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Just out of curiosity. Priyanka, how did you end up here? People move to different countries and it always fascinates me. I had a hard enough time moving form one state to another and that was only 2 1/2 hours ago.
- Yesterday
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My friend, Shanta, is from Bengal but has been staying with her daughter for the past few months. I can not remember where she lives but now she and her husband are unable to get back to Bengal because of the virus. It sounds like you say-different in each part you go to. Where she lives the dogs are well taken care of by the people but as you know that is not always the case. She has told me of how she would go out to eat at the vendors that line the streets and it sounds like so much fun. I read something the other day about how valuable trees are there for the vendors in particular because they are out in the heat all day. She loves India but abhors Modi and his regime which she has told me about on many occasions. Trump's pal-how good could he really be? Enjoy the hug. I really must make more of an effort to have a tree hug. I used to have them in the woods behind my house but since my Henry died I can not go up there without him. Now I walk to the pond down the road to see the geese in the morning and Frankie, the old dachshund, and I walk down the other way later on. You as well.
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yes, nature rules in india- i miss my home very much and the unstructured way things are...where in india is your friend from? i have travelled extensively in India - and each place is like a different country, with different language, customs, and cuisines... and yes - i lived in new delhi which also has peacocks in some parts of the city - infact i was teaching at the austral high commission and there were peacocks right out side on the balcony ... i have a picture somewhere... and yes...dogs are all over the streets - one has to be careful of course as they bite sometimes...but i have never had a bad experience and usually feed them biscuits ...and befriend them. i will give the trees a hug for you... take care and be safe....
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Pointing in the direction to which I alluded, I offer this brief talk by noted neuroscientist and author Antonio Damasio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilrelFkDYls For those fans of Buddha's teachings, I would point out that the Buddha had very similar insights, without the benefit of modern technology and science, some 2500 years ago and modern mindfulness teachings in great part derive from those insights. My personal view of his teachings on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness is to immerse one in the foundations for wisdom and wellbeing as opposed to ignorance/delusion and suffering. It starts with the first foundation--mindfulness of the body, or mindfulness of the sensations of the body and developing a deep and relaxed awareness of the body, the ground of our experience. It progresses to the second foundation--mindfulness of feelings, understanding that our intentions and impulses to act even on the mental level involve basic feelings intertwined with cognition of sensations. The conditions for their arising involve body states just as sensations do. They in turn affect the quality of our conscious experience and the ways we relate to it. This is the third foundation--quality of mind, which is where things really start to get complicated and probably where we could include emotions that express how we subjectively relate to certain objects. This stage easily lends itself to misconceptions and rationalizations for indulging in all sorts of behaviors that are counterproductive in terms of our sustained wellbeing (ignorance/delusion). With practice and experience we begin to turn the corner and appreciate alternatives exist that lead to healthier states of mind. Then we are ready to train in the fourth foundation of mindfulness with various perspectives that help us attune with our nature, deepen our understanding of what those healthier alternatives are for each of us, and make them more readily available to us. This is only my personal understanding. Please feel free to refute or disregard it. I mean it, feel free to be merciless because I might learn something from it.
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Anneliese joined the community
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Nature is my salvation and the only thing that keeps me sane because truly (not looking for pity here) the rest is not great. The road is loud although beautiful and I stressed out so much trying to move from my city of 46 years that I did not see all that is wrong with the house. Too long to go into. I think moving to someplace peaceful with a few acres is an excellent idea which you will love. i will have to look up Ross island. I have a friend in India who was sending me pictures of the peacocks but they were not roaming rural areas but the city streets as well as the deer. Before that when people were still out and about she sent me a photo of a cow eating the dog's food-meat of all things. You will love living in nature I think. I may have moved to the wrong place-not sure about the state yet, it is a mixed bag-but i drive home seeing mountains and seeing the occasional wild animal. I do have raccoons who come to my house every day. Cheeky little beings they are. If you find a tree that looks right try giving it a hug. it is a lovely feeling.
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File too large. Tomorrow check the website for the video at www.soulfitnesslife.com Thank you. Paige Pilege -
At first reading this, I made myself a coffee and then listened to Joseph Goldstein on emotions and moods. My initial thought was the question, "how do you relate to your emotions," and the description that they "flow through us" belies a mistaken impression of emotions. They are not separate from us, they are we. There is no one separate from emotions. I have found most people have a very strong emotional response to this suggestion as though it is threatening. They have strongly identified with a seemingly continual phenomenon of having awareness of emotions within their organism that seems somehow separate from emotions. Let me ask, however, which is "you," the awareness, the emotions, or what? Mindfulness practice can reinforce the delusion that emotions are separate from the "I" we each experience through awareness. Not only are we taught to be more mindful of emotions, we are told we can learn to "regulate" them. While there is truth to this, there also is the risk that it might reinforce a tendency to denigrate the importance of emotions in regulating and maintaining our wellbeing. Perhaps emotions are part and parcel of our awareness, although sometimes at levels below our conscious recognition. Perhaps consciousness and emotions are abilities developed over the course of evolution that arise in response to changes in states within the body to impel actions to restore and maintain those states within certain levels or even to optimize those states. Perhaps emotions and consciousness are not even separate abilities, but our mind conceives of them as being different when they are inextricable. This conception and our continual tendency to act as though it were true is one reason why Joseph Goldstein's teachings and Gillian's invitation are so skillful. Still, it might be helpful to consider If emotions and consciousness interdependently co-arise, perceiving them as separate and distinct can exacerbate any dissonance, distress or unbalance we might feel. It might throw us into inner conflict. After I listened to Joseph, I listened to Gil Fronsdal's live online session which coincidentally was about the aspect of mindfulness practice that leads toward integration and inclusiveness. This aspect of practices accepts and embraces even difficulties, such as unsettling emotions, as being part of lived, embodied experience without our having to identify with it, take it up, become it, or get tightly entangled with it. Or, at least this aspect of practice leads to a certain acceptance of and distancing from getting all entangled with it! This part of practice takes a lot of time to develop. Now, I am just trying to suggest emotions are important, they reflect important events in our bodies and imbue our consciousness. They are not separate. My suggestion is that exploring this possibility can be life-changing. If anyone fears that viewing emotions from this perspective might make them seem too powerful and overwhelming, that is something to be honored too. Best Wishes.
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Jeff Capenos commented on Jeff Capenos's gallery image in Mindfulness In Nature
Came across a Tibetan Peace Park while exploring Sedona. Beautiful place and day. -
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Jeff Capenos posted a gallery image in Mindfulness In Nature
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Rev. Dawn joined the community
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@Faune you;re welcome...its clear that you take great joy in nature...its so wonderful that you are able to focus on all the amazing things in your life... its refreshing to read your posts as it makes pause and enjoy nature that sometimes gets taken for granted... i am waiting to see a moose and beaver .... that's so exciting... i have seen the cardinals, and blue jays and love the starlings here - but the moose and beaver, are such an integral part of canada -- there's an island in india called ross island - google it sometime - its in the andaman and nicobar region and i spent two and a half months there, visiting as many islands as i could...but ross was beautiful - a day visit, cannot spend the night there - and it has deer and peacocks and peahens living there...i managed to get a picture of a peacock spreading its feathers and dancing on the trail - will try and share it one of these days.. sorry to hear about the wrong house...what makes it wrong? my husband and i are planning to buy a house fout in the boondocks - and looking to buy a few acres - to be more immersed in nature...trees and wildlife...those are the best parts of life...
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Hi @Mystic Ann, not as comprehensive as @Jo L's fabulous list - but a little online resource that comes to my inbox - which has an eclectic mix of topics it delvs into ... https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-for-kids/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=[PP+Round-Up]+How+To+Encourage+More+Mindfulness+in+Others+[Exercises]&utm_campaign=[PP+Round-Up]+How+To+Encourage+More+Mindfulness+in+Others+[Exercises] hope this helps ....
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Lovely to hear from you Faune - and so nice to hear that you are able to bear witness to these animals. Beautiful highlights!
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How do you practice compassion?
Gillian Sanger replied to Gillian Sanger's topic in Question of the Week
Thanks for the reflection @JillianZ! I think it's wonderful that you're able to note that momentary judgment that arises, and I also believe this is entirely human. Sometimes it's there and sometimes it isn't. I don't think it's something we can control per se, but what we can control is the attention we give it and what we do with it when it arises. I think humour is sometimes helpful with this. Silently grinning at ourself with an energy of humour when our ego arises can help to dissolve it. I also think for many it is natural that it is more challenging to have this same open-heartedness to people who are close to us. There's probably many psychological reasons for this, but one for sure is that we often have a lot of undealt with dramas and emotions with certain people. Sometimes, it is hardest for us to be fully open with the people we are closest to - to, for instance, share ways in which we've been hurt in the past. These emotions then fester, which I think can lead to us feeling less open with some people that we really love. Just an idea - Last week
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I love the idea of compassion and aspire to be a truly compassionate being. Learning self compassion has made a great deal of difference for me in my every day life and I could not have gotten this far on my self growth journey without putting it into practice, and often. Giving to others and being generous and helpfulI is something I deeply enjoy doing and look forward to finding opportunities to do so. However, I do struggle with the non-judgemental aspect of it. I can show kindness and generosity and help others and be glad to do so, but not without a brief moment of judgement crossing my mind. And something I find extremely curious about myself (and I assume in some way is related to my ego) is that it feels more natural and less judgmental on my end, to help strangers or acquaintances than people that are close to me.
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I started to write a while ago but just found it sitting here. I have used that meditation, Priyanka, and thank you for it. I really need to be doing more and more. I was just going to pop in to say hello. I saw a moose the other day and was very excited and there are two beavers down the road who I watch almost every night. Those are the highlights of my life right now. I hope all are well.
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Yes, I am very grateful.
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Kate joined the community
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Music to Reconnect
Gillian Sanger replied to Gillian Sanger's topic in Sounds, Sights, Tastes & Smells
I often play this song at the beginning of my personal morning yoga practice. It's a delicate blend of restorative and uplifting. -
That's wonderful that your work has spread through word of mouth
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Hi @ERB! Thanks for your comments. Is it the James Baraz quote from the most recent Mindful Musings email that you're referring to? It is indeed very settling. "Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t)." – James Baraz And in regards to the notions that mindfulness alone is not enough: Some examples I can think of would include being mindful of the environments we choose to be in, consciously choosing the way we talk and listen (in alignment with values like compassion and curiosity), being open to other perspectives (and finding grains of truth everywhere), and bringing more presence to our daily actions, such as brushing our teeth, eating a meal, and going for a walk. I also really like your mention of limiting tv/technology time. This is a big one for me.
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Kjersten joined the community
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Franca Vresk changed their profile photo
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Hello Jo L, I have designed my own workshop Positive Mind Meditation at my office, and throughout the past 4 years, I have had companies contact me to come and do a talk about meditation. They got my contact information (word of mouth )from employee's that have attended my workshop at my office.
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Kirsty Moss joined the community
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ERB joined the community
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I really liked that quote. Seems to be a great reminder for the current state of the world. Found it to be grounding. ‘It takes more than mindfulness’ really resonates with me. I try to be thoughtful and intentional but never thought of delving Into mindfulness in this manner. Would also be interested in hearing some examples of what falls into domain. I think of limiting tv watching or having more quiet time but I’m not really sure...& I think there is more. Thanks for sharing.
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I really liked that quote. Seems to be a great reminder for the current state of the world. Found it to be grounding. ‘It takes more than mindfulness’ really resonates with me. I try to be thoughtful and intentional but never thought of delving Into mindfulness in this manner. Would also be interested in hearing some examples of what falls into domain. I think of limiting tv watching or having more quiet time but I’m not really sure...& I think there is more. Thanks for sharing.
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Glad to hear! Enjoy.
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Martha joined the community
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Hello to the community! I am very grateful for the email from Sean containing the shares about mindfulness and more! In particular, for me today, I am drawn to Sampajanna and it’s parallel relationship to mindfulness. I see clearly that in pausing for 20-30 minutes to read the entire email and visit each one of the links, my day is enriched! Thank you, Sean!
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Thank you so much, Ginger. I was able to download a few things today. -twm
