Post by Michael Hawkins on Apr 18, 2011 11:04:11 GMT -5
Hello dear friends,
As some of you know, I've been pining to escape the dreaded day job, where I spent over 14 years deep in the bowels of a family practice doctor's office, punching computer keys while dreaming of endless meditation retreats.
My job was eliminated there as of March 31, and today I emerge from a 2-week sabbatical, ready to fashion a new way of living.
Jeffrey (Brooks, aka Jhanananda) often speaks of the need for contemplatives to derive a lifestyle supportive of a rigorous and skillful meditation practice. My old job did this, in that I was able to fit three solid sits into each work day. Now, however, the intention is to foster as much time and energy as necessary to use my particular gifts (we all have them in unique combinations) to help others. As Jeffrey has discovered, when it comes right down to it, helping others is the only valid motivation for leaving the cushion -- or even getting up in the morning. So, this is my concentration, and this forum moves back to the center of my focus as a way of engaging like-minded contemplatives and oracular consultants.
I apologize for my absence, and I offer thanks to those of you (especially on the Ecstatic Meditation Board) who've been maintaining civil, enlightening and passionate conversations. Amazing, really, to see that such deep levels of interest and compassion can happen without the site owner's participation. Thank you!
Much love,
Michael
As some of you know, I've been pining to escape the dreaded day job, where I spent over 14 years deep in the bowels of a family practice doctor's office, punching computer keys while dreaming of endless meditation retreats.
My job was eliminated there as of March 31, and today I emerge from a 2-week sabbatical, ready to fashion a new way of living.
Jeffrey (Brooks, aka Jhanananda) often speaks of the need for contemplatives to derive a lifestyle supportive of a rigorous and skillful meditation practice. My old job did this, in that I was able to fit three solid sits into each work day. Now, however, the intention is to foster as much time and energy as necessary to use my particular gifts (we all have them in unique combinations) to help others. As Jeffrey has discovered, when it comes right down to it, helping others is the only valid motivation for leaving the cushion -- or even getting up in the morning. So, this is my concentration, and this forum moves back to the center of my focus as a way of engaging like-minded contemplatives and oracular consultants.
I apologize for my absence, and I offer thanks to those of you (especially on the Ecstatic Meditation Board) who've been maintaining civil, enlightening and passionate conversations. Amazing, really, to see that such deep levels of interest and compassion can happen without the site owner's participation. Thank you!
Much love,
Michael
