the weekend that was
this was a weekend filled with learning, and so it must be documented. friday was a dear friend's birthday celebration, and i made an effort to comprehend the challenge of meditating amidst a crowd. later, i came across lama surya das's thoughts on this subject, and i quote:
this saturday was third in a row of music-filled saturdays. we performed on the same stage we had first come together to perform on as a group. it was a joy to see how far we had evolved since that glorious day in november three years ago. what made the evening special for me, personally, was that i had initially intended to leave right after our performance. as i brought myself to question my reasons, i experienced a liberating desire to transform all inhibition. and when performances i believed i'd have scarce interest in turned out to be amazing or informative nonetheless, the (seemingly obvious but brilliantly fresh) realization struck that every experience adds to our life in a unique, irreplaceable way, that it may not be dismissed as unneeded or superfluous. do i make sense? an osho reading i encountered today spoke to this never-ending desire the ego has to say "no" when the soul often voices a "yes". in every no, the ego finds separation and identity, but the soul only experiences alienation. sometimes, it may be worthwhile to ponder over this urge to say no and to see what happens when we alter that to a yes.
the finale performance was mindblowing then in many ways. of course, it was just plain good. but it quickly became symbolic of all experiences i shied away from - for dislike, pride, or ignorance (zukav would label each of these 'fear'), but found pleasing, moving, and peace-inducing (or 'love'-filled) nonetheless. a lesson in life, no doubt.
several hours this sunday afternoon were spent in the company of zukav, seagulls, and much, much peace. as i sat on my own on a bench by lake elizabeth, i marveled at the bikers who completed several loops, the runners who ran panting and in spite of the hot sun, and the varied ages of the passers-by. also the varied languages they spoke, though none more than the universal language of the smile. my greatest moment found itself in the ability to cheer on a woman - a stranger - as she struggled to complete her run. all it took was a hearty "good job" to transform her look of extreme pain to a smile. sometimes, indeed, that is all it takes.
in this weekend i also experienced a love for dogs i haven't known in all my years thus far. so much so that even my aunt and mom were forced to remark on it. how did that happen? did love win over fear?
and then, i drove. and now, i must devote all attention to the wizard of oz. it's the first time i'm seeing this, and indeed, it was just this morning that i had expressed desire to see it - also the first movie i've wanted to see in a few months. and now it's on tv. and i found it. connections? :)
Stillness and calm is not the ultimate state of mind, but is a good place to start and try to develop. Yet don’t mistake mere silence or quiescent stillness for inner peace and contentment, which is beyond the polarities and dichotomies of noise and quiet, stillness and movement, action and inaction, etc. The Great Peace of awakened awareness-wisdom when realized is available amidst any activity, at any decibel level, anywhere and anytime… It’s beyond any of us yet imminent in each of us and in every moment, every place, every finite thing. The whole may move and change is the law, yet mysteriously enough each part is as if totally still.a difficult ideal to achieve, but the effort is ongoing. the celebration was heartening nevertheless, for it is always heartening to be surrounded by those one loves and those one is loved by - regardless indeed of word or sound.
this saturday was third in a row of music-filled saturdays. we performed on the same stage we had first come together to perform on as a group. it was a joy to see how far we had evolved since that glorious day in november three years ago. what made the evening special for me, personally, was that i had initially intended to leave right after our performance. as i brought myself to question my reasons, i experienced a liberating desire to transform all inhibition. and when performances i believed i'd have scarce interest in turned out to be amazing or informative nonetheless, the (seemingly obvious but brilliantly fresh) realization struck that every experience adds to our life in a unique, irreplaceable way, that it may not be dismissed as unneeded or superfluous. do i make sense? an osho reading i encountered today spoke to this never-ending desire the ego has to say "no" when the soul often voices a "yes". in every no, the ego finds separation and identity, but the soul only experiences alienation. sometimes, it may be worthwhile to ponder over this urge to say no and to see what happens when we alter that to a yes.
the finale performance was mindblowing then in many ways. of course, it was just plain good. but it quickly became symbolic of all experiences i shied away from - for dislike, pride, or ignorance (zukav would label each of these 'fear'), but found pleasing, moving, and peace-inducing (or 'love'-filled) nonetheless. a lesson in life, no doubt.
several hours this sunday afternoon were spent in the company of zukav, seagulls, and much, much peace. as i sat on my own on a bench by lake elizabeth, i marveled at the bikers who completed several loops, the runners who ran panting and in spite of the hot sun, and the varied ages of the passers-by. also the varied languages they spoke, though none more than the universal language of the smile. my greatest moment found itself in the ability to cheer on a woman - a stranger - as she struggled to complete her run. all it took was a hearty "good job" to transform her look of extreme pain to a smile. sometimes, indeed, that is all it takes.
in this weekend i also experienced a love for dogs i haven't known in all my years thus far. so much so that even my aunt and mom were forced to remark on it. how did that happen? did love win over fear?
and then, i drove. and now, i must devote all attention to the wizard of oz. it's the first time i'm seeing this, and indeed, it was just this morning that i had expressed desire to see it - also the first movie i've wanted to see in a few months. and now it's on tv. and i found it. connections? :)
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