Morning Meditation

2011-06-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

Of all of my lives, I think I love this one the most.

Evening Meditation

2011-06-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Meditating outside, a chill in the night air.
My dog Angel comes and lays at my feet.
Her fur covering my toes, keeping my bare feet warm.

I feel a drop of rain on my head
I laugh and think I need a cat on my head to keep me dry.

I think I need to live simpler

2011-05-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

I was sitting in the local Tim Horton's this morning having a coffee and reading. All interrupted but a loud guy laughing and talking to the lady pouring his coffee.

I have seen him before, loud, laughing and I think he's a bit of a moron. But happy.

I started wondering if people who seem a little moronic are happier. They don't worry about politics, or the economy, or their job etc.

Just getting a coffee seems to thrill them.

OK maybe it's not being a moron but living life simply that makes them happier.

I have been to Cuba a number of times, and Dominican Republic once. It seems that people who have next to nothing are happier.

They don't have mortgages, Visa bills or retirement funds to worry about. They have enough food to eat, a roof (or part of) over their heads, family and friends.

It seems to be more than enough to keep them very happy, much happier than the people I see around here everyday.

I am guessing that stress and high blood pressure are not major problems in people who live simply.

Just wondering if being able to afford all the cool stuff is more of a curse than a blessing.

Thoreau asked the question "Do you own the house, or does the house own you?"

Crab Apple Blossoms

2011-05-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed a peaceful afternoon. Sat under the Crab Apple Tree reading Baisao.

Pink apple blossoms falling on my head, on my book and in my tea. The perfect Sunday afternoon.

The Dog Park, Gateway to Nirvana?

2011-04-10T16:30:00.000-07:00

I take my dog Angel to the dog park, not my favorite place but it is hers. Not my favorite place because it sticks there, some strange dog usually runs up to you and slobbers on you pants or pees on your shoe. But the dogs all love it.

I wondered today if we are building up extra good karma by taking dogs there. The ultimate unselfish act. Doing something that they love while I would rather be doing anything else, but we do it for love, for them, loved ones who are not even our own species. That must be earning us some extra good karma :-)

Just giving up

2010-07-31T05:42:00.000-07:00

Well it was one of those mornings... nothing. I don't get it, yesterday's meditation was one of the best ever, today nothing. Half way through I said forget it and got up. I suspect it was the coffee I had when I first got up that kept my mind racing, destroying any decent meditation.

Yesterday I took my dog Angel for a walk in the woods, we were the only ones there. Perfect weather, the sound of the wind in the trees. The perfect setting for mindfulness.

Extending the peace

2010-05-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

For years after my morning meditation, I would try to extend that special feeling of peace by slowing coming back to the real world by listing to my Hollow Bell CD (shakuhachi flute by Ray Brooks). It always made the transition from meditative state to answering emails etc. a lot easier.

Well recently I have discovered Ravi Shankar. Yes the same guy who fascinated the Beatles so many years ago. A quick search on iTunes found his "Spirit of India" CD. With a couple of clicks I bought it, downloaded it and now have nice traditional Indian music to play to help me with the transition back to the world.

My only problem now is that it gives me such a craving for Indian food.

Meditating at the dentist

2010-05-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of meditating so long if how quickly I find I can slip into a calm, relaxed state. Yesterday at the dentist office I was a little early and found myself alone in the waiting room. What a good opportunity to get a little extra meditation in. Now before you think I am really weird, there was no half lotus position, no zafu, no incense, just a big guy sitting in a chair with his eyes closed.

Within seconds, my breathing had slowed, I was very relaxed and content. Still very aware of my surroundings and the bubbling of the fish tank A very nice few minutes, much more pleasant than leafing through the 1987 issue of Time on the table in front of me.

I do these mini sessions a lot. Often while Judy is shopping at the mall and she heads into a shoe store I head for a bench. While waiting for a doctors appointment I will sit there and meditate, I'm fairly certain my blood pressure is much lower after my quick meditation :-)

My Zen Garden

2010-05-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

I spent holiday Monday working on my Zen garden, it's getting better but still cluttered and overgrown. Lots of work to do.

The water feature is up and running, love the gurgling sound. It's a large moss covered rock that water trickles out of.

I keep reminding myself "Zen is not in the garden but in the making of it".

I love my Meditation Timer

2010-05-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I discovered this meditation timer and love it. I had used various timers before but was never happy with them. This one allows you to set the number of minutes you want 5-60 and has a hi-low setting for the gong. But the best part is that it gongs three times to tell you when time is up, a very very soft one, a very soft one then finally a soft one. So you come out of your meditation slowly and pleasantly. The third gong is still soft enough so that if things are going well then you can meditate a little longer.

Check it out, they have 3 colours of wood. I believe they are made in France but can be shipped from the USA.

I bought mine on-line at Sage Meditation

http://www.sagemeditation.com/products/gong-timers-zen-clocks/meditation-timer.html?vmcchk=1

Meditating with the Dog 2

2010-05-23T05:54:00.000-07:00

It is not unusual to be sitting on my zafu meditating and my dog Angel will push he head against me, her way of asking for some affection. One time she licked my face and it confused me, is this ruining my morning meditation or is this Nirvana?

Meditating with the Dog

2010-05-23T05:49:00.000-07:00

I was tempted to call this blog "Meditating with the Dog", because more often than not, that's what I do. She lays at my feet, often sleeping. Her rhythmic gentle snoring distracts me from concentrating on my own breath. It always makes me smile, this morning it made me laugh out loud.

Meditating in the Rain

2010-05-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

I did my morning meditation this morning outside in a light rain. The first time in 40 years I tried that. It makes it easy to be "in the moment" with rain drops falling on you. A unique stillness and warmth.