I love reading blogs and to please those of you like me, who also like reading them, I am making a contribution today. Actually I am choosing this activity over some things that don't have much appeal - like going through all my files and weeding out what is no longer relevant. Sometimes I love to do that but it is not speaking to me today. Or I could go out in the garage and clean all the inside glass in my car and Armoral all the leather. I got up extra early this morning because Phil comes at eight so I don't have that kind of energy at 4 p.m.
I have just come back from getting my mail, going over to Lincoln Plaza and getting gas and having my car serviced. Went in to AJ's to see if they had hearing aid batteries (they did not) and bought 3 fat free, sugar free bran/raisin muffins. Just finished a pleasant late afternoon snack of a muffin and a glass of skim milk.
Two things I will do before dinner are to meditate for a half hour and burn 100 calories on the bike.
Just took a minute out to call Lis. I have felt ever since she left Steinberg that she was out somewhere in the ether and I wanted to nail down some ways we could communicate. Got that straightened out.
I have made some plans for the weekend. Dorothy and I will see Broken Embraces at Camelview 5 tomorrow night and go for ice cream after and if the timetable works Sara and I will go see a musical review that Rusty Ferracane is in. On Sunday, having become a Cardinals fan these past 2 years, I will be watching them play the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the playoffs. The teams are evenly matched but the Packers are a hot team right now so will be a challenge to get past.
Outside my window I see a dozen pink roses in various stage of bloom. As you fellow desert dwellers know this is not the high season for gardens right now. Mine look pretty good but I look forward to Spring and being more active outside. Phil and I are always working on new projects and it is very satisfying.
I find I go back and forth in my mind over whether to become more involved in the world - join a group or two, do volunteer work, or maintain this call to 'monkhood'.
Phil and I were discussing it this morning. He grew up on a ranch surrounded by acres of open space and mingling with taciturn cowboys. Such conditioning turned him towards monkhood and he has to push himself to socialize. I enjoy socializing - love to be with and around people but I love the silence and serenity of the way I live. My property is like a cloister. Unless I put my eye up to a clear spot in the stained glass by my front door I don't see a person or a car from one day to the next. My views are sky, trees, the pool and waterfall and shrubs and flowers. At this very moment I hear absolutely nothing. As much as I love music I ask myself "Do you want to listen to something right now?" Nine times out of ten all I want to hear is silence.
It is not really surprising. Despite being brought up in a sea of people, in and out of 4 or 5 houses, playing daily with 15 or so other children I have a deeply contemplative side. It certainly did not get much air time raising a family of 10. So now it seems fitting that I have lots of space for the part of me that loves solitude. But I am aware that my more gregarous side wants to push the monk out the door.
I own all five of the books by Adyashanti and as part of my morning ritual I read from one of them. At present I am reading the poems of MY SECRET IS SILENCE. Here is one with which I will close today's post.
A TENDENCY TO SHINE
If you prefer smoke over fire
then get up now and leave.
For I do not intend to perfume
your mind's clothing
with more sooty knowledge.
No,I have someting else in mind.
Today I hold a flame in my left hand
and a sword in my right.
There will be no damage control today.
For God is in a mood
to plunder your riches and
fling you nakedly
into such breathtaking poverty
that all that will be left of you
will be a tendency to shine.
So don't just sit around this flame
choking on your mind.
For this is no campfire song
to mindlessly mantra yourself to sleep with.
Jump now into the space between thoughts
and exit this dream
before I burn the damn place down.
Thank you so much for reading.
I have just come back from getting my mail, going over to Lincoln Plaza and getting gas and having my car serviced. Went in to AJ's to see if they had hearing aid batteries (they did not) and bought 3 fat free, sugar free bran/raisin muffins. Just finished a pleasant late afternoon snack of a muffin and a glass of skim milk.
Two things I will do before dinner are to meditate for a half hour and burn 100 calories on the bike.
Just took a minute out to call Lis. I have felt ever since she left Steinberg that she was out somewhere in the ether and I wanted to nail down some ways we could communicate. Got that straightened out.
I have made some plans for the weekend. Dorothy and I will see Broken Embraces at Camelview 5 tomorrow night and go for ice cream after and if the timetable works Sara and I will go see a musical review that Rusty Ferracane is in. On Sunday, having become a Cardinals fan these past 2 years, I will be watching them play the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the playoffs. The teams are evenly matched but the Packers are a hot team right now so will be a challenge to get past.
Outside my window I see a dozen pink roses in various stage of bloom. As you fellow desert dwellers know this is not the high season for gardens right now. Mine look pretty good but I look forward to Spring and being more active outside. Phil and I are always working on new projects and it is very satisfying.
I find I go back and forth in my mind over whether to become more involved in the world - join a group or two, do volunteer work, or maintain this call to 'monkhood'.
Phil and I were discussing it this morning. He grew up on a ranch surrounded by acres of open space and mingling with taciturn cowboys. Such conditioning turned him towards monkhood and he has to push himself to socialize. I enjoy socializing - love to be with and around people but I love the silence and serenity of the way I live. My property is like a cloister. Unless I put my eye up to a clear spot in the stained glass by my front door I don't see a person or a car from one day to the next. My views are sky, trees, the pool and waterfall and shrubs and flowers. At this very moment I hear absolutely nothing. As much as I love music I ask myself "Do you want to listen to something right now?" Nine times out of ten all I want to hear is silence.
It is not really surprising. Despite being brought up in a sea of people, in and out of 4 or 5 houses, playing daily with 15 or so other children I have a deeply contemplative side. It certainly did not get much air time raising a family of 10. So now it seems fitting that I have lots of space for the part of me that loves solitude. But I am aware that my more gregarous side wants to push the monk out the door.
I own all five of the books by Adyashanti and as part of my morning ritual I read from one of them. At present I am reading the poems of MY SECRET IS SILENCE. Here is one with which I will close today's post.
A TENDENCY TO SHINE
If you prefer smoke over fire
then get up now and leave.
For I do not intend to perfume
your mind's clothing
with more sooty knowledge.
No,I have someting else in mind.
Today I hold a flame in my left hand
and a sword in my right.
There will be no damage control today.
For God is in a mood
to plunder your riches and
fling you nakedly
into such breathtaking poverty
that all that will be left of you
will be a tendency to shine.
So don't just sit around this flame
choking on your mind.
For this is no campfire song
to mindlessly mantra yourself to sleep with.
Jump now into the space between thoughts
and exit this dream
before I burn the damn place down.
Thank you so much for reading.
Love to read about your day!! Love you
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem. You paint some beautiful scenery with your words.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Ame
Thank you for writing!!! Many blessings on "this" journey as you "trail clouds of glory."
ReplyDelete