esrosedotblog

I am a long time meditator.

I even went to school for it a couple of times.

Retreats in the woods. Very nice.

I never wandered to far from the Vipassinna methods. Sitting and focusing on breathing. No mantras. No other gimmicks. Just me and my breath.

I learned all the ins and outs and sometimes, against my wishes, was brought up against what I regard as the religious of far eastern culture. The bible thumpers.

I didn't let them spoil my experience. I just meditated them away.

I never wanted the guru-esque. At the time I was learning to sit there were a number of popular gurus. The Marahishi. Others.

I went with the Tibetans which had a boy priest at the "head" of it but no head and no "it". It was related to the Dalai Lama but not the same. I never quite got it.

The plain fact is that stopping. Stop!

Sitting. Sit.

Breathing. Breathe. In and out from below the belt. Through the nose or mouth does not matter.

Let the thoughts move through your head. Do not resist them. Let them be. Do not grab on to them.

At first you will be very grabby, but later, not so much.

This article is a good review of what is out there. You will not have to go far. Try for something close to the people at Webster Massachusetts. The Insight Meditation Society.

I have to admit I got there through a guru figure, Ram Dass, but he was more a friend than a guru. All he ever wanted to be. He lived in his Dad's apartment at Harbor Towers in Boston. High rise sitting.

This is pretty good but over wrought. He should sit and breathe a bit.

Can We End the Meditation Madness?.

Labels: meditation

I am a meditator.

It is not my entire identity but it informs all of my identity. Think about it.

I have been sitting every day, mostly, for many years.

I am loathe to discuss the process because people want "tips ". There are no tips.

It is helpful to go to "meditation school" as I did. Vapassana particularly. Mostly about breath. No mantras. No heavy emphasis on body positions.

I was delighted to see this today.

It is what I do. More or less. Figure out your own variations.

I sit in a chair. My legs won't cross anymore. At least not so I can get through the pain.

Labels: meditation

DAYDREAMING

I have had a lot of time on my hands in the last week. I don't know why. I am doing all the usual stuff.

Well, a few of my friends that I meet with regularly are away or working on stuff to get back together again and work on. Two tomorrow.

It is so unusual that I got a little panicked. But I just relaxed and let it go.

Stuff turned up to do or read or just sit and think about.

Nothing consequential. No great insights. Just very enjoyable.

I don't think that I allow myself enough daydream time. I think that I will do more of it. After all, it is an old man's prerogative.

A sort of meditation. Doing nothing. Pretty good.

I am not a stranger to this mode of course. I just haven't taken the opportunity or made time for it.

Labels: life, meditation, spiritual life

THE DALAI LAMA WALKS INTO A PIZZA SHOP......

They think that it is the pizza that is lost in translation but I think it is the Oz accent, meself.

Labels: fun, meditation, religion

SUN TIME

Speaking of downtime, I am reverting to an old practice that I began when we moved here to Palm Springs 13 years ago.

This latest move has gotten going back to first principles. Well some of them.

I am spending 20 minutes in the sun at the pool every day.

Ten minutes a side for the sun and a backstroke swim up and down the pool before, during and after the 20.

I am getting my tan back and my natural Vitamin D but, more importantly, I am getting down time. Quiet.

No one is at the pool or if there is/are, they are as quiet as I am. There can be some social time if necessary but that is not the point.

Sun. Quiet. Light exercise.

There is something about being "near" the sun, too. Engulfed by its light and heat. Universal. Like I could hold it or, perhaps, that it is holding me.

We are in a heat wave for three days. Emergency warnings. 115 degrees.

I still go out.

It is all relative. The only danger is the hot metal on the lounges.

Today I discovered that if I lie down closer to the bushes, I get a spray of water from the sprinkler for a few minutes. Nice.

Labels: meditation, pool, quiet