2011.09.11 _ 10

Today I took a hint from Eliza's entry yesterday, concerning books near sitting cushion: I picked a random book from my shelves, and opened it at a random page. The book was Longchenpa's Advice from the Heart, and it fell open on The Twenty-Fifth Word of Advice, containing just a few lines ending on "Keep a low profile! This is my advice from the heart."

Did the meditation first thing in the morning.
Tried doing it naked and with my eyes closed. Decided this was one change too many and opened my eyes again about halfway. Closing the eyes does take away the staring problem, but I feel this is a problem I should work with, not just remove during the meditation.

::: Travelled galaxies
::: Healing circle in forest
::: On Mount Violet

After meditation it seems easier to loosen the tendency to wear earphones to bed. There is just more presence of mind to ask myself whether I want to do that rather than defaulting.

Last night I did continue to mentally rearrange the bookshelf near my sitting spot. 'Here is where my eyes fall" etc. I notice that I am concerned with placement and levels a lot, even in this simple spot. The bookshelf is a multi-leveled altar of sorts and I wonder about respectful arrangements. That relaxed.

Unfinishing continues to be a theme of various noticings. In this case noticing 'sitting' itself didn't 'finish' yet was satisfying. It is almost like I jumped up in the middle yet it seemed the right place too.

Today was an outdoors day, but I was not alone, as I did my meditation, the squirrels came to watch and visited me. In my quiet a lot of activity surrounded me. Audiences are always appreciated.

Half an hour sit in the recliner this morning - - Mostly images of 9/11/01 and crystal memories of the events of a decade ago. Half an hour sit at Quaker Meeting this afternoon - - Mostly working out wordings for our 2-line September 21st Peace Poem. So grateful to sit with Friends and, also, to build a poem together with Pabbers.

echoes of stevenaia's report. Took a less travelled way through the woods, came across a clump of tall trees, stood there silently a long time. Felt like "the tree of life". In the upper branches several species of birds fly around and chirp. Squirrels run up and down the trunk. Further out are sounds of crows cacaphoning... On the way back, paused to talk with two red squirrels. Stillness open, rich, spontaneous.

Took a walk through Stanley Park this afternoon, discovering all the native plants, photographing some, collecting others, putting them in my backpack for future drawing material. Marvelling at the tall giants, sitka spruce, douglas fir, western hemlock, maple, western red cedar, grand fir, as well as the more humble growth, red alder, salal, salmon berry, red huckleberry, elderberry, saskatoon berry, himalayan blackberry, ...

Last thoughts, letting loud raucous voices of crowd outside morph into an experience something like rain (similar to letting eyes go out of focus), while contemplating phrase, "nothing is really unusual".// What do television, caffeine, and alarm clocks have in common? Only my mind speculating on their effects on society this morning... then partway through outlining the thesis, remembered I am allowed to drop and be with this new day, having only just woken a few minutes before.// For body.. a delightful gift was stepping on big green fallen acorns, and feeling them crush in a most satisfying way underfoot. Bringing that contiguously through and throughout... including within my smile.