It has been quite some time since my last post. I have not much to report. I continue still on my path for inner calm and clarity. My meditation has been declining in recent months.I have noticed that since my decline in practice my mood, focus and inspiration have also declined. To the cushion. No matter how perfect the situation the time the atmoshphere. Practice is work... It takes effort and patience.
34 tomorrow I begin my practice again with new inspiration and energy.
Namaste
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Off to Spirit Rock
Today is a the big day!
It's 3:15am I'm awaiting the arrival of a friend to pick me up and drive me to airport. My flight departs at 6am. Heading for San Fransisco.Thank you all for your support.
To my wonderful wife, children and family. I love you all dearly
Namasté
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Time Flies
In seven days I will be at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
I am filled with excitement and a bit of anxiety.
The Anxiety – My time at the retreat will be spent in silence. No phone calls or texts with my wonderful wife. I will not be able to sing to my girls or kiss there cheeks at night before bed. In stark contrast to my busy days at home and work I will have my days filled with concentration solely on myself – not an easy transition.
The Excitement – My time at the retreat will be spent in silence. No phone calls, emails, texts or work deadlines. I will have the time to be mindful of every moment of my day. I will have the time to be patient and slow my reactions. For many years I have contemplated such a retreat. I am finally doing it. I consider myself extremely privileged to have this opportunity. I have much to gain from this opportunity and I hope to share all that I can upon my return.
Namasté
I am filled with excitement and a bit of anxiety.
The Anxiety – My time at the retreat will be spent in silence. No phone calls or texts with my wonderful wife. I will not be able to sing to my girls or kiss there cheeks at night before bed. In stark contrast to my busy days at home and work I will have my days filled with concentration solely on myself – not an easy transition.
The Excitement – My time at the retreat will be spent in silence. No phone calls, emails, texts or work deadlines. I will have the time to be mindful of every moment of my day. I will have the time to be patient and slow my reactions. For many years I have contemplated such a retreat. I am finally doing it. I consider myself extremely privileged to have this opportunity. I have much to gain from this opportunity and I hope to share all that I can upon my return.
Namasté
Monday, May 4, 2009
A space for joy
I am a father to two beautiful girls and husband to a beautiful wife.
Much of my day is filled with work. What little time is left is held precious. So much wonder, amazement and joy my family brings. With everyday passing I find myself wanting more. Another snuggle and another kiss goodnight. One more story. One more nice day to go to the park. One more evening to laugh over dinner. I hold these as though they can be held.
Inevitably, this grasping to joy and happiness brings tension. When the joy is taken by work, bad weather, bad news, bad health, bad driving or bad planning and regret.
We all struggle. We all have suffering. With open heart and open mind I make the space for the inevitability of life and how precious our time is.
I slow my breath and open my heart. To allow for disagreement. To allow for tension. To allow for pain. To allow for grief. To allow for love. To allow for hope.
In the twinkle of a child's eye is the space to see all the beauty and joy of our world.
Namasté
Much of my day is filled with work. What little time is left is held precious. So much wonder, amazement and joy my family brings. With everyday passing I find myself wanting more. Another snuggle and another kiss goodnight. One more story. One more nice day to go to the park. One more evening to laugh over dinner. I hold these as though they can be held.
Inevitably, this grasping to joy and happiness brings tension. When the joy is taken by work, bad weather, bad news, bad health, bad driving or bad planning and regret.
We all struggle. We all have suffering. With open heart and open mind I make the space for the inevitability of life and how precious our time is.
I slow my breath and open my heart. To allow for disagreement. To allow for tension. To allow for pain. To allow for grief. To allow for love. To allow for hope.
In the twinkle of a child's eye is the space to see all the beauty and joy of our world.
Namasté
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Two birds with one stone
I found myself running low on patience recently. I have been very busy with work, very busy with 2 young girls, and disenchanted by a winter wonderland that is our spring in Calgary this year. It takes a great deal of strength and commitment to remain focused on the present when so much or our lives are wrapped up in deadlines and future engagements. We have calendars, memos, emails, Post-its, day timers, notebooks and phones reminding us of dentist appointments and business meetings and kids play dates. In all of the business we must find time for ourselves. Every day we have to ourselves can be taken away by illness, bad weather, overtime or countless other things we complicate our lives with.
I was reminded of the importance of setting time aside when I caught myself squeezing my meditation in when it's convenient. Here is a Daily Dharma update from Tricyle.com
April 11, 2009
Tricycle's Daily Dharma
One Stone
Set aside a time for sitting practice that is especially allocated for that practice. Don’t say to yourself, “Well, I’m going to visit my girlfriend and I have to drive, so on my way to my girlfriend’s I’ll use driving as my meditation.” That approach to mindfulness becomes too utilitarian, too pragmatic—killing two birds with one stone. “That way I meditate and I get a chance to see my girlfriend at the end, too.” But something has to be given up somewhere. Some renunciation somewhere is necessary. One stone kills one bird.
–Chögyam Trungpa, Ocean of Dharma (Shambhala Publications)
Namasté
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Sabbe sattaa sadaa hontu
Sabbe sattaa sadaa hontu, averaa sukha-jiivino. Translated from Pali to English: May all living beings always live happily, free from enmity
I came across this chant in Pali today on twitter thanks to onebrightpearl.
This is part of a chant but it serves as a beautiful reminder to always keep in mind that we all wish to be happy and free from suffering.
I came across this chant in Pali today on twitter thanks to onebrightpearl.
This is part of a chant but it serves as a beautiful reminder to always keep in mind that we all wish to be happy and free from suffering.
Namasté
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Right Speech
I found this link regarding Right Speech which I believe translates well for our times. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/speech.html
One of my greatest struggles is getting caught up in wrong speech. It can happen quickly and easily.
I get caught up in joking with coworkers over the latest celebrity mishaps on youtube. I speek poorly of other commuters on my way to work. I get frustrated by the incompetence of some of those in the service industry. Nobody wants to suffer. We all want to be happy.
I can choose to join in with the crowd get a few laughs maybe even win favour with my peers but ultimately I have done myself no good by forgetting to be mindful of my words.
Namasté
One of my greatest struggles is getting caught up in wrong speech. It can happen quickly and easily.
I get caught up in joking with coworkers over the latest celebrity mishaps on youtube. I speek poorly of other commuters on my way to work. I get frustrated by the incompetence of some of those in the service industry. Nobody wants to suffer. We all want to be happy.
I can choose to join in with the crowd get a few laughs maybe even win favour with my peers but ultimately I have done myself no good by forgetting to be mindful of my words.
Namasté
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