days.
After having stopped going to the belly-dancing (!!!) and yoga classes I so enjoyed in the fall, this week starts a new term: a Reason to get out of the house (and MOVE!) twice a week. So I hope you get as much out of your yoga class as I hope to get out of mine.
Ruth, I'm afraid I don't have much insight into how to deal with criticism: it's always hard, I think. I try to remind myself that I'm not identical to what I do: if people criticize my teaching, writing, etc, they aren't criticizing *me*. But as logical as this sounds, it's difficult to always *feel* that way.
I guess ultimately we're all on a long road to self-acceptance. When you feel okay about yourself, criticism isn't enough to push you off your balance...but when you're feeling shaky or uncertain, it takes so little to topple you over.
So I guess cultivating a daily meditation practice is largely about finding your own inner balance, and granting yourself the kind of compassion & acceptance you'd grant a friend or stranger.
Hello all.
I sat this morning briefly before going to (another) job interview, and again this evening for 10-15 mins.
Thanks to everyone so very much for the good wishes and suggestions re the burglary scare. The have helped enormously. I slept through last night unscathed in my bed. It's interesting, there's been a couple of other instances of low level crime in my vicinity recently, in what has previously been a very quiet and peaceful neighbourhood in London terms. It's hard not to get dragged off your centre by the fear and disquiet, and I am finding my quiet times do help.
Brenda: I have a cat who spends a lot of time indoors while I'm away so unfortunately he would set off an alarm ....
I am trying to look at my own internal boundaries around areas where I feel 'leaky' and unsafe - including my own lack of healthy structure in some areas - as well as taking the necessary practical steps to protect myself. The last time I was the victim of crime (a mugging) there did seem to be a correlation with what was going on with me internally ....
Nicole; you made me smile ..:-)
Leslee: so nice to see you here.
Since I have been temporarily unemployed this last week or so and in the house more than normal I am feeling much more isolated. Good luck with the steps you are taking.
Jean: thanks for the email link.
Oh dear. Jean, for email read screensaver! Duh!
bon jour mes amis
Feb. 1 ... did you remember to say "rabbit rabbit rabbit" this morning?
Tomorrow is Groundhog Day ... waiting to see what he predicts for the next six weeks
Nicole - how did you do that? I've see several comments "deleted" over the past several weeks, and I can't find any place that allows that
Bowing this morning. We do three standing bows before sitting ... to Buddha (facing altar), to Dharma (facing cushion), to Sangha (facing others). I sit alone now, and you are my Sangha.
I bow to you each morning
Gasho
Janice, if you're logged into Blogger as "you," you should (???) see a little trashcan icon next to the date stamp of any comments you've posted. If you click this trashcan, it allows you to remove your own comment.
Mary, Leslee, best wishes for the problems you're facing. I know it would be very hard for me to live alone, and espcially when facing fears like being broken into! So I wish you peace and tranquility and good sleep.
Today I had the second round of medical procedures, and to my great relief, everything is fine and I am supposedly released from this sage to simply take care of myself and recover completely. I've been so grateful for my meditation practice and the support here. Today I had a long wait, sititng in a hospital gown facing a wall, so I tried my best to use it to meditate - not that easy, with people and stretchers and equipment constantly passing, and lots of noise and talking, but the connection to the breath was there and it really helped, in spite of all the distractions.
Brenda, thanks for your continuing comments about your longstanding practice. It's encouraging to someone like me who has only practiced intermittently over the years.
Beth, meditating facing a hospital wall, oh! And, also, what a great place to meditate. Sort of both, simultaneously. I'm glad the second round of procedures showed an 'all clear' (if I'm reading that correctly) and you are now to focus on 'taking care of yourself' and 'recovering completely' (those ways of saying sound like music). Healing is very beautiful, isn't it. Something whole and inclusive about it. That whatever it was has cleared and there is a new lease on life now, an extra opening, a miracle to step into.
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