I've taken a mindfulness meditation challenge with a great group here in Los Angeles called Insight LA. I've sort of pledged to sit -- to meditate -- twice a day for 15-30 minutes. I say "sort of" because I balk at the "challenge" wording, the pledging, all that jazz. I should probably meditate on my resistance to certain types of language. This morning, though, I set my little timer that begins and ends with a gong (a beautiful, resonant sound) and did it. I haven't been formally practicing of late, although I would say that mindfulness meditation is so much a part of my life that I'm aware of it nearly always. The act of sitting quietly and paying attention to breath, to watching the mind wander and then gently bringing it back to breath -- well -- it's an experience or a way of being like no other. This morning, when the gong went off, I lay back down in my bed and fell asleep for three more hours, and during that sleep I dreamt vividly, something else I haven't done in so long I really can't remember. Fall. Fall back.
Great photo. And great that you are doing this...
ReplyDeleteI love that photo. This makes me want to get back on my own cushion -- I am SO out of practice.
ReplyDeleteSounds heavenly, the meditation and the sleep. Glad you got rain over the weekend!
ReplyDeleteI admire you so, Elizabeth. I have never formally practiced meditation and damn, it would probably be the best thing I could do.
ReplyDeletethere's a lovely Oprah & Deepak 21-day meditation online right now—it started today, the focus: the Energy of Attraction. The last one was a few months ago, on Joy, it was great. After 21 days of 10-15 minutes per day of semi-guided meditations it changed so many things internally, so, doing the 21 days again, it's amazing what happens. it's here if anyone wants to go: https://chopracentermeditation.com
ReplyDeleteI need to return to some regular sitting meditation too. I wish us both luck in doing that.
ReplyDeleteexquisite photograph. Subtle and powerful. the nap sounds delicious...good on ya. Though I know meditation is very beneficial for me, I rarely do it. Funny, don't you think? It can actually be a lot of work, bringing that monkey mind back to the breath. I get sort of disgusted with myself. I know I needn't. But I do.
ReplyDeleteBreathe. Good luck with your 'challenge.' (Let's find a better word)
Hooray for meditation, though I am not "good at it." I loved reading someone's words about it being something like "a daily exercise in failure" (know that I'm misquoting, but it was so apt). If we begin without striving to "master it," but rather to show up, the process itself is good medicine. It does seem to work better for me if I can be walking or moving some part of my body. That's probably why the rosary is so powerful - something to touch, something to do, other than "thinking." Blessings upon your practice!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to thank Tipota for the link to Oprah and Deepak's meditation series. I began it and it seems a good fit. My mind wanders less that it used to. Thank you, Elizabeth. xo
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