Peace.
it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. - unknown
This weekend as part of our Yoga Lifestyle program, we went to the Pittsburgh Zen Center to discuss Soto Zen Buddhism with Rev. Kyoki Roberts. It was a very interesting and challenging afternoon.
We first did a short 5-minute meditation, then the longer 15-minute mediation, followed by a short talk about Soto Zen Buddhism. The 5 minutes was very difficult but doable. Not so for the 15 minutes of meditation, it felt like I was being tortured. I had this insatiable urged to go run anywhere, I just needed to move after that 15 minutes. In Soto Zen Buddhism, you are positioned a specific way and then you are not suppose to move for the sitting. Not even fidgeting! And you leave your eyes open. So, not only can I not move, but you are going have me quiet my mind with my eyes open, staring unfocused at a spot. Yikes! Just ask for anything else, but not that! It just was not my cup of tea. It was too passive physically and too active mentally. I think I need the reverse. I need to occupy my body and use up some of my energy, while emptying my mind. So, maybe Soto Zen Buddhism might not be for me. Although I did take away some lessons and “tricks” for remaining present. That is one small stepping-stone in my journey.
There are many different types of people and each one of them may have a different type of meditation or quieting. I think they all get to the same ends. Peace. To be able to be content whether it is emptying your mind or filling it up and letting it go. It is finding that inner dialogue with yourself and doing what yourself needs to reach your peace. It is finding that calm in your heart.
it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. - unknown
This weekend as part of our Yoga Lifestyle program, we went to the Pittsburgh Zen Center to discuss Soto Zen Buddhism with Rev. Kyoki Roberts. It was a very interesting and challenging afternoon.
We first did a short 5-minute meditation, then the longer 15-minute mediation, followed by a short talk about Soto Zen Buddhism. The 5 minutes was very difficult but doable. Not so for the 15 minutes of meditation, it felt like I was being tortured. I had this insatiable urged to go run anywhere, I just needed to move after that 15 minutes. In Soto Zen Buddhism, you are positioned a specific way and then you are not suppose to move for the sitting. Not even fidgeting! And you leave your eyes open. So, not only can I not move, but you are going have me quiet my mind with my eyes open, staring unfocused at a spot. Yikes! Just ask for anything else, but not that! It just was not my cup of tea. It was too passive physically and too active mentally. I think I need the reverse. I need to occupy my body and use up some of my energy, while emptying my mind. So, maybe Soto Zen Buddhism might not be for me. Although I did take away some lessons and “tricks” for remaining present. That is one small stepping-stone in my journey.
There are many different types of people and each one of them may have a different type of meditation or quieting. I think they all get to the same ends. Peace. To be able to be content whether it is emptying your mind or filling it up and letting it go. It is finding that inner dialogue with yourself and doing what yourself needs to reach your peace. It is finding that calm in your heart.
Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to meet Kyoki and learn about Soto Zen Buddhism.
Namaste
PS …. and I believe running can be a meditation!
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