Los Angeles Shambhala Training Level 1 Forum- February 2010
This forum was established for the Los Angeles Shambhala Training Level 1 students to discuss their mediation practice, ask questions, or just keep in touch with me and each other.
I’ve found that sharing experiences in the beginning of a meditation practice is the best way to stay committed and engaged with what can be a challenging endeavor. Lets hear how its going for you all!
–DN
Hi all,
Just wanted to share David’s blog about maitri: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-nichtern/buddhism-beliefs-cultivat_b_577891.html
I watched the DVD segment about maitri (loving kindness) a few days after level one, and I always do it as part of my sitting practice. It has also become something I do at random times of the day – either when a person pops into my mind (good , bad, or neutral) or if I cross paths with someone for whom I feel compelled to send my thoughts. It is so simple, yet so powerful.
They started a weekly Shambhala sitting class in Irvine on Wednesday nights at the Center for Living Peace. I’ve attended the classes for the the last 3 weeks, and it is my non-negotiable Wednesday night plan now. Next week, I am meeting with someone about individual instruction. There was a point after level 2 where I had strayed from practice (nothing to do with level 2, just my own laziness). After a couple of weeks, I noticed the difference between practicing daily and not practicing daily. In a nutshell: Practicing = keeping things in perspective, Not Practicing = Irritable.
If any of you get a chance, I highly recommend stopping by the Center For Living Peace. They officially opened last week, and offer lots of other workshops and classes. It’s an amazing place, run by equally amazing people.
May you all be safe, happy, healthy, and at ease.
Julia
Jogging lesson:
I like to jog a couple of miles in the morning. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche runs marathons and I listened to his you tube talk regarding running and meditation. Very similar to sitting, walking, and action meditation, focusing on his breathing and the heart center. So, okay, I’ll try it. So there I am jogging down beautiful Chandler Blvd, “breathing in, and breathing out from the heart center. That was the first 1/4 mile. From that point on, like sitting, walking, and action mediation, my mind was at one point buying a house in Big Sur! Then, gloriously I was hit with a huge aroma of honeysuckle. “Oh, that’s right, I’m jogging on Chandler Blvd”.
Thanks Mike! Such a lovely way to start the morning!
Hey, Mike. Love this post. I sooo get it. Yeah. Buying that house in the perfect spot and then…Oh, I am in the perfect spot. How funny! Jane
Ocean bird instructions:
I had the distinct pleasure of camping at El Capitan this weekend. It’s a state park perched on beautiful cliffs above Santa Barbara.
There are wooden stairs with landings and one morning I took the cushion and sat.
While watching the flow of waves, an bird flowing on the water came into view. I chose it as an object of mediation. As time and breaths went by I saw that the bird just floated on the continuous, large and small waves. Sometimes submerged, sometimes perched, the bird floated on the flow upon flow of waves.
BEAUTIFUL, Mike!
Rob. I don’t know if you’re a fan on David Nichtern’s facebook. If you’re so inclined I would check out a video he features with John Baker speaking on \Overcoming Doubt\.
Mike
Thanks Mike..Hope youre doing well.
WOW! How cool is the communication going on here between you two, Robin and Rob. Such powerful emotions and concerns. It’s just what one would expect in a Sangha setting. This type of interaction is just what we need. Our lives and our path is for the caring of all beings, and your words to each other is such a good example of that caring. So cool.
Rob. Just a suggestion. I would get The Way Of The Bodhisattva by Shanatideva. When all the emotions seem to pull one way or another, focusing on his words is very centering.
Speaking personally here…. there can be many ups and downs on this particular journey…. best to think of it as a marathon (interestingly enough that is the race of choice for Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche). Most of us are more used to sprinting I think.
For me, the best way has been — “fall off the horse, get back on the horse.” Keep practicing. There is a great Zen saying, “Sun face Buddha, Moon face Buddha” — meaning we keep our practice through up times and down times. It has been so amazing and wonderful to hear about all of your journeys on this forum. It is all appreciated and worthy of respect.
Sending all best to my LA Shambhala friends,
David N.
Hello All,
Hi Robin. Haven’t read your post yet. Before I do so…
I have experienced the birth of my warriorship. All week I have stirred, screamed, ran almost a whole marathon’s distance, SAT and SAT and SAT. Emails and phone calls with my meditation instr, WWIII had been declared!
Pouring coffee yesterday morning a bullet shot thru my skull (figuratively) and I sat on my kitchen floor crying, actually balling hard, for an hour. At that moment I felt the complete comfort of Mother Earth and Father Heaven..when I dropped the storyline I was left with my core issues: when I dropped the core issues there was nothing left but basic goodness. My own head has been keeping me from happiness, not anyone or anything else. Everything in my life has been the fault of others..different religion, different skin, richer, poorer. god on my side the devil on yours…talk about waking up.
Last nite The Acharya Allyn Lyon (senior teacher for LA Shambhala)…she’s this little lady with glasses and she has to stand on a Gomden to sit in her chair and her socks are all stretched out..this beautiful wonderful teacher drove home IMPERMANENCE like I could not believe. Had to pull over last night becuz I had to cry like a baby again.
My mind needs training. I truly see how there is basic goodness in everyone and everything, and I see that our minds are so discursed that we would rather harm than help..that nothing lasts forever, and we waste life satisfying our own ego-comforts.
I call upon Shambhala to show me the path of the Bodhisattva. I want to know how to best serve others and help them also realize that it really is all in our heads..
A Bow to All of You,
Mr big-bad-bitchen-crybaby Rob
Hey, Rob! Just for the sake of humor and total anal retention, it’s “bawling” not “balling,” Now, that’s FUNNY. C’mon! LOL
Hey, Rob. Just read the last of your email. I hope my sense of humor was not offensive in any way. On the more serious side, your email is so touching -and for me, especially, the part about “nothing lasts forever, and we waste life satisfying our own ego-comforts.” Well said, my friend. But on the upside, that’s why we’re here at Shambhala, to learn, grow and do better. N’est-ce pas? Jane
Very good to see everyone. I am very sorry to say my experience was nothing the same as any of yours.
1) I feel the director and I could not connect whatsoever, my questions and comments not answered, leaving me confused about the techniques to begin with.
2) I was constantly distracted by the continuous stampede of people in and out of
walking meditation, kids and adults.
3) My 1 on 1 amounted to nothing more than me sitting up and him slouching over his chair and having to answer the door knocking every 2 minutes. Lost my train of thought and I couldnt remember what I was even in that room with him for.
4) Friday nite was a joke..we all spend hours in traffic coming from all over so we can talk for 20 minutes?
I got more from a 3 paragraph e mail from my meditation instructor Monday morning than I did spending all that money and time being confused and distracted and brushed over.
I have been practicing close placement properly, as well as slogans, thanks to her, not level 2.
Hi Rob. I have been thinking about your response here. I appreciate your honesty. This morning, I remembered a silly little poem i wrote once about how adversity can be Buddha too. Everything can help us grow towards our enlightenment. It’s alittle embarrassing to share it, but why not? Here you go:
He left me on the steps of the Buddhist temple.
I thought it strange that I would want to weep there.
The monks and nuns began to sing
their haunting ethereal chants.
I figured he was hiding in the men’s room
with his ironic passive aggression.
Nonviolence was never his thing.
I walked over to a statue
of a fat and happy Buddha.
I lit an incense and silently prayed,
“I know you would tell me now
that my suffering is born of desire
but is it possible I just ache
because of this man is a jerk?”
That uncooperative Buddha just kept laughing
and left me with the sad suspicion
that he had meatier matters to tend to
such as Tibet and Tenzin Gyatso.
So I rolled my eyes at him
and waited by the car
in the perfectly hedged parking lot,
giving up on my Holy Om.
I never went to the temple again.
I found one in my heart
and left that man hiding in the john
as soon as I did.
I forgave him and Buddha too
for their apathetic abandonment.
Now we laugh together
like we were dear old friends.
I think I will go to the temple again
and kiss the belly of the Buddha
who laughed at me that day.
It pissed me off enough to
help me grow a spine
which now supports me
so magestically
when I sit.
Love and Light to you Rob. Looking forward to seeing you around. I enjoy our chats.
Robin, thanks for sharing your poem. It’s really poignant and, at the same time, it left me with such a light heart and smile. Thanks. Jane
Sorry about the distraction with my kids, they won’t be at the next level. But can relate to everything else. I think i had a failure to communicate at level two. I said something but they interpreted differently. So i was alittle lost.
Hi David. Thanks for “following” us along the way. Julia and Robin summed up the same experiences that I had. This path is very powerful, and it is my intention to “go all the way”, if you will.
The positive energy between all the folks was most amazing. Very much looking forward to the next experience.
Mike
Hey everybody…. how was Level 2 ….? looking forward to hearing about it?
All best,
David N.
It was wonderful to reconnect with people from Level 1 and also meet a few new friends. Claude and Guy were great and the staff super helpful and welcoming. Bringing the focus in closer, down the tip of my nose was more intense than the 4-6 foot gaze. It actually helped maintain concentration though. Lots of obstacles and even had the great opportunity to sit with a tremendous amount of discomfort on Sunday. Difficult, but strangely liberating…not having to “do” anything about it…using the breath and not the thoughts and emotions as a reference point… Overall the experience was invigorating and has further confirmed my zeal for and dedication to this path. Looking forward to Level 3 and will, in the mean time, be showing up on the cushion as usual.
Hi David,
Thanks for checking in on your Level 1 “Pups.” You are so wonderful!
Level 2 was good. We spent part of Sunday morning on a contemplation exercise with slogans, and that was really helpful for me. Contemplating the words – being open to what came to my mind, dropping the words, and coming back to the breath. I found this very helpful in increasing my awareness of my thoughts -and the awakening of coming back to the breath.
Shifting my gaze down also seemed to prevent my mind from “wandering” so much and I was more focused on the breath – and coming back when I was thinking – and had some pretty cool thoughts too! One comforting thing that dawned on me is that when a thought comes up about some task I need to do – or a good idea – is the knowledge that the “important” thoughts will come back after they’ve been let go – ie, don’t have to worry so much about “remembering” everything. Claude talked about that on Saturday too.
I definitely feel that I’ve evolved in my practice since Level 1, and it was neat to see friends – and meet new friends – at level 2. I definitely felt “at home!”
Julia
Hi, David.
Level 2 was awesome and, as you said to Mike, “There is a time for awesome.” Thanks for keeping track of your wee-little duckies. Hope you are very well. My best. Jane
Very grateful to Robin’s post on Wed. I’d been struggling with absolute confusion lately, and I banally passed on to her (Robin) “just keep practising yak yak bla bla” but that advice actually confused ME even more, so sorry ’bout that Robin.
I have realized that my whole life has been a slideshow of illusion and confusion. Results oriented society, gotta have it now and fast, iPad obsolete by next week,
good grief…
Meditation has shown me that I am actually a pretty good guy, with a lot to offer everyone, but I am absolutely c-o-n-f-u-s-e-d.
My only real comfort in life is in studying the Dharma and meditation. So after another damn Bikram Yoga Torture, I came home and sat for a long time and somehow I finally “let go of the reins” and felt the comfort and went to bed later extremely at peace and hadn’t slept that well in 30 years..
Best…
Cool Hummingbird experience..that’s a treasure
I speak yak yak blah blah too! Fickle thoughts. Lovely thoughts. Negative thoughts. Positive thoughts. Every once in a while, it gets quiet in here. I thought your encouragement to just keep practicing was helpful. I read in another forum here on the DN site to ride our mind like it was a horse – leave just enough slack in the reins so as to not put too much tension on the horse, and not so much slack that it runs wild. I found this very helpful for my gorgeous, fickle horse. See you soon.
Okay Robin. I wish this wasn’t on such a public site, as along with you everyone going to think I’m just telling “one of those stories”. But given our communications this day, I just have to share what just happened.
I walk by the flowers again and the hummingbird flew within inches (yes, I said inches!) of my face, and hovered for about 5 seconds (and eternity in hummingbird time). We just stared at each other, mouth and beak opened. And then like before “POOF”.
Mike….
There is a time for awesome!
How magical and special…. can appreciate that…..
Sending all best,
David N.
Looking forward to next weekend. So much of a challenge to stay in the moment. However, today I got a little taste. While working in the yard, I was next to some tall flowers, when much to my surprise a hummingbird was a couple of feet away from me doing its thing. I just froze, and I realized that this moment is going to be so quick that there is not time to think, move, or make anything of this. So, for what seemed to be a minute, the hummingbird zipped back for forth right in front of me, changing colors and drawing nurishment, when it stopped, looked at me for several seconds……………..then vanished into the sky.
This is so beautiful Mike. I was meditating in my backyard last weekend and a ladybug crawled out from under the cover of the grass right in front of me and sat with me for the duration of the sit. There is something about nature that helps me to be more aware and still too.
In the last 2 months, I’ve sat exclusively in my back yard. I must admit that I often leave from the focus of the breath to the dance of trees, birds, light shade changes, etc. But at times it’s just so cool. I know, I know, I should stay away from thinking it’s cool, but it’s just so cool. Also, there are rare moments that there’s nothing else, just awareness.
Funny, even with all that nature offers, I’ve hung Tibetan prayer flags, Buddha statues, and burn incense (outdoors). But I’m a mental drifter. I use all the mechanisms I can to stay in the view.
That’s so cool! I’ve been writing my morning pages on my patio this week, and have been thinking of sitting out there. Last night I swept up all the birdseed and did some rearranging out there – then I saw this post. Must be meant to be! I have 2 hummingbird feeders, a goldfinch feeder, and a sunflower seed feeder. Also have 2 small fountains and lots of pretty flowers. I was drinking my tea this morning and watching the goldfinches. I’ve had similar encounters with hummingbirds. It just doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
Can’t wait to see all my buds next weekend at level 2!
Been restless lately while sitting. Doubt feels overwhelming. I often find myslef thinking “What’s the point of all this sitting? I have important things to do. Basic Goodness Schmoodness. What a silly trap.” Ironically, these things aren’t as important as they seem when I am sitting though. I keep sitting nonetheless, thirty minutes a day. I have a sense that there doesn’t have to be a point. Then, I came here today and read the following instruction:
“Just taking practice day by day and seeing what comes up and honoring and respecting that is profound in itself”
So, today, I honor and respect my doubt and restlessness. Tomorrow we will sit some more and see what comes up.
OMG Robin you hit the nail on the head for me! Thank you! Chogham Trungpa says we don’t possess basic goodness, we ARE basic goodness.
If Chogham knew of my arrogance, anger, my selfish “its all about me attitude’, the thoughts I had about the schmuck who cut me off and then flipped ME off, chewed out my wife for putting the new roll of TP backwards, wished everyone in Target the other day would just vanish, then sit on a cushion, smile, rest in basic goodness and equinamity…. And I wonder why it takes me at least 45 minutes just to “settle down!”
This is why we call it PRACTICE. I remember all my football/baseball practices as a kid. Some were good, some just were..But the number one thing of importance was just showing up, and it always got better.
Looking Fwd to seeing you soon Robin!
-Rob
Thanks Rob. I’ll see you at Level 2 in a couple weeks.
Hi to everyone. Although I haven’t personally had a presence on this page until now, I really appreciate and want to thank David for taking the time and effort to put this page up and responding to the entries – the connection has felt good! Thanks also to everyone whose shared their experiences. I hope to see you soon at Level II.
Janine
Hi Folks,
I had a great day of sitting and feasting on Sunday at Eagle Rock. Met some cool people, had a mini-reunion with some Level 1 folks, and learned quite a bit about Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche that I hadn’t known before.
I was writing in my pages this morning – after reading some eye-opening stuff by Andrew Holocek last night. After writing 10 pages this morning (I usually write 3), I turned to just the right page in The Sacred Path of the Warrior. My writing and readings in the last couple of days opened some humbling realizations that brought me to tears this morning. I’m facing today (and future days!) with a much different perspective!
Julia
Okay. So, I’m going to attempt this again. Having computer trouble.
I finally, so on this “chat” site, and I must say I love it. So cool to hear the stories from the Level I folks.
My practice has improved since that weekend and I’m looking forward to Level II. I’m taking a class: “The Wheel of Life” at the Eagle Rock Center which is valuable as well.
I have practiced for some time now, but finding a “home” in Shamabala has given me some focus. It’s still ebb and flow. At times sitting is very challenging. Other times, I feel a sense of bare awareness. Reading related material keeps me focused as well. I’m a person that loves to grasp and cling, so anything I can incorporated to better my practice will only be of assistance.
Anyway, I just wanted to join in.
Hope all is well with everyone.
Hi Mike,
The Wheel of Life is very rich material…. glad you’re getting to study that…. also good that Shambhala is helping you to stabilize and focus your practice….
I’m on the road playing guitar with Krishna Das this week…. in Mesa AZ tonite…. having a great time….
Sending all best, David N.
Well I guess I haven’t figured the whole computer thing out, so I’m sending on this page as well. I love reading all the discussions. The Level I weekend was very powerful and has improved my practice. I’m taking the Wheel of Life class at the Eagle Rock Center, which is adding so much more. Looking forward to Level II as well.
My practice experiences ebb and flow between total irritation to what seems to be bare awareness at times. I’ve attempted to devote as much time to my practice as I can. It’s necessary for an old “hard head” to break the “grasping/clinging” pattern.
Anyway. Glad I’m here.
Mike
Wow! Lots of activity in the Shambhala world today! I’m excited about Level 2. I sit just about every day for about 15-20 minutes, and add some yoga after that. Had major spaghetti brain last night, but still sat. Gardening is my other form of meditation. But as Rob said about reading, gardening is gardening. Thanks to all my buddies who remind me to SIT each day. I’ve noticed some interesting shifts in my daily behavior that I know can be attributed to daily practice. Less anxiety, better moods, ability to find BASIC GOODNESS in areas where haven’t been able to find it before. Amazing stuff, this sitting!
Hey Julia,
good to hear about your practice and was also fun to see you at the Krishna Das gig in LA Saturday night…. there were several other sangha people there as well….
Hope everybody tunes into the fact that this practice is not necessarily a quick fix…. takes time and diligence to develop stability ….. as they say “hasten slowly and you will soon arrive!”
Sending all best to you! DN
HI David and Y’All… I’ve been practicing Bikram yoga in 110 degrees 5 days a week, sitting and walking meditation everyday for 30 minutes minimum, but 2 days a week I sit for up to 3 hours.. Thats Wed and Sun public sitting at Eagle Rock.
Have been working closely with Med Instructor, reading Pema and Chogham Rinpoche, and practicing tonglen.
Last week I realized that I was reading (the above) for an hour a day and not sitting ( like 6 days in a row) and somehow convincing myself that that qualifies as meditation.
Well NO..reading is reading and sitting is sitting..no wonder I was antzy and squirrly and snappy with others…
Been back on cushions, (no not couch!), for few days now and feel better/centered/calmer.
Lesson from MI.”.Hear..Comtemplate..Meditate”
Level 2 in April YAY! Ice Cream and Cake Cake Cake…
In the Dharma,
Rob Riney
Hey Rob
Wow Bikram….. that’s some hot yoga indeed….
Glad you’re pointing out that study is study and practice is practice…. both are important…. that’s a good point for everybody….
Sending best wishes for developing clarity, stability and insight!
David N.
Been meditating about every other day. I do Wednesday night sitting at Eagle Rock. Usually do walking meditation while doing my rounds at work and sitting during the down time at work. Refinery worker 12 hour shifts paid to monitor equipment. With all this I have realized and accepted that I am transgender. Something I been hiding by pretending to be something else. My family knows and are accepting. Shambhala as a whole have been wonderful and nonjudgmental. Since this revelation I’ve been feeling more happiness and joy in my life. Hope to see most of you at level 2.
With loving-kindness Jamie
Hi Jamie,
So glad you are in a process of discovery and getting support from your family, friend and the sangha.
Let me know how Level 2 goes for you…. would like to keep up on your journey….
Sending all best wishes,
David N.
Been meditating at least 30 minutes every day, sometimes a little more. I am finding that consistent practice has greatly decreased my anxiety, increased my courage and sense of peace, and made me a better driver in the car (I have suffered from mild road rage in the past and if you were anywhere near my vehicle, I apologize for you have suffered too, I’m sure). Astoundingly, I seem to have lost my test-taking anxiety at school. Midterms just passed and I sat upright with nobility in my chair and periodically focused on my breath as I wrote out my exams and walked out feeling as even keeled as I did walking in. Wow. Then, there are days when nothing special happens. I think those might be the best kinds. How are all the rest of you?
Hi Robin,
Nothing special is the final frontier… in the ati tradition they call the greatest mastery a state of “old dog” where there is total ease and relaxation with whatever arises…. this is great to remember when we get too much expectation going with our practice…. just to stay with it and also as they say ” abandon all hope of fruition!” Just taking practice day by day and seeing what comes up and honoring and respecting that is profound in itself…..
Sending good wishes …. David N.
HI Everyone.. I’ve been finding myself doing more reading Dharma stuff (Pema Chodron, C. Trungpa Rinpoche, and of course Gary Larson’s The Far Side)
but fell into the chasm of reading for an hour and bypassing sitting. I’d say “Well, reading something good is a form of meditation, so there..”
Well it’s not. Sitting is sitting, reading is reading.
My MI reminded me..Hear, contemplate, meditate in that order.
Got back into the groove and seems I’m more aware of the true value of meditation,
It’s peaceful, calming, and C’MON! Its far more entertaining than Television!
Peace…
Rob
Hi, everyone. I have not established a schedule yet. I question my integrity – oops! Thinking!
The concepts and the practice are beneficial. There’s this learning curve where one certainly becomes mindful of the constant speech and the constant judging of self, circumstances and others. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes you can’t believe what you just caught the mind thinking. I feel like a spiritual Nancy Drew, which is a good thing, by the way. LOL
I get down to feeling disappointed in myself and then realize that’s also the reactive mind. My goodness. Layers, layers, layers.
I love this path. There’s no BSing. And you can’t turn back. Have you noticed? Because you can’t shake off the new awareness. It’s actually very cool.
I send my best to everyone. See you at Level 2. Keep facing East. Jane
Good post Jane…. also looking forward to aftermath of Level 2 from you and everybody…. can you post an update then?
Thanks and good luck with keeping practice strong and steady…
David N.
I sat tonight around 8:00 – set the timer for 20 minutes and meditated a bit beyond the timer. Then I did some reading and some yoga. The next thing I knew, it was 9:45! Thanks Nudgie!
Wow, everyone seems sick! Robin, Kristi, Jane– hope you all feel better. If you’re seriously bedridden its OK to do shamatha while lying in bed, but it’s better to sit up and practice even if you do feel a bit under the weather…..
Want to say that we have been sitting daily since…
also signed up for Part 2…
thanks for getting us on the path.
Sonny
I’ve missed a couple days since the weekend, but have done sitting or walking meditation every day, for the most part. Sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes longer. I also attend the sitting group in Newport Beach. I’ve been reading The Sacred Path of the Warrior, and sometimes I just flip to a random page and read whatever is on that page. It always applies to something that’s going on in my mind at the moment…very cool. The tools we picked up in Level 1 have definitely been helpful for me! I’m looking foward to Level 2!
Julia – Maybe we can carpool. We are both coming from the same general direction. Perhaps we can meet in Fullerton or something along the way. I will e-mail my cell number to you on FaceBook.
~Robin
Hi, everyone!
Thanks, David, for this great forum. Robin, I also have a cold and want to thank Kristi for the input. I read When Things Fall apart and now I’m reading Great Eastern Sun. my practice has been fitful but I am not discouraged. Keep facing East!
My best to you all. Jane
Hi Jane….. I guess the group that meditates together blows their noses together…..Sounds like good reading for you… have you found those books to be helpful? You’re right not to get discouraged… it’s better just to resume your practice when you can and keep moving forward as you are able…. sending all best, David N.
LOL. Yes, David. I also just finished “Good Life Good Death” by Gehlek Rimpoche. Another wonderful read. Yes. These texts are all helpful and inspiring. I read “Shambhala the Path of the Warrior” before signing up for Level 1. It is because of that book that I looked further into this path.
It’s good to hear from you and it’s also good that I’m blowing my nose less.
I’m headed for the LA Shambhala Center tonight as they are watching Pema Chodron followed by a short informal discussion. Right up my alley!
Thanks for your encouragement.
All my best to you as well. Jane Gear
Hi there~
I hope everyone is well and doing their best to maintain the momentum we gained from Level I! Last week I purchased a gomden, meditation cushion and support cushion to mirror the configuration I used at SMZC in February. I’ve found that creating this space that I only use for meditation practice has helped me to be more disciplined in ‘finding the time’ and in grounding myself into each session more consistently.
And, Robin, I had a cold over this past weekend and found some yoga poses and the walking meditation were helpful… plus shorter sitting sessions… and sometimes mouth breathing. I’m not sure it shortened or lessened the cold, but it did kind of redistribute the symptoms and keep the energy flowing through my body. Hope you’re recovering.
cheers,
Kristi
Thanks Kristi! I am feeling much better now. I did find walking meditation a bit easier, but didn’t try yoga. I appreciate the suggestion.
I’ve had a bad cold for the last week and found sitting to be almost unbearable as my body was achey and I couldn’t breathe through my nose at all. I spent a lot of time resting and reading “Shambhala, The Sacred Path of the Warrior”. This morning I finally started feeling better and was able to sit for 30 minutes this morning, which was great! Any suggestions about how to keep up the practice when very ill?
Hi Robin. Its always a good idea not to struggle too much with sitting, especially starting off. Its sounds like you did the right thing, good luck with these next few weeks being on the cushion.
Hi All,
Thought I’d jump in the pool, the water is fine. Attached is an inspirational video, with spoken word from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.
http://good.ly/ympm5
Practicing,
Merritt
Hey Merritt…. yes that’s a fun video…. what an age we live in… hip hop dharma! Best, DN
Hey David and everyone! I have been definitely sitting everyday . I spend some days an hour+ and some days 20-30 mins. The spaghetti brain is still loud and screaming!
I have been feeling more of a part of this earth, have been less stressed, and have not had too many conflicts lately.
I started Tonglen practice with my MI, that seems to be working well, helping me deal with resentments and compassion for myself and others.
Hope everyone is well. Looking forward to Level II in April!
Rob Riney
Hey Rob….. thanks for your post…. that all sounds good and as my dad used to say, “onward and upward”…. look forward to hearing about Level 2 from all of you! David N.