It is so seductive to look outside ourselves and see all the things we consider wrong, the things we don’t like, the things that just shouldn’t be. However, when we do this we make enemies out of life, the current moment, and even ourselves. It is, unfortunately, simply the way the human mind works, by making comparisons and judgments.
Good evening and welcome to Monday Group Meditation. We will be sitting from 7:30 to 10:00 PM EST. It is not necessary to sit for the entire extended time, which is set up to make it convenient for people in four North American Time Zones; sit for as long as you like and when it is most convenient for you. Monday Group Meditation is open to everyone, believers and non-believers, who are interested in gathering in silence. If you are new to meditation and would like to try it for yourself, Mindful Nature gave a good description of one way to meditate in an earlier diary, copied and pasted below:
"It is a matter of focusing attention mostly. In many traditions, the idea is to sit and focus on the rising and falling of the breath. Not controlling it, but sitting in a relaxed fashion and merely observing experiences of breathing, sounds, etc. Be aware of your thoughts, but don't engage in them. When your mind wanders (it will, often), then return to focus on breath and repeat."
We have noticed that a number of people enter "the room" after 10:00 Eastern, so for those finding this diary after our scheduled time is over, do please sit for a while; chances are that there are still folks in the room to sit with. And if you so wish, post a comment just to let others who come after you know that you're sitting, so they too will choose to sit with you for a while.
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In truth it doesn’t take a genius to point out what’s wrong in the world, but the really funny thing is from one person to the next, what’s wrong can actually be diametrically opposed. The very things I might find disturbing, might be the same things another person thinks are absolutely right. If we deeply consider the implications of this, we can see that physical reality is squishy. In fact, if we really open ourselves to it we find physical reality, which seems so solid on the surface, is actually not so solid at all.
And yet we persist in seeking outside ourselves for happiness. It is the very thing that drives our thinking:
If only that person loved me the way I love him/her, then life would be wonderful!
If only all the poorly adjusted people in my life would stop making bad decisions, everything would be OK.
If only the Republicans would grow up, we could all get along,
If only certain Democrats would vote the way I want, things would be better.
If only the Obama/Hillary rox/suxs folks would shut up we could have peace here at DKos.
If only I was thinner, smarter, taller and on and on…..
If only the Detroit Lions could make it to the Superbowl…
I’m sure everyone of us could add more “If only items” to the above list with ease. Perhaps it might be a good exercise to do so, if this list alone has not made it apparent that our thinking actually tunes us for constant dissatisfaction. It puts us at odds with the very flow of life. Is there anything that could be less effective at making us happy?
We can change our lives in an instant simply by noticing that what we see in the physical world may appear very solid on the surface, is actually not so solid after all; right and wrong, good and bad, all of it changes from one person to the next. How could we ever expect to find lasting peace and happiness by seeking in all of that?
Is it possible, when we truly understand how useless it is to expect to find happiness “out there” where everyone is trying to manipulate and shape reality in opposing directions, we might just be able to stop believing our thoughts? Is it possible we can open the door to relaxation with what appears “out there?” Can we just relax with ourselves and what is long enough to be able to allow the wellspring of unchanging, silent, peaceful presence with in us to come forward?
Once we’ve stopped resisting the flow of life it makes room for happiness to bubble up from within for no apparent reason. We make it possible to notice the ordinary beauty that appears all around us. When we are no longer resisting the flow of life, we make friends with ourselves, the world and the current moment. We might find time seems to become elastic, and the moments stretch to fill us with peace, joy and beauty. It doesn’t mean bad things stop happening, but when we no longer expect happiness and peace to come from external circumstances, we are no longer so rudely buffeted by external events; we are living from the wellspring of rock solid, silent and ever benevolent presence that has always existed within us. It was always there; we simply never noticed it, because we were looking in the wrong direction.
Accept — then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.~Eckhart Tolle
Housekeeping Note: Since we've noticed the number of later arrivals increasing, we thought it might be a good idea to ask what people's preferences are once again. Please respond to the poll and if necessary clarify your preferences in the comments.
Thank you.