sustained mindfulness and concentration

I attended a dharma talk last night that was rather technical and on the subject of sustained concentration in mindfulness practice. I noticed myself feeling early on in the talk that I was somewhat bored, a little needy, judging the topic as something that would not fulfill me for the evening. But after listening in full, I took away a great deal of insight, that helped me notice and understand this moment of discomfort.

Often I find that when I am uncomfortable with something it is because it is something I NEED to investigate. As a good friend would tell me, "Where you resist, persist" or when something seems difficult try to stay and see things through. To me that is the essence of what meditation is, a form of staying.

In sustained concentration there can be one specific thing that you are concentrating on, usually the breath, sometimes a light (if you are practicing eyes open), or maybe even music. Sustaining focus can be less about an empty mind, and more about a satisfied mind, one that isnt racing about in an anxiety frenzy to control and figure things out.

My suggestion for this week is to try to notice when you feel uncomfortable and either persist through the feeling returning back to your state of focus or if this feels really over powering, to investigate where that discomfort arises first, and then come back.

A reminder for this I have come to say to myself is:

Come back, come back. And then Stay.

Namaste, K

Dark Night of The Soul

Winter has notoriety for symbolizing Death and the end of cycles....

Ultimately we have to come to terms with the fact that every season brings with it a kind of energy resonance that may make its marker in our lives.

As the darkness becomes more evident I invite you to shed light on areas of your life that you may have been denying.

Personally, I have noticed this time of year to indicate some solo journey work. It feels like a potent wish to impart on others, to encourage all of you to take time for yourself, to walk the path with courage but also with a kind of compassionate tenderness.

We all have endured struggle. Let us remember we needn't suffer in our struggles.

Setting Intention for the Psyche

I don't know if you are like me, but I often have trouble sleeping. I'll lie in bed and my mind will just race with thoughts, and then Ill pick one that isn't worthy of my time and just obsess over it. Despite my meditation practice, there is something deeper and more psychological at work here.

A friend recommended the book: The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield. I have seen Jack talk a few times and have always been left in a sort of trance like awe surrounding his breadth of knowledge, ability to tie in concepts and cleverly quote and antidote situations. His book: After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; was a very poignant account of several encounters that helped fuse my understanding of the human psyche in relationship to the everyday, within the lens of Buddhism.

I'm setting out the goal and intention to write more about this topic in an effort to address questions I may receive here or out in the world to write about.

To look out into the community as a support system, as a gage for change is a tool I wish to utilize. I thank you for bearing witness and for reading.

Namaste K

whats in a reflection

Looking in the mirror I have reminded myself:

The image is of you
But you are not it

Because reflections of a mirror are only two dimensional
We must look deeper to truly find ourselves.

This sounds much easier said than done... but it has a lot to do with that quiet stillness that exists if we can just sit with ourselves in a meditative state.

For me, this means sitting on a mat or pillow for 30 minutes to an hour and battling my own intensity. It is a kind of battle that I surrender to, because I know that right before the gong is rung, I feel a little bit more relief, a bit more space within my being, that reminds me that all of this is called practice for a reason.

now practice doesnt mean perfect, and one should not strive to sit in utter stillness to be blissed out and in peace the entire time, but waves of this centering calm will fill you and help steer you on your path.

In order to feel connected to the divine we must know of ourselves through reflection within.

Get in touch with your attitudes and beliefs because they are the blockades with which to trancend

ask yourself some deeper questions:

like:

what do you feel about yourself?

that your not enough

that you'll fail

work with these falsehoods

The death of the self is realised after we realise the self

Everything in life has meaning

As you walk the path towards wholeness you will find mirrors, be them in your interactions with others or in your own meditation time. Acknowledge each, knowing that they are not the totality of you, but merely glimpses, useful reflections that hint towards the truth.

Have Heart, Seek Deeper.

Namaste K

a tip on wisdom

Wisdom
Is attained through first listening.

we must train our minds to listen hard, and then to retain,

then to study and then question.

A way to delve deeper into study practices is to take notes while you are reading, then coming across themes group those notes into themes. Taking the most relevant potent and important pieces of knowledge

Nothing Needs to Happen

Nothing? Really?!?

Well, lets face it, nothing is never nothing... but our concept of nothing... now thats an area of discomfort...

what is the unknown but a big empty sounding word like nothing...

Being here,

right here,

right now

is truly profound

and it lends itself to a world of intricate nuances and an assortment of delightful beauty.

Have you ever just sat and stared off into the ether for a moment, just to see how it would feel?

Have you ever just spent a moment of stillness noticing whats around you?

Seeing and appreciating what is?

The expansiveness of how blessed we are...

How interconnected!!!

They say Impatience is a resistance to learning and changing....

its the restless discomfort of the ego

... writhing around, trying to make sure that it is seen and fed

after all if we were to let the ego go entirely,

we would

Enter back into oneness...

Now thats a thought... ;)

Meditate Everywhere

I just had the best Bikram Yoga class ever... why you might ask? Because I was able to turn completely inward and be present in my practice.

As I have said before to people, if you have a meditation practice and you sit in a quiet space for an alloted amount of time, great... but if you arent challenging yourself in other areas of your life to meditate, then the only time you will find peace is on the pillow. Maybe its time to meditate at a metal concert? Its pretty fun, you should try it! :)

That being said, I think it is easy to be all over the place when you are trying to settle your mind, that is the nature of the mind, it wants to be apart of the action! Living in a society that lends to attention deficit disorder, I think that it makes it all the more difficult to find that point of stillness within yourself. But meditation is conscious observation...

Plus, it seems to come in various forms, the kind I practice fluctuates. Because I dont prescribe to the concept that one way is the best way, I use a variety of techniques, from visualization, mantras and affirmations, to observation, acknowledgement and release. I think it depends on where you are at in the day, and trying on what works best for you. This is something you come to know as an intuitive practice when you take the time to look inward.

Meditation is consciously turning inward, it can be a moment or a collection of moments, and we can do it anywhere. I chose today to do my meditation while doing intensive yoga postures in a hot room... I often do this, as a way to strengthen my mind and also as a reminder to stay in my body.

What I learned today was that I have a very strong affirmative voice that cheers me on...

and that voice reminds me of this very important truth that Id like to impart...

"You are held by the divine, go forth in faith, and with courage"

"With each step forward, know that you are surrounded and supported in love."

The great mother is with us, she holds us in her warm embrace, she reminds us that we arent given anything we cant handle, and when it seems like its too much, she will be there to catch us.

Listen deeply, turn your eye inward, and see that there is vast wisdom within your being... that is the spirit.