miscellaneous meanderings
Body Sensing Hiking
Here in these mountains (see photo above), it is so quiet that everything becomes a metaphor for everything else. Although marked trails and destinations may be known, as it were, just wandering about off-trail happens by itself, there being no need to get anywhere in particular.
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Back to the Source
Still hanging out here in the Southwest (see photo above, once again) where the first tiny, improbable spring flowers are breaking parched ground, and the grey-green beginnings of lupen leafings appear in the canyons while patches of snow disappear from the peaks. A forest fire rages in the next range, 50 miles west, only 5% contained. Everything is changing. And nothing.
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Upon re-entering from retreat
The most FAQ upon re-entering from retreat:
How can we bring this with us?
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What about Body Sensing Yoga?
For years, we spend time sorting out what's me and what's not me. And then, just when we think we've got all that straightened out, along comes the nondual tradition, inviting us to sense again.
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Can You Die of Beauty?
It is being such a privilege to spend this month in retreat in a cabin way up in the mountains, rising early to practice long and spending days in study and contemplation. And yet, yesterday, with an unexpected snowfall of 9 inches, the meditation cushion was abandoned, and it was on-with-the-pack-and-boots-and-out-the-door to spend the day in romp and play.
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What is a nondual retreat?
So..........what is a nondual retreat? Does that mean there are no double rooms? Can I afford a single? Or is it about getting away from my two-some? Or my two-ness? Or can I bring him/her/it/them along, too?
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Musings on the popularity of the nondual approach...
No need to relinquish chocolate
No need to relinquish skiing
No need to relinquish workaholism
No need to relinquish loafing
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Does practice make perfect?
It is an age-old practice of deciduous trees to drop their leaves in the fall. One by one the leaf stalks seal themselves away from the twig and falling happens. A little fluttering sound accompanies their practice if the rush of autumn rainstorms does not drown it out. Sometimes bearing witness to this falling event occurs. So practicing watching leaves practicing falling in the fall is just happening.
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Pathless Path?
Many traditions have a "pathless path"--some even capitalize the p’s. The phrase turns up in Catholicism, Buddhism, Zen and otherwise, in Hinduism and in other capitalized –isms.
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What is the difference between a vacation and a retreat?
A vacation is when you take a retreat from your boss.
A retreat is when you take a vacation from yourself.
If you are your own boss, then the Ultimate Reality is close at hand.
However, if you are still working for your Self, there's no end to it.
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Being For Dummies by N.E. Body
Reviewing a non-book on the subject of non-duality for the over-informed has presented certain challenges. Firstly, I have been unable to contact an author for the customary pre-publication interview. Some candidates have responded, « It’s not me. » Others have responded, « It’s not mine » and still others, « I didn’t do it. »
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The Nondual Community Expands
Mathematicians say some infinities are bigger than other infinities. So be it. Infinity shmininity. It is what it is, or, in other words, I am that I am. Basically, it's all the same. Nothing changes in the changeless. Nevertheless, some things do get our attention. It seems that miracles still do tend to stand out, like the one wherein I had the extraordinary privilege of being invited to attend a dear friend's labour and delivery.
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Nondual approach to Swine flu
Is it possible to get through a day without hearing some new announcement about swine flu? Bombarded by media campaigns from all perspectives, the mind has an opportunity to land in any one of many points of view, for or against, fear or nonchalance, or just plain bored. If we are not our bodies, then what difference does it make? If we are not our sensations, feelings, beliefs or concepts, what kind of response is appropriate, or even necessary?
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Me and My Thoughts
What to do!? What to do!? All this thinking is driving me crazy.
It seems we are in a massive think-a-long, one thought clambering after another, some overlapping, some tripping over each other, others lagging behind and holding up the rest of the gang for a moment. The whole thought marathon is just barreling along. Sometimes there are rapid changes of direction, mid-course corrections, other times it’s just a headlong, headstrong directionless gallop.
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In Praise of Ordinariness
So here we are, just doing the daily business, whether it's called a work day, a retreat, a sabbatical, a goof-off day, or a super-intense practice day.
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On distinguishing the Roller Coaster from the Amusement Park
Here we go again, riding the roller coaster of rapid change... up the slope, over the top and plunging back down, squealing, shrieking or otherwise, as megafires devastate the landscape, massive financial insecurities sweep the planet and global political systems sclerose and transform. Who's in charge here? What's the 800 number? We'd like to report a problem. This is not how it is supposed to be... or is it?
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Joan's Only Cartoon...
Work in regress.
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The Yoga of Contradiction
What kind of lineage is this? ...... where self means no-self, where emptiness means fullness, and fullness means emptiness, or both. If you think you know, you don’t and if you don’t know, you do.
listen to Sanskrit chant...
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