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Hard Times / End Times

Last night Collie shared his personal challenges as he contemplates the times ahead, among them imagining what our culture might be like post-election.  We explored how we can take refuge in the Three Characteristics.  Noting that all things change, that our relationship to what is happening determines the degree to how much we suffer, and how our sense of self determines our effectiveness. We contemplated some of the greats who created massive social change.  Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and others.  Acting from anger has a certain degree of effectiveness.  Acting from compassion has a different degree of effectiveness.

This is truly our work - to keep our hearts open and at the same time, to live in integrity with our highest values.

Jack passed along this clip of Adyashanti speaking about ego and of the possible challenges ahead:

[youtube]FxWZc1cRLnA[/youtube]

(Thanks, Jack.)

The Right Use of Will

Any practice requires some discipline.  In yoga, the word 'tapas' means discipline and also means 'fire.'  The fire of discipline helps us stay present to all the wavering modifications of the mind.  Discipline also requires balance.  We must learn when to rest and when to let go. Here's an inspiring video of what sustained discipline can cultivate:

[youtube]8SbXgQqbOoU[/youtube]

(Thanks, Elizabeth)

What it's really all about

I'm getting some questions regarding the "What Am I?" Inquiry Retreat in December and I'll have more on that soon, but this might give you a hint as to what's possible when we look into the nature of reality. Amazingly clever. But then, I'm easily entertained.

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(Thanks, Dan.)

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Saturday, September 25th: Dynamic Vipassana Meditation

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Saturday, September 25th I'm leading a daylong that a fellow yogi and I call "Shake and Bake" Meditation. This technique was developed in 1970 by the teacher Osho as a way to make the subtler states of consciousness available to western practitioners.  It may seem a little weird, but it's very engaging. Tracking the progression laid out in Raja Yoga, we follow distinct phases from the gross to the subtle. The phases we'll follow in this version:

1.  Shake, sound, move and express.  A soundtrack will help you keep moving and 'shaking out' any tensions that come into your awareness.

2.  Free flow.  The soundtrack changes and with your eyes closed, you'll move into a period of letting your body spontaneously move with the music.

3.  Breath and sound.  You'll find a seated position and shift your attention to deep, full inhalations and while relaxing on the exhale, generating a particular sound.   You may find yourself moving into deeper concentration and absorption.

4.  Meditation.  Attuning to stillness and presence.

5.  Lying down body scan.  Deep, deep letting go.  Releasing all effort.

6.  More meditation.

7.  Journaling.  A meditative writing technique to record your impressions as they arise.

And that's just the morning.

The afternoon will be more traditional vipassana meditation with periods for movement and relaxation.  There will also be time for sharing, questions and discussion.

Most of the day, though, will be in silence.  If you are looking for a day dedicated to releasing tensions and attuning to what arises in the stillness, I think you'll find this to be a rich and full experience.

A video of me describing the day:

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Chances are quite high we'll have a waiting list for the retreat, as we did last time.  The following link will expedite your registration.

For more information and to register online.

Feeling and Watching

You may have run across these videos of soldiers returning home to their families.  The first time I watched one I was pretty quickly taken by the raw, unfiltered and authentic emotions in these short clips. The second and third time (over the next few days) I paid more attention to my inner experience ... the heat and movement through my heart, throat and eyes, the rising of sensation and emotion, the tears emerging and rolling down my face.

You might like to watch these as a mindfulness practice.

How present can you be to the energy and feelings moving inside you?

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More on Snowball

You may recall a "Happy for No Reason" video I posted of Snowball, who loves moving to music with a beat. [youtube]N7IZmRnAo6s[/youtube]

That video prompted Anniruddh Patel, a neuroscientist, to explore music's hold on the brain.  Do we have a neurological relationship to music, as we do language?  Fascinating stuff.

You can read more through this recent New York Times article.

How My Son Ruined My Life

James Baraz just published a book called "Awakening Joy" and runs an online "Awakening Joy" course.  You may have heard him when he speaks in DC or when he's been part of a retreat with IMCW.  I did my Community Dharma Leadership training through Spirit Rock with him. The following is a clip from his 91.5 year old mother's talk with his Awakening Joy course in the San Francisco area recently on how he (and mindfulness) ruined her genetic propensity to worry.

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