It's Not Always So Easy

I have been working on my sangha homework - to not talk about people who aren't in the room. Although I have done some refraining, I could definitely do better. I'm beginning to see why monks live in caves. It's definitely difficult to live the Dharma when you're interacting with the world. Of course, if it were easy, we'd all be enlightened.

I haven't been remembering about the being in the body homework, let alone actually doing it.

I did a short mediation (10 minutes) when I got to work today (Since kids are gone, my schedule is more flexible.). I focused on my intent for the day - to not talk about those not in the room. It helped. I ought to consider moving my meditations to the morning.

Signing out.

May you live in peace and happiness.

My Homework Day 1

My homework has been to not talk about anyone who isn't present. Yesterday's posting explains it further. I wasn't so successful today until after work when I told my friend what I was doing. Then, if we ventured into a discussion about someone, even a harmless one, I could easily opt out of the discussion.

Tomorrow I will try to be better at work.

Tomorrow I will remember how effective it can be to let people know my intentions. If I want to work on something -- whether it's right speech, stress management or my diet -- letting others know about my intentions can be invaluable.

Tomorrow I will start the day with a short meditation in which I establish my intentions for myself.

More to come later. . . .

My Homework

My sangha is currently working on wise speech. I have two homework assignments:

1. Focus on being in the body. This allows us to think more carefully about the intention behind what we're saying. The goal is to be at 50% in the body, 50% in the conversation.


2. One week not talking about someone not present. This isn't an exercise in how we should all live, but rather an exercise in mindfulness. It makes us more aware of how much we talk about others.

I will be reporting on my homework over the course of the next week.

On a completely separate note, I have had fun playing with my new camera's macro feature. I can get some pretty close pictures. of the week.

Graduation

We went to graduation today and participated in the "teacher tunnel," where teachers stand and applaud the seniors in their procession. It was a wonderful moment that made be a blubbering fool when I saw students I know worked hard to be wearing their caps and gowns with pride. I don't feel I can post pictures of people who haven't given consent, so I am including this one picture that doesn't reveal any identities.

Congratulations, class of 2008!

Spiritual Laziness

I have been too busy lately. I expected that things would slow down at work these last two weeks, but they haven't. We're all busy, I know, so I will not bore you all with the details. Let's just say that I have had long work days (one was 14 hours long), little weekend time, etc. Fitting in time for family, let alone meditation, blogging, working out or sewing, has been difficult.


So what does this have to do with laziness, you ask? In Buddhist teachings, we are taught there are different kinds of laziness. One of these types in busy-ness.


Here is a quote I found from Sogyal Rinpoche's book Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (found on the web page A View on Buddhism web page): "Naturally there are different species of laziness: Eastern and Western. The Eastern style is like the one practised in India. It consists of hanging out all day in the sun, doing nothing, avoiding any kind of work or useful activity, drinking cups of tea, listening to Hindi film music blaring on the radio, and gossiping with friends. Western laziness is quite different. It consists of cramming our lives with compulsive activity, so there is no time at all to confront the real issues. This form of laziness lies in our failure to choose worthwhile applications for our energy."


For me, spirituality doesn't come in the mystical; spirituality is present in the smallest detail of every day life - how I interact with the cashier at the grocery store, my decision to either go watch TV or instead read a book to my child, my tone when I say good morning to my coworker.


Being too busy usually means making decisions in the details of life that do not fit with my spiritual path. If I am rushed to get somewhere, that's when I'll get angry at another drive. When I feel like I have two hours worth of work to do and one hour to do it, that's when I will show irritation when a colleague comes to me for help. When I feel tired because I've worked a 14 hour day, that's when I'll decide to not meditate and turn a movie on for my kids.


Living a life that is compassionate requires hard work and attention, but it also requires a commitment to not over-committing myself. This is especially an issue at work. I know that ultimately I am responsible for how busy I am. And I know that my busy-ness is what detracts from my spiritual path.


I am looking forward to the summer when I will still have an active life, but at the same time will have time to refocus myself on my priorities and decide where I can streamline my life next school year so that I am not over committed.

Grandmas Rock!

What would we do without grandmas? My kids love both of their grandmas. My mom, pictured here with her adoring granddaughter, stayed home today with my sick son so that Jason and I could go to work and administer finals. (The pediatrician thinks he might have roseolla .) She is always there at the last minute to back a cake, babysit, buy clothes, or whatever may be needed. Thanks, Grandma!

Pic Happy

I love taking pictures of my kids. Here are a few from preschool grad and from the Ashland trip.