2011.10.22 _ 51

In the place where I was on vacation the last few days, there was no place where I it was really quiet. I always heard some conversation. This changes the quality of the meditation quite a bit - the main focus becomes allowing the conversation to be heard without getting stuck in the content. The body becomes a background to return to, not the main focus. This is different and I prefer a quiet place, but it was still a good way to ground and relax.

It was quite difficult to find a right time of day to meditate as well. One day I almost forgot and had to be reminded by my friend.

Have not meditated yet today. Report on my meditation of today when I have done it.

What an interesting idea, Bruce, what you wrote yesterday, about cleaning up and beautifying your mental living environment, the way we all clean up and beautify our physical living environment. We talk about "cleaning up your act" but acts spring from our ways of living and our attitudes and habits. Cleaning up those are what it all starts with. We also talk about "rearranging mental furniture" but of course it's much more than that. When I sat with this idea, this morning, I found myself opening mental windows, letting fresh air blow in, shaking out some carpets, throwing out some garbage, and arranging some flowers :-) edited 00:51, 24 Oct 2011

It may take me a lifetime to slow down.
Painting a pepper plant requires concentration and patience said my teacher.
I'll keep working on it.

Meditated late, just before going to bed.

Prostrations - I couldn't do a full 10 minutes of prostrations on my break as the floor was too cold there, and I felt I could use some of them. Somehow, the standing meditations solidify the body and lighten the mind, and the prostrations lighten the body and steady the mind. It's good to stay aware of the balance between the two.

Cool at first, robin's egg blue, deeply clear...
Warmer and warmer as the day formed fully...
Views of an ever-changing Miami, a strong performance by my daughter in a drama competition...
A day dependent on savored 'short stops' and long conversations.

life as biathlon
sustained intense activity
with sudden full stop still with target

continue

Beautiful pepper plant
Strong performance
Sustained intense activity

::: Through and through white clothes
::: Ironing for tomorrow
::: Energy workshop

A weekend out-of-state guest here -- the day and night full of great conversation.
No recliner sit today.