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.
Tomorrow night, Monday, we will be trying a group meditation. This is being setup by Ooooh, and you can read her diary about it here. As I understand it, this is something that was a weekly event at the old Street Prophets site; and is now being restarted here on Daily Kos.
I've just heard from Ooooh, and for this initial sitting she's decided on a time period of 8:30 to 9:30. She is hoping to find a period that will work for the four continental US time zones and for as many as wish to participate, and this seems a good time period to start with.
You can join the group at any time during the set period; and you do not have to stay for the whole period. Sit only for as long as you wish. But the idea is that we are sitting together.
This is open to beginners and advanced, and is not restricted to any particular traditions or practices. There are many different meditation practices; there is no one way to "do" meditation. If you've never sat, would like to start, but have questions, you can kosmail me if you wish. If you've tried before but were frustrated, I can try to help with those questions as well.
There are many reasons that people begin a meditation practice. Each person's path is unique, and the flow of events that brings each of us here to this time and place is unique as well. The common theme here is sitting together. Sitting together can be supportive; it can bring a different perspective. One might want to use the group sitting to bring a different intention to the cushion. And there is an energy in sitting together as a group.
Ooooh will be posting a diary tomorrow at 7:00 to the DKos Sangha group to announce the group meditation. You may want to put DKos Sangha in your stream as a tag. If you wish you can also request to join DKos Sangha. We may try sending a kosmail to the group's members as a reminder as well.
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Each person we meet in our daily activities is a teacher, for in watching how we react to them, their actions, their words, we see the conditioning that causes the agitation, the dis-ease, within us. For us here on Daily Kos, the reports of politicians and talking heads give us much for our conditioning to react to; they can be, when we are mindful, important teachers for each of us.
It can be helpful, when we notice reactive conditioning arising, to look up from the computer screen, and meet what is arising within us; compassionately, gently, with an open heart. Then, from this heart center, we can return to the page we are reading; we can continue to do the work of informing ourselves and sharing with others, doing our part to help make our world more just, more equitable, more sustainable.
There is a balance, a harmony, that is unique to each of us as our paths unfold, as our experience deepens. Our bodies let us know when we are out of balance; the agitation, annoyance, irritation, frustration, dis-ease that we feel, is often manifested in the body. We may feel it in the gut, in the chest; the more in tune with our bodies we become, the better able we are to be aware of these signals of dis-ease. They let us know when we are moving away from balance; they let us know when we need to pause and breathe, to open, to soften.
So, if you need a teacher, just read what some of our legislators have to say! Then be with what arises. Open your heart to yourself; be loving, gentle, compassionate. Find your inner balance, find harmony, find the breath. Be present with what is.
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Enjoy your day! And please join us Monday evening if you wish.