Meditation In Motion: Day 178

Evolution Two – week Fourteen

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Hello Folks,

I decided to run this morning for the first time since I sprained my ankle. It was definitely an EXERCISE in the art of meditation. Why meditation? Because I had to stay really present and focused in order to do it. My ankle is not quite to full capacity just yet...getting there, but I fear spraining it again before it heals.

Since I prefer to run on the trails instead of pavement (to save my knees) the chances of mis-stepping go up.

But like a very GOOD meditator I did not falter.....and what is a good meditator? Someone who loses their mind while finding their body (sounds crazy, doesn’t it?). It is amazing what a little fear and focus can do for your practice. I see meditation as a break from discursive thinking...a way to get away from the minds many detours from reality. Exercising and running can bring the mind back to the body---hopefully—otherwise you might sprain your ankle.

Because of my ankle injury, my mind is naturally drawn to the body. The same could be true for any type of pain the body is experiencing. It is hard to concentrate (THINK) while you are in pain.

Fortunately for me, I wasn’t exactly in pain, but just more acutely aware of my ankle than usual....thus my mind was quiet while I focused on the body.

I suppose that is why one popular meditation practice is to focus on the breath (it’s part of the body), and another popular practice is to go into the body and notice what you are feeling when you have thoughts that are disturbing.

The power of now and meditation are soooo easy....right? Just sprain your ankle, watch your breath, have some kind of pain in your body....who needs a meditation cushion and incense when we have all of these other earthly things to drop us into the present moment? And it is One more thing where I can SAVE money (meditation cushion)...hmmm that’s about 40 dollars...enough money to buy Turbulance Training E-book by Craig Ballantyne.

PS: Since I am on a roll I am going to say BODY one more time....ANYBODY Object?
Here are my pictures…


Exercise:run 20 minutes, resistance training, ankle stretches (it never ends)

Menu: Liquid Day

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: In many spiritual traditions, repeatedly asking yourself the question “Who am I?” or a variation such as “Who is carrying this body?” is the central practice offered for awakening. ~ Jack Kornfield