After bemoaning about my blight with the aches and pains of arthritis and the limitations of asthma I had a client today who put things into a different perspective. He has had a tough life and was a rough guy, spending a number of years in prison. In his thirties he finally decided to settle down and focus on raising his two boys. Then he was hit with diabetes and it hit hard. He is now in his early forties, and was recently in a diabetic coma and then lost a leg. He knows he will be lucky to live into his early fifties and even then will become sicker and sicker. Yet, he is going to go the classes request by the Child Protective Services so he can have his child back in his custody and be their dad in the years he has left. He reminded me to live each moment and enjoy what you have.
The Buddha celebrated the transitory state of all things for nothing is forever. I look at my life and realize how many moments I miss the chance to celebrate.
Be happy and may you celebrate each moment, each breath,
The Buddha celebrated the transitory state of all things for nothing is forever. I look at my life and realize how many moments I miss the chance to celebrate.
Be happy and may you celebrate each moment, each breath,
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Re: Being in the moment
Wed, January 24, 2007 - 10:23 AMYou are welcome. I would love to hear how others practice staying in the moment during their daily lives. -
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Unsu...
Re: Being in the moment
Thu, January 25, 2007 - 12:53 AMMy children are so good at pulling me back to the moment when I float away with my monkey mind. Their needs are in the now, and they are so good at living in this moment. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Thu, January 25, 2007 - 8:20 AMChildren are good about being in the now. Have you tired meditating with your children yet? I want to try it with my grandson when he is a bit older. He is not a year old yet. He is really in the moment. -
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Unsu...
Re: Being in the moment
Fri, January 26, 2007 - 12:36 AMNo, I haven't, but that's not to say I don't want to. I haven't quite figured out how to get them involved. My eldest is 11 and is probably ready to try, but my youngest is just 2 and I don't suppose she'd have the slightest inclination. I'd love to know whether anyone else meditates with their children and how they introduced them to it. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Thu, February 1, 2007 - 11:04 PMI have a 3 year old and the idea of getting him to meditate is pretty unlikely - but funny. Apparently small kids have a problem keeping their eyes closed while awake. Although he does bow with his hands together - it's pretty cute.
Goenka does vipassana retreats for kids... www.dhamma.org -
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Re: Being in the moment
Fri, February 2, 2007 - 3:49 AMThe jury is still out for me on kid's meditation. It might be better to listen to the child and see what they want rather than prematurely impose our methods and what we think is correct on their developing minds. My son has seen me meditating since he was born. Sometimes he would just sit in the room with me being quiet or doing activities that didn't disturb me. When he was a bit older he started going through my books and asked me some questions. Then one day he asked me if I'd show him how to meditate and I told him that of course I would. But he really didn't pursue it and I didn't really see the need to push the issue. He's aways at college now and recently he told me he had been meditating and again asked some questions. He's a wonderful kid and progressing well, and he has taken up meditation at his own pace, and when he felt he was ready he began on his own. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Fri, February 2, 2007 - 5:12 AM"...he has taken up meditation at his own pace, and when he felt he was ready he began on his own."
A wonderful demonstration of having been taught by example -- the seeds sown and nurtured. A shower of blessings on you.
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Re: Being in the moment
Fri, February 2, 2007 - 9:26 AMI think your method is wonderful. We should also remember people can meditate in different ways.
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Re: Being in the moment
Sat, February 3, 2007 - 12:23 AMWhen I was a kid my best friend and I used to "meditate" by claiming we were thinking of nothing and then giggling because that was something. We also used to argue about who we were in previous lives. Growing up in the 70's in Berkeley... -
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Re: Being in the moment
Sat, February 3, 2007 - 7:09 AMHow fun! My childhood spirituality was far more traditional and enlightened. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Sun, February 4, 2007 - 9:20 AMI miss wrote in my last posting I might to say less enlightened. I grew up Southern Baptist. Praying was the closest thing to meditation I was taught and most prayer seems quite self serving. I would merely like to learn with my grandson to take moments now and then to be quiet. Practice being in the moment. Maybe if we see a beautiful flower we can pause and meditated with the flower. I remember being on a beach sitting and being with the sun on my skin the wind touching my skin. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Sun, February 4, 2007 - 4:15 PMWonderful insights, Sam. Thank-you.
Namaste (bowing)
Allan
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Re: Being in the moment
Sun, February 4, 2007 - 7:31 PMSam, I can't think of anything you could do with your grandson that would be more gratifying and satisfying to both of you. What you propose is like sewing little breadcrumbs along his path - and yours. I still vividly remember quiet moments with my grandfather on lakes in northern Wisconsin where nothing was said, and we were one with ourselves and our environment. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Sun, February 4, 2007 - 7:56 PMMediation in the moment. I am very interested in taking mediation out of the box. Mediating by being present, whether by myself or with another. Can you imagine mediating during a sweet kiss. Not being carried away but allowing yourself to be truly present in the moment.
I have asthma and occasionally I have asthmatic episodes were breathing is difficult. In those moments, rather than fighting or becoming frightened, I try to feel what is happening in my body. Be present. My mentor once told be these episodes are like the bell in a Buddhist Monastery calling me to practice. A friend said with love but what if you stop breathing and die. If I am at peace what a wonderful way to pass to my next life.
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Re: Being in the moment
Mon, February 19, 2007 - 11:33 AMYou can meditate with your eyes open as well. In fact this may work well for a child. Alot can be accomplished in only a few moments time. Take an object that is interesting, like a candle, or something shiny or some such thing. Focus on that and discuss quietly thoughts and desires that rise up from concentrating on this item. Make it a positive experience. Become intimately aware of all it's properties and it's effects on things around it. How they would be effected if it was gone. What emotions that might bring and how to let them go. This by the way is a wonderful "In the moment' Meditation practice. It has to be done in steps over time. But a few minutes at a time, can make this meditation easy for a child and rather eye opening.
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Re: Being in the moment
Tue, February 20, 2007 - 12:33 PMI think that is a wonderful way to introduce anyone to meditation. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Sun, February 25, 2007 - 7:35 AMI think kids can meditate by looking at animals as they sit at attention while doing nothing. For example a cat. It makes a nice model, as well as a resonance that a person can pick up. Also, standing with your eyes closed as the wind blows around you. These moments are good teachers and steps for deeper meditations. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Sun, February 25, 2007 - 8:10 AMYes, or taking a moment to listen to the rain. -
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Unsu...
Re: Being in the moment
Sat, March 24, 2007 - 11:39 AMNot enough people listen to the rain. Even fewer actually hear it. -
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Re: Being in the moment
Thu, March 29, 2007 - 8:22 AMWhen I forget to listen, I forget I am alive. Being conscious about my own existence is essential.
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