Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
excerpt from "The Wisdom of No Escape" By Pema Chodron
There's a common misunderstanding among all the human beings who have ever been born on he earth that the best way to live is to avoid pain and just try to get comfortable. You can see this even in insects and animals and birds. All of us are the same.
A much more interesting, kind, adventurous, and joyful approach to life is to begin to develop our curiosity, not caring whether the object of our inquisitiveness is bitter or sweet. To lead a life that goes beyond pettiness and prejudice and always wanting to make sure that everything turns out on our own terms, to lead to a more passionate, full and delightful life than that, we must realize that we can endure a lot of pain and pleasure for the sake of finding out who we are and what the world is, how we tick and how our world ticks, and how the whole thing just is. If we're committed to comfort at any cost, as seen as we come up against the least edge of pain, we're going to run; we'll never know what's beyond that particular barrier or wall or fearful thing.
When people start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual discipline, they often think that somehow they're going to improve, which is sort of a subtle aggression against who they really are. It's a bit like saying, "If I jog, I'll be a much better person." "If only I could get a nicer house, I'd be a better person." "If I could mediate and calm down, I'd be a better person." Or the scenario may be that they find fault with others; they might say, "If it weren't for my husband, I'd have a perfect marriage." "If it weren't for the fact that my boss and I can't get on, my job would be just great." And "If it weren't for my mind, my meditation would be excellent."
But loving-kindness -maitri- toward ourselves doesn't mean getting rid of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years. We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous or feelings of unworthiness. The point is not to change ourselves. Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you and me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That's the ground, that's what we study, that's what we come to know with tremendous curiosity and interest.
A much more interesting, kind, adventurous, and joyful approach to life is to begin to develop our curiosity, not caring whether the object of our inquisitiveness is bitter or sweet. To lead a life that goes beyond pettiness and prejudice and always wanting to make sure that everything turns out on our own terms, to lead to a more passionate, full and delightful life than that, we must realize that we can endure a lot of pain and pleasure for the sake of finding out who we are and what the world is, how we tick and how our world ticks, and how the whole thing just is. If we're committed to comfort at any cost, as seen as we come up against the least edge of pain, we're going to run; we'll never know what's beyond that particular barrier or wall or fearful thing.
When people start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual discipline, they often think that somehow they're going to improve, which is sort of a subtle aggression against who they really are. It's a bit like saying, "If I jog, I'll be a much better person." "If only I could get a nicer house, I'd be a better person." "If I could mediate and calm down, I'd be a better person." Or the scenario may be that they find fault with others; they might say, "If it weren't for my husband, I'd have a perfect marriage." "If it weren't for the fact that my boss and I can't get on, my job would be just great." And "If it weren't for my mind, my meditation would be excellent."
But loving-kindness -maitri- toward ourselves doesn't mean getting rid of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years. We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous or feelings of unworthiness. The point is not to change ourselves. Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you and me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That's the ground, that's what we study, that's what we come to know with tremendous curiosity and interest.
fruit fast
on day three of my fruit fast today. feeling very very good. day one was a struggle, and i definitely feel ravenous in the morning. though i love having the motivation to put such nutrient dense food into my body. been feeling great on the yoga mat, too. i was very resistant to the whole thing, but it seems it's always good to bring more awareness to eating well, and seeing more clearly what foods weigh me down and creates the gunk. i will definitely be looking forward to eating tomorrow!! i have a feeling this experience will motivate to incorporate more fresh, raw fruit and veggie meals, it's the best!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Fruit Fast
Today is my last day of the fruit fast. I love fruits and I usually enjoy fruit fasts. For some reason, I did not feel the same lightness and uplift I felt during my previous fruit fasts. I felt great on Monday (Day 1), but I felt tired yesterday and today. Perhaps, I used a different mix of fruits. I usually eat a lot of grapes, pears, apples, and bananas when I’m fruit-fasting. This time my fruit intake consisted primarily of strawberries, blueberries, black berries, and kiwi which have lower sugar/calories content compared to other fruits especially grapes and bananas.
I guess I’ve learned my lesson – more calories is not necessarily a bad thing.
What was your experience? How did your yoga practice feel during the fast period? Did you feel lighter and more open? Did you find that you could breath more and go deeper?
I guess I’ve learned my lesson – more calories is not necessarily a bad thing.
What was your experience? How did your yoga practice feel during the fast period? Did you feel lighter and more open? Did you find that you could breath more and go deeper?
Friday, February 13, 2009
Meditating with Nature
As days get longer and warmer, it may be a good idea to blend outdoor activities and meditation . Below are some suggestions on devising meditation in which you draw nature into your own being through your senses (from Soma Krishna):
1. Sit with your back pressed against the trunk of the mightiest tree you can find and pull its strenth into your spine with each breath. Lose awareness of where the tree trunk and your back meet, become one. Thank the tree.
2. Taste the wind. What does it carry? Salt from the sea, perhaps? Or clean pine essence from the nountains, or parched desert air? Lick snow and rain from the wind's fingers.
3. Listen to the ocean pound on the beach. Close your eyes and let the intensity of the sound fill your head, then your whole body, until you vibrate with it. Try to hear beyond the ocean to the roar of the raw primal energy in the universe.
4. Watch the flow of a river. Throw your burden of worry and negative emotions to the passing water to carry off. Breath deeply to dislodge old crystalized tensions from around your heart, as the current sweeps away layer after layer of ancient woes on its way to the ocean. Visualize the ocean waiting, neutralzing all, and converting it back into pure energy once more.
( Elena: Try # 4 with ocean waves as well )
1. Sit with your back pressed against the trunk of the mightiest tree you can find and pull its strenth into your spine with each breath. Lose awareness of where the tree trunk and your back meet, become one. Thank the tree.
2. Taste the wind. What does it carry? Salt from the sea, perhaps? Or clean pine essence from the nountains, or parched desert air? Lick snow and rain from the wind's fingers.
3. Listen to the ocean pound on the beach. Close your eyes and let the intensity of the sound fill your head, then your whole body, until you vibrate with it. Try to hear beyond the ocean to the roar of the raw primal energy in the universe.
4. Watch the flow of a river. Throw your burden of worry and negative emotions to the passing water to carry off. Breath deeply to dislodge old crystalized tensions from around your heart, as the current sweeps away layer after layer of ancient woes on its way to the ocean. Visualize the ocean waiting, neutralzing all, and converting it back into pure energy once more.
( Elena: Try # 4 with ocean waves as well )
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
meditation insights from week two & three
hello all you 40 day yogis. i definitely noticed the tapes that baron was talking about for last weeks meditation. i've noticed how i have this tape called right/wrong. and much of what runs through my head when i sit, esp at the end of the day, is what i did right and what i did wrong, and what happened that day that was right and wrong. it is exhausting! i def get how it is good to learn and grow from experiences in life, but i think that this lens to look at look life through is very limiting. it is so much more empowering to have a choice on how to live and enjoy life, and that tendency i have to see the supposed right and wrong doesn't always have to go on auto pilot. and sitting still to see this bubble up with baron's suggestion reveals how much it is present for me . this is what i love about yoga. that ability to see things more clearly and make a choice on how i want to create my life and experience in this world. how have your experiences been so far with the home or studio practice and the meditations? the meditation is truly a gift and i love the support of the 40 day practice to keep it consistent when i want don't want to confront myself and check in. it is all about that checking in. as krishna das put it at his show in new haven on sunday, "when you're on your path, it leads back to your heart" namaste you rocking 40 day people. i have a gentle yoga class on fridays at 4pm now, if you are looking for a restorative practice to balance out all of the power yoga. hari om.
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