Posts from — August 2007

Am at Karme Choling right now, teaching a meditation retreat for writers. This combination of practices is magical.

Meditation practice reverses the traditional model for getting somewhere. We don’t see something out over the horizon and then put one foot in front of the other until we get there. Instead, we try to stay still and let something come toward us. The something-out-over-the-horizon sees us and we remain quiet until it gets here and identifies itself.

It helps to hold the mind in a state of not knowing. We encounter a large blank space. Something magical happens. Congruence between inner and outer worlds arises and what moves toward us is what we seek. Thoughts magnetize each other in unexpected ways. Then words come and you hear what you have to say.

About music, author Claudio Naranjo says, “real creativity happens…when the musician gives up any attempt to do anything different. Only repetition invites spontaneous variation.” This creative play, as expansive as it is contained, seems to rely simply on arriving, day after day, and making your whole body and mind empty through the practice of meditation.

I wrote an article entitled, “Getting Serious” for the September issue of Body & Soul magazine. It’s about things to consider when you’re thinking about getting serious about a relationship.

Would love to hear your thoughts on my article, “10 Tips for a Fearless Life.” What would you add as #11? 12??

From this month’s Fitness Magazine (input from 11 women, including moi-self)
BE FEARLESS

There is no way to describe the magic that happens when 100 or so people work at studying their own minds from 7am to 9pm. Our retreat was a combination of practice and study. We heard amazing, incredible, generous, inspiring talks from our teacher, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The students were in love with the teacher and it seemed mutual. During one of his talks, I asked a question about the practice of compassion which is so essential to the Buddhist path. But what does it mean? I asked, “When I cultivate compassion, I end up feeling very sad much of the time. How to retain equanimity? (Moping and whining can’t be what’s meant by compassion…) He suggested stabilizing whatever part of my mind I could–10%, 15%–while I was so sad, and seeing if I could increase it bit by bit. He also said, “Some of the greatest meditators have cried a lot,” and this gave me courage.

and put a picture of me at the top. i’m starting to feel very happy.

This is the first time i’ve ever received a real review. It was very cool and totally unexpected. I got a phone call while i was on the bus up to meditation retreat, telling me about it. I would have felt so awful if it was a bad review, but it was really good. thank you thank you thank you.