2009.08.29 01:00 - Practice

The Guardian for this meeting was Scathach Rhiadra. The comments are by Scathach Rhiadra.

I sat alone for the first half-hour then was joined by Bertrum.  We discussed daily practice and some yogic breathing techniques, which Bertrum had recently come across.

Bertrum Quan: Hi Scath
Scathach Rhiadra: Hello Bertrum
Scathach Rhiadra: How are you today?
Bertrum Quan: Just about ready to call it a day. And you?
Scathach Rhiadra: I was just thinking of leaving, didn't think anybody would turn up :)
Bertrum Quan: Well, I was working on a memo, and noticed the time on my computer. Thought I'd take a chance....
Scathach Rhiadra: glad you did!
Bertrum Quan: As you were reflecting while you waited, did anything come to mind you might like to discuss?
Scathach Rhiadra: mmm, not really, just had a chance for a bit of meditation
Bertrum Quan: After this session you begin your weekend!
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, Saturday morning
Scathach Rhiadra: wondering how the retreat went!
Bertrum Quan: Had you wanted to attend?
Scathach Rhiadra: not really, I would like to hear how this one went first:)
Bertrum Quan: How has your individual meditation been going?
Scathach Rhiadra: ah ok at the moment!
Scathach Rhiadra: keeping a daily practice going, even if it is only short sessions
--BELL--
Bertrum Quan: Keeping the daily practice is really key.
Scathach Rhiadra: how about you?
Bertrum Quan: A bit distracted.
Scathach Rhiadra: as we all are sometimes:)
Bertrum Quan: It is the force that undercits the daily practice.
Bertrum Quan: undercuts
Scathach Rhiadra nods
Bertrum Quan: So I've felt very much out of synch in that respect.
Scathach Rhiadra: did you think of going to the retreat?
Bertrum Quan: No, that was not possible for me.
Scathach Rhiadra nods
Bertrum Quan: I do think, that in a sense SL is a kind of retreat... I discussed that a bit last evening with Wol.
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, I read that log, very interesting
Bertrum Quan: The words are sometimes fun the play with!
Bertrum Quan: But the deeper meaning is also there... how to find the right word for it....
Scathach Rhiadra: you mean the word retreat?
Bertrum Quan: well, Wol, suggessted there could be a larger concept for SL, etc. That word eluded us in the time we had..
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, I understand
Bertrum Quan: Anyway, it's good that you have been able to focused on the practice...
Bertrum Quan: Whatever works for you.
Scathach Rhiadra: :)
Bertrum Quan: I've noticed that the distractions build up upon themselves...
Scathach Rhiadra nods
Bertrum Quan: The meditative interventions become more difficult...
--BELL--
Scathach Rhiadra: once you go to one distraction, others follow, they seem to feed off each other
Bertrum Quan: Yes.
Bertrum Quan: I tind that to be very true for me.
Bertrum Quan: A friend has a practive that involves breathing excercises (along with meditation). The breating excercises seem physically work to break though (as well as to enahnce lung capacity).
Bertrum Quan: I can't do any of these... But they do work if part of a daily practice.
Scathach Rhiadra: mmm, like following the breath, or more energetic exercises?
Bertrum Quan: More energetic breathing excercises.
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, like the Indian yogic exercises
Bertrum Quan: Yes. Exactly.
Scathach Rhiadra: the most I could do there is holding the breath for short periods, (seconds!), and breathing through each channel in turn
Bertrum Quan: Did you practice the exercise named "the bellows."
Scathach Rhiadra: if you mean vase breathing where you pack all the reath in the stomach, hold it and then expell it, only very gentle version of that
Scathach Rhiadra: breath*
Bertrum Quan: Yes.
Scathach Rhiadra: can get very hot!
Bertrum Quan: hot?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, you feel heat in the body
Scathach Rhiadra: or at least I do
Scathach Rhiadra: maybe not doing it correctly
--BELL--
Bertrum Quan: I'm entirely new to these exercises. I just learned about the the other day.
Scathach Rhiadra: ah and are you going to try them?
Bertrum Quan: .I know they work for my friend. But it takes a good deal of physical practice.
Scathach Rhiadra: I suppose starting slowly and build up capacity
Scathach Rhiadra: there is another one I learnt, a rolling breath, inhale the breath down the front of your body then exhale up the back, like a circular motion of the breath
Bertrum Quan: How does that one work?
Scathach Rhiadra: um, it was a long time ago, I think it helps with balancing, though would have to practice it again to be sure:))
Scathach Rhiadra: you have me thinking about these exercises now, will have to try them again
Bertrum Quan: I'm curious though--what is the exercise you mentioned? Breathing in one nostral and the exhaling through the other?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, close one nostril and breath in through the other, maybe for 5 breaths, then alternate
Bertrum Quan: Okay, yes. That was one we practiced.
Scathach Rhiadra: you can also breath in through one nostril and out through the other
Bertrum Quan: The "bellows" exercise seemed like airing out the body---like pushing out all of the distractions as one might empty a tube of toothpaste.... It was very striking to watch. And I could notice the change in my friend (who really knows how to do it well).
Scathach Rhiadra: ha, you will have to try it then!
Bertrum Quan: I did try it. That's very different from doing it well!
Scathach Rhiadra: practice, practice!
Bertrum Quan: Right. Get's us back to where we started our conversation...
Scathach Rhiadra nods
--BELL--
Scathach Rhiadra: practice is more than just formal sitting meditation, I think
Bertrum Quan: Yes. It can be both mind and body practice on a number of levels
Scathach Rhiadra: and some of the brathing methods can be done no matter what you doing, so helps with continuity of presence
Scathach Rhiadra: breathing*
Bertrum Quan: But not the bellows. That would certainly raise the eyebrows in a meeting!
Scathach Rhiadra: haha, would like to see that:)
Bertrum Quan: Might be better than telling folks what you're really thinking!
Scathach Rhiadra nods
Scathach Rhiadra: time for me to go, great talking with you Bertrum, have a good night
Bertrum Quan: Thanks, Scath. Have a great day!
Bertrum Quan: Take care.
Scathach Rhiadra: Namasté