GET REEL-SORTOF
Must’ve been some Hallowe’en leftovers about ! We held our first movie night this week and the goblins were out in full force. First of all I was sure I had my copy of the planned movie, Departures, handy on my bookshelf. In the days before I checked the shelves at home, at my office and at RMML and no DVD in sight. Hmmmph. Next I remembered to bring our audio kit but forgot to bring my laptop to actually play the movie. Hmmmph again. On the night of the movie, I got hold of a TV and DVD player from a friend (Thanks , Julie). We substituted another film, The Unmistaken Child, and, as they say, they show must go on.
As it turned out, I had never seen the DVD and just had it in our library with plans to watch it “some night”. It was incredible. It was a documentary of the search for a tulku, a reincarnated teacher from one Tibetan sect. It took 3 years to cover the story and the film did not lose its edge in spite of the protracted time-frame. The most touching moment came when the family of the child had to decide to give him over to the monastery. Clearly the family loved the boy but made a decision which only people with a profound spiritual life could make.
We have our first half-day meditation retreat this Saturday. We’ve done workshops before but haven’t done an actual retreat for several years. Looking forward to the intensity and companionship.
Watch for our December SODAI-The Mindful Living Newsletter coming out this Tuesday. There’ll be some minor shuffling in the December schedule because we’ll close for a couple of weeks, from December 20-January 2. As we slide into December, don’t forget to renew your monthly memberships or purchase a new one if you aren’t already a member.
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Monday, 17 November 2014
THE FIRST RMML RETREAT
FIRST RETREAT
This weekend we will be holding our first ever meditation retreat. Unlike the workshops we offer, this is the first actual meditation retreat. We will use the time to bring our best efforts and energies to refine those practices we have relied on to cultivate our lives. For the most part we will alternate between sitting and walking. I will include at least one talk at some point.
This kind of retreat, reminiscent of what we experienced in the Zen environment as a sesshin, allows us to make intimate contact with our shin or heart-mind, through the undistracted engagement with ourselves. The emphasis in this kind of retreat is this direct and simple time where we sit or walk alone with our own body-minds, free of distraction or structure. The traditional images of mirrors and candles are quite apt for this time.
This retreat will run from 1.00 - 4.00pm on Saturday November 22. There is still room if you have the time to spend with us. Participants may attend for the 1.00-2.30 block or the whole event. Cost is $10.00. Contact Ray to register.
This week also marks our first film in the Get Reel series. We begin with Departures, a heart-felt Japanese film. The lights go down at 6.00
Also to remember is the November KAPPS walk on Sunday 23rd. Visit the KAPPS site for details. http://www.padakun.com/this-months-kapps-walk/
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
This weekend we will be holding our first ever meditation retreat. Unlike the workshops we offer, this is the first actual meditation retreat. We will use the time to bring our best efforts and energies to refine those practices we have relied on to cultivate our lives. For the most part we will alternate between sitting and walking. I will include at least one talk at some point.
This kind of retreat, reminiscent of what we experienced in the Zen environment as a sesshin, allows us to make intimate contact with our shin or heart-mind, through the undistracted engagement with ourselves. The emphasis in this kind of retreat is this direct and simple time where we sit or walk alone with our own body-minds, free of distraction or structure. The traditional images of mirrors and candles are quite apt for this time.
This retreat will run from 1.00 - 4.00pm on Saturday November 22. There is still room if you have the time to spend with us. Participants may attend for the 1.00-2.30 block or the whole event. Cost is $10.00. Contact Ray to register.
This week also marks our first film in the Get Reel series. We begin with Departures, a heart-felt Japanese film. The lights go down at 6.00
Also to remember is the November KAPPS walk on Sunday 23rd. Visit the KAPPS site for details. http://www.padakun.com/this-months-kapps-walk/
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Friday, 7 November 2014
Personal and Group Practice
Personal and Group Practice
With the opening of the new Centre, we each have to find a balance between our own practice and the shared practice we find at RMML. I don’t think there is any point in debating which is “better”, whatever that might mean, and I don’t think it is an either/or choice. Both forms of practices are necessary for us to mature in mindful living.
Only solitary practice puts us in an environment of “no hiding place”. When I park myself on my seat, it is just me and the moment. I have no obligations to worry about others in the way that occurs in a group. Whatever arises, distracts or informs me is completely intimate, raw, inescapable. If I slip into distraction or excuse-making or self-praise/criticism, those states stand out like black letters on a white page.
Conversely, group practice presents an important contrast. We are obliged to make room for others in our space and awareness. We cannot tune people out, turn away or trivialize them. Their practice is inescapably tied up in what we are experiencing, and so we are inescapably required to make room for them. This keeps us focussed on the larger purpose we have for mindful living, that we do it in part for ourselves and in a similar part for the benefit of others. We cannot drift into our own little created space, with our familiar experiences. Practicing with others is a bit like practice outdoors in that we are not able to seal ourselves off, but have to come to terms with all that is happening around us, as well as in us.
Have a look at this week’s other posts:
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
With the opening of the new Centre, we each have to find a balance between our own practice and the shared practice we find at RMML. I don’t think there is any point in debating which is “better”, whatever that might mean, and I don’t think it is an either/or choice. Both forms of practices are necessary for us to mature in mindful living.
Only solitary practice puts us in an environment of “no hiding place”. When I park myself on my seat, it is just me and the moment. I have no obligations to worry about others in the way that occurs in a group. Whatever arises, distracts or informs me is completely intimate, raw, inescapable. If I slip into distraction or excuse-making or self-praise/criticism, those states stand out like black letters on a white page.
Conversely, group practice presents an important contrast. We are obliged to make room for others in our space and awareness. We cannot tune people out, turn away or trivialize them. Their practice is inescapably tied up in what we are experiencing, and so we are inescapably required to make room for them. This keeps us focussed on the larger purpose we have for mindful living, that we do it in part for ourselves and in a similar part for the benefit of others. We cannot drift into our own little created space, with our familiar experiences. Practicing with others is a bit like practice outdoors in that we are not able to seal ourselves off, but have to come to terms with all that is happening around us, as well as in us.
Have a look at this week’s other posts:
- Remembrance - The Buddhist concept of memory
- Pedestrianism - A Book Review of a new book on high stakes walking in the Victorian era
- PARA-What? - Exploring the idea of mindful living
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
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