Palm Springs

Just returned from hiking.

Six magnificent trails, Palm Springs, California.

Standing at Keys Edge in Joshua Tree National Park,

overlooking the San Andreas Fault,

from five thousand feet above.

Adjacent the exhilarating waterfall deep within Tahquitz Canyon,

Amid five hundred foot majestic rock formations at Hidden Valley,

and an encore in Painted Canyon,

Discovering a hidden oasis nestled beneath sixty-foot palm trees,

A nature lover’s dream.

A photographer’s mecca.

Each landscape a window into a world of astounding magnificence.

Traversing 48 kilometres through varying terrains,

modest to steep elevations,

Navigating over and through large rocks and crevices.

Half of this accompanied by my 84 year old father,

a shining example of what 48 years of meditation can do for quality of living!

Awe inspiring!!!

 

The practice of mindfulness, a true gift at every sense door.

The crispness of the air,

The desert palette brushed with cascading sunlight,

A glorious playground of cactus,

each sculpted and bathed with nature’s perfection.

Silence prevailed.

All experiences etched into my heart.

Walking each step beside my loving, life partner, and husband, David.

 

A short return,

Back to subzero temperatures,

A couple loads of laundry, and then,

Heading out once again.

Twenty-one hours of cumulative flying time.

Thirty-five degrees Celsius.

Anticipating the priceless gift of dhamma from many of

Thailand’s deeply respected master teachers and monks,

from The Garden of Peace in Sri Racha

to a hidden cave nestled in the lush mountains north of Bangkok.

 

Returning at the end of March.

Excited to share new experiences and insights.

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Hidden Trail.jpg
Painted Canyon.jpg
Tahquitz+Waterfall.jpg
Cactus+Garden.jpg
Source: http://mindfulnessandthelotus.com/blog/pal...

Reflections On Seven Day Silent Retreat

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Silent Retreat.

Seven Days.

Sixteen waking hours. Daily.

Five hours sitting meditation. Complete stillness. Daily.

Four and a half hours walking meditation. Daily.

Twelve paces, stop, turn, repeat.

Intersperse three silent mindful meals.

Oats, millet, tofu, cheese, veggies. 

The humble stewed prune making a welcome appearance.

A bowl of berries arriving mid-week like a mirage on a deserted island. 

Intimately experiencing the under-appreciated workings of the teeth, tongue, saliva

making contact with flavour and texture of a slice of prized organic orange.

Acutely aware of each inhale, each exhale, as if hooked up to a respirator.

Silent?

Train barreling through, whistling its hourly proud arrival.

Torrents of rain, symphonying through rooftop drain pipes.

Incessant coughers, stifling to the best of their ability.

Full action drama, played out, internally.

Personal demons and dragons arriving without welcome.

Extinguished, then making a repeat performance.

Silent spaces begin overshadowing.

Concentration and awareness strengthening.

Each breath building momentum.

Full out story turning into snap chat.

A quick appearance. Dissolve. Quick appearance. Dissolve.

One week.

Three hundred forty-five thousand six hundred waking moments.

One moment at a time.

Strike of the gong.

Back to the real world.

Tremendous clarity.

Parting gifts?

Unshakeable understanding of the importance of Mindfulness and Meditation.

Commitment to my personal practice.

Resolve to share and inspire anyone willing to open their heart and change their life.

One moment at a time.

Seven Days Of Silence

Heading out to Batavia New York. Not much to pack. Seven Day Silent Retreat. Modest apparel. No bare shoulders or knees showing. Some soap and shampoo, deodorant and sunscreen. Vegeterian cuisine. Up around 5:30ish, main meals done by noonish. Light…

Heading out to Batavia New York. Not much to pack. Seven Day Silent Retreat. Modest apparel. No bare shoulders or knees showing. Some soap and shampoo, deodorant and sunscreen. Vegeterian cuisine. Up around 5:30ish, main meals done by noonish. Light soup and salad available 5:30ish for the faint of heart. Mostly Meditation and MIndfulness on the menu. No screens, no books. Eyes gazed down, one full week. Fifty participants, yet a solo experience. Looking forward to sharing reflections and insights upon return.