The Columbia City Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation class met this morning.  We explored the expressions of compassion.  We reflected on the question of “What is enough?”  We contemplated Jon Kabat Zinn’s assertion that “It is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself.”  We explored how it is to rest as awareness.

We continued to draw from Oren Jay Sofer’s  book: Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love.  Oren describes contentment as a “quieter form of happiness.”  Mindfully experiencing contentment can help us discern between needs and wants.  It frees us from the habits of incessant wanting long enough to enjoy the restorative pleasure of contentment.

We heard Jon Kabat-Zinn’s thoughts on how mindfulness meditation is a “radical act of love.”  In his article, This Loving-Kindness Meditation is a Radical Act of Love,” Jon explains how loving-kindness meditation can lighten the struggle with afflictive mind states, so that we can avoid becoming overwhelmed by them. Hewrites “with practice direct observation itself, . . . becomes the embodiment of loving-kindness and compassion all by itself. . . ”

We heard Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s poem, And for Today, That’s Enough.  Rosemerry’s poem affirms the love we become by opening our hearts “again and again.”

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The Columbia City Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation class met this morning.  We explored the expressions of compassion.  Compassion is nurturing and receptive.  Compassion is active.  It can be fierce and protective.  Practicing self compassion fosters resilience and enhances our responsiveness to others’ pain.  The world needs our compassionate action.  No effort is too small.

We continued to draw from Oren Jay Sofer’s  book: Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love.  Oren explores the receptive and active dimensions of compassion.  He emphasizes the critical importance of having self-compassion.

We heard Dr. Chris Germer’s thoughts about the “yin and yang” expressions of compassion.  Chris is the co-founder of the Center for Mindful Compassion.  In his article, The Near and Far Enemies of Fierce Compassion, Chris outlines the components of fierce compassion.  He emphasizes the discernment and self awareness required for taking compassionate action. “The more tenderness we have for our pain, the stronger our resilience and more compassion we have for others’ pain.”

We heard singer songwriter Nick Cave’s response to a fan letter in which the writer states: “I feel impotent, completely ineffectual and that nothing I do is of any consequence whatsoever. Not a question. Just a fact.” Nick affirms that we can both experience our human helplessness and know that everything we think, say and do has consequences.  Nick’s practice of responding to fans reflect the compassionate resilience he seems to have cultivated in his own life.  He writes:   the Red Hand Files are . . .  an attempt to transmute suffering into a kind of knowing and shielding joy. Joy as armour. Love as shelter. I don’t know. I hope so.” Continue reading →

The Columbia City Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation class met this morning.  Today we explored how our beginner’s mind helps us to access our playful instincts.  Like the practice of mindfulness we can explore life in a fresh, imaginative way.  A beginner’s mind is an open mind.  An open mind helps to open our hearts:  again and again and again.

We continued to draw from Oren Jay Sofer’s  book: Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love.  In his chapter on play Oren describes the many qualities of play that enable us to flourish.  Becoming fully absorbed in play is quite similar to mindful presence.  Interactive play encourages empathy and learning.  We can forget ourselves long enough to experience wonder.

I shared painter, musician and teacher, Pauli Maher’s experience of play. Pauli observed that work becomes play with enjoyment and imagination.

We drew inspiration from Jack Gilbert, a poet who inspired writer Elizabeth Gilbert.  Elizabeth’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear,  is a wonderful exploration of living a creative life.

We heard poet and writer Ross Gay’s comments about the practice of looking for delight during his year long writing of The Book of Delights.  These comments are from his fascinating On Being interview with On Being’s Krista Tippett:  On the Insistence of Joy.

We heard poet Carrie Newcomer’s Blessing for play.

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The Columbia City Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation class met this morning.  We explored the intertwining threads of generosity and gratitude.  Generosity arises from the fertile ground of relationship.  When we nurture relationships with humans and more than humans we experience joy.

We continued to draw from Oren Jay Sofer’s  book: Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love.  In his chapter on generosity, Oren describes the most precious gifts we can offer: our time, our attention, our energy, our love.

Today I shared my experience of generosity during a recent visit to my brother Dan and sister-in-law Pauli.  Deep listening in slow time were gifts we gave each other.   We shared memories and learned more about the paths we’ve crossed over the many years.  Dan and Pauli appreciate and make music.  I brought home one of Pauli’s beautiful paintings (above) to remind me of Pauli’s imagination and my time at Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site.

I shared quotations from Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) tribal members as displayed in the newly remodeled Nez Perce National Historic Park Visitor Center. The Center is an inspiring example of collaboration and generosity. 

This post also contains tribal member artist Sarah Penney’s Mother Earth painting which hangs in the Hells Gate Louis and Clark Discovery Center.  I’ve included the accompanying quotation which describes the peoples’ relationship with Earth.

We also received guidance from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s beautiful essay, Returning the Gift.  Robin is a “mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.”  Robin’s essay writes Earth is calling for our gratitude, generosity and attention.  She reminds us that we have many gifts to give.

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The Columbia City Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation class met this morning.  We explored how gratitude enriches our lives.  It helps us to hold our joys and sorrows.  Shared gratitude brings us together and helps us respond to life’s challenges.

We continued to draw from Oren Jay Sofer’s  book: Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love.  In his chapter on gratitude, Oren reminds us that “injustices may never end, we must stop, now and then to celebrate to renew ourselves connect with one another and keep going.  Gratitude forms the foundation of this renewal.”

Oren quoted Dr. Bayo Akomolafe  – a philosopher, psychologist, professor, and poet. Dr. Akomolafe is a Global Senior Fellow of University of California’s (Berkeley) Othering and Belonging Institute, where he guides Forum members in rethinking and reimagining the collective work towards social justice.  Bayo reminds us that  “genuine gratitude opens the heart to all of life – the hurt and grief alongside the blessings.”

Our guided meditation included Brother David Steindl-Rast’s prose for Living a Grateful Day.

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