Post by Michael Hawkins on Jan 16, 2010 20:09:54 GMT -5
Here's a note that I just sent to members of the Boulder Ecstatic Meditation Group email list. If you live in the area and would like to receive these emails, let me know!
Hello to all you ecstatic mystics and contemplatives,
For those of you who couldn't make it to this morning's inaugural
Boulder Ecstatic Meditation Group meeting, I thought I'd give a brief
report.
Sharyn, Craig and Lisa S. arrived at pretty much the strike o' ten, and
we got right down to business in the yoga room. I gave a short set of
meditation instructions, focusing on the imperative to remain sensitive
to pleasant sensations that lead to absorption. Then I hit the timer
and went into a progressive relaxation that lasted about seven
minutes... and the next thing we knew, time was up! None of us could
believe that time had raced by so quickly, and by all accounts, the
energy was EXTREMELY potent in the room.
We shifted into "beginner's mind" for a few minutes, discussing the
story of how the Buddha arrived at his Dhamma (Teaching), and how the
8th Fold of the Noble Eightfold Path (Samma-Samadhi, or Right
Absorption) is such a key to transcending suffering and living a life
filled with bliss, joy and ecstasy, and eventually to enlightenment in
this very lifetime. We decided to wait another week before diving into
the Anapanasati Sutta.
We then migrated to the kitchen for Punjabi Chai, Tulsi tea and two-day
beans. Let's just say that BONDING HAPPENED, and I'm really looking
forward to meditating with everyone else on this mailing list --
recognizing that some of you live far away or have scheduling conflicts
at this time, while also knowing that circumstances change, and this
ongoing group will be available when you are.
One insight that came to me today is that it's time for an article on
commitment to practice... so stay tuned!
Love and blessings to all,
Michael
* * *
Hello to all you ecstatic mystics and contemplatives,
For those of you who couldn't make it to this morning's inaugural
Boulder Ecstatic Meditation Group meeting, I thought I'd give a brief
report.
Sharyn, Craig and Lisa S. arrived at pretty much the strike o' ten, and
we got right down to business in the yoga room. I gave a short set of
meditation instructions, focusing on the imperative to remain sensitive
to pleasant sensations that lead to absorption. Then I hit the timer
and went into a progressive relaxation that lasted about seven
minutes... and the next thing we knew, time was up! None of us could
believe that time had raced by so quickly, and by all accounts, the
energy was EXTREMELY potent in the room.
We shifted into "beginner's mind" for a few minutes, discussing the
story of how the Buddha arrived at his Dhamma (Teaching), and how the
8th Fold of the Noble Eightfold Path (Samma-Samadhi, or Right
Absorption) is such a key to transcending suffering and living a life
filled with bliss, joy and ecstasy, and eventually to enlightenment in
this very lifetime. We decided to wait another week before diving into
the Anapanasati Sutta.
We then migrated to the kitchen for Punjabi Chai, Tulsi tea and two-day
beans. Let's just say that BONDING HAPPENED, and I'm really looking
forward to meditating with everyone else on this mailing list --
recognizing that some of you live far away or have scheduling conflicts
at this time, while also knowing that circumstances change, and this
ongoing group will be available when you are.
One insight that came to me today is that it's time for an article on
commitment to practice... so stay tuned!
Love and blessings to all,
Michael
