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Has your week been a 'mindful' one ?
Shoshin
No one in particularNowhere Special Veteran
Did you get to practice Dharma in the flesh ? ie, a situation arose where you use your understanding of the Dharma to work with/through it ...
For example : It might have been something simple like centering oneself and not flying off the handle when being provoked (which in the past might have been a normal 'reaction' in a similar situation)
Or showing more patience/compassion/tolerance/generosity( with time or material) than usual...
Has your week been a 'mindful' one ?
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Like most, hit or miss. Many many opportunities to practice. Some taken, some I missed. But this week was better than many before it. I talked to my teacher last weekend and re-dedicated myself to some parts of practice I had let go when I've been so busy with my son's college prep. I should know better, the more life goes crazy, the more my practice has to be stable so I can deal. This week will be crazy too, but I'm ready
The past week or so my main thought has been "do no harm" that I repeat to myself many times a day, it helps me keep calm instead of being short with the kids, and so on. Also, I have been wearing my mala to remind me.
Oh yeah...I've been walking more, to slowly get back into a health regime of sorts - and after a week or so of doing that, my various muscles n joints were complaining - they were very polite taking turns n all.....so, Patience comes to mind as fur as practice. I'm sleeping better, though.....more mindful of doing - remembering the things to do, the supplements to take in order to help maintain.
Practicing keeping my shirt on - heh - when I get up the next day to discover the various aches and pains brought on by the extra walking. It's very funny to me, using the term mindfulness when my folks would say I'm just keeping my shirt on, or my powder dry.
Btw, I'd love to share the fact that even though I forget sometimes, I wear a rainbow fluorite pendant on a natural fiber twine at night to help me sleep, and by golly, it works wonders for me.
I am dharma in the flesh . . . however nobody believes that, not even me . . .
. . . on more occasions than not, yes did practice. As a 'new age Buddhist' trainee, my most noticeable effort was the effect of a serious bout of mantra recitation . . . However I am trying to be less goal dependent and ultra spiritual . . .
http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/22095/how-to-be-ultra-spiritual
So @lobster, does this mean that you're not practicing to 'become' enlightened (less goal dependent) but focusing more on letting enlightenment be the natural expression of your practice (ultra spiritual)?
@Shoshin
Can the echos of yesterdays mentality
offer more than this moment of grace now?
No...but for those new to the mindfulness 'experience', reviewing past actions with improvement in mind can serve a beneficial purpose....
@Shoshin
Agreed
as
I also think a review is actually the most helpful and understandable when encouraged to unfold as a real time experiment over something theoretical.
My week's been pretty crappy really. Last Monday I had a car accident (nothing too serious, but my Tardis needs work) and steadily declined.
Tonight though, I was starting to panic over submissions for work and then I made myself take some deep breaths and focus on being mindful and decided to ring my boss at the 11th hour to ask for assistance. To my surprise (and utter delight), not only was he willing to help, he actively went out of his way to ensure I did not feel bad for asking for the help. He then proceeded to spend an hour out of his personal time to help me and also chase up the person who was holding me up.
So the last seven days were underwhelming, but it's finished tonight on a note of gratitude. And I think that's pretty spesh.
_ /\ _
Yes, it was a mindful week. I had many opportunities to practice compassion out in the world and I was able to take advantage of some of them. I kept most of the five precepts most of the time. And I am grateful for the gift of a new week to practice, practice, practice...
I'm starting to enjoy the ride on the Skillful Karma Train, and without losing sight of dukkha that's always there as a reminder.
Now that my aches and pains have faded well enough for me to become more active today, I chose to clean the floor of my little walk-in closet - except for moving stuff about, the only incident was (literally and truly) a big dust bunny jumped out after I'd almost finished vacuuming. My heart was strong, though and I survived the ambush.
I also vacuumed the living room and around my computer desk.
I will be meditating today for the first time in about 6 weeks, just a short sit to ease myself back in. I need to get some time in because we'll probably be restarting the local Buddhist group and I'll be leading meditations again!
It will be like you have never been away from the cushion.....
Just like riding a bike! I'll just build up the time gradually, I'm not going to give myself a hard time. I think 6 weeks is the longest I've ever gone without meditating, but then I figure after 35 years I should get some time off for good behaviour, like they do in the penal system!
^^^ Meditational parole?
Well so far I notice a less prickly hedgehog off the meditation and under duress . . . be interesting what happens next . . .
Bravo.
To also answer @Shoshin . . .
I do not differentiate between practice, life and awakening. In other words my behavour that is classed as 'Buddhist' is not special compared to chopping dust, wood or carrying burdens, water etc.
My most important 'practice' is listening and watching, being attentive one might say. Everyone is on the path, has potential and is open to guidance, awareness, finding peace and awakening.
Realization? Nothing special.
Please don't give me an excuse not to start meditating again! Actually you're right, something did shift a while back. Maybe all that practice finally had an effect, about bleedin' time too!
Yes. I think TNH said something similar in "The miracle of mindfulness". An openess to experience, looking carefully.
I'm reminded of that William Blake verse:
To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
I will be very interested in how this goes . . . you might even finish your Ngöndro and get the Quackery or similar empowerment . . . whatever next . . .