Now I See…
Last year I did a contemplative exercise developed by Jody Ziegler, for the Art History class she taught at Holy Cross College. She would send her students to the local art museum, asking them to choose one piece of art, which they would then look at — every week — for the entire semester (13 weeks). Their assignment was then to write a short paper, every week, after looking at that same piece of art. Each paper was to begin with the phrase: “Now I see…”
I fell in love with the idea after reading about it in a book she co-authored with Christopher Dustin, titled Practicing Mortality: Art, Philosophy and Contemplative Seeing.
So I tried it. I found a painting that caught my attention and spent at least half an hour, every week, for 13 weeks, looking at it and then writing about it in my journal, beginning with the phrase: “Now I see….” The paining was Woman (in Strong Light), by Emil Nolde. The experience was, to say the least, eye-opening.
So now I’ve decided to do it again. This time, I’ve decided to do it with the 11th century Guan Yin sculpture, pictured in the photo above. (Thank you, Scott.) My first visit to Guan Yin will be this Friday night.
Stay tuned.
2012
Laughing in the Park
As Suzuki Roshi said:
“What we are doing here is so important, we better not take it too seriously!”
Join us at “Sitting in the Park.” We meet every Saturday morning — weather permitting — in Tower Grove Park, near the Farmers’ Market. 8:30 to 9:00 am.
May all being be happy.
2012
Cha, cha, cha!
The Monday night “Dancing with Life” KM group has decided to start over because we felt that we haven’t been focusing enough on the book (“Dancing with Life,” by Phillip Moffitt). So we’re going back to the beginning–starting with the preface–and each of us will bring a passage we’ve underlined…..something we’ve found helpful, or inspiring, or confusing…and we’ll read it aloud and the group will discuss.
The first thing I underlined was: “…teaching the dharma is the most satisfying activity I have ever done in my life.”
The next was: “Why do you suffer? Is there a purpose to your pain? What about the amount of suffering you experience–is it fair, based on some understandable system of cause and effect, or is it simply arbitrary? Can you affect how much you suffer? If so, how?”
But the one I want to bring to the group is: “….life will move you with the rhythm and in the direction of its own unfolding, irregardless of your best intentions. Life dances and you must dance with it. This is the necessary price and mysterious gift of being incarnate–alive in a body.”
(image from Q-cards by Zolo, inc.)
What’s Hidden Within
One of the DPP homework assignments for this week’s sitting practice was:
“Notice when thoughts arise connected to spending money or finances. What are the feelings associated with these thoughts? What is the response in the body? What happens when you imagine buying, then imagine not buying, that item? ”
For me, “that item” was an Iced Latte Grande With One Raw Sugar.
The “buying” was kind of neutral. OK, there was some grasping. But when it came to “not buying”…..that’s when the beast-that-I-didn’t-want-to-see made itself known.
Rebellion was there. Defiance. Entitlement. Then Justification. Rationalization. Defensiveness. Then Anger…at the unfairness of it all. Humor, thankfully, kicked in. Then Relaxation. Followed by Sadness. A feeling of Unworthiness. Depravation. Abandonment made an appearance. Impoverishment. Not Having Enough. Not Feeling Safe. Being All Alone.
Wow.
All of that, disguised as a latte.
(image from “The Utter Zoo,” illustration by Edward Gorey)
2012
Join. Peace. Now.
Hey, check out these cool signs Cindy made for the Sitting in the Park! practice sessions held every Saturday morning near the Farmer’s Market in Tower Grove Park. We meet from 8:30 to 9:00 am — weather permitting — from now through October. Look for the Tibetan prayer flags…and these signs!
There’s no dharma talk. Just sitting.
It’s very cool. (Even when it’s hot.)
Join us!
2012
Dharma Seed Friends
The new Dharma Seed KM group met last night for the first time, and as you can see, we’re off to a great start. We sat for 20 minutes (after all the photo-taking was done!), then listened to Tara Brach’s talk on “The Awakened Heart” and had a nice little discussion.
The group had originally planned to meet next at the end of July, but the response has been so positive that we don’t want to wait that long!
So, the next meeting will be on Monday, July 16, 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
The talk next time will be “Poetry & Beauty,” by Jack Kornfield. For more info, contact Jan. Hope to see you there!
What Could Be Healthier Than Kindness
Check out Krista Tippet’s Investigating Healthy Minds interview with neuroscientist Richard Davidson, aired Sunday in St. Louis on Public Radio and available on podcast here.
In her newsletter discussing the interview, Tippet writes, “The groundbreaking neuroscientist Richard Davidson has revealed a surprising give and take between emotions, behavior, and biology at every age. He made his discoveries by studying the brains of meditation Buddhist monks. Now, he’s testing new approaches to autism and ADHA — even to nurturing kindness and self-reflection in children and adolescents.”
Thanks, Janet, for sending this info!
(image from Q-cards by Zolo inc.)
Who’s There?
I’ve been reading — and loving — Phillip Moffitt’s new book, Emotional Chaos to Clarity: How to Live More Skillfully, Make Better Decisions, and Find Purpose in Life. I’ve just finished Chapter 2, “Getting to Know the Real You,” where he first goes through a list of who-you-are-not’s:
* You Are Not Your Emotions
* You Are Not Your History
* You Are Not Your Responsibilities or Your Habits
* You Are Not Your Public Personna
* You Are Not Your Ego
* You Are Not Your Private Self
It’s a wonderfully fresh, down-to-earth, easy-to-understand explanation of what the Buddha meant by “not self.” For example, Phillip writes, “I don’t mean to imply that your thoughts, emotions, and sensations aren’t real. Rather I’m suggesting that your awareness of them does not constitute your essence or reflect your core values.”
I especially like this analogy:
“To better understand the distinction between your private self and your authentic self, imagine that your life is like a road trip. Your inner identity is the ideal traveling companion to be seated next to on this journey because its thoughts and emotions provide depth, texture, and authenticity.
“But that doesn’t mean you should allow it to drive the car. It might, on an impulse, drive straight off a cliff!
“The more skillful driver to sit behind the wheel is your authentic self, which knows your deepest intentions.”
(image from “A Whole World,” by Katy Couprie and Antonin Louchard.)
2012
Art Emerging
Congratulations to Nadine Potter, another of our KM buddies, whose art is featured on this postcard announcement of Emerging Artists: Works from the Studio, an upcoming exhibit at Craft Alliance Delmar Loop Gallery.
Way to go Nadine!
If you’d like to see this piece and say hello to Nadine, come to the Opening Reception on Friday, June 22, 6:00-8:00 pm. If you can’t make it on Friday, plan to stop by the gallery later in the summer. The exhibit will run from June 22 through August 12, 2012.
For more information on this and other upcoming Craft Alliance shows, click here.
2012
Go Sit Outside
Lucy Freeman, one of our KM buddies, is leading a full-day “Mindfulness in Nature” meditation session at Simpson County Park. The date is Saturday, Aug. 11, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Join Lucy for this practice of mindfulness meditation in a small group in natural surroundings, a chance to be present to yourself and to your relationship with nature. Her instruction will be based on the works of Jon Kabat-Zinn and Nancy Barrett Chickerneo. No prior experience with meditation is necessary to attend.
Please bring:
Lunch in a cooler
Folding chair
Watch
Water or other beverage
Yoga mat and/or blanket
Bug repellant and Poncho (in case of rain)
Deadline for registration is 8/9. To register, or for more info, contact Lucy by email or call 314-341-0725.
(image from “A Whole World,” by Katie Couprie and Antonin Louchard.)