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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The uncovering of our experience.
There are many ways to describe the spiritual path, and one might be as the uncovering or revealing of our experience.
And this might further be thought of in two parts (again, there are many ways to describe the journey, this is just one).
One of these might be the realization that who we are is not our thoughts. Here, realization refers to experiential realization rather than intellectual realization; the change in our experience when there is no longer identification with the thoughts that are running through mind as who we are.
The second might be the deepening experience of that space within which the thoughts arise. This experience of stillness and peace, of this awareness within which phenomena arise, is always here, always available. And over time, this experience deepens. It is as if it were being uncovered, as if the layers of dirt and grime covering over a window were gradually being removed.
And with this deepening there is more of a connectedness with the experience of the present moment; and over time, this becomes a much more natural way of being human than identification with the stories that egoic-self would weave in mind.
And slowly, as the stories fade, as the experience of the natural peace of our being deepens, mind is freed to become a more useful tool, its contribution to our day to day moment to moment lives of much greater value. There is a deeper integration of mind, body, and heart.
This uncovering also seems to aptly describe the newness, the unknownness, that is experienced as each new day unfolds. And as the path takes us deeper into each new moment, there is a welcoming, a growing sense that what is being uncovered is our very self, our true self, the ground of our being.
There are many ways of describing the path; and this is just one.
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There may be a teacher whose book was transformational for you, or there may be several; or you may have a teacher with whom you are meeting personally.
Sit comfortably for a moment; establish yourself in the breath.
Bring to mind a teacher who has been of benefit on your journey. No story; don't get caught up in thoughts here. Just bringing to mind this teacher.
Let bringing this teacher to mind engender a feeling of gratitude, of gratefulness.
Feel this gratitude centered in the heart.
Letting go of the identity of the teacher, teacherness, and any other outward projection, just be with this feeling of gratitude.
Notice how this feels; notice the richness, the intensity. Then return to just being this feeling of gratitude; just being grateful.
For some, there may be a feeling of resistance. For many, as the heart opens more deeply, there is resistance. If so, notice this; open to this; welcome this. When resistance is found, it is a sign post; here lies the way in. And be grateful for the sign post.
And notice how this feels.
:)
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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