Today amongst lots of your typical daily activities most everyone does, I also made time to practice meditation. I held a guided session this morning in my home* while my youngest child slept (my oldest child stayed at her grandmother’s last night). The second meditation practice occurred in a group setting and was mostly silent – my first time in a group, sitting still and without sound for a half hour.
I am amazed at how much more quiet and calm my mind can be these days than it used to be. Meditating, I soon find myself in a semi-trance, not sleepy and not unaware. As long as I make myself physically comfortable, I do not resent the time sitting. So far I am relatively successful at dismissing the part of the mind that attempts to call this practice a waste of time. I can collect myself from whatever I was doing and relax into, and enjoy, the practice. This is relatively new. It’s pretty wonderful. In moments during a guided meditation the experience feels like work; while I illuminate the “inner enemies” I can feel weary and tired and sad. But finishing the process (which includes the fire of meditation and eliminates these burdens), I have a great deal of energy afterwards. Energy to take care of others, to serve, to be kind. To be patient. Joyous, loving, and free.
Or more specifically, to clean the bathroom, finish the laundry, practice asana, make snacks for children, bake bread for my family and for friends, drive my son out to a playdate, return phone calls, sew, pick up my children and then play with them, fix food and clean up after, mail a letter, drive and sing happily to music, pick up coffee, give a ride to someone who needed one, buy groceries (and help my daughter in learning how to shop), ask my husband about his day and really listen, assist with dinner and cleanup, and listen to and talk wtih a friend regarding a recent personal setback.
In between my meditations and while doing these other things, the mind occasionally attempted to make this a bad day. The mind also tried to tell me I Wasn’t Good Enough (oh… that old chestnut! I’m almost starting to feel fond of it!). The lowest point: In the midday I tried to do some work and found I was very tired and had little energy for the task. I felt angry and ashamed of myself – and anxious, as the work I wanted to do is something I need for the weekend. But I accepted my situation and sat down and watched a bit of an entertaining-enough film (hint, Hugh Jackman taking a shower outside) and, as I couldn’t quite accept a total resting moment, I knit. But I promise, I knit in as relaxed a fashion as possible. When it was time to rise up again, I was ready.
And now? It’s just about time to lay down. After a slice of that pan de los muertos. Which turned out perfectly – and was a joy to make.
Life is pretty good.
* I have been using Harshada Wagner’s classes; his teachings and meditations have been incredible gifts.
I find meditation to be extremely beneficial. During the repetitive tasks take the time to be mindful. If you get off course, recognize that moment, and restart. Mindfulness is just as helpful as meditation… Have you ever listened to some of the zencast darma talks. They are helpful.
for me meditation was a surviving skill during the last 2 years of increasing infirmness. it helps me to accept my so much slower lifestyle. I have not been taking time to react, but i have been reading everyday. brava for your journey woman!
These last two posts make me think of a conversation I recently had with a friend about living in the style that was promoted for doctors in ancient China. She is a translator as well and gave me the following from Chen Zhi, who lived in the Song Dynasty (~900 – 1250AD) and focused his study on how to nourish life. I’ve been contemplating them a lot this last month or so and thought that you might find them interesting as well. I’ve been trying to come up with my own “Five Behaviors and Ten Pleasures,” as to what exactly nourishes my life. Some of Chen Zhi’s work for me, some of them don’t. I think I may add a naked, showering Huge Jackman to my 10 pleasures.
The Five Behaviors and Ten Pleasures to Adjust the Emotions
The Five Behaviors
Sitting quietly
Reading
Appreciating mountains and water, flowers and trees
Discussing ideas with good friends
Teaching children or juniors
The Ten Pleasures
Studying the meaning of the classics
Learning the methods of calligraphy
Calming the mind and sitting quietly
Chatting with beneficial friends
Drinking a little until half intoxicated
Watering flowers and cultivating bamboo
Listening to the qin [stringed instrument] and enjoying cranes
Burning incense and brewing tea
Climbing the city walls and viewing the mountains
Telling fables and playing chess
Meditation and mindfulness are indeed helpful for me. For a long time I avoided meditation because I thought you had to be awesome to do it “right”. Glad I got over that.
Mindfulness is a wonderufl practice. “Mindfulness isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is to remember to be mindful.” For me, raising kids under financial stress and losing my status as paid earner, and doing so much cooking and cleaning and housework, it was either learn to be mindful or go stark raving mad. I am more mindful alone than I am with people, but that is slowly changing.
“Listening to the qin [stringed instrument] and enjoying cranes”
Hm, for me these days it’s listening to the RHPS soundtrack and enjoying Bigfoot documentaries.
Thank you for your comments, readers!