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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We come into this moment, each of us having arrived by a path uniquely our own, riding on a current of events, a current with its own particular momentum and energy, moving us right into this very moment. Perhaps it's a good time to pause and just breathe for a moment.
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Let the breath bring a feeling of calmness. When you feel established in the breath, bring your attention to the thoughts that are arising in mind. Notice any charge that may arise with certain thoughts; a charge can be an energetic movement of energy, sometimes subtle and sometimes not, such as annoyance, dissatisfaction, disappointment, regret, anger, resentment, etc.
This can be a very helpful practice, watching the thoughts and noticing when a charge arises. This is a type of energy or movement. We're just sitting here breathing, watching our thoughts, and then a certain thought arises, and with it there's a charge. Where there was calm, now there is agitation.
Notice this movement of energy; notice how your body feels.
In this noticing, in the noticing of thoughts that bring with them a charge, there is the opportunity, the invitation, to release the energy of the charge. The breath is very helpful for this. This energy in the charge has an outward movement, it is creating separation, there is conflict. On the next in-breath use the breath to change the direction of the energy, to bring it inward, into the heart. And on the out-breath, let it release. Do this gently, with kindness and compassion.
And return to the breath. Re-establish yourself in the breath.
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So much of what is perceived in our world is created by this outward movement of energy, creating separation and conflict where a moment previously there was none; creating stress and anxiety where there could be calm. This is a simple noticing of how the arising of certain thoughts can bring with them changes in our relationship with the world around us; and it is a profoundly different way of thinking about our world. So much of the conflict in our world is caused by the arising of thoughts, thought patterns, reactive patterns, conditioning. And all it takes is an in-breath, and an opening of the heart, to change what happens next; to change the unfolding of events. To change the course of history. To change the world we live in.
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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