Comments on: Meditation-Thon Experience http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/ H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:11:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Lama La http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-7 Lama La Mon, 23 Jan 2006 19:21:30 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-7 There couldn't be a better time and place for healing a broken leg than in the space above our main shrineroom during this week of 24X7 meditation. The energy flowing through here is constant and lovely... It seems especially coherent... &/or radiant... from dusk until dawn. Lama la There couldn’t be a better time and place for healing a broken leg than in the space above our main shrineroom during this week of 24X7 meditation. The energy flowing through here is constant and lovely… It seems especially coherent… &/or radiant… from dusk until dawn. Lama la

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-8 Medthon Tue, 24 Jan 2006 02:04:58 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-8 I arrived for my 2 hour stint a little tired, but not overly so. As I sat, my focus shifted slowly from my breathing to the reflected rope lights on the wooden floor- a soft, diffuse space to rest my awareness. (Sometimes, I just go with that- rather than wrestle my focus back to my breath.) After a little while, my experience of the light expanded, ever so gently, to include the flashing colored tree lights outside, the dining room light from behind me, the lamps on the shrine...and my inner light. And all the lights were One. At some point, I was aware of my heart expanding throughout the entire building, carrying blessings to all the beings in this 360 degree awareness. Joy! And finally, there I was, breathing again. Just like I'd never stopped.... -Ralph Bauer I arrived for my 2 hour stint a little tired, but not overly so.

As I sat, my focus shifted slowly from my breathing to the reflected
rope lights on the wooden floor- a soft, diffuse space to rest my awareness.
(Sometimes, I just go with that- rather than wrestle my focus back to my breath.)

After a little while, my experience of the light expanded, ever so gently,
to include the flashing colored tree lights outside, the dining room light from behind me, the lamps on the shrine…and my inner light.
And all the lights were One.

At some point, I was aware of my heart expanding throughout the entire building, carrying blessings to all the beings in this 360 degree awareness.
Joy!

And finally, there I was, breathing again.
Just like I’d never stopped….

-Ralph Bauer

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-9 Medthon Tue, 24 Jan 2006 03:12:59 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-9 This was my first time of sitting for this length of time. I sat this aft. and then again this eve. I find I am more serene sitting at night. This experience is still all so new to me as I have only been sitting for a year or so. I'm so thankful to have found this path. Jane Sharkey This was my first time of sitting for this length of time. I sat this aft. and then again this eve. I find I am more serene sitting at night. This experience is still all so new to me as I have only been sitting for a year or so. I’m so thankful to have found this path.

Jane Sharkey

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-10 Medthon Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:57:51 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-10 I am finding the meditation this year for me is about obstacles. What I have discovered is that the obstacles are part of the meditation. I am finding the meditation this year for me is about obstacles. What I have discovered is that the obstacles are part of the meditation.

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-11 Medthon Wed, 25 Jan 2006 18:31:27 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-11 There's some beautiful chanting right now in the shineroom ... Lovely ... Lama la There’s some beautiful chanting right now in the shineroom … Lovely …
Lama la

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-12 Medthon Thu, 26 Jan 2006 02:08:41 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-12 Today in a class someone asked me, "What else do you do?" And I stopped to consider for a moment, and replied that this week was heavy on the meditating, as our monastery is doing a week of continuous meditation in the week before the Tibetan new year. This was actually quite novel for me, as I don't talk about my practice much, going by the rule that meditation is something to be done, not talked about. But wait! Buddhism doesn't have rules or commandments so much as precepts and guidelines... and this did seem the right way to answer my interlocutor's question. I'm sure the idea is fine, to avoid bragging about meditation or "accomplishments" therein, but I've been considering loosening up that rule for myself. After all, it's safe to say: I won't be running around boasting about how long I sat in my room today! Today in a class someone asked me, “What else do you do?” And I stopped to consider for a moment, and replied that this week was heavy on the meditating, as our monastery is doing a week of continuous meditation in the week before the Tibetan new year.
This was actually quite novel for me, as I don’t talk about my practice much, going by the rule that meditation is something to be done, not talked about. But wait! Buddhism doesn’t have rules or commandments so much as precepts and guidelines… and this did seem the right way to answer my interlocutor’s question.
I’m sure the idea is fine, to avoid bragging about meditation or “accomplishments” therein, but I’ve been considering loosening up that rule for myself. After all, it’s safe to say: I won’t be running around boasting about how long I sat in my room today!

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-13 Medthon Thu, 26 Jan 2006 03:08:36 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-13 The energy is so nice in the shrineroom. In all of KTC for that matter. This week practicing feels like total salvation, even though I'm spending more time doing it. I am feeling onto something with this.. I haven't totally figured out what I am leaning from this yet. I trully love being here though. I really love that I am part of this sangha. This is the most amazing experience I have ever had, being here doing this... sarajean The energy is so nice in the shrineroom. In all of KTC for that matter. This week practicing feels like total salvation, even though I’m spending more time doing it. I am feeling onto something with this.. I haven’t totally figured out what I am leaning from this yet. I trully love being here though.
I really love that I am part of this sangha. This is the most amazing experience I have ever had, being here doing this…

sarajean

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-14 Medthon Thu, 26 Jan 2006 08:04:06 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-14 2 am, Jan 26th (or so). The monastery seemed to sparkle when I walked up to it tonite. And 2 houars ofmeditation just flw by. The is truly a place of incredible energy. And it is built with intention! May all beings benefit from the merit of this activity. Karen 2 am, Jan 26th (or so). The monastery seemed to sparkle when I walked up to it tonite. And 2 houars ofmeditation just flw by. The is truly a place of incredible energy. And it is built with intention!
May all beings benefit from the merit of this activity.
Karen

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-15 Medthon Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:01:42 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-15 the old cat walking across the shrine room floor stiff leg, hopping bsy becoming a bodhisattva! the old cat
walking across the
shrine room floor
stiff leg, hopping
bsy becoming a bodhisattva!

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-16 Medthon Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:02:03 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-16 Today was a bit more difficult. 4hours of Meditation is harder on the body, than 2. Only the last hour was it becomming very difficult. Two things helped me along: first i stopped to refresh with a snack and then just as I was thinking I couldn't sit any longer Beth came and we sat together for sometime... man does that help when someone else sits with you. Thank you! sarajean Today was a bit more difficult. 4hours of Meditation is harder on the body, than 2. Only the last hour was it becomming very difficult. Two things helped me along: first i stopped to refresh with a snack and then just as I was thinking I couldn’t sit any longer Beth came and we sat together for sometime… man does that help when someone else sits with you.
Thank you!

sarajean

]]> By: Medthon http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-17 Medthon Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:08:14 +0000 http://www.ktcminneapolis.org/ktcblog/2006/01/22/meditation-thon-experience/#comment-17 It continues to move me the impact of the "continuation" of the 24/7 meditqtion and the great feeling of taking over and being relieved. It's not justone of use -- it's all of us in tandem. Stu It continues to move me the impact of the “continuation” of the 24/7 meditqtion and the great feeling of taking over and being relieved. It’s not justone of use — it’s all of us in tandem.

Stu

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