Good morning everybody, from cold & sunny Germany! It's a lovely day, clear blue sky and a gentle breeze, ideal for going for a walk by the river if only I weren't drowning in overdue work.
Sat for 10 minutes this morning, for the first time since before my recent holiday. It's odd how elastic time is, I was aware of the seconds dragging past as the clock ticked, but the 10 minutes were over in no time at all.
Udge!!! It's great to "see" you again! I hope you had a great holiday.
I too am "back on the cushion" after several days meditating everywhere else. It occurs to me that I postpone meditating when I look at it as work--something I "need" or "have" to do--but I actually enjoy it when I look at it as rest--an opportunity to slow down in the midst of everyday busy-ness.
I guess I'm intrinsically a lazy person, and my practice has to reflect that. :-)
Ruth, Stray, Devon -- I left a comment with you in mind back on the Saturday post as i was catching up after several days away. What was i thinking? Anyway - I'm glad everyone is feeling better.
The problem with "Lorianne" is that it's an easy word to mis-type. i do it all the time. Maybe we'll start calling you "Lori" - ;) (I'm pretty sure THAT wouldn't be OK!)
Good idea about the to-do list - I think I'll adopt that too.
Did my to do list before I sat (in the autumn vines just turning raddichio, tangerine and lime), Lourayine, (oops sorry) which helped not hanging on to things as they passed by, and there were plenty of them wanting to have their way with me!
Something I have been wondering is the difference between really being focused and blanking out. Sometimes I'm not sure what I'm doing. Any thoughts?
I have to admit I was a bit freaked out by the email yesterday (thanks for forgiveness and understanding - I get called 'animals screwing' in French) . I suppose Julian's professional life, and mine too, are a bit exposed here (tensions with collegues, or problems with anger) and I am wondering how people felt about the idea of having a forum which might discourage lurkers...? Suddenly I guess I just don't feel very safe.
My initial reaction to the email was very unZen. I lashed back at the writer. Then, calmed a little by J and luckily before I sent the lashing I lashed less but wrote back nonetheless. It was maybe still a case of not being able to let go; wanting justice, understanding.....
I don't like the idea of this forum being so public, either, so I'm with you, Ruth, and I know these sorts of incursions would/will affect my participation. There are other options we could discuss offline.
Beth, my family & close/longtime friends actually call me "Lori," which is what I went by in grade & high school. It wasn't until college that I started going by my full first name since that's what professors called me.
As a child, I thought "Lorianne" sounded like a hillbilly name, but now I like it because it's unique. I've never encountered another "Lorianne" in my online wanderings, so it's easy to be identified as "me" vs. someone else.
So as the old joke goes, call me anything, just don't call me late for dinner. :-)
Ruth, when I'm blanking out, I behave in a bumbling fashion, forgetting things, making mistakes, or doing things poorly. When I'm focused, it's like all my senses are "on," and I make fewer mistakes.
So in my experience, meditation is about being awake more than it is about being relaxed. I think some people think meditation is supposed to be a trance-like state, but I see it as being more akin to a feline watchfulness. If you've ever watched a cat stalking a mouse, you've seen how a creature can be 100% alert without being tense.
For me, meditation is like that: relaxed and awake. As we say in Zen, you cultivate a mind that is clear like space and sharp as the point of a needle. It's not about dulling your senses; if anything, it's about sharpening them.
Just to provide a certain perspective, I'd like to let the "regulars" here know how very helpful your dialogue has been to folks like me.
Though I've never posted, I've been reading "100 Days" almost since its inception.
I haven't posted because a) I'm shy and b) my practice is of the "warthog" variety (per Udge, many moons ago.) There's nothing much to report; I just try meditate most mornings because it makes the day go better. But like many meditators, I have my lapses and my discouraging periods. Your incredibly encouraging posts about problems like this have sustained me for a long time. Your unstinting support and welcome of anyone who appears, regardless of their "credentials", is wonderful to witness.
I would be sorry to see "100 Days" go underground; I find your interchanges inspiring and encouraging. Ruth, I'm really sorry you received that e-mail; that was a violation of everything the group has meant and has been to its readership.
I guess I just wanted to weigh in on behalf of the quiet "100 Days" participants to try to counteract the negativity in that piece of correspondence to Ruth. I would bet I'm not the only one whose meditation practice has been much enhanced by the cogitations that take place here.
I was sad to hear about that email. Disappointed, really. I'm really sorry you had to experience something like that, Ruth. But, while I deeply empathize with how upsetting and unnerving such an email would be to receive, I very much appreciate that this group IS open to anyone.
I read every day I'm in town although I don't always comment. I've been participating from fairly early on, but I wouldn't have started if it hadn't been open, and I don't think I would have continued if it hadn't been. It's not exclusive, and that's important to me.
8 Comments:
Good morning everybody, from cold & sunny Germany! It's a lovely day, clear blue sky and a gentle breeze, ideal for going for a walk by the river if only I weren't drowning in overdue work.
Sat for 10 minutes this morning, for the first time since before my recent holiday. It's odd how elastic time is, I was aware of the seconds dragging past as the clock ticked, but the 10 minutes were over in no time at all.
Hugs and good wishes to all.
Udge!!! It's great to "see" you again! I hope you had a great holiday.
I too am "back on the cushion" after several days meditating everywhere else. It occurs to me that I postpone meditating when I look at it as work--something I "need" or "have" to do--but I actually enjoy it when I look at it as rest--an opportunity to slow down in the midst of everyday busy-ness.
I guess I'm intrinsically a lazy person, and my practice has to reflect that. :-)
Hi Udge!!!
Ruth, Stray, Devon -- I left a comment with you in mind back on the Saturday post as i was catching up after several days away. What was i thinking? Anyway - I'm glad everyone is feeling better.
The problem with "Lorianne" is that it's an easy word to mis-type. i do it all the time. Maybe we'll start calling you "Lori" - ;) (I'm pretty sure THAT wouldn't be OK!)
Good idea about the to-do list - I think I'll adopt that too.
Did my to do list before I sat (in the autumn vines just turning raddichio, tangerine and lime), Lourayine, (oops sorry) which helped not hanging on to things as they passed by, and there were plenty of them wanting to have their way with me!
Something I have been wondering is the difference between really being focused and blanking out. Sometimes I'm not sure what I'm doing. Any thoughts?
I have to admit I was a bit freaked out by the email yesterday (thanks for forgiveness and understanding - I get called 'animals screwing' in French) . I suppose Julian's professional life, and mine too, are a bit exposed here (tensions with collegues, or problems with anger) and I am wondering how people felt about the idea of having a forum which might discourage lurkers...? Suddenly I guess I just don't feel very safe.
My initial reaction to the email was very unZen. I lashed back at the writer. Then, calmed a little by J and luckily before I sent the lashing I lashed less but wrote back nonetheless. It was maybe still a case of not being able to let go; wanting justice, understanding.....
hello again Udge!
I don't like the idea of this forum being so public, either, so I'm with you, Ruth, and I know these sorts of incursions would/will affect my participation. There are other options we could discuss offline.
Beth, my family & close/longtime friends actually call me "Lori," which is what I went by in grade & high school. It wasn't until college that I started going by my full first name since that's what professors called me.
As a child, I thought "Lorianne" sounded like a hillbilly name, but now I like it because it's unique. I've never encountered another "Lorianne" in my online wanderings, so it's easy to be identified as "me" vs. someone else.
So as the old joke goes, call me anything, just don't call me late for dinner. :-)
Ruth, when I'm blanking out, I behave in a bumbling fashion, forgetting things, making mistakes, or doing things poorly. When I'm focused, it's like all my senses are "on," and I make fewer mistakes.
So in my experience, meditation is about being awake more than it is about being relaxed. I think some people think meditation is supposed to be a trance-like state, but I see it as being more akin to a feline watchfulness. If you've ever watched a cat stalking a mouse, you've seen how a creature can be 100% alert without being tense.
For me, meditation is like that: relaxed and awake. As we say in Zen, you cultivate a mind that is clear like space and sharp as the point of a needle. It's not about dulling your senses; if anything, it's about sharpening them.
In appreciation...
Just to provide a certain perspective, I'd like to let the "regulars" here know how very helpful your dialogue has been to folks like me.
Though I've never posted, I've been reading "100 Days" almost since its inception.
I haven't posted because a) I'm shy and b) my practice is of the "warthog" variety (per Udge, many moons ago.) There's nothing much to report; I just try meditate most mornings because it makes the day go better. But like many meditators, I have my lapses and my discouraging periods. Your incredibly encouraging posts about problems like this have sustained me for a long time. Your unstinting support and welcome of anyone who appears, regardless of their "credentials", is wonderful to witness.
I would be sorry to see "100 Days" go underground; I find your interchanges inspiring and encouraging. Ruth, I'm really sorry you received that e-mail; that was a violation of everything the group has meant and has been to its readership.
I guess I just wanted to weigh in on behalf of the quiet "100 Days" participants to try to counteract the negativity in that piece of correspondence to Ruth. I would bet I'm not the only one whose meditation practice has been much enhanced by the cogitations that take place here.
Bitterroot, pleased to meet you!
I was sad to hear about that email. Disappointed, really. I'm really sorry you had to experience something like that, Ruth. But, while I deeply empathize with how upsetting and unnerving such an email would be to receive, I very much appreciate that this group IS open to anyone.
I read every day I'm in town although I don't always comment. I've been participating from fairly early on, but I wouldn't have started if it hadn't been open, and I don't think I would have continued if it hadn't been. It's not exclusive, and that's important to me.
(Hi, Udge! And Devon!)
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