photo by Kim Stafford

 

 

Open Road Meditation & Mindfulness Dialogue

 

October 15, 2020

 

Why the Beach?

 

Half the horizon is ancient: no wires, no roads, no

development. Maybe a boat out there tracing lonesome.

Waves make a roar, a whisper, a heartbeat. People

are here to be here. They walk barefoot, like children.

Children run wild. Weather rules it all. Something

bigger is in charge of you. And every night, she

reasserts her sovereignty. And every night, she

cleans up. Yesterday’s tracks are gone, even

the dance of a dog’s joy. Lots of soaring goes on—

gulls, crows, pelicans, maybe a kite, maybe your gaze,

your spirit spiraling the sky. Each day an old man

walks to pick up litter. Each day an old woman walks

to find the perfect stone. You can walk without a plan.

You can sing the wind. You can cry in peace. You can

remember being small. You can be small beside immensity.

You can be the simple you. When you said, “I’m

going to the beach,” no one said, “Why?”

 

—Kim Stafford

*

 

#321  Be There For Breakfast

 

“”When you eat your breakfast, even if it is just a small bite early in the morning, eat in such a way that freedom is possible While eating breakfast, don’t think of the future, of what you are going to do. Your practice is to simply eat breakfast. Your breakfast is there for you; you have to be there for your breakfast. You can chew each morsel of food with joy and freedom.”  Thich Nhat Hanh (from Your True Home)

 

A few years ago I was hiking with several women friends, and they were talking about a streamlined new model of a Vitamix blender/food processor. “You can put anything in there to make a breakfast smoothie,” they said. “Kale, arugula, garlic, blueberries, yogurt, zucchini, ice cream…you name it. All these good -for-you foods blended so you can’t taste a thing except something like a sort of vanilla milkshake flavor. Better yet, you can just drink it down in a minute and be out the door!”

 

I thought about that for a minute, kind of confused, and said, “But I like to CHEW my food!” And it’s true; I love the squish of blueberries and the crunch of an almond and the squeeze of a raisin and the creamy splash of almond milk — well, you get the picture. 

 

Plus it’s about fifteen minutes of time when I don’t have to do anything except eat food. Nor do I do much talking to my husband when I am eating breakfast, because that can totally suck away my concentration, my attention to that luscious bowl of cereal and fruit and nuts.

 

I might have trouble paying attention to a number of other things in life, but paying attention to breakfast is not one of them.

 

—Jude Russell

*

 

I love Thomas Traherne. I often start my day by reading his poems and meditations. Here are a couple of his meditations:

 

48 

Love is so divine and perfect a thing, that it is worthy to be the very end and being of the Deity. It is His goodness, and it is His glory. We therefore so vastly delight in Love, because all these excellencies and all other whatsoever lie within it. By Loving a Soul does propagate and beget itself. By Loving it does dilate and magnify itself. By Loving it does enlarge and delight itself. By Loving also it delighteth others, as by Loving it doth honor and enrich itself. But above all by Loving it does attain itself. Love also being the end of Souls, which are never perfect till they are in act what they are in power. They were made to love, and are dark and vain and comfortless till they do it. Till they love they are idle, or mis-employed. Till they love they are desolate; without their objects, and narrow and little, and dishonorable: but when they shine by Love upon all objects, they are accompanied with them and enlightened by them. Till we become therefore all Act as God is, we can never rest, nor ever be satisfied. 

 

49 

Love is so noble that it enjoyeth others’ enjoyments, delighteth in giving all unto its object, and in seeing all given to its object. So that whosoever loveth all mankind, he enjoyeth all the goodness of God to the whole world: and endeavoreth the benefit of Kingdoms and Ages, with all whom He is present by Love, which is the best manner of presence that is possible. 

 

(from Centuries of Meditations, Second Century)

 

peace, love & happiness to y’all

—Johnny

*

 

Life is amazing. And then it’s awful.

And then it’s amazing again. And

in between the amazing and the awful

it’s ordinary and mundane and routine.

Breathe in the amazing, hold on through

the awful, and relax and exhale during

the ordinary. That’s just living

heart-breaking, soul-healing, amazing,

awful, ordinary life. And it’s

breathtakingly beautiful.

 

—LR Knost, from The Idealist Facebook page, sent by Jason Beito

*

 

Ashes and mist,

Memories and smiles,

Tears.

Unexpected joy,

Acceptance and fate

Fulfilled.

So much gained,

out of a life lost,

Understanding.

Good times echo,

Bad times too,

Togetherness.

The love we all

Have,

Is never ending,

It has no boundaries,

And if there are boundaries,

Love breaks them all.

 

Love you mom.

 

—Rocky Hutchinson

*

 

Here are some excerpts from Michel Deforge’s meditation journal. The numbers refer to meditations in Your True Home by Thich Nhat Hanh.

 

September 5, 2022  #353  Why Hurry to the Grave?

 

This is a curious question. I wonder…how many of us are hurrying towards the final conclusion? It’s kind of a cop-out—to run pell mell ahead towards an obvious end. Some cheat and check out early. Some live life at an aggressive pace, most failing to participate in the few brief precious moments as they fly by. It’s almost as if they are in a hurry to find out what’s next. Which would be great, except for one thing. No one has reliably and credibly done so and revealed what is the next step after death. So, why hurry?

 

More importantly: why not slow down and enjoy the moments we have NOW? Is it not in our best interest to not only live a rich, textured, deeply rewarding life, one where it is possible to savor each moment, instead of scratching our noggins wondering, “What just happened? Was I there?” It is certainly possible to live robustly and not have clue one what going on, or why. Many do this, or hope/believe they do. I propose that the age-old addage “stop and smell the roses” was coined by one who realized life was warping past him and, somehow, this was the cause of life’s dissatisfaction. For a moment, maybe, he did settle and renewed his energy, vitality, spirit, inner self/being. We too can do this with mindfulness practices—simply focusing on the relaxing act of breathing and allowing awareness to expand and welcome everything.

 

September 7, 2022  #355 Your Suffering Needs You

 

Thây aks us to think of suffering as a pet, one needing attention. I like this. Wouldn’t any compassionate being attend to the needs of an animal (pet) which could not attend to its own needs? Of course. Look at all the people up in arms about having pets (and children) unattended in hot summer cars (ovens). I think it’s possible to do better for our own suffering. I’ve seen lately, having created anxiety for myself over an aversion I developed, that suffering is self-imposed. No one creates suffering for me. Suffering occurs as part of my response to events, regardless of who initiated the events. Suffering is merely a state of mind—one way of seeing events unfold, never as they are. Suffering is self-inflicted, by choice. (Active or passive, known or unknown.) We can end it any time with a different choice.

 

But, Thây here is asking us to “take care of” self. It’s more than your suffering that needs attending. We also have bodies, minds, sensations, emotions: these all will benefit from attention and compassionate treatment. It is so very easy to get tied up chasing life experiences that a time out to care for mind and body are either neglected entirely, or provided only cursory attention to resolve immediate needs. For example, a “quick shower,” a “brief meditation,” a “hasty meal. I’m not suggesting that we always drop everything (frequently) and take a “spa day.” Yet…what would it hurt to have a regular mindfulness practice of more than 5-15 minutes? Or, to plan a soothing hot shower, maybe after a rigorous physical exertion. (We don’t have bathing tubs or I’d suggest a long hot soak!) A mindfulness practice is not just the time spent sitting on a cushion in meditation practice—it’s more than this. I see an opportunity to bring awareness (even if informally) to any thing I do….

 

September 8, 2022  #356  The Buddha’s Highest Teaching

 

This is an idea for which I have little to say. Maybe that’s good. In the end, each of us must find our own way. Whatever path (or stage of the same one) we are on, it is the personal decision that commits to and follows the path. Our only certainty is that, at some future point, the road will end for each of us, or we’ll transition to another “plane” to continue our journey—no one really knows.

 

Pain, although unpleasant at the time, is important. It reminds us to be present NOW. Nothing keeps me focused on the present like pain. If I don’t attend to NOW, looking ahead or behind too much, pain will happen and bring me back to this. Pain—temporary discomfort to sharp, searing, stabbing fire—is only temporary. The challenge I faced this past operation [for a hip replacement] is to welcome pain as the friend it is, instead of an enemy to be feared. Pain reminded me to breathe. It was a stream I had to pass (wade) through—one which I could not go around. The only way is through, with breathing.

 

Pain is our teacher, providing experiences of what to do/not do—essentially teaching each of us attentiveness to NOW. Some lessons are unavoidable. They make us more resilient when other pains arrive. Still, it’s: “Just breathe!” That’s the solution. Pray, chant mantra, meditate, exercise, move with purpose and extreme focus—be in the “flow”—all of this in preparation for attention to NOW. When I lose my NOW-focus, pain isn’t far behind to bring me back home. Maybe that’s Thây’s, or the Buddha’s, point: we’re never too far away that we can’t get back with a breath or two.

 

September 9, 2022  The Simple Act of Walking

 

I’ve oft heard others grouse that “back in the olde days” life was more…(whatever they miss). But what if what we miss is the relaxed pace of life? The solution is simple—become a Luddite! No! Walk!

 

As one who recently was restored to the gift of walking, relatively pain-free—(my second surgery now looms)—I realize I forgot how wonderful walking can be. Although I am limited to a 1/16 mile concrete track/walkway—(check TRCI out at Google Earth)—being able to walk for any length of time is a treat. Now I can stroll, or meander, get some exercise, or just stand outside and breathe….

 

Walking takes time. As a result, life operates at a slower pace. Yet we yearn for this pace.

 

The solution is easy: Walk more! Make it a choice, preferably a happy one. Revel in your ability to stroll, promenade, wander, roam. Breathe. Smile. Be aware of your surroundings. And above all, enjoy a walk! Do it for me!!

 

—Michel Deforge

*

 

October 10, 2022

 

Today is the recognition and celebration of Native Americans, known now as Indigenous People’s Day. This is only the second year our state has officially designated the second Monday in October for this holiday. It is not only an honoring of Native American’s past but a pause for the present and future generations suffering from loss of lives and language and culture and years of institutional oppression.

 

Driving out to Two Rivers has become a meditation for me on the presence of these ancestors and those still here struggling. The Columbia River and the expanse of the Gorge time-worn hills has a way of making my heart and mind expand with spaciousness. Passing through Celilo and Umatilla and further on toward Joseph or Warm Springs we know so many stories and become affected once again by their stories. Their present story is more than casinos or being devastated by past trauma. Oregon has many Indigenous communities across the state; it is home to nine federally recognized tribes, mostly confederated which include many tribes. Native organizations and communities now partner with their own voices and their own leaders, with a variety of cultural centers from universities to Arts Councils.

 

As part of our mindfulness community, we can share a sacred practice in the Buddhist tradition, called Touching the Earth. Its focus is on spiritual awareness, recognizing and connecting with our ancestors of our blood family, our spiritual family, and our ancestors of this land.

 

Here are Thay’s words for touching our ancestors of this place we live. To begin, you might want to make an altar with something from your blood ancestors or spiritual ancestors, and something from the earth. Take a few breaths in and out. Feel your feet, or your whole body lying down—supported by the Earth. Feel the spaciousness of your mind and heart, as we practice for our own understanding of interbeing and for peace for all beings.

 

From Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, Creating True Peace:

 

“In gratitude, I bow to this land and all of the ancestors who made it available.”

 

(Sound a bell if you have something at hand, or maybe hum a deep tune, then touch the earth.)

 

“I see that I am whole, protected, and nourished by this land and all of the living beings who have been here and made life easy and possible for me through all their efforts. I see Chief Seattle, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr., and all the others known and unknown. I see all those who have made this country a refuge for people of so many origins and colors, by their talent, perseverance, and love—those who have worked hard to build schools, hospitals, bridges, and roads, to protect human rights, to develop science and technology, and to fight for freedom and social justice. I see myself touching my ancestors of Native American origin who have lived on this land for such a long time and known the ways to live in peace and harmony with nature, protecting the mountains, forests, animals, vegetation, and minerals of this land. I feel the energy of this land penetrating my body and soul, supporting and accepting me. I vow to cultivate and maintain this energy and transmit it to future generations. I vow to contribute my part in transforming the violence, hate, and delusion that still lie deep in the collective consciousness of this society so that future generations will have more safety, joy, and peace. I ask this land for its protection and support.”

 

Thank you for your practice and may we become more Native to this place as our Mindfulness evolves,

 

with love,

—Katie Radditz

*

 

Prayer For the Great Family

 

Gratitude to Mother Earth, sailing through night and day–

  and to her soil: rich, rare and sweet

    in our minds so be it.

 

Gratitude to Plants, the sun-facing light-changing leaf

  and fine root hairs: standing still through wind

  and rain; their dance is in the flowing spiral grain

    in our minds so be it.

 

Gratitude to Air, bearing the soaring Swift and the silent

  Owl at dawn. Breath of our song

  clear spirit breeze

    in our minds so be it.

 

Gratitude to Wild Beings, our brothers, teaching secrets,

  freedoms and ways; who share with us their milk;

  self- complete, brave, and aware

    in our minds so be it.

 

Gratitude to Water: clouds, lakes, rivers, glaciers;

  holding or releasing; streaming through all

  all bodies salty seas

    in our minds so be it.

 

Gratitude to the Sun: blinding pulsing light through

  trunks of trees, through mists, warming caves where

  bears and snakes sleep–he who wakes us–

    in our minds so be it.

 

Gratitude to the Great Sky

  who holds billions of stars–and goes yet beyond that–

  beyond all powers, and thoughts

  and yet is within us–

  Grandfather Space

  The Mind is his Wife.

    so be it.

                    

                         after a Mohawk prayer.

 

—Gary Snyder (sent by Jeffrey Sher)

 

I have always experienced this poem as a meditation though I do not have a formal practice. The sense of gratitude pervades my life: I look out my kitchen window and witness a hummingbird feeding on the last of the hot lips salvia and am filled with awe and gratitude. Taking a shower and having the luxury of clean hot water and once again I feel a deep sense gratitude. I think of the wonderful friends I have been fortunate to have over the years and am flooded with gratitude. There are so many moments in life that are worthy of a moment’s reflection upon how fortunate most of us are. Gratitude is the response to the gift we have been given.

 

—Jeffrey Sher