Just checking in. Still doing the regular morning meditations, but have finally got to the point where I feel I need some extra help, so will be going to Saturday lunchtime classes from 20 May (am away/working the next 2 weekends).
It's strange, I ran into an old acquaintance yesterday who told me that she has started to meditate regularly and is going to classes .. she said how much it is helping her. It feels good to have made the decision to take things a step further.
Janice and Jean, thanks for the links of a few days ago, and thank you Lorianne for posting the explanation of posting the links again. I would print it off to be safe but my printer has broken. Nothing like computer problems to challenge my serenity and detachment ...
Jude, it sounds like a busy time of 'expectancy,' :) and good.
Mary, anytime you don't remember how to make active links, make one in your blog and then click on the html tab and you'll see the code there.
I'm currently feeling quite left-wing here, at 100 Days. Can a meditator be a left-wing meditator?
I'd like to believe that meditation cannot be politicized, that it's a stabilizing force, the way between the two means; it balances us.
But I'm not a traditionalist. And there lies the problem, I guess. A bit of this, a bit of that, making my own way as I go.
I'm feeling apologetic and like I should disappear for awhile.
I'm also way behind on preparations for two presentations at a conference this weekend at York U and am barely sleeping too (2-3 hours perhaps, waking before 5am usually).
No problem with stilling the mind during my daily mediation though; whatever problems I have, it's never that. Meditation continues, daily, without wavering.
I think that meditation is deeply and unavoidably political, that radical compassion trumps every other radical agenda, and that by doing this we are fundamentally at war with domination and exploitation of every sort.
I really believe this, however corny and quietist and coopted it may look. Otherwise I couldn't stick it.
Brenda, speaking personally I hope you stick around! And thanks for the tip about the link ...
How to define political?
For me it's simply the fact that I experience labels of any kind as limiting ... while I may consistently vote for, act for and support a particular (say for example left wing) party line because it seems to be a natural consequence of my spiritual beliefs, the minute I put a label on myself I feel limited and constrained ... which is the opposite of the effect of meditation which facilitates change, expansion and flow.
I emphasise that I only speak for myself here. I'm sure other people will have other opinions which are just as valid.
And I'm off in left field myself most of the time in all sorts of ways ...
4 Comments:
Hello Jude, nice to hear from you.
Just checking in. Still doing the regular morning meditations, but have finally got to the point where I feel I need some extra help, so will be going to Saturday lunchtime classes from 20 May (am away/working the next 2 weekends).
It's strange, I ran into an old acquaintance yesterday who told me that she has started to meditate regularly and is going to classes .. she said how much it is helping her. It feels good to have made the decision to take things a step further.
Janice and Jean, thanks for the links of a few days ago, and thank you Lorianne for posting the explanation of posting the links again. I would print it off to be safe but my printer has broken. Nothing like computer problems to challenge my serenity and detachment ...
Good thoughts to everyone ....
Jude, it sounds like a busy time of 'expectancy,' :) and good.
Mary, anytime you don't remember how to make active links, make one in your blog and then click on the html tab and you'll see the code there.
I'm currently feeling quite left-wing here, at 100 Days. Can a meditator be a left-wing meditator?
I'd like to believe that meditation cannot be politicized, that it's a stabilizing force, the way between the two means; it balances us.
But I'm not a traditionalist. And there lies the problem, I guess. A bit of this, a bit of that, making my own way as I go.
I'm feeling apologetic and like I should disappear for awhile.
I'm also way behind on preparations for two presentations at a conference this weekend at York U and am barely sleeping too (2-3 hours perhaps, waking before 5am usually).
No problem with stilling the mind during my daily mediation though; whatever problems I have, it's never that. Meditation continues, daily, without wavering.
Even if it is off in left field somewhere.
:)
I think that meditation is deeply and unavoidably political, that radical compassion trumps every other radical agenda, and that by doing this we are fundamentally at war with domination and exploitation of every sort.
I really believe this, however corny and quietist and coopted it may look. Otherwise I couldn't stick it.
Brenda, speaking personally I hope you stick around! And thanks for the tip about the link ...
How to define political?
For me it's simply the fact that I experience labels of any kind as limiting ... while I may consistently vote for, act for and support a particular (say for example left wing) party line because it seems to be a natural consequence of my spiritual beliefs, the minute I put a label on myself I feel limited and constrained ... which is the opposite of the effect of meditation which facilitates change, expansion and flow.
I emphasise that I only speak for myself here. I'm sure other people will have other opinions which are just as valid.
And I'm off in left field myself most of the time in all sorts of ways ...
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