Andrew Furst's Blog, page 38
November 17, 2016
Beaver Brook Falls – A Two Minute Meditation
On a overcast April afternoon, I twisted around the underbrush at the Beaver Brook Reservation on the Belmont Waltham border to get some shots of this small man made falls. It was a comedy of errors. I slipped and nearly fell only keeping myself upright by grabbing hold of a tree coated in early spring poison ivy vines. I twisted my ankle a little and let out some choice words. None of these little personal follies are betrayed by the view of the falls below.
There’s always something underlying the beautiful that can help bring a smile to your face, enlightenment or folly, take your pick.
Beaver Brook Falls in Waltham, MA.
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Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation. Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.
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These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world. They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass. Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.
What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines. We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos. We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.
But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity. These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture, and regain some depth in your breath. Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.
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November 16, 2016
Northeast – Tiny Drops (Photography)
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Nevins Eagle
odd pines
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All Tiny Drop photos Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
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November 15, 2016
November Night by Adelaide Crapsey – Compass Songs
Listen. . .
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp’d, break from the trees
And fall.
Compass Songs is an ongoing series of works by poets that I enjoy. Poetry, as the Zen Masters have said, is like a finger pointing to the moon. It speaks the unspeakable.
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November 14, 2016
Can I Stop Time With Meditation? – Dialectic Two Step
How can I stop time through meditation? There is an exercise in meditation is able to control the mind giving an effect that time stops for a few seconds. Getting to this state is something I’ve always wanted.
Response:
Does that imply that time is in the mind. Interesting!
What would that mean? Time is subjective? If time stops in your mind, how does that affect others?
What about clocks? If you were somehow to achieve this pause in time personally, would anyone else be affected? Or would it mean that you paused on the timeline and then resumed without affecting others? Or would others proceed on without you, causing your mind and body to be out of phase?
But let’s set aside the skeptical angle and talk about what desire for this rather unique, I’d say miraculous, state. When we have a strong desire for something, we can often set ourselves up for disappointment. The greater the desire, the greater the disappointment. When we desire things that are realistic – for instance to have a 5 minute nap in the afternoon every once and a while – it’s likely that we can find contentment every once and a while. Harder less realistic goals feel like they might provide a bigger happiness payout, but they occur less frequently, and like all other things they are short lived. When our goals defy the basic rules of the universe, I suspect we are guaranteed to fail.
Sounds like this desire to achieve the effect of stopping time could leads us down the path of suffering (or at least a headache).
What benefit would achieving this state offer us? I’d ask that question first.
One of the great ironies of the Mahayana school of Buddhism is the ideal of the Bodhisattva. The vow of the Bodhisattva, to save all beings, is exactly this kind of desire, absolutely impossible. Perhaps your desire is rooted here. If it is, I encourage you to examine it rationally first, and then after you’ve exhausted the impossible, like Sherlock Holmes advises, what’s left over is what you are looking for. That is where liberation is likely hiding out.
Dialectic Two-Step is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.
Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio
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Register for the Half Day Meditation Retreat – Nov 19th
The Buddhist Meditation Group @ UUCR invites you to a morning meditation retreat on Saturday Nov 19th from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalists Church of Reading, 239 Woburn Street ,Reading, MA 01867
The retreat will consist of a combination of Dharma, chanting, silent meditation and walking meditation. It is recommended you wear loose comfortable clothing. Please bring a meditation cushion if you prefer one over a chair.
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November 13, 2016
The Art of Criticism – Quotes
Quotes -The path to right view is an arduous walk through fields of manure.
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The Art of Criticism
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November 12, 2016
A Sign – Say What?
Say What? is an ongoing series of laconic exchanges on Buddhism in the format of a comic strip.
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November 11, 2016
RIP Leonard Cohen
I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor. But it won’t be the same. RIP Leonard Cohen
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November 10, 2016
Fear – Quotes
Fear can teach us, but only when we’re listening.
Quotes -The path to right view is an arduous walk through fields of manure.
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Dandelions – A One Minute Meditation
It had been a few weeks since the full on explosion of spring. I was fawning over every leaf that appeared and flower that bloomed. But spring became the norm and allergies dampened the pleasure of enjoying the outdoors. This one minute meditation captures a spontaneous reconnection with the joy of the moment.
Developing the ability to be present is something that comes from taking the opportunity as often as we can.
This novel little video came spur of the moment in my backyard before the lawn was mowed. I simply put the tripod in the grass and shot for a minute. The dancing of the flowers with the shadows cast by the trees is magical. Adding Aaron Ximm‘s music was equally spontaneous and perfect.
Springdy Dancelings
Violet lions
Dandy crabs adrift in light
Hosta grass winks, smiles
Dandelions
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation. Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.
Get Each Week's Minute Meditations In Your Email Box
These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world. They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass. Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.
What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines. We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos. We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.
But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity. These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture, and regain some depth in your breath. Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.
The post Dandelions – A One Minute Meditation written by Andrew Furst appeared on Andrew Furst.
