What is the Attitude in Your Mind Right Now?

When Joseph Goldstein was in DC this summer he shared an inquiry he’s found quite helpful in his meditation practice.   I’ve noticed it helpful as well and have been sharing this when I guide meditation.

“What is the attitude in your mind right now?”  Is there striving?  Aversion?  Grasping?

Somehow this question can help to ‘reset’ my awareness from being consumed by a reaction to what’s happening to an attitude of softening, noticing and being more present to whatever is there.

In class this week I mentioned the retreats led by Sayadaw U Tejaniya, who emphasizes focusing not as much on technique as on being intimately aware of the attitude in each moment – the relationship to this play of pleasant, unpleasant and neutral sensations.

Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Tricycle Magazine recently featured an interview with U Tejaniya where he goes deeper into the practice of ‘mindfulness in everyday life.”  He also has a few interesting things to say about his experience of depression and the practice of ‘noting,’ which I mentioned in class this week.

I hope you enjoy it.

Birds on the Wires

Very creative.

(Thanks, Beth.)

Shot of the Day

From this morning just after sunrise, tracking migrating geese heading for the horizon.

Inspired for a Reason

This is an amazingly creative and touching post on the New York Times blog about the city, volunteering and positive vibes.  Delightful.

And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman

(Thanks, Judith.)

Jane Goodall: Reason for Hope

Some inspiring words from Jane Goodall.  As a friend who passed this on to me said, “This will take an hour of your time to watch – a lot, I realize – but … oh!  How worth it!  It found my heart and brought me to tears.”

(Thank you, Elizabeth.)

Buddhist Leader Says Playing Video Games Lets Out Aggression; Better Method Than Meditation

This link was passed on to me and I read it with a bit of incredulity.  Then I googled the guru.

He’s 25 years old.  Ah.

The dharma evolves.

(Thanks, Tracy.)

The World Wild Webs

With Fall here and temperatures not yet below freezing, the spiders seem to be going all out.

These shots from are from wandering the woods during recent heavy-dewed morning, just after sunrise.

Buddha on the Beach

Open the senses, hang out here for a while ... and something happens.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

– Lao Tzu

I’m back from a daylong retreat we called “Buddha on the Beach:  Meditation in Nature”.

We alternated between gathering together in our room at the Biden Environmental Center and wandering on our own in the woods, dunes and beaches of Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware exploring the two fundamentals of meditation:  Deep Relaxation and Paying Attention.

Retreats are for me a sacred balance of ‘being alone together.’  At the end of the day we sat in meditation then shared an insight from the day.  As we went around the circle I was touched at how an environment of caring community and natural beauty  fosters such inner balance and joy.

The Insight Meditation Community of Lewes is a wonderful little sangha by the sea.  When you’re in town and would like to connect with wonderful folks, look them up.

Thank you all for your wonderful hospitality.

Come to Paw Paw

You may not know that it’s Paw Paw harvest time, a season which lasts between three and five minutes.  Paw Paw trees line much of the Potomac River and the fruit shifts from being ripe to being rotten right in front of your eyes.  That’s why, if you’ve ever tasted this local banana/mango tasting fruit, it’s probably been in a jelly or jam.

I didn’t know there were ‘tropical’ type fruits in this region.  If you’d like to learn more than you’d ever really want to know, you can check out this link on Wikipedia.

Exotic. Rare. Nice fruit, too.

Emptiness … and Form

This is mind-blowing.  Scientists pointed the Hubble telescope at ‘nothing’ and ….found something amazing.  My English major brain has trouble taking in this data.

This reminds me of Sri Nisargadata’s famous statement:

Wisdom tells me I am nothing.

Compassion tells me I am everything.

Between these two my life flows.

(Thanks, Mark.)