HUGE day. 5:15 am- arise; 7:30 am- board plane; 12 noon- land and drive home; 1:30 grocery shop; 2:30 cook a week's meals; 4:30 hour and a half long-distance family crisis with drama (cont. from earlier this week); 6:30 attend talk at church by Fr. Laurence Freeman, very celebrated author in Christian meditation. Don't know how I did it.
Fr. Freeman's talk was on the Benedictine Rule (the rules of life in a Benedictine Monastery). Very, very inspiring. Will capture some key words, and then write more tomorrow. Brain full tonight.
1.This post title- the three pillars of The Benedictine Rule. The big AHA! was conversion in Christianity=impermanence in Buddhism, according to the Dalai Lama. Wow! This needs a whole blog entry. Several.
2. A must-see movie recommendation, INTO GREAT SILENCE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgNj2Sf_mgo
3. The significance of being called to prayer by bells many times during the day: it is inconvenient having to drop everything, but it actualizes your priorities.
4. Small monastic living communities are part of the monastic set-up. Outside the monastery, Freeman says that 7-10 is ideal for a meditation group. More gets chaotic, less is too intense.
5. The meaning of archetype as applied to "the monk." Even as monasteries dwindle in number and size, the contemplative movement (like the diaspora I must add, ref. Jeremiah) continues on because the archetype exists independently of culture within the human spirit and cannot be extinguished. What a powerful thought.
Much to ponder. We left early- tired, but also completely satisfied with the talk, and not seeking any more in the discussion which was to follow. I have taken to doing that recently- savoring a limited amount of content and not getting stuffed and uncomfortable. It can happen with your brain just as with your stomach.
Showing posts with label media links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media links. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Calling All Angels
I am experiencing a brilliant demonstration of how our cognitive lives are an aurora borealis of illusions.
I was listening to "Calling All Angels" when I first looked out of the airplane window two nights ago at 4:30 am. After several hours of flying over Pacific water, on a dark and very starry night, I looked up and was thrilled by the sudden appearance of spectacular lights- San Francisco. It was an epiphany moment. Listening to the song again today, I am right back in that moment.
I experienced in the very same instant, these things: First, I saw the glow of lights in purposeful patterns surrounding the San Francisco Bay- the roads, the buildings, the pinnacle of human intellect manifested in this magnificent city, its technology, infrastructure, and functionality. Second, I imagined, because of the variety of structures from which those lights eminated, that below the lights, every manner of human experience was being lived right down close to the earth. Third, I saw, because of my distance above, the huge energy manifestation, drawing its glow from deep inside the earth, the clock ticking unto the day when this city will go dark again.
I lingered without judgement in this simultaneous elation and sadness until I realized that the demise of glowing cities is not tragic, but an eventuality in the sequence of cause and effect. Different than offhanded or intellecutally spoken words, it was a profound, experiential realization.
I turned my mind to God, realizing that we are not created to live forever, as individuals or as a species. Does this seem trite? Every previous moment in which I have had this thought seems trite, but this moment was not.
"Calling All Angels" http://www.andiesisle.com/Calling_All_Angels.html
I was listening to "Calling All Angels" when I first looked out of the airplane window two nights ago at 4:30 am. After several hours of flying over Pacific water, on a dark and very starry night, I looked up and was thrilled by the sudden appearance of spectacular lights- San Francisco. It was an epiphany moment. Listening to the song again today, I am right back in that moment.
I experienced in the very same instant, these things: First, I saw the glow of lights in purposeful patterns surrounding the San Francisco Bay- the roads, the buildings, the pinnacle of human intellect manifested in this magnificent city, its technology, infrastructure, and functionality. Second, I imagined, because of the variety of structures from which those lights eminated, that below the lights, every manner of human experience was being lived right down close to the earth. Third, I saw, because of my distance above, the huge energy manifestation, drawing its glow from deep inside the earth, the clock ticking unto the day when this city will go dark again.
I lingered without judgement in this simultaneous elation and sadness until I realized that the demise of glowing cities is not tragic, but an eventuality in the sequence of cause and effect. Different than offhanded or intellecutally spoken words, it was a profound, experiential realization.
I turned my mind to God, realizing that we are not created to live forever, as individuals or as a species. Does this seem trite? Every previous moment in which I have had this thought seems trite, but this moment was not.
"Calling All Angels" http://www.andiesisle.com/Calling_All_Angels.html
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Why I'm Glad I am 60 (Click Here)
Embedded in the title is the link to an article that adds to my joy at living unencumbered by the biological imperatives of childrearing and wage-earning in 2007. Imagine buying in to any of these social networks! Talk about the Emperor's New Clothes!!!!
The article is both funny and terrifying. The youngblood writing it has a very entertaining style and a devilish command of the vernacular. Laugh or shudder as you will.
Oh, and the article goes a long way in explaining the growing attraction to Zen Buddhism in the U.S. In the ancient Orient, monks shaved their heads upon entering the monastery as a way of giving up external clues referencing the social networks of the day. Perhaps today's budding Buddhists are taking a similar stance. (Though in my case, the initial attraction was respite from incessant noise- verbal and otherwise).
This post does no service whatsoever to the beautiful and spiritually rich day I had with my cousin and sister at the Pink Ribbon Spa. The memories of the day are sparkling and untouched by the ludicrousness of popular culture ala consumerism.
The article is both funny and terrifying. The youngblood writing it has a very entertaining style and a devilish command of the vernacular. Laugh or shudder as you will.
Oh, and the article goes a long way in explaining the growing attraction to Zen Buddhism in the U.S. In the ancient Orient, monks shaved their heads upon entering the monastery as a way of giving up external clues referencing the social networks of the day. Perhaps today's budding Buddhists are taking a similar stance. (Though in my case, the initial attraction was respite from incessant noise- verbal and otherwise).
This post does no service whatsoever to the beautiful and spiritually rich day I had with my cousin and sister at the Pink Ribbon Spa. The memories of the day are sparkling and untouched by the ludicrousness of popular culture ala consumerism.
