Swimming in Everything

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



This morning I will drive over to Temple Beth El and do what I am calling Contemplative Practices there. Beginning Monday I will do this daily on weekdays at 7:00 AM. Contemplative Practices are Morning Prayers, Meditation, and Yoga. Each to be done mindfully, slowly, and with the aim of developing gratitude, compassion, and patience for the day.



For me, Zen practice is a universal componant to all contemplative practices. Zen in stillness (seated practice), and Zen in motion (eating, walking, yoga, weghts, tai chi, work, etc.), are all one in the same thing: mindful living



When we live mindfully: we are living with an open heart, open to the Infinite. Whether we call this the Infinite, Big Mind, Buddha Nature, Christ, God, a Highr Power, or simply the Highest Good, is irrelevant. In fact, what we call it can be problematic if the term we use denotes a static conception or image because of our natural inclination to grasp such a thin and hold onto it.



So, it is a challenge to live without nouns! Life as continuous, never-ending process, has nothing stable upon which to stand. This lack of firm foundation is very scary. Yet, like being underwater in a pool, our environment completely surrounds us and as we relax into it we join it. Pure freedom, yes, but most importantly, we are in a position to taste life as it is, rather than as we think it is.



Be well.