Good morning! Welcome to the DKos Sangha weekly open thread.
This is an open thread for members of the DKos Sangha and others who are interested in discussions concerning how we integrate our progressive political activism into our spiritual practice. If you have observations about the political discourse of the week, or about practice, or about anything else related to walking a spiritual path through the political world, if you wish to share, or if you seek support, or if you simply want to say hello, please do; this space is for you.
If you would like to write a diary for the DKos Sangha, please let me know.
If you care nothing for spiritual practice and only wish to denigrate and disparage, please do so elsewhere, and respect that this is a community diary for the DKos Sangha.
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It's interesting; the day unfolds from waking in the morning and making coffee through brushing teeth in the evening and going to bed, including all of the myriad things that happen in between, one after the other, and yet, the only thing that's actually happening is now. The only thing that feels real is this experience of now.
I can think back to things that happened earlier in the day, but that's only thought; it feels like thoughts feel, rather insubstantial, intangible. But now feels alive; there's an intimacy, an immediacy, to this experience of now.
It is a different way of being, this experience of now; fundamentally different from the old way of being, that forever being stuck within the stories and dramas woven from the thoughts streaming through mind.
And all very ordinary. The events of the day, making coffee, washing dishes, driving into town, buying groceries, they are the ordinary things that one does; but the experience of doing these things is profoundly different.
The constant stories and dramas of egoic separate self take a lot of energy; but when separate self is no longer creating it's world, there is a lightness to being, like a huge weight has been lifted away.
And there is a clarity of seeing, as separate self is no longer distracting us from what is happening now.
But this is all just words on a screen. What is your experience of now?
Stop reading for a moment and inquire; what is your experience right now? What does it feel like?
Are you caught up in the stream of thoughts; or are you fully present with this?
From time to time throughout the day, check in and ask yourself; what is my experience now?
When asking this question, there is no right or wrong answer; just be honest with yourself, no judgement. Oh, and don't fall into the trap of making up a new story about your experience; you really don't need to put it into words, just notice. If you notice that you're caught up in stories, well then you're caught up in stories; that's okay. What's important here is the noticing, and the honesty, and the okayness; and the willingness to inquire within.
The noticing itself changes your experience of now; in the noticing, you are no longer fully caught up in the movie, the story. Rather, in the noticing, you are seeing the thoughts as they arise; seeing them as unsubstantial passing energy packets arising within your awareness.
And that is an important step in changing your experience, an important step in liberating yourself from the stress, the anguish, the frustration, all of the side effects of the stories and dramas; an important step toward freedom from separation, isolation, blaming, scapegoating, guilting, brooding. It is a step toward letting go of identification with the stories and dramas, and just being who you naturally are; just simply being a breathing human being.
So, what is your experience now?
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Namaste
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You are welcome to join us each week in our Monday night group meditation here at DKos Sangha. This online group meditation is hosted by Ooooh, and the diary is posted at 7:00 Eastern. So that we are able to be together for as many here at Daily Kos as wish to participate, the meditation period runs from 7:30 to 10:00 Eastern. This group sitting is open to beginners and advanced, and is not restricted to any particular traditions or practices. It is not expected that you sit for the entire period; sit for as long as you like, when you like. The idea is that we are here together; supporting each other, holding space for each other.
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Enjoy your day!
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