Hi Richard, I laughed so hard reading the post Jean linked to that, as I said in a comment there, I laughed so hard I snorted my multi-grain coffee-like grain beverage- surely laughter is enlightenment!
The emotional rawness of yesterday gave way to a wonderful day and a dinner with old friends, actually my chanting buddies, and much laughter. Perhaps I'll even make it to the Ashram on Friday night for an hour of Adi Shakti, the Divine Mother meditation that they do once a month.
I told them all about you, this group, how we are all articulating our practices in ways we never did before and how exciting it is. Support, comaraderie, kindness, compassion, love, while having intense discussions, what could be better.
And, Dale, I still want to continue the discussion about whether meditation can change the world. I loved the story of your brother, really it's sitting in my heart like a tale of absolute trust in the efficacy of the compassionate heart. Doesn't matter if it didn't stop the war, does it.
My son phoned me last night and is making the long trek here, to stay one night, to celebrate my birthday... what superb presents! Today all the pain has passed and I'm practically singing.
Hello all, I have been following the discussons with interest and excited recognition when something really strikes a chord. I can't remember exactly who wrote what but here's my stuff:
I'm still at the Buddhism 101 stage -reading "Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction", which gives me the major paths and "Buddhism Plain and SImple by Steve Hagen , which I hope will be enlightening. I am drawn to Buddhism for the type of simplicty that Lorriane always describes. My motivation for meditation is not religious but certainly spiritual and certainly connected to my mental health. I spend all my time in thought and so I am attracted to meditation as a way of getting a break from the world of the mind and concentrating on the body. Also, as I think Ruth once said, as a way of letting go of the "weight" of the past (where I live almost permanently in pain and regret on behalf of myself and others close to me) and training myself to exist in the present.
Also, I hope meditation might be a way of truly understanding that everything I need is inside and calm my searching.
Jean, I so agree with you about commitment - to anything! I get so frustrated with myself - hence the default setting motif that I described. I think sometimes that maybe I am just pretending that I want to do/be things, but in actuality I just like thinking/believing that I want to do/be those things. I certainly love absorbing the idea, becoming excited, having the fantasy, planning the path - doing this I can even believe I HAVE that life; I AM that person. BUT in actuality I take either NO ACTION towards that "desired" goal, or I take one or two steps and then stop. Then I search for another thing to do or be. I don't want to stop being curious and open to change (Beth, like you I can't bear "sameness": I'm restless) - it's just that I want to occasionally identify something that I truly want/need and then be a "completionist". I could start right now with the PhD. I want it - all I need to do is take the right action ie. write the damn thing.
I suppose that I hope meditation will calm my scattered mind; draw some kind of beautiful muslin curtain over the messed up past; give me insight into what I need; improve my mental, physical, and spiritual health; benefit the universe (:>) --and make me happy! (I like to go for the maximum.) Anna.
Brenda, so happy to hear your cheerful voice today! It's great that your birthday brought you some unexpected pleasure as well as those deep reflections you shared with us.
And Anna, your last paragraph really made me smile! Yes, why not go for the whole shebang?
It's a beautiful early spring day here in the northeast - I can almost hear the bulbs growing and the sap running! What I do hear are the firt spring bird songs, which makes it seem real, although I am sure winter will not exit gracefully - it never does.
I've been working silly hours recently, so by time time I arrive here each evening I have been, and still am, too brain dead to participate in the discussions. I suspect I will have to print off the comments and read them slowly, probably at the end of next week when this will all be over.
One thing that hasn't slipped during this time is my commitment to the morning meditation. It's been an absolute necessity and a lifeline, and I've been getting up really early to do it (5.30 am). For me, it's the doing it that's the key and if I miss it I am less able to cope in the day ahead. At the moment, that's all I know and all I can say.
hi everyone, more riveting stuff here... interesting to me about gurus. In the musical tradition from which I come which goes back to casals, there is a great reverence for wisdom and experience and a passion for passing it on. I realise that so few people experience this and I am grateful. When we study with someone we do it one on one for a period on average of about 4 years. We work 6 ish hours a day in pursuit of following their teachings and finding our own voice. I have only positive experience in this and I feel lucky to have such a thing in a world where the older and wiser one is the more one is neglected by society.
Happy belated birthday Brenda. I cannot imagine a nicer present than your son showing up.
I didn't sit today - my best friend arrived from california and I was busy helping her settle. Back to it tomorrow.
9 Comments:
Hi Richard, I laughed so hard reading the post Jean linked to that, as I said in a comment there, I laughed so hard I snorted my multi-grain coffee-like grain beverage- surely laughter is enlightenment!
The emotional rawness of yesterday gave way to a wonderful day and a dinner with old friends, actually my chanting buddies, and much laughter. Perhaps I'll even make it to the Ashram on Friday night for an hour of Adi Shakti, the Divine Mother meditation that they do once a month.
I told them all about you, this group, how we are all articulating our practices in ways we never did before and how exciting it is. Support, comaraderie, kindness, compassion, love, while having intense discussions, what could be better.
And, Dale, I still want to continue the discussion about whether meditation can change the world. I loved the story of your brother, really it's sitting in my heart like a tale of absolute trust in the efficacy of the compassionate heart. Doesn't matter if it didn't stop the war, does it.
My son phoned me last night and is making the long trek here, to stay one night, to celebrate my birthday... what superb presents! Today all the pain has passed and I'm practically singing.
Wishing everyone a superb day!
Hello all,
I have been following the discussons with interest and excited recognition when something really strikes a chord. I can't remember exactly who wrote what but here's my stuff:
I'm still at the Buddhism 101 stage -reading "Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction", which gives me the major paths and "Buddhism Plain and SImple by Steve Hagen , which I hope will be enlightening. I am drawn to Buddhism for the type of simplicty that Lorriane always describes. My motivation for meditation is not religious but certainly spiritual and certainly connected to my mental health. I spend all my time in thought and so I am attracted to meditation as a way of getting a break from the world of the mind and concentrating on the body. Also, as I think Ruth once said, as a way of letting go of the "weight" of the past (where I live almost permanently in pain and regret on behalf of myself and others close to me) and training myself to exist in the present.
Also, I hope meditation might be a way of truly understanding that everything I need is inside and calm my searching.
Jean, I so agree with you about commitment - to anything! I get so frustrated with myself - hence the default setting motif that I described. I think sometimes that maybe I am just pretending that I want to do/be things, but in actuality I just like thinking/believing that I want to do/be those things. I certainly love absorbing the idea, becoming excited, having the fantasy, planning the path - doing this I can even believe I HAVE that life; I AM that person. BUT in actuality I take either NO ACTION towards that "desired" goal, or I take one or two steps and then stop. Then I search for another thing to do or be. I don't want to stop being curious and open to change (Beth, like you I can't bear "sameness": I'm restless) - it's just that I want to occasionally identify something that I truly want/need and then be a "completionist". I could start right now with the PhD. I want it - all I need to do is take the right action ie. write the damn thing.
I suppose that I hope meditation will calm my scattered mind; draw some kind of beautiful muslin curtain over the messed up past; give me insight into what I need; improve my mental, physical, and spiritual health; benefit the universe (:>) --and make me happy! (I like to go for the maximum.)
Anna.
Brenda, so happy to hear your cheerful voice today! It's great that your birthday brought you some unexpected pleasure as well as those deep reflections you shared with us.
And Anna, your last paragraph really made me smile! Yes, why not go for the whole shebang?
It's a beautiful early spring day here in the northeast - I can almost hear the bulbs growing and the sap running! What I do hear are the firt spring bird songs, which makes it seem real, although I am sure winter will not exit gracefully - it never does.
I've been working silly hours recently, so by time time I arrive here each evening I have been, and still am, too brain dead to participate in the discussions. I suspect I will have to print off the comments and read them slowly, probably at the end of next week when this will all be over.
One thing that hasn't slipped during this time is my commitment to the morning meditation. It's been an absolute necessity and a lifeline, and I've been getting up really early to do it (5.30 am). For me, it's the doing it that's the key and if I miss it I am less able to cope in the day ahead. At the moment, that's all I know and all I can say.
hi everyone,
more riveting stuff here...
interesting to me about gurus. In the musical tradition from which I come which goes back to casals, there is a great reverence for wisdom and experience and a passion for passing it on. I realise that so few people experience this and I am grateful. When we study with someone we do it one on one for a period on average of about 4 years. We work 6 ish hours a day in pursuit of following their teachings and finding our own voice. I have only positive experience in this and I feel lucky to have such a thing in a world where the older and wiser one is the more one is neglected by society.
Happy belated birthday Brenda. I cannot imagine a nicer present than your son showing up.
I didn't sit today - my best friend arrived from california and I was busy helping her settle. Back to it tomorrow.
Brenda: Happy Birthday!!
Brenda, good to hear you sounding chipper and wonderful news of your son's visit.
Mary, it sounds like you are doing what you need to do!
Ruth, interesting perspective on teaching. I appreciated hearing that.
Didn't sit today, won't this evening. Feeling regret. Wondering why I sometimes do these things to myself.
Oh, please sit, MB. Just three minutes. You can sneak into the bathroom and sit on the edge of the tub.
If you do, I will too.
Deal.
Thank you, Dale.
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