X-Day ideas and sample schedules from Ann
Evening Prayer Dedications at Sofia (1 Per Night)
1. For the peace of the world and the welfare of all places and for the unity of all people let us pray.
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2. For our president, for the leaders of the nations and for all in authority let us pray.
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3. For the living earth, that we might have the wisdom and will to conserve it and to be true stewards let us pray.
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4. For all who travel and all who are away from their homes that they may return safely let us pray.
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5. For the aged and infirm, and for the widowed and orphaned and all who experience the despair of loneliness let us pray.
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6. For the sick and suffering, and all others who are experiencing some illness emotional or physical let us pray.
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7. For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute let us pray.
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8. For all prisoners, hostages, and refugees and all who hold charge over them let us pray.
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9. For young people, may they experience safety, spiritual awareness and grow in strength and compassion, let us pray.
1. For the peace of the world and the welfare of all places and for the unity of all people let us pray.
————--
2. For our president, for the leaders of the nations and for all in authority let us pray.
————--
3. For the living earth, that we might have the wisdom and will to conserve it and to be true stewards let us pray.
————--
4. For all who travel and all who are away from their homes that they may return safely let us pray.
————--
5. For the aged and infirm, and for the widowed and orphaned and all who experience the despair of loneliness let us pray.
————--
6. For the sick and suffering, and all others who are experiencing some illness emotional or physical let us pray.
————--
7. For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute let us pray.
————--
8. For all prisoners, hostages, and refugees and all who hold charge over them let us pray.
————--
9. For young people, may they experience safety, spiritual awareness and grow in strength and compassion, let us pray.
Aparigraha
“There is trouble in acquiring objects which give us pleasure and enjoyment, trouble again in trying to preserve them and unhappiness when we lose them. Besides, the experience in having them leaves latent impressions of longings for them and thus causes sorrow in the future. Attempts to acquire things again - involve us into further misery and cause unhappiness to others in the process. So people seeking release from this type of bondage and consequent suffering, remember all these undesirable results of longings for enjoyment and refrain from such course. Only things necessary for maintenance of life should be accepted. To preserve wealth without utilizing it for the good of others is sheer selfishness and shows a lack of sympathy for others needs and their distress.
- Vyasa
“There is trouble in acquiring objects which give us pleasure and enjoyment, trouble again in trying to preserve them and unhappiness when we lose them. Besides, the experience in having them leaves latent impressions of longings for them and thus causes sorrow in the future. Attempts to acquire things again - involve us into further misery and cause unhappiness to others in the process. So people seeking release from this type of bondage and consequent suffering, remember all these undesirable results of longings for enjoyment and refrain from such course. Only things necessary for maintenance of life should be accepted. To preserve wealth without utilizing it for the good of others is sheer selfishness and shows a lack of sympathy for others needs and their distress.
- Vyasa
Meditation
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What is Meditation:
A formal on going practice of working on specific mental abilities for the purpose of exploration, as well as greater states of well being, and awakening. "(Meditation is) a mental training... The goal of meditation is twofold. It involves (1) the conscious cultivation of mental qualities that enhance our understanding, power, and love, and (2) the intentional transformation or lessening of those mind states that block those qualities. " from Joel & Michelle Levey |
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Mindfulness
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What is Mindfulness?:
1. Attention, Awareness, Non-reactivity
Moment to moment non-judgmental awareness. – John Kabat Zinn Concentration power, sensory clarity, and equanimity working together. – Shinzen Young Dispassionate non-evaluative monitoring of ongoing experience. - Unknown - An optimal interaction between attention and peripheral awareness. – John Yates Why Be Mindful?:
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ATTENTION AND AWARENESS
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Differences Between Attention and Awareness
From John Yates: The Mind Illuminated Number of Objects Awareness = Many objects Attention = Limited objects Mental Processing Awareness = Minimal mental processing Attention = Greater levels of mental processing Contents Awareness = Physical senses (percepts – the five senses) Attention = Mind sense (concepts – thoughts, emotions, memories, etc) |
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Biography Suggestions
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Living this Life Fully: Stories and teachings of Munindra - Mirka Knaster and Joseph Goldstein (Stories from the life of a foundational Buddhist master)
Dipa Ma: The life and legacy of a Buddhist master In Love with the World: A Monks Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying - Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche On the Path to Enlightenment: Heart Advice from the Great Buddhist Masters - Matthieu Ricard God's Fool: The Life and Times of Francis of Assisi - Julien Green (Perhaps slightly antiquated but the best bio of St. Francis I have come across) Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (A bit slow of a read at first but some gems hidden throughout if you stick with it) Ramakrishna and his Disciples - Christopher Isherwood (A great bio about a strange and unique hindu saint) Miracle of Love: Stories About Neem Karoli Baba (Very wild stories about this famous modern day miracle working Hindu saint) |
Meditation Journal Layout
Meditation Practice
Date:
Type:
Object:
Time:
WWW:
Next Sit:
Optional:
Mindfulness Practice
Things we do to arrive more fully in our day to day lives off of the cushion
Meditative Practice
Things we do to relax and enjoy ourselves in a way that contributes to both our meditation and mindfulness practices.
Example
Date: 1/1/01
Type: Attentional – breath
Object: Sensation of the breath at the top edges of the nostrils
Time: 8-8:20am
WWW: (what went well) I made initial direct contact with the object. Started strong noted 5 distincts points of breath:
I caught myself in distraction before it turned to mind wandering a few times. I went into mind wandering 2 times.
Next Sit: I noticed I was getting down on myself when I woke up to mind wandering. Feeling depressed and frustrated. So Id like to work on equanimity in the next sit. That’s all. 100% on equanimous compassionate practice.
Mindfulness Practice
I will take 5 slow breaths every time I get into a car today
Meditative Practice
I took a bath before bed