Thought for Today

Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
“Try to be mindful, and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings, like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful, rare animals will come to drink at the pool, and you will clearly see the nature of all things. You will see many strange and wonderful things come and go, but you will be still.” ~ Ajahn Chah

A Gentle Invitation

 

Yoga practice was coming to an end.  I was stretched out on the living room floor in Shivasana listening to Shelley Nicole’s warm, soothing voice wrap things up.  Then I felt warm air in my right ear followed by what I thought was whispering.  Trying to understand the words, I realized it was heavy breathing.  Finally I felt the soft nuzzle of fur against my cheek and realized it was Callie Cat.  A week of angry brooding over being banned from the bedroom at night ended in a moment of quiet sweetness.  I breathed a big sigh of relief having been worried about her and missing her snuggles.  We stayed there after the video ended just enjoying the time together.  Nothing was more important than this moment.

Now to those who are not cat lovers, this may seem like a silly story.  But what if it had been a child or your spouse needing attention while you were otherwise engaged?  Life gives gentle invitations to live in the moment.  It is up to us to accept them.

Thought for Today

Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins

“Just watch this moment, without trying to change it at all. What is happening? What do you feel? What do you see? What do you hear?”

-Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are:  Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

Gentle Mindful Yoga

Corey Roos of Healthy Mind Yoga is one of my favorite online yoga teachers.  Yoga can be a great way to practice mindfulness, intentionally paying attention to our experience in the present moment with an open and accepting attitude.

This gentle class, suitable for beginner lasts about 30 minutes and concludes with a mindfulness meditation.

Thought for Today

Flowers along the road Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
Flowers along the road
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
“Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn’t more complicated that that…” ~ Sylvia Boorstein

Us vs Them

Excellent blog post from Leonard Durso.

zdunno03's avatarLeonard Durso

There’s a trend I’ve noticed going around various countries in the political arena which seeps its way down into the consciousness of the people governed that I find disturbing. It reminds me of the slogan from the 1960s America during the Vietnam War protests and Civil Rights marches that went: “America: Love It or Leave It”. Now it is used in different countries with perhaps different wording but it is essentially if you are not with us, then you are with them and we not only don’t want you but you are the enemy just like them. Them, of course, being anyone not supporting a candidate, a political party, an ideology, a religion, a racial group, an ethnicity, whatever. It is a form of tribal mentality that really runs counter to the principles of any religion that I am familiar with: that being one that is inclusive not exclusive. To…

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Thought for Today

Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins

“Start living right here, in each present moment. When we stop dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, we’re open to rich sources of information we’ve been missing out on—information that can keep us out of the downward spiral and poised for a richer life.”
Mark Williams, The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness

Thought for Today

Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins

“Life is a dance. Mindfulness is witnessing that dance.”
Amit Ray

Thought for Today

Peach Irises Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins
Peach Irises
Copyright 2015 by R.A. Robbins

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” ― Mother Teresa