2009.04.30 19:00 - Walking Meditation

The Guardian for this meeting was Sylectra Darwin but she was absent so stevenaia Michinaga claimed the chat log. The comments are by stevenaia Michinaga.

I arrived late so the initial conversation began without me or any comments.

Pila Mulligan, Eliza Madrigal, Eos Amaterasu and were present at the beginning and I arrived later.

Pila Mulligan: hi Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Pila :)
Pila Mulligan: how are you?
Eliza Madrigal: Well, you?
Pila Mulligan: fine thanks
Pila Mulligan: microwaving a bite to eat
Eliza Madrigal: :) Sounds like a plan...I'm going to put on tea, brb
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Eos :)
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Eliza & Pila
Eliza Madrigal: Pila is microwaving dinner :)
Eliza Madrigal: How are you today, Eos?
Eos Amaterasu: I'm okay.... there's a fire nearby in RL here that burned down some houses
Pila Mulligan: hi Eos -- sounds terrible having a fire like that
Eliza Madrigal: Eek
Pila Mulligan: are you at risk?
Eos Amaterasu: I don't think so - it's 1 or 2 km away - smoke was spectacular earlier today, but then heard about houses evacuated
Eos Amaterasu: I probably know some people affected
Pila Mulligan: well, I hope the community will turn out to help them -- that is a devastating loss
Eliza Madrigal: Certainly
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, that's happening, the up side of disaster
Pila Mulligan: how's the weather?
Eos Amaterasu: Disaster can bring us closer to Being, perhaps
Pila Mulligan: indeed, and closer to each other
Eos Amaterasu: Clear and windy, which is not good, but rain forecast
Pila Mulligan: is your neighborhood forested?
Eliza Madrigal nods. We're all one in a major storm
Eliza Madrigal: and we know it
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, it is fairly woodsy, plus on the city edge
Eliza Madrigal: We've had fires nearby this week also, but not near homes.
Pila Mulligan: did the fire start in a house or a forest, or do they know yet
Eos Amaterasu: I believe it started with a brush fire yesterday, then got amped up today by the wind
Eos Amaterasu: people described it swooping down with 30 foot high flames - things can change very quickly
Pila Mulligan: yes, with wind a fire can move quickly
Eliza Madrigal: indeed they can.
Pila Mulligan: hi SophiaSharon
SophiaSharon Larnia: Hi! :)
Eliza Madrigal: I remember before Hurricane Andrew, I packed just pictures to take, as far as 'things'
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Sophia!
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Sophia :)
Pila Mulligan: Eos has been describing his experience of a destructive fire that is burning in his neighborhood now
SophiaSharon Larnia waves
SophiaSharon Larnia: oh no
SophiaSharon Larnia: I hope you and yours are safe
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, we are okay, but others not so far away are not their
SophiaSharon Larnia: sending light :)))
Eliza Madrigal: Shall I grab the log?
Pila Mulligan: sure Eliza
Pila Mulligan: last year some former neighbors on another island, both age mid-70's, had their house of many years washed away in a flash flood, they just got out in time -- but I remember how full their house was of photos and memorabilia
Pila Mulligan: such a personal loss
Eliza Madrigal: Aw...tough at that age I'm sure :(
Pila Mulligan: even with them safe personally
Eliza Madrigal: Animals okay?
Pila Mulligan: they had no animals in the flood, or is thie asking Eos?
Eos Amaterasu: People talk about bringing just their children and their pets
Eliza Madrigal: I was asking you Pila. Animals are so vulnerable in those situations...often people can't back to their homes
Pila Mulligan: yep
Eliza Madrigal: Eos...glad. Certain communities are more sensitive to the animals than others...i.e. shelters and such
Eliza Madrigal: We've gotten better about that here in Miami
Eliza Madrigal: Years ago people wouldn't leave their homes during evacuations because they would be forced to leave pets
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Sophia, pretty butterfly on your shoulder :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: thank you it was a freebie lol
Eliza Madrigal: Best sort of butterfly. hah
SophiaSharon Larnia: I've vowed not to spend any more money here, for a while haha
Eliza Madrigal: :) Enjoy shopping, eh?
SophiaSharon Larnia: well, i like different things and try them
Eliza Madrigal: So many opportunities to be expressive in SL
Eos Amaterasu: little bits of celebration
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes :)
Eliza Madrigal: yes!! wonderful way to express that!
Eos Amaterasu: in the midst of vulnerability
Eliza Madrigal nods

I arrived....

Pila Mulligan: hi Steve
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Steven
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes, that too
stevenaia Michinaga: evening
Eos Amaterasu: hi Steve
SophiaSharon Larnia: Hi Steve
stevenaia Michinaga: hi Eliza, Shopia, Eos
stevenaia Michinaga: Sophia
Eliza Madrigal: hehee...great typo there. We were talking about shopping
Eos Amaterasu: :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: my favorite
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Pila Mulligan: earlier Eos was describing his experience of a destructive fire that is burning in his neighborhood now
Pila Mulligan: so we are sending him light and love and cool vibes :)
stevenaia Michinaga: how unfortunate for someone
Pila Mulligan: and talking about shopping :)
Eos Amaterasu: ^_^
Eliza Madrigal: We should do a rain dance
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: :) yes we should
SophiaSharon Larnia: what set off the fire?
Eos Amaterasu: brush fire, but unclear how started yet
stevenaia Michinaga: did someone clam the log in Sylectra's absence?
Pila Mulligan: yes
Eliza Madrigal: I did Steve, but if you'd like to, please feel free :)
Eliza Madrigal: I missed my morning session so is balancing :)
Pila Mulligan: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: up to you, happy to
Eliza Madrigal: Okay, thanks Steven :)
stevenaia Michinaga: no problem, I will be down to one session soon so , why not
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, that's right! You've been doing two sessions for a while haven't you?

Sophia asked about breathing from a discussion previously...

SophiaSharon Larnia: Pila, I read on a pab log a while ago, about you speaking about belly breathing
Pila Mulligan: yes
Pila Mulligan: an excellent thing to do :)
Pila Mulligan: belly breathing
SophiaSharon Larnia: you described that the experience can be disconcerting for some, can you explain?
Pila Mulligan: well, the practice increases the internal energy flow
Pila Mulligan: and sometimes that results in things that are not afamilair
Pila Mulligan: and those may e disconcerting
stevenaia Michinaga: hyperventilating?
Pila Mulligan: not really
Pila Mulligan: just stronger breathing
Pila Mulligan: ordinary breaths plus some extra
Pila Mulligan: it is the extra that may make you feel goofy, Sophia
SophiaSharon Larnia: i had forgotten to do that until i read it, and started again consciously
Pila Mulligan: how do you like it?
SophiaSharon Larnia: :) better, when i get busy and forget again, when i do it, i feel calmer
Pila Mulligan: usually after a while the conscious effort recedes as belly breathing is quite natural thing to do
Pila Mulligan: it can become a habit ... again
Pila Mulligan: it is what we all do as babies
SophiaSharon Larnia: and with that, remember where i heard it again (pab) and reminds me to appreciate
stevenaia Michinaga: would do that when I did yoga too
Pila Mulligan: yep
Eliza Madrigal: :) Nice, Sophia
Pila Mulligan: yoga is excellent for coordinating breath and movement
SophiaSharon Larnia: all intertwined really
Eliza Madrigal: In yoga, there are sometimes breathing exercises where you hold your breath and take more and more in as that gets comfortable...
Pila Mulligan: those can be even more evocative of goofy feelings, too
Eliza Madrigal: strange sensation
Eliza Madrigal: And yet...moments of great stress, it can be helpful
Pila Mulligan: in my experience the best remedy for goofy feelings is working on exhalation
Eliza Madrigal: And with those, exhaling is extremely important
Eliza Madrigal: Gmta :)
Pila Mulligan: gmta?
Eliza Madrigal: And sometimes counting that exhalation lasts longer than the inhale or holding
SophiaSharon Larnia: it is, under stress i have felt like i was in a bell jar of calmness, and feel calmer there, but this is healthier
Eliza Madrigal: (great minds think alike)---goofy shorthand
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: yes...more being where you are than going somewhere else
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes thats it

The conversation moves on to "walking meditation"

Eliza Madrigal: I've still not gone back to doing yoga. Last night was in a discussion about walking meditation though, and then read the logs this morning to see that some of you were talking about that also
Eos Amaterasu: Walking is one of my main practices
stevenaia Michinaga: I mentioned that last night
Pila Mulligan: Steve's drifting through Manhattan like a cloud :)
Eliza Madrigal nods...yes, liked reading about that
stevenaia Michinaga: more like time lapse movie
Pila Mulligan: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: but only as an example, I really drive like a NYC cab driver with great enjoyment in Manhattan
Eliza Madrigal: :) Appreciating everything?
stevenaia Michinaga: when in Rome
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: I'm a big walker...but not slowly or as purposefully as what 'walking meditation' seems to be. I walk with audio tapes to process.
Pila Mulligan: probably similar Eliza
Pila Mulligan: or music
Eos Amaterasu: I walk at brisk pace, through a beautiful "dingle" nearby, no iPod, analog
Pila Mulligan: and what, pray tell, Eos, is a dingle?
Eos Amaterasu: It's a kind of dale....
stevenaia Michinaga: dale?
Pila Mulligan: thanks (dictionary: 'a wooded hollow')
Eos Amaterasu: I think it's a kind of little valley, in-between, wooded place
Eliza Madrigal: Ahhh. Very nice. I also like your idea of 'Analog Sundays', Eos.
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eos Amaterasu: name given to Fleming Park nearby here, named after Sir Stanford Fleming who developed time zones concept
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, Analog Sundays, kind of 0th life :-)
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eos Amaterasu: The walking is probably close to what Pema calls appreciating the presence of phenomena
Eos Amaterasu: no mind, so to speak, but everything happens
Eos Amaterasu: sometimes I walk through a cacophony of crows, literally
Pila Mulligan: cool
Eliza Madrigal: Very
Eos Amaterasu: intense :-)
SophiaSharon Larnia: :)
Eliza Madrigal: I'd like to walk more quietly...can't say I'm that disciplined yet. The ipod is a kind of buffer for me...and I feel that I process better while moving.
Eliza Madrigal: Something I'd like to cultivate
Pila Mulligan: it is like a substitute for a mantra, maybe you should do mantra instead, ELiza
Eos Amaterasu: hmm
Eliza Madrigal: At home I'm quiet, and I do like mantra
Pila Mulligan: ever make up a mantra?
Pila Mulligan: it's fun
Eliza Madrigal: "I choose to wake up" was running in my head for a few days...not quite a self-made mantra though :)
Pila Mulligan: let's say your discipline notion relates to bhakti (devotion)
Pila Mulligan: so what would be a nice term for waking up
Pila Mulligan: mantra term
Pila Mulligan: chit? awareness
Pila Mulligan: om chit bhakti
Eos Amaterasu: ah
stevenaia Michinaga: I must go, see you all soon
Pila Mulligan: bye Steve
Eos Amaterasu: bye!
stevenaia Michinaga: bfn
SophiaSharon Larnia: bye Steve
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Steven :)

...I departed

Eliza Madrigal: 'Sat Chit Ananda'
Pila Mulligan: yes
Pila Mulligan: om chit bhakti is not poetic enough though
Eos Amaterasu: citta citta bang bang
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Maybe...hahhah
Eos Amaterasu: citta: mind/heart, or mind located in the heart....
Pila Mulligan: chit citta chit citta chit citta om
Pila Mulligan: there's a nice rhythm
Pila Mulligan: for walking
Pila Mulligan: with a blank step after the om
SophiaSharon Larnia: "i chose to wake up" I have done that too Eliza
Eos Amaterasu: yes, I do get mantras going thru sometimes synced with walking
Eliza Madrigal: boom chicka wow wow
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: heheheh...sorry
Pila Mulligan: fun
SophiaSharon Larnia: do you ever get so turn in you trip over something?
Eliza Madrigal: I'll try it...might be a good transition point
Eliza Madrigal: Good question Sophia...sort of like when driving depending on your area...one can indeed be a bit caught up
Pila Mulligan: Sophia that is quite possible
SophiaSharon Larnia: that is why i haven't tried it seriously, to uncertain of myself i guess
Eos Amaterasu: it's kind of, wake up right here, wake up right here
Pila Mulligan: well, there is a nice walking exercise that is just right for that
Eos Amaterasu: & then you trip :-)
Pila Mulligan: watch the air below your feet just before they touch the ground
SophiaSharon Larnia: ok
Pila Mulligan: kind of a miniscule pause before the foot touches earth
Eliza Madrigal: That will extend those moments also I imagine
Pila Mulligan: so you feel the air
Eos Amaterasu: Nice thing about walking in nature is ground is often soft, has texture, quality
Pila Mulligan: yep, feet like earth
Eos Amaterasu: springy
Eliza Madrigal: MM
SophiaSharon Larnia: i took a while last week in a park near my house, it was much prettier than SL
SophiaSharon Larnia: took a walk **
Pila Mulligan: :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: wondered why i come here then :)
Eliza Madrigal: I live in a community and the vitacourse was fantastic...but they worried about people coming in to use the pool and gated it! Now, walking there is like a hamster wheel
Eliza Madrigal: Still, there are marvelous people whose routine it is to walk there...
Eliza Madrigal: have watched a man lose about 100 lbs..walking every day
Pila Mulligan: cool
Eos Amaterasu: !
Eliza Madrigal: Very..he has inspired everyone
SophiaSharon Larnia: I have to go, see you later :))
Pila Mulligan: bye sophia
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Sophia. See you soon!
Eos Amaterasu: ciao!
Pila Mulligan: happy walking
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Pila Mulligan: is the fire under control Eos?
Eos Amaterasu: I get conflicting reports... but there is rain expected tomorrow
Eliza Madrigal: Good :)
Pila Mulligan: they use helicopters a lot here fro brush fires
Pila Mulligan: with big buckets
Eos Amaterasu: Hawaii, right?
Pila Mulligan: yeas
Pila Mulligan: plenty of weater to draw on
Eos Amaterasu: They were doing that here, drawing from a lake
Eos Amaterasu: Plus we're right near the ocean
Eos Amaterasu: One benefit of "the dingle" is that at one point you can see horizon
Pila Mulligan: nice
Eliza Madrigal: Ah...your area sounds lovely Eos
Eos Amaterasu: It's special
Eos Amaterasu: I think like a smaller version of what Central Park or Golden Gate Park is for people
Pila Mulligan: it is very helpful to have such a place
Pila Mulligan: a refreshing place
Eliza Madrigal: And appreciated!
Eos Amaterasu: natural being
Pila Mulligan: yep
Pila Mulligan: so you both are near the Atlantic
Pila Mulligan: the stormy Atlantic
Pila Mulligan: it was my favorite ocean for many years
Pila Mulligan: then I saw the Pacific :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Pila Mulligan: even the stormy Pacific :)
Eliza Madrigal: I love the west coast of Florida....have to take mini breaks to enjoy it, but is marvelous
Pila Mulligan: now it's my favorite :)
Pila Mulligan: yep
Eliza Madrigal: That man in my neighborhood...makes me think of the discussion earlier today and how one person living well, allowing illumination and change, can set off a sort of positive fire (inspiration).
Pila Mulligan: true
Pila Mulligan: 'this little light of mine ...'
Eliza Madrigal: He isn't walking around telling everyone to lose weight, but I bet many people think "Wow....look at his dedication.."
Eos Amaterasu: not talk but walk
Eliza Madrigal: and it makes it a little easier therefore
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Pila Mulligan: the pounds are beyond language, to paraphrase :)
Eliza Madrigal: : ) He is "dropping"
Pila Mulligan: :)
Pila Mulligan: emptying :)
Eliza Madrigal: Yes :))
Pila Mulligan: with due respect to serious ideas
Eos Amaterasu: lightening up
Eliza Madrigal: Indeed!
Pila Mulligan: and in doing so his feeling better is also contagious
Eliza Madrigal: Absolutely it is
Eliza Madrigal: And not just about weight...about all sorts of things.
Eos Amaterasu: yes we can
Eos Amaterasu: :-)
Eliza Madrigal: !!!
Pila Mulligan: I loved that music video
Pila Mulligan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY
Eos Amaterasu: Oh, yes, i think I know the one, yes
Eliza Madrigal: Oh yes....my dd played this a lot
Eos Amaterasu: Molly Bloom
Pila Mulligan: and will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas :)
Eos Amaterasu: +1
Eos Amaterasu: sometime, put together the last page of Ulysses with the last page of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Pila Mulligan: "Since the original posting on YouTube, the video has been re-posted a number of times by other users and as of February 23, 2008, the video had been watched a combined total of more than 22-million times..."
Pila Mulligan: what do you get?
Eos Amaterasu: side by side
Pila Mulligan: can you reveal the result?
Eliza Madrigal: Oh will do that, Eos
Eos Amaterasu: complementary reflections of something hard to say :-)
Pila Mulligan: The final words of Molly's reverie, and the very last words of the book, are: 

"...I was a Flower of the mountain yes when I put the rose in my hair like the Andalusian girls used or shall I wear a red yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish wall and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes. "

Pila Mulligan: yes we can :)
Pila Mulligan: so far I can only find the forest pages of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind on line
Eliza Madrigal: :) I have it on only audio.... let me see..."In the morning...
Eos Amaterasu:

"One thing flows into another and cannot be grasped. Before the rain stops we hear a bird. Even under the heavy snow we see snowdrops and some new growth. In the East I saw rhubarb already. In Japan in the spring we eat cucumbers."

Eliza Madrigal: Ah yes...in the spring..
Eliza Madrigal: MMMMMM. Nice Eos.
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eos Amaterasu: You brought it out, thank you :-)
Eliza Madrigal: Se Lah
Eos Amaterasu: Well, I must go to bed. This was very special :-)

Dessert?

Eliza Madrigal: Think dreams will be sweet for us all tonight.
Pila Mulligan: yes, thanks Eos
Eliza Madrigal: Nite Eos
Pila Mulligan: best wishes to your neighbors
Eos Amaterasu: Good night!
Eos Amaterasu: Thnx!
Pila Mulligan: alos
Eliza Madrigal: (Did you see him sink into the cushion Pila?) hhehe
Pila Mulligan: also
Pila Mulligan: no
Pila Mulligan: as he got up?
Eliza Madrigal: It was like an elevator...yes
Pila Mulligan: :0
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Pila Mulligan: heavy
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Heavily Presenced
Pila Mulligan: well, now, for desert I think I'll make a cinnamon toast with some peanut butter as icing :)
Eliza Madrigal: Cinnamon toast is my favorite. :)
Pila Mulligan: :)
Pila Mulligan: ever tried it with peanut butter?
Pila Mulligan: the peanut butter kind of melts into it
Eliza Madrigal: Peanut butter toast yes....and Cinnamon toast yes...
Eliza Madrigal: Not Both together...but doesn't sound bad at all :)
Eliza Madrigal: Add bananas for a morning breakfast even
Pila Mulligan: I add the peanut butter after the toast is done, it melts on the waRM BREAD
Pila Mulligan: YEP
Pila Mulligan: opps
Pila Mulligan: yep
Eliza Madrigal: MMM :)
Pila Mulligan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: hah...Since I'm already thinking of breakfast, perhaps I should go to bed! haha
Eliza Madrigal: Night Pila. Sweet dreams.
Pila Mulligan: same to you Eliza
Pila Mulligan: aloha
Eliza Madrigal: Aloha