In my meditation group we are studying the being kindness meditation in Ezra Bayda’s book, Zen Heart. Ezra is my teacher, has been my teacher for eight years. He is a very good teacher.
Before Ezra was my teacher, I lived in Boston and read daily in Joko Beck’s two books, Nothing Special and Everyday Zen. These books, especially Nothing Special, spoke to me in ways that no other had. Every statement rang true, and I felt that for the first time in my life I had found a practice that overlaid perfectly my own spiritual thoughts and beliefs. (more…)
I can see my neighbor Kate lying in her hammock reading. It’s a hot summer day, and she’s in the deep shade of her little sycamore grove. It looks idyllic. While I’m up here slaving away, grumble grumble.
But actually, she might be not feeling so idyllic. I’ve learned that what you look like on the outside has no relation to what you feel like on the inside. This same neighbor sees me meditate in my front room early in the morning, and she thinks I’m all peaceful and at one with the world. Hah! Half the time I’m planning something just to keep from being present. The other half the time I’m either (1) doing the dual awareness meditation, or (2) forgetting to do the dual awareness meditation, or (3) bringing myself back to the dual awareness meditation with this promise, “Just take three breaths, then you can go back to planning snacks for your nephew and niece when they get here next month.”
Still, I look at these images of meditators and I think, “I want to be like them!” assuming they are always present. But maybe they are planning snacks for their guests? And maybe this is a good time to practice with expectations.
I can see my neighbor Kate lying in her hammock reading. It’s a hot summer day, and she’s in the deep shade of her little sycamore grove. It looks idyllic. While I’m up here slaving away, grumble grumble.