“It does not negate action, but it helps our actions come from a place of wisdom and compassion” - thank you my friend for this timeless wisdom of śamata.
I practice gazing at the rain making ripples into the lake at a distant from my house to let the tenderness of water flow through me. We all can use some practices of cooling right now living through our burning times. Thank you so much for always reminding us. 💜
Thank you for such a beautiful, poetic comment, Swarnali. I join you in rain gazing... happening right now outside my window. Northern New Mexico has a monsoon season too!
Reading your piece, I found myself nodding along, especially when you mentioned the internal churning of heartbreak and anger. It's a heavy world out there, and sometimes the pressure to "be calm" can feel like another burden. But what I appreciate about your approach to śamata is its inherent kindness. It feels less like a strict discipline and more like an act of self-compassion, a gentle turning down of the volume when things get too loud inside.
And that's where I think humor, even a gentle self-deprecating chuckle at our own "over-heated" moments, can play a role. It's about acknowledging the intensity without judgment, as you beautifully articulated when you mentioned writing down emotions "with no judgment." Sometimes, just admitting, "Yep, I'm a mess right now," can be the first step towards a cooling breath. It's a reminder that even in the pursuit of tranquility, we don't have to take ourselves too seriously.
What a wonderful comment, Alexander. Thank you for reading between the lines and lifting up that energy of kindness that is really at the heart of samata. And right on to not taking ourselves too seriously!
Thank you, Maia. So helpful...and yes, coolness as antidote to fiery urgency. I've been so strongly sensing a need for elemental balance in these times. At least to the level of "good enough." Love this Jami Sieber track. 🐘🩶
This is such a helpful and supportive post, Maia—so many great suggestions.
I appreciate this idea of "cooling". We're not only in a heated season of current affairs, but we're also experiencing the heated season of summer, which seems to make heated emotions worse.
Yes, Paulette -- you got the essence of this post. Things are heating up on many levels! I realize I feel compelled to add that fire is not 'bad' -- it's a powerful and necessary element. Sometimes things need to burn. It's all about elements being in relationship with one another.
So true, Maia. It's a good reminder you're pointing to - that any element, any part of us, that's out of balance can be harmful, and when in balance, can be supportive. And that some old, tired paradigms, structures, and beliefs may indeed need to burn up and transform.
Maia, I love how you've spoken about Shamatha meditation as a means of cooling down and peacemaking in the most intimate sense. Meditation is my go-to for calm, but I also benefit greatly from listening to spiritual teachings, which provide me with valuable perspective. I enjoy coloring, too! It can be very calming when I stay present in the moment while I color.
For me, in addition to my sitting practice, gardening. Planting things and watering things and growing things and watching the things being eat by slugs. Reminding me as well, every thing is impermanent. 🙏🏼
I’ve recently been taught a meditation on Prajñaparamita, on her as a deity and on the heart sutra and I am finding it very beneficial, when a lot of my existing Buddhist practice is failing to calm my polycrisis anxieties.
Love coloring! It honestly also helps me to get out and do something. I’ve been volunteering at food drives, marshaling protests, helping distribute excess food after farmers markets to non profits and summer programs for kids.
Sunday
Today I’m following
Mary Oliver’s example,
She’s a mentor and fine poet
After all.
So I’m taking each moment
As it arrives, strolling slowly
Along a quiet path,
Attentiveness
My curious companion.
Smoothness of this page
As I write across its welcoming
Surface. Downward tilt
Of my head, feel
Of slender pen in hand.
Not much now to be said
Except that..
Like an unseen animal
Slurping from a forest
Pool, the coffee
Pot’s rhythmic brewing
Drip-drips
Into my perked-up ears
While I sit
In this tobacco-hued
Easy chair, butt slumping
On the cushion collapsed
As ancient springs
Sing out of tune
In their burrow
Underneath.
WRITING
is a sacramental act,
alone sitting still
on sun-soaked
stones
listening to a bounding
stream
washing great blocks
of boulders
clean.
“It does not negate action, but it helps our actions come from a place of wisdom and compassion” - thank you my friend for this timeless wisdom of śamata.
I practice gazing at the rain making ripples into the lake at a distant from my house to let the tenderness of water flow through me. We all can use some practices of cooling right now living through our burning times. Thank you so much for always reminding us. 💜
Thank you for such a beautiful, poetic comment, Swarnali. I join you in rain gazing... happening right now outside my window. Northern New Mexico has a monsoon season too!
Oh yay! So grateful for the monsoon Maia, the easing of heat is such a blessing!
Reading your piece, I found myself nodding along, especially when you mentioned the internal churning of heartbreak and anger. It's a heavy world out there, and sometimes the pressure to "be calm" can feel like another burden. But what I appreciate about your approach to śamata is its inherent kindness. It feels less like a strict discipline and more like an act of self-compassion, a gentle turning down of the volume when things get too loud inside.
And that's where I think humor, even a gentle self-deprecating chuckle at our own "over-heated" moments, can play a role. It's about acknowledging the intensity without judgment, as you beautifully articulated when you mentioned writing down emotions "with no judgment." Sometimes, just admitting, "Yep, I'm a mess right now," can be the first step towards a cooling breath. It's a reminder that even in the pursuit of tranquility, we don't have to take ourselves too seriously.
What a wonderful comment, Alexander. Thank you for reading between the lines and lifting up that energy of kindness that is really at the heart of samata. And right on to not taking ourselves too seriously!
Thank you, Maia. So helpful...and yes, coolness as antidote to fiery urgency. I've been so strongly sensing a need for elemental balance in these times. At least to the level of "good enough." Love this Jami Sieber track. 🐘🩶
Jami is the best!!!
This is such a helpful and supportive post, Maia—so many great suggestions.
I appreciate this idea of "cooling". We're not only in a heated season of current affairs, but we're also experiencing the heated season of summer, which seems to make heated emotions worse.
Yes, Paulette -- you got the essence of this post. Things are heating up on many levels! I realize I feel compelled to add that fire is not 'bad' -- it's a powerful and necessary element. Sometimes things need to burn. It's all about elements being in relationship with one another.
So true, Maia. It's a good reminder you're pointing to - that any element, any part of us, that's out of balance can be harmful, and when in balance, can be supportive. And that some old, tired paradigms, structures, and beliefs may indeed need to burn up and transform.
“ It’s peacemaking in the most intimate sense.” Love that. Thank you for these reminders. Cooling sounds on time for sure.
Maia, I love how you've spoken about Shamatha meditation as a means of cooling down and peacemaking in the most intimate sense. Meditation is my go-to for calm, but I also benefit greatly from listening to spiritual teachings, which provide me with valuable perspective. I enjoy coloring, too! It can be very calming when I stay present in the moment while I color.
Just ordered the cello cd. What peaceful music! Thanks for the link. Enjoy the rain!
I guarantee you will love it!
Lovely reminder. Thank you, Maia.
For me, in addition to my sitting practice, gardening. Planting things and watering things and growing things and watching the things being eat by slugs. Reminding me as well, every thing is impermanent. 🙏🏼
Thank you for your call words.
Thank you for your calming words.
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I’ve recently been taught a meditation on Prajñaparamita, on her as a deity and on the heart sutra and I am finding it very beneficial, when a lot of my existing Buddhist practice is failing to calm my polycrisis anxieties.
Thank goodness for the big refreshing rain we just had!
It's been wonderful, hasn't it? Hope you're well, Cyndi!
Love coloring! It honestly also helps me to get out and do something. I’ve been volunteering at food drives, marshaling protests, helping distribute excess food after farmers markets to non profits and summer programs for kids.
Oh yes, getting out there and being of service is such a good way to regulate ourselves... thanks for infusing that into the conversation, Logan!
I feel calmer just reading this, thank you, Maia. I'm looking forward to listening to the music links next! 🙏💚
would love to hear how you like the music selections!
I really liked listening to the the Sam Cooke while watching the video. I watched it twice! 😊