A full month of Meditation - Equanimity

We've talked much over this last month about posture, the mind and body, watching the breath. About awareness vs being led about by your mood and obsessions. About what it means to build a strong foundation. Today, I would like to talk about a word that you may or may not be familiar with; Equanimity.

I haven't been able to post for a while due to several factors. My computer experienced a slow unraveling because of a virus that uninstalled many of my drivers and doorways of access that one would normally enter when trying to proceed on finding a fix. My "my computer" icon disappeared and almost no amount of searching would reveal the "device manager". An online tech support proceeded to do further damage until I at long last took the tower to the local computer fix-it shop. $75 and three hours later it is like having a new computer.
And speaking of fix-it, a family member that is fighting a battle over heroin addiction had to hit rock bottom again before rehab could be presented as a viable option.
A furnace malfunction almost caused our demise years before we were planning to die.
My only source of daily transportation began to run like an old man with pneumonia while my youngest son is also finding it difficult in getting around since his non-collision insured car was totaled during one of our famous New England ice storms.
Sometimes life can be tough.
Equanimity is a place of being that is developed with the aid of meditation. Equanimity helps us to deal constructively with our emotions. You know, those school yard bullies that keep you down. It provides us with the vehicle within which we can flow with change. You know, job loss, health problems, money woes: change.
Keep in mind that we are seeking to build a firm foundation. We are seeking to build (and find) compassion. Compassion for ourselves and for the world around us. It seems a formidable task, eh?
Remember this post? We will be able to experience experience as both the holder and the one being held. Relaxed. Secure. Contentment.
Nice!!!

Silent Observation - Looking in Meditation Day Four

Are you beginning to settle into your meditation position? I know that its been only a few days. You should have chosen a meditation position which best fits you. A chair? A bench? A cushion? You should have also chosen which hand position is best suited to you. The Dhyana, the Gyan or the Varada.

You should be focusing on your breath, letting it naturally flow in and out, letting the tip of your tongue lightly touch your top teeth. Focus on the breath as it enters your nose and focus on the breath again as it leaves. Counting one as you breath in: two as you breath out: up to ten. Begin again. And again.

Let us now talk about the body. I know that it's a little more than difficult at this point to feel comfortable throughout your period of sitting. It's quite common that after two, three or five minutes you will have the desire to adjust yourself or change your positioning. What I am suggesting is that you just make a mental note and then do nothing. That's right. Don't move or adjust yourself. Just observe the thought and continue to watch and count the breath. We want to find our position as we begin to "sit". Remember how we gently stretched and found our balance? This was done before we moved onto the breath. So let us not forget this step. And I hope that you are wearing loose fitting clothes that do not constrict you in any way.

And while we're on the subject of constriction, what about scheduling a time for meditation each day? I would only remind you that we must not become inflexible fundamentalists. However, meditation is about responsibility. We want to change ourselves. We want to bring change to the world. It begins with a balanced mind and a compassionate heart: which are one in the same. It's not going to come about by wishing for it or through half hearted prayer. It does require something of you. That is your practice. And you must make time for it.

Let us, borrowing from author David Fontana and point out in his words, what meditation is....and what it isn't.

It isn't:
falling asleep
going into a trance
shutting yourself off from reality
being selfish
becoming lost in thought
forgetting where you are
It is:
keeping the mind alert and attentive
keeping the mind focused and concentrated
becoming more aware of the world
becoming more human (and thus more divine: me)
knowing where you

Its the little things....

"What's the point of this little mantra thing that you're doing," she asked?

That's one of the most difficult questions I have been asked. You know the little adage that says, "If you have to ask, you'll never know." It's like explaining snow to a desert nomad: It has to be experienced. But I'm not proselytizing. Not looking to bring any horses to water. I'm just putting it out there.

And although I am emphasizing that you place no expectations upon your meditation practice, I am asking that you be aware (which is somewhat of an oxymoron because awareness is what unfolds for us through the practice of meditation) of subtle changes that you may experience. Just quietly notice like you would a magnificent creature in the deep wood: as too much noise and fanfare might scare it off. In other words, don't look for or attach yourself to any results of your practice.....just notice. Be aware.

You feel happier, more energetic.

Someone that normally irritates you, no longer does.

You become aware of Synchronicity and

greater Intuition....

less anxiety,

you're a little more focused: as in being focused on a goal without there being one...And that feels okay....

And you begin to laugh a bit more often....................................

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks.

By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out.

The first monk said, "Oh, no! The candle is out."

The second monk said, "Aren't we not suppose to talk?"

The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?"

The fourth monk laughed and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak."

Meditation intro - The Compassion Project - Lesson One

Read in chronological order............(in other words...begin at the beginning)


Not everyone who chooses to participate in The Compassion Project may be new to the practice of meditation. We are going to be working with two types of meditation which are traditionally known as coming from the Taoist Internal Alchemy tradition (Inner Smile Meditation) and the Buddhist Theravada tradition. (Metta Bhavana or Loving-Kindness Meditation)
For those to whom meditation is not new, I would ask that you continue with those postures that are applicable to your current practice or tradition. For those that are coming into this new, I would suggest that you sit comfortably on the edge of a chair or stool, spine erect, with both feet flat on the floor. Position your hands, palms up, upon your knees. (We will talk about mudras (hand position) later.

Please read the links (above) and here....and here

Read, listen (several times) and decide which meditation you plan to choose to follow.

Please feel free to ask questions.

Relax.....you have plenty of time to decide.

We begin 01/15/2010

The Compassion Project

Coming Soon! Starting 1/15/10

New Year - New Moon - New Beginnings