Brenda, how are you? Thinking of you lots, on and off the cushion.
Sat this morning and it was nice, so nice. Quiet and peaceful in the cool morning before the forecast return of torrid heat.
This week, after quite a long time of being very distracted, here is my mind back again with me on the cushion, with those tiny but perceptible shifts every few minutes a little further into stillness. Just the ordinary cycles of mood and mind. I'm really glad to have stuck with the practice through this period of finding it really difficult - the first time I ever have.
The class I've been doing has really helped too, I think. Very simple exercises of paying attention to body, feelings and inner narratives - resting in them and then, if they're unpleasant or unhelpful, just quietly thinking of their opposite. It seems too little to have any effect. But it isn't little, and it does.
It's all helpeing my mind and heart to find their way through some difficult feelings and decisions, too. It really is.
Hugs to Brenda--I hope you're pulling through. And hooray, Jean, on progress. In my experience, being fully present (or *trying* to be fully present) with the scattered distractions of the bad times makes the more settled times even richer. It's as if you truly strengthen your meditation muscle when things are chaotic, so you can more deeply notice when things are going more smoothly.
I didn't get any cushion-time yesterday, but I did have a warm overflowing of gratitude while walking home from my summer school class. I think on of the fruits of meditation is a recognition of how blessed we are even when nothing particularly special is happening.
Devon, that's wonderful. Rejoicing with you!!! Warmest hugs and victory dances! Give yourself some especially tender attention right now, huh? Anticlimax is a weird and powerful thing.
That is great news, Devon! What a relief for your mother, all her neighbours, and you, who've no doubt been lobbying politically for this.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and spiritual support. I barely slept last night. I'm on reception at the investment firm today. My mind is racing over and over what to do, but I find myself inarticulate at the moment. Keep me in your thoughts. Thank you & hugs...
I've taken a break from commenting recently. A busy time in the real world, plus I've felt that I've needed not to say anything here for a spell. Words can sometimes go onto automatic pilot with me and leave meaning behind ... part of the whole practice is to be able to allow myself to be quiet when I need to be.
Having said that, it's good to be back!
[[Brenda]]. Wishing you clarity, peace and trust as you move into the decisions you need to make. Lots of love.
Devon. I am so very very pleased .... wonderful news. Thanks for letting us know.
Devon, that is such good news - but what a heartache this must have been for such a long time! Injustice is really difficult to deal with; it eats you up.
Jean - congrats on the practice progress. I am SOOO far from being faithful to practice as you have been.
8 Comments:
Brenda, how are you? Thinking of you lots, on and off the cushion.
Sat this morning and it was nice, so nice. Quiet and peaceful in the cool morning before the forecast return of torrid heat.
This week, after quite a long time of being very distracted, here is my mind back again with me on the cushion, with those tiny but perceptible shifts every few minutes a little further into stillness. Just the ordinary cycles of mood and mind. I'm really glad to have stuck with the practice through this period of finding it really difficult - the first time I ever have.
The class I've been doing has really helped too, I think. Very simple exercises of paying attention to body, feelings and inner narratives - resting in them and then, if they're unpleasant or unhelpful, just quietly thinking of their opposite. It seems too little to have any effect. But it isn't little, and it does.
It's all helpeing my mind and heart to find their way through some difficult feelings and decisions, too. It really is.
Hugs to Brenda--I hope you're pulling through. And hooray, Jean, on progress. In my experience, being fully present (or *trying* to be fully present) with the scattered distractions of the bad times makes the more settled times even richer. It's as if you truly strengthen your meditation muscle when things are chaotic, so you can more deeply notice when things are going more smoothly.
I didn't get any cushion-time yesterday, but I did have a warm overflowing of gratitude while walking home from my summer school class. I think on of the fruits of meditation is a recognition of how blessed we are even when nothing particularly special is happening.
Devon, that's wonderful. Rejoicing with you!!! Warmest hugs and victory dances! Give yourself some especially tender attention right now, huh? Anticlimax is a weird and powerful thing.
That is great news, Devon! What a relief for your mother, all her neighbours, and you, who've no doubt been lobbying politically for this.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and spiritual support. I barely slept last night. I'm on reception at the investment firm today. My mind is racing over and over what to do, but I find myself inarticulate at the moment. Keep me in your thoughts. Thank you & hugs...
{{{Brenda}}}
thinking of you.
Devon, that's great! And yes, what Jean said, all of it.
I've taken a break from commenting recently. A busy time in the real world, plus I've felt that I've needed not to say anything here for a spell. Words can sometimes go onto automatic pilot with me and leave meaning behind ... part of the whole practice is to be able to allow myself to be quiet when I need to be.
Having said that, it's good to be back!
[[Brenda]]. Wishing you clarity, peace and trust as you move into the decisions you need to make. Lots of love.
Devon. I am so very very pleased .... wonderful news. Thanks for letting us know.
Devon, that is such good news - but what a heartache this must have been for such a long time! Injustice is really difficult to deal with; it eats you up.
Jean - congrats on the practice progress. I am SOOO far from being faithful to practice as you have been.
Brenda, more hugs. Good luck too.
Mary, good to see you back here!
Oh, and I sat my 20 minutes again last night. I seem to be back in the habit.
Mary, I haven't felt that you were absent. Just silent. But very much present.
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