Thoughts: Week One

I realize it hasn’t been a full week, but I do what I want so, deal. I have now meditated for 5 days consecutively. And yes, I meditated already today. Go me. I have only exercised once, but I think I can squeeze in the other two over the weekend.

I read a passage about meditating on taking and giving in Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The temple I attend follows his teachings, so I bought this book under their recommendation. I find it readable, and the passages sited during temple are always appropriate. However, I haven't read any other Buddhism books, so I'm still forming an opinion. 

The reading was basically about how we can use our breath during mediation to imagine taking in all other creature's suffering and breathing back out enlightenment, thus freeing everyone from pain and suffering, one breath at a time. He mentions how many people choose to focus only on their breath while meditating, but if we focus on freeing others from suffering we can do some good too. If we can do this during meditation we can then start to do it as habit during our daily activities. 

What I gleaned from all of this was; it's just good practice to put positive energy out into the universe. I found this passage oddly appropriate as yesterday was a day where I found myself a counselor (of sorts) to a few people who were having a tough time with things beyond their control. I went into my meditation last night with this in mind and I was pretty pleased with the results. At first I was confused because I was thinking, "wait, how am I supposed to be thinking about fixing other people's problems when the whole point of mediation is not to think?"

Then I just kept focusing on my breadth and somehow I was just "being" (oh I know that sounds really cliche and unbelievable, but stick with me). I was simultaneously taking in that negative energy and breathing back out positive energy, but not really thinking about it, just doing it. I'm not really sure how it happened and once I became aware it was happening it was hard to keep it because then I was all "I'm totally doing this, oh shit, well I'm not anymore".

All I can really say is that it started with specific thoughts of people who(m) I know are suffering, but that was all transcended fairly quickly. It was rad man. Needless to say, I was so impressed with myself that I got up this morning and was like, "I'm doing that shit again". So, I focussed on the same meditation this morning and it was nice as well.

I couldn't believe how ready for the day I felt. I felt like I do when I get up and go to a pilates class before work, except I had only been awake for 15 minutes. Incredible. All in all it's been a great week. Thanks for reading. Hope you have gained something from all of this.

Here are highs:

- it's Friday

- it snowed some big chunky flakes this morning

- I placed some exciting internet orders today

- I'm feeling really positive about the direction our office is headed

- my friend's kid is hanging out with me tonight. funny phrases are guaranteed.

Laters!