Conditions were not favorable for getting out this past week but I did anyway and had some interesting observations. Music used in this video: Andrew and Kitch’s cover of Cold Play - Clocks • Coldplay - Clocks - An...
Good Words Ajahn!!!! The wife & I live on a Hill & the Wind People are always visiting us & it is a Good to see our Tibetan Windhorse Prayer Flags Dance & Sing, Releasing their Energies.... Love & Tranquility to YOU & the family here!!!! 🌬💜🙏
Elementary Dear fellow Saunteres. 😊Nature continues to be a reliable, refreshing and beautiful resource for meditation. Many thanks Venerable One...Ajhan Jotipalo. 🙏
Yes, it would definitely be great to teach ants and mosquitoes to meditate 😂. I remember a few years ago I was meditating in the garden, at sunset, and when I finish and open my eyes: a cat had come in and was only a few meters away from me! Learning to be peaceful and calm helps our environment to be peaceful and calm too, doesn't it? Thanks for sharing Bhante!😊🙏🏼
I’ve got some stories about the wildlife at Abhayagiri not being afraid of humans. I should tell a couple of those stories and post them. Once when I was on tudong in Mississippi, I was attacked by two dogs when I was approaching a house to ask for some water, when the dogs came running from behind the house, I immediately started practicing Metta. One of the dogs, jumped in front of the other dog and forced it back off and walked it around the side of a building. As it was forcing the other dog away, it kept glancing over at me like it wanted to come over. It was an amazing experience.
I meditate outdoors sometimes as my room can be "busy" and noisy. Here in Lanzarote, we have some very strong winds (alisios). They make me feel really cold and uncomfortable. And if the wind is not there, the sun can scorch you. I always found meditation in a room easier. Viva the elements!
Yes meditation indoors can be conducive since it is a controlled environment. Some times that feels static to me. I’m finding the variability of the outdoors is adding to mindfulness and the changes in the weather (often minute to minute) help me to bring the awareness back to the present moment. As Ajahn Sona often says, “find the conditions that support you and put yourself in that situation.” I’m paraphrasing.
@@Jotipalo Some support is definitively good. Lord Buddha himself meditated under the shade of a bodhi tree. I'm trying to grow one in my back garden in hopes one day it is big and strong to permit such practice :) Though too much comfort can make the practice too "dense" and "cerebral". But Ajahn Sumedho talks about learning to accept the "sound of silence". So many possibilities, yet all reduce to becoming more aware, less automatic, more in touch with ourselves, the world, others, and the immaterial that lies beyond...!
Also... mosquitoes! Argh! I wonder how Ajahn Chah (or the Buddha himself) protected themselves from being stung too much. I guess common sense (stay away from swapy, stagnated water)
@@LENIN990 when in Thailand I was taught to be extra vigilant with mosquitoes right before dawn, as that was when they were most active. The use of mosquito netting is common too.
It looks like the western half of the Continent had a snowy, cold Winter. Here in the eastern half we had a relatively mild Winter with very few snow storms. It hit 87F here in central Mass yesterday, too soon for that kind of heat! When I remark to my 88-yr old neighbor about it being a nice day, he says "They're ALL nice!'" I like his outlook, he's always been like that and I've known him for almost 60 years. Are you all set with your equipment/supplies for your upcoming trip to the Sierras?
That is a great attitude and it sounds like it comes from the heart too. We are mostly set for the adventure, will still need to purchase food and few campsite fees, but most of the planning and work has been completed.
Hi Ajahn, its been in the high teens (Celsius) here this week, actually getting alot of natural vit D now :). As far as the wind, if you have the opportunity to go out sailing some time, the wind is truly a beautiful thing. Also it makes all the plants and trees much stronger. Curious what you use for a hiking meditation mat and do you use some sort of cushion? I was thinking about maybe using an inflatable pillow so it doesn't take up much backpack space, but not sure if they are strong enough to hold the weight.
In some of the videos you might notice a red or silver sheet I’m sitting on, that is a reflective emergency blanket. I usually just place my boots behind me, in such a way that they can be used kind of like a pillow (to help tilt my hips forward). Recently I’ve been carrying a rectangular shaped piece of styrofoam (about a toot long and only 2 inches tall) to use as bit of the wedge to keep me from sliding off the reflective blanket…. I should show this in one of my videos. I’m heading out this morning to take my meal in the woods, so I’m film it for next week.
