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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I once read a description of consciousness as movement within awareness. Within the context of what I was reading, the author's distinction between consciousness and awareness seemed to resonate with me. And I still find that phrase, movement within awareness, useful.
When one is resting within awareness, within the stillness, there is no movement; there is no reacting to phenomena, there is no separation. There may then be some event, perhaps something as simple as an unexpected noise, in response to which a reactive pattern arises within mind. There may be a story, there may be an emotional response attached to the story; there is movement.
We can see this happening when we are sitting on our cushions; we can watch reactive patterns arise. But this is also what happens off the cushion as well.
It can be helpful when, for instance, we are reading a diary on the rec list, or watching a video of some politician, or visiting with family, or driving in traffic, to remember that our reactive conditioning, the stories and emotions that are arising in response to phenomena, are movement within the stillness. It can be helpful to remember that our natural state, the stillness, is always there; and that the movement is but ripples upon the surface of a pond.
Sometimes our reactive patterns seem to take up all the space; we may become angry, and then annoyed that we are angry on top of that. But the ripples will subside, and underneath the anger and annoyance is the deep peace of our true nature.
All of this is just words. There are other ways to describe consciousness, there are other ways to talk about patterns and conditioning and emotions; and it is helpful to not get too attached to some story about who we are. But words and phrases can be helpful. And when we find ourselves reacting to what we read, it can be helpful to remember, it can be helpful to recognize what is happening, to shift our perspective, to let go of identifying with the reactive patterns that are arising, to let go of the story, and just notice the ripples on the pond. And from that noticing, the patterns can lose their energy, lose their momentum; they need not take over our experience.
On the cushion we see this more easily; but this can become our experience off the cushion as well. It is why we practice; it is why everything in life is about practice; it is why practice is not other than our daily moment to moment experience. Within everything that arises there is an invitation to go deeper into who we truly are; there is an invitation to go beneath the story, to be with the energy of what is arising, to touch this with compassion and tenderness.
When we are simply present in this moment, there is a beauty, a joy, a simplicity, a fullness that is our experience. The universe is fully expressed in this moment. There is no story, no description, no words; there is only this.
May you find joy in this day.
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 - 10:00. 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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