Quiet Time

It is said that when something crosses our path three times within a noticeable time frame, that perhaps it's a lesson waiting to be learned. I had my third lesson this week, reminding me of the importance of unplugging. It all began with the first sign at the yoga retreat at Sanctuary, in Australia. The environment simply invites you to unplug as no TV's or radios are in sight and we don't use our US cell phones when traveling overseas. WiFi is available should you choose to connect but the views are so stunning they tend to draw people's awareness to the surroundings rather than toward technology.

The second sign was at the end of the first Module of the Yoga Teacher Training course which began last weekend. One of the students observed that during the first break, people gathered in the foyer for conversations and no one went to grab their phones. This was such an amazing observation from the perspective of where our habits are now falling - toward our technology and away from people. When the opposite happens, it seems like an unusual occurrence.

The third sign happened first thing on Monday morning when I dropped my cell phone and the screen went blank. I knew there were text messages that had arrived overnight, plus a voicemail, but I had no way of retrieving them. For two days I went temporarily unplugged from my phone...a forced sabbatical! 

Now I'm not suggesting we get rid of technology as I use it to support my work. This newsletter and blog is a prime example of getting the word out and technology provides that avenue. What I am suggesting is how MUCH we are governed by the habitual beeping and ping-ing of our phones. Do we make time every day to find quiet time for ourselves?

To quote Pema Chodron from "The Fruits of Solitude":

"We can't kid ourselves: if we never take a break from our busy live, it's going to be extremely difficult to tame our minds. This is why it's recommended to take time every day to meditate. Even short periods of sitting silently with ourselves allow the mind to settle down."

The first line of this quote really struck me-"we can't kid ourselves" in that if we truly are seeking to find more peace not only in our world but within ourselves, we are kidding ourselves if we don't make time to be peaceful. Do you make time to be peaceful? Have you befriended silence?

In making time for ourselves to be quiet, we can approach it by reframing the statement of "can I meditate today?' to "when can I find 5 minutes today to meditate today?" Setting the intention in a practical way to step into silence, to unplug from our devices, to close the door, to look at a sunset or stare at the ocean is vital to quieting our minds. Acting upon the intention seems to be challenging for so many of us in that we seek quiet yet are unwilling to commit to any quiet time. Even a few still minutes every day will begin to impact how we feel and how we face the world. 

Perhaps this is the gentle nudge you need to move from intention to action. Perhaps you're not in the current position to fly away to a retreat but if you're really seeking deeper inner peace then know you can do it. And if you need a reason to start...drop your cell phone and hope it breaks to offer you a "forced sabbatical".

Close the door. Find a cushion or chair. Sit down. Close your eyes. Breath. Done.

Soul Food

One of the interesting things about being human is that we can't survive for too long without being fed both food and water. It's a basic means of sustaining life. We also know that the quality of water and food greatly impacts the quality of our health state, which we hope is one of energy and vitality. But it's not only our physical selves that need to be fed. We need mental stimulation to feed the neurotransmitters in our brain and keep our synapses firing. Our mental state can also be affected by the fluctuation of our emotional selves and how we react to the ebb and flow of our changing landscape. We can feed our mental self through practices of meditation and contemplation. But more deeply, our soul needs to be fed just as much as our physical and emotional selves. Do you know what feeds your soul?  What is it that connects you to that deepest part of yourself where you experience purpose in your life and connection to others and something greater?

I know that when I want to feed my soul, I need to let go of other things that stop me from doing so. One way I do this is spending time with my feet and hands in the sand along the ocean. As I wiggle my toes deeper into the sand and the waves kiss my ankles, something begins to drop away. It's as if this primal action of feeling the earth move below my feet reminds me of being here. I drop into a state of radical presence as the senses come to greater vibrancy...the ocean breeze whipping my hair around, the smell of salt water, the sound of waves rolling in and out. As I begin to notice those moments the greater worries of my life get thrown into perspective and I'm caught asking myself the question, "What's important?"

I had many such moments of feeding my soul recently on our jaunt Down Under and, as sometimes happens, it didn't seem to be quite long enough. We spent our time on retreat at Sanctuary Retreat near Mission Beach, Queensland which was followed by beach strolling and time with friends. Two full years had passed since our last trip to Australia. We had thought about holidaying in Asia this year, but I could hear the beckoning calls from Down Under.

These calls came from a deep place within me, asking me to put my hands and feet on Aussie soil to feed my soul. Thankfully, I listened to the call and was able to embed the earth into my cells. Sanctuary is a special place that has brought insight and healing in the past and did so during this years experience. Perhaps it's the all-around nourishment you receive when you go there...incredible food, a disconnection from most forms of technology and entertainment and the time given to be quiet, find breath and move the body as an act of kindness and healing. Not only did it enrich my soul but the mind and body were thankful as well.

Knowing what feeds us on a deeper level is vital to maintaining overall health. Nature provides this arena and for so many of us is often within easy reach. It seems appropriate to conclude this week's blog by quoting from "Radical Acceptance, Embracing Your Life With The Heart of a Buddha" by Tara Brach:

"Just as the Buddha touched the earth in response to Mara's final challenge, when the voice of doubt afflicts us, we touch the ground by arriving, on the spot, in this moment. We touch the ground by directly connecting with the earth, the life of our bodies, our breath and our inner weather. We touch the ground by looking directly into awareness that is the very source of our life. As we connect with what is right in front of us, we realize the true immensity of who we are."

Om Shanti to that, Tara!