I'm still feeling physically icky with a headache & sore/scratchy throat...and although it's a little cooler today, it's still uncomfortably humid.
So five minutes of bone-weary sitting was all I could muster this morning, and I suspect I'll do more lying-on-bed, trying-to-keep-cool meditation this afternoon.
lorianne, sorry to hear of your cold. summer colds are a unique form of suffering. i am on the road for a few days - beautiful central and northern manitoba - and won't be participating in the posts. i will however take the '100 days' with me.
It's too hot outside to think or breathe - I'm very grateful to be at work where it's air-conditioned.
For some reason today, I keep thinking of this saying: Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.... Forget this, and achieving enlightenment will be the least of your worries.
Oh, yuk, Lorianne! In the summer, even hot tea isn't always soothing. I had a cold a few weeks ago, and felt miserable - but, as colds do, it really did depart. Hope yours does soon; rest and take good care of yourself. Permission granted to do nothing!!
Lorianne, much metta to you from me...and thanks again for the words of wisdom yesterday...I'm continuing to work on incorporating them into my practice (sat for a while last night)...
Lorianne, take good care of yourself, rest, get better, Summer colds are no fun.
Our discussion yesterday got me thinking about how I meditate. I always enter the particular tangles of thoughts and feelings of that day even if I wasn't aware of them before (too busy, or whatever). Meditation enables me to be aware of what's going on in my subconscious, perhaps.
When I begin meditating it all erupts, the issues, difficulties, pain, humiliation, longings, joys, successes, as well as plans and desires for the near and far future. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut, and go over and over the same issue.
We are manifesting ourselves every moment so I observe the arising of thoughts and feelings, recognizing, accepting, letting go. I send loving kindness to anyone I'm concerned with, as well as to my own rough places.
Even in a 15 minute meditation, this always happens. It might be only a few minutes before a deep peace arises or that sense of peace might not happen until right at the end. Sometimes I have to keep going until I reach a deeper level of inner and outer harmony (where nothing is excluded).
Words are difficult here! The sun is always shining even if there are clouds; it's realizing that.
Lorianne, how could you catch a cold after all that exposure to Ikea citrus!
Summer colds are yuk. Get well soon.
Brenda, yes, your line : Words are difficult here! The sun is always shining even if there are clouds; it's realizing that. .... really struck a chord with me.
Even further, the sun is still shining even in the middle of the night ...
lorraine, 5 mins is pretty good when you're feverish. I'm a big one for giving into my body saying "STOP"!!!!! I had my first cold in two years this spring (discovered royal jelly from a local honey maker) and took 3 days to rest and digest and sweat. Felt relly cleansed after - like a BIG new day!
sat briefly thismorning before saying goodbye to the girls. IT has been lovely having kids - 14 and 16 - in the house, and Flora is very drawn to yoga and meditation. We had a yoga class in the next door neighbour's garden and talked lots about the mind and its restlessness. It was very enriching - for both of us!.
Empty house now till the guys come in and build the new hemp floor in my room....then I will have an insulated meditation/yoga/practice room!
the heat has died down finally and we have rain and wind. feels like mana from heaven!
Thanks, everyone, for the well-wishes. I'm feeling a bit better: after my morning class, I came home & took a long nap, and now I've just gotten back from walking Reggie at his favorite swimming hole. (Even if I'm sick, the dog needs his exercise, and a wet dog is a happy dog!)
Being sick is actually a good lesson, meditation-wise: it forces you to "roll with" whatever arises since you don't have the strength to fight anything. Sitting this morning & then lying on the couch after class, I felt myself giving way to gravity & the heat: don't fight it, just fall into it.
I don't know if that answers Brenda's question, but there you have it: sometimes when I sit, I feel like a jellyfish floating with the tide of spontaneous experience, simply allowing everything to permeate the membrane I call "me." For me, "sitting like a jellyfish" is a much more open way to think about meditation practice: you aren't fighting, you're floating, and you're trusting that the tides won't lead you to harm.
But maybe this all is the fever talking! :-)
Safe travels to both cyclingdave & Dale: it looks like the menfolk are hittin' the road! :-)
12 Comments:
g'morning, all.
I'm still feeling physically icky with a headache & sore/scratchy throat...and although it's a little cooler today, it's still uncomfortably humid.
So five minutes of bone-weary sitting was all I could muster this morning, and I suspect I'll do more lying-on-bed, trying-to-keep-cool meditation this afternoon.
ugh...
lorianne, sorry to hear of your cold. summer colds are a unique form of suffering. i am on the road for a few days - beautiful central and northern manitoba - and won't be participating in the posts. i will however take the '100 days' with me.
It's too hot outside to think or breathe - I'm very grateful to be at work where it's air-conditioned.
For some reason today, I keep thinking of this saying: Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.... Forget this, and achieving enlightenment will be the least of your worries.
Lorianne, hope you feel better. Summer colds are the pits.
Oh, yuk, Lorianne! In the summer, even hot tea isn't always soothing. I had a cold a few weeks ago, and felt miserable - but, as colds do, it really did depart. Hope yours does soon; rest and take good care of yourself. Permission granted to do nothing!!
Lorianne, much metta to you from me...and thanks again for the words of wisdom yesterday...I'm continuing to work on incorporating them into my practice (sat for a while last night)...
Lorianne, take good care of yourself, rest, get better, Summer colds are no fun.
Our discussion yesterday got me thinking about how I meditate. I always enter the particular tangles of thoughts and feelings of that day even if I wasn't aware of them before (too busy, or whatever). Meditation enables me to be aware of what's going on in my subconscious, perhaps.
When I begin meditating it all erupts, the issues, difficulties, pain, humiliation, longings, joys, successes, as well as plans and desires for the near and far future. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut, and go over and over the same issue.
We are manifesting ourselves every moment so I observe the arising of thoughts and feelings, recognizing, accepting, letting go. I send loving kindness to anyone I'm concerned with, as well as to my own rough places.
Even in a 15 minute meditation, this always happens. It might be only a few minutes before a deep peace arises or that sense of peace might not happen until right at the end. Sometimes I have to keep going until I reach a deeper level of inner and outer harmony (where nothing is excluded).
Words are difficult here! The sun is always shining even if there are clouds; it's realizing that.
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Lorianne, how could you catch a cold after all that exposure to Ikea citrus!
Summer colds are yuk. Get well soon.
Brenda, yes, your line : Words are difficult here! The sun is always shining even if there are clouds; it's realizing that. .... really struck a chord with me.
Even further, the sun is still shining even in the middle of the night ...
Thanks for reminding me this.
I'll be on vacation, and partly or wholly un-netted, until the 12th or 13th. Love to y'all --
happy vacation dale!
lorraine, 5 mins is pretty good when you're feverish. I'm a big one for giving into my body saying "STOP"!!!!! I had my first cold in two years this spring (discovered royal jelly from a local honey maker) and took 3 days to rest and digest and sweat. Felt relly cleansed after - like a BIG new day!
sat briefly thismorning before saying goodbye to the girls. IT has been lovely having kids - 14 and 16 - in the house, and Flora is very drawn to yoga and meditation. We had a yoga class in the next door neighbour's garden and talked lots about the mind and its restlessness. It was very enriching - for both of us!.
Empty house now till the guys come in and build the new hemp floor in my room....then I will have an insulated meditation/yoga/practice room!
the heat has died down finally and we have rain and wind. feels like mana from heaven!
My sittings have been very brief, but they are at least happening. Wouldn't be without this place, I think, so I'm feeling much gratitude.
Lorianne, sorry you are feeling icky! Take care.
cyclingdave, have a great trip! Drive (or bike?) safely!
Brenda, yes, my thanks also for that line. It's a good one.
Dale, have a fantastic week. Hope you get to do something fun!
Thanks, everyone, for the well-wishes. I'm feeling a bit better: after my morning class, I came home & took a long nap, and now I've just gotten back from walking Reggie at his favorite swimming hole. (Even if I'm sick, the dog needs his exercise, and a wet dog is a happy dog!)
Being sick is actually a good lesson, meditation-wise: it forces you to "roll with" whatever arises since you don't have the strength to fight anything. Sitting this morning & then lying on the couch after class, I felt myself giving way to gravity & the heat: don't fight it, just fall into it.
I don't know if that answers Brenda's question, but there you have it: sometimes when I sit, I feel like a jellyfish floating with the tide of spontaneous experience, simply allowing everything to permeate the membrane I call "me." For me, "sitting like a jellyfish" is a much more open way to think about meditation practice: you aren't fighting, you're floating, and you're trusting that the tides won't lead you to harm.
But maybe this all is the fever talking! :-)
Safe travels to both cyclingdave & Dale: it looks like the menfolk are hittin' the road! :-)
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