Walking Meditation

The air was still -

the sun had gone down, 

but it was still light
and the atmosphere was charmed.

Four people walking the length of the yard,
stopping and then walking back,
all the time mindful of each step,
each making the effort to walk slowly,
step by step as slowly as possible.

Three gongs in the background set the scene:
tinkle of the owl chimes
thunk of the bamboo chimes
intermittent boom of the metal gong.

For 25 minutes
we were unaware of anything or anyone else;
just concentrating on one foot after the other,
lift up then place down,
feel the tension in one leg,
and the lightness in the other.

14.12.13

Relaxation Meditation

Walking down a sandy track through sparse bushland you hear the dull roar of the surf become louder as you approach the sand dunes.

The bush thins out and the eucalyptus smell is replaced by the smell of ozone.

The path becomes sandier and as you climb a small rise you see the beach spread out in front of you. 

The sand dunes are vast and the sun beats down, but as you get closer to the damp shore the dunes open up to a sheltered spot with a grassy slope.

You sit down here with your back to the dune, your face in the shade and the rest of your body in the warmth of the sun.

Here in this protected spot you are safe: the roar of the surf is comforting, the smell of the ozone is invigorating, the sun warms your skin gently and the warmth moves into your bones.

Sit here in this warm, comforting spot listening to the crash of the waves, smelling the sharp, salty smell of the ocean and feeling the warming comfort of the sun.

Feel the softness of the sand under your feet and your buttocks, and the harsh roughness of the kikuyu grass on your hands.

What else can you hear?  The seagulls swooping for fish in the nearby lagoon? The squelch of the sand as a walker passes by in the dry sand?  A far off helicopter on shark patrol?

What else can you feel? The gentle breeze ruffling your hair? The warmth of the sun as it begins to burn your arms?  The damp of your clothes from the sand?

What else can you smell? The faint eucalyptus tang from the nearby bush?  The seaweed smell from the drying weed on the shore?

What can you taste? The salt carried from the nearby surf?

With your eyes closed you cannot see anything concrete, but what do you see in your imagination? A crowd of walkers at the water’s edge, all trying to escape the waves? A busy pair of dogs out on an adventure, chasing each other, sniffing the sand, following teasing seagulls, ignoring their owners’ commands?

Now it is time to return from this restful retreat, but remember that this is your own sanctuary, you are safe here and no one can enter this place without your permission.

5/10/12

Meditation Thursday 3.5.12

Tonight I expect a small group again, as one of our members is on holidays, another is nursing a sick husband and yet another is attending a work function. However, I plan to lead the group with a reading from a blog, Mystic Meandering I followed some time ago and have not reconnected with lately.

The post was titled Inner Compass from 16.1.11 and it has intrigued me for some time. I copied it last year when I was feeling somewhat directionless but have never had the opportunity to share it before.

Update 6.5.12

I did share this blog post, we had 1 more member than expected and interesting discussion following our meditation session. 

None of the group liked the idea of being directionless, all agreed that this is a frightening concept.  One of our number shared that having no direction can be a symptom of depression, another said that she always wanted to feel she had some control over her actions at all times. We all agreed that the idea of doing nothing and waiting is somehow foreign to us all.

I concluded the discussion with a quote which seemed to sum up for me the idea of waiting and doing nothing:

"Always remember deep in your heart that all is well and everything is unfolding as it should.  There are no mistakes anywhere, at any time.  What appears to be wrong is simply your own false imagination.  That's all..."  ~Robert Adams  (Silence of the Heart Vol 1).

Meditation Thursday 26.4.12

This week we had a small group of only 5 people and I lead with a reading from Susan Piver on confidence http://www.susanpiver.com/wordpress/page/2/?s=buddhism+and+real+life.

I found this blog post quite insightful and I appreciated the advice that Susan gives - "don't try to fight the lack of self confidence, instead relax and allow it. This relaxing enables you to become more confident. Think of your mind as the sky which can contain all sorts of thoughts, helpful and unhelpful."

Small Stone 5.2.12

Praying monk

Eyes closed

Hands clasped over his knee

Rapt in contemplation.

He is a worthy meditation prompt.

Values clarification

 A meaningful life is one lived by Buddhist principles – compassion for others vs. selfishness. It would be sad to come to the end of your life and be beset by regrets and ‘if only’thoughts – “I wish I had done this, I wish I had not done that.”

A meaningful life is also one where you (the liver of the life) feel fulfilled and that you have been worthwhile to yourself and others.

I try to think of others and see their point of view. But on the other hand I struggle with the idea of feeling overlooked and undervalued or underestimated. I struggle with this feeling many times as I feel it is selfishness to want to be noticed at all times. I have no aspirations to greatness or fame, however, I do want to be appreciated and have this acknowledged.

At this stage in my life I feel that I have reached a plateau where I have no real desperate needs or wants. If I want new clothes I can go and buy them, if I wanted a new house I could sell my house and buy another. But now that I have reached this stage of life, the thought of taking any radical risks or making any more radical changes does not appeal to me. In fact, it scares me. 

After so many years of uncertainty in my life especially regarding the future, I have finally got to the place of feeling some security and am able to plan for my retirement years with confidence.

(What is a meaningful life? Write for 5 minutes. Go for 10.)

27/09/09