Discussion Notes September 30th – Concentration Part I
Tonight’s sunset and washing dishes brought to you by:
Dogen Coldstream, Renwick Tomsen, Danaeah Ballinger, Narris Lorefield, Solari Georgia, and myself.
Namaste…
[17:57] Dharma Voyager: hey there 
[17:58] Dharma Voyager: hey renny
[17:58] Dogen Coldstream: Hey Dana, Ren
[17:58] Renwick Tomsen: Howdy
[17:59] Dharma Voyager: oh oh crashy crashy
[17:59] Dharma Voyager: wb
[17:59] Danaeah Ballinger: thanks
[17:59] Danaeah Ballinger: just sent for Solari
[17:59] Dharma Voyager: cool
[18:00] Danaeah Ballinger: you have met Solari before, right?
[18:00] Solari Georgia: Hi all
[18:00] Dharma Voyager: welcome everyone
[18:00] Dogen Coldstream: I think so. Hi
[18:00] Dharma Voyager: little lag tonight
[18:00] Solari Georgia: Hi Ren, Dharma, Dogen
[18:01] Danaeah Ballinger: Good evening all
[18:01] Dharma Voyager: hey Solari… thank you for the reinvite
[18:01] Dharma Voyager: smiles wide
[18:01] Narris Lorefield: Hello, everyone
[18:01] Renwick Tomsen: Hello
[18:01] Solari Georgia: silly me
[18:01] Solari Georgia: oh and Narris
[18:01] Dharma Voyager: yeah I have done some pretty quick mouse maneuvers in my time too
[18:01] Dharma Voyager: hehehhehe
[18:01] Dharma Voyager: Narris is in male form tonight
[18:01] Dogen Coldstream: I see Narris’s name, but not the body
[18:02] Dharma Voyager: I see him … I do have a bit of lag
[18:02] Dogen Coldstream: I see ren, but he is all grey
[18:02] Renwick Tomsen: odd
[18:02] Dharma Voyager: few more minutes and we will get started
[18:02] Dogen Coldstream: prolly just me
[18:02] Dharma Voyager: Any other recommendations for books?
[18:03] Danaeah Ballinger: I have more notes from a retreat on Saturday I need to jot down and post
[18:03] Dharma Voyager: we have the Hardcore Zen book
[18:03] Dharma Voyager: I would like to announce it so people have a couple weeks
[18:03] Danaeah Ballinger: hardcore?
[18:03] Dharma Voyager: oh that would be cool Dana
[18:04] Dharma Voyager: nods
[18:04] Dharma Voyager: it has humor
[18:04] Danaeah Ballinger: Interesting – an American woman ordained as a Tibetan lama in ’86. Talking about how “original sin” permeates western culture so thoroughly that the western self-loathing completely boggles the dali lama and a lot of eastern folks
[18:04] Dharma Voyager: the sub title is punk rock, movie monsters and the truth about reality
[18:05] Dharma Voyager: yeah I wish it boggled my mind outside of permeating it
[18:05] Dharma Voyager:
[18:05] Danaeah Ballinger: what book is this – I still think Kornfield’s “Path With A Heart” is one of the best spiritual books available, period
[18:05] Dharma Voyager: ok
[18:05] Danaeah Ballinger: take a look – should be in any library
[18:06] Dogen Coldstream: I wouldn’t mind doing Kornfield
[18:06] Dharma Voyager: who will take on note writing?
[18:06] Dharma Voyager: I’m open to anything as long if it covers the basics
[18:06] Danaeah Ballinger: lemme look. It’s kind of long, and we might not need to do every chapter
[18:06] Dharma Voyager: I liked the idea of the hardcore zen book because it touches on the heart sutra a bit
[18:06] Danaeah Ballinger: but has some great stuff
[18:07] Danaeah Ballinger: this is Vipassana
[18:07] Danaeah Ballinger: and not being of the hardcore zen persuasion, things in it appeal to me
[18:07] Danaeah Ballinger: you liked that article I pointed to on his website – how the buddha practiced
[18:07] Dogen Coldstream: He is one of the original western vipassana teachers
[18:07] Danaeah Ballinger: yes
[18:07] Dharma Voyager: yes I thought he was very good
[18:08] Dharma Voyager: will you take on note writing for the book?
[18:08] Dharma Voyager: sorry that it has become an issue…. helps to split up the effort a little
[18:08] Danaeah Ballinger: I believe so – let me look through it and get an idea of which chapters might be relevant
[18:08] Danaeah Ballinger: make sure I can find my copy
[18:08] Dharma Voyager: ok
[18:08] Dharma Voyager: sounds good
[18:08] Danaeah Ballinger: I think so but I will email later this week
[18:09] Dogen Coldstream: we have time
[18:09] Dharma Voyager: very cool
[18:09] Dharma Voyager: yes we have three weeks on concentration
[18:09] Dharma Voyager: including this one
[18:09] Dogen Coldstream: unless everybody hates the concentration stuff 
then we need a new book stat
[18:09] Dharma Voyager: hahahha
[18:09] Dharma Voyager: good or bad we will do the concentration now
[18:09] Dharma Voyager: hahhaha
[18:09] Danaeah Ballinger: also, a lot of weeks I can do notes maybe, but 6-7 rather than 6-7:30 are the hours i can keep
[18:10] Dogen Coldstream: that shouldn’t be a problem
[18:10] Dharma Voyager: nods
[18:10] Dharma Voyager: I can still run the meeting
[18:10] Dharma Voyager: up to the person
[18:10] Dharma Voyager: I’m good
[18:10] Danaeah Ballinger: btw, I always liked Kornfields analogy of training the mind to training a puppy – do it with infinite patience and gentleness
[18:10] Dogen Coldstream: just putting together the discussion notes before the meeting so we have something to focus our discussion on
[18:10] Dharma Voyager: nods
[18:10] Dharma Voyager: speaking of notes let’s get started
[18:10] Danaeah Ballinger: I am sure I can do that in a couple of weeks
What is concentration? Concentration is the unification of body and mind. It is the bringing together of all aspects of our conscious and volitional experience to bear on one subject of attention.
There is a difference between the act of concentration, and the concentrated state. Like falling asleep, you can’t make yourself fall asleep, you can just create the conditions for sleep.
[18:11] Dharma Voyager: What is concentration? Concentration is the unification of body and mind. It is the bringing together of all aspects of our conscious and volitional experience to bear on one subject of attention.
[18:11] Dharma Voyager: There is a difference between the act of concentration, and the concentrated state. Like falling asleep, you can’t make yourself fall asleep, you can just create the conditions for sleep.
[18:12] Dharma Voyager: When looking at mindfulness and concentration, it was at first difficult to see a difference
[18:12] Dharma Voyager: usually we kind of mix it all up
[18:12] Dharma Voyager: I think
[18:12] Renwick Tomsen: I think there was a section in the audio referring to concentration on breath as similar to reporting on it.
[18:12] Renwick Tomsen: Somewhat of an external view.
[18:13] Dogen Coldstream: It sounds like he was talking about concentration as the ability to sustain mindfulness, rather than just flashing on it and then getting distracted again
[18:13] Dogen Coldstream: I know how easy it is for me to drift off
[18:13] Dharma Voyager: yeah my shoulder was hurting today… in the face of pain mindfulness seems to be first on the chopping block
[18:14] Dharma Voyager: well I was mindful of the pain
[18:14] Dharma Voyager: laughs
[18:14] Dharma Voyager: it was a distraction from the class I was in though
[18:14] Dogen Coldstream: for some reason I keep drifting off to thinking about idiot politicians, and economic problems, etc
[18:15] Dharma Voyager: fear and loathing?
[18:15] Dogen Coldstream: yes
[18:15] Dharma Voyager: pain of a different sort?
[18:15] Dogen Coldstream:
[18:15] Danaeah Ballinger tried not to think of idiot politicians – fear and loafing
[18:15] Dharma Voyager: I suppose my shoulder might have been a good distraction
[18:16] Dharma Voyager: smiles
[18:16] Dharma Voyager: next points
The concentrated state is related to calmness, tranquility, being at ease.
Concentration involves a continuity of attention through time.
The opposite of concentration is distracted mind. Distracted mind is more likely to become fatigued or bored.
[18:16] Dharma Voyager: The concentrated state is related to calmness, tranquility, being at ease.
[18:16] Dharma Voyager: Concentration involves a continuity of attention through time.
[18:16] Dharma Voyager: The opposite of concentration is distracted mind. Distracted mind is more likely to become fatigued or bored.
[18:17] Dogen Coldstream: I thought it was interesting how he talked about his teacher not making a distinction between calmness and concentration
[18:17] Dogen Coldstream: different culture, I guess
[18:17] Dogen Coldstream: culture
[18:17] Dharma Voyager: please explain
[18:17] Renwick Tomsen: and translation
[18:17] Dogen Coldstream: we split things up differently.
[18:17] Danaeah Ballinger: I can be calmly daydreaming
[18:18] Danaeah Ballinger: relaxed but mind flitting all over
[18:18] Dogen Coldstream: that’s the way I would think of it too, Dana
[18:18] Dharma Voyager: I am a little confused on how a distracted mind could be bored
[18:19] Dharma Voyager: when I’m distracted it is not pleasant, but I am not sure it equates to bored
[18:19] Danaeah Ballinger: American Graffiti if I remember it
[18:19] Dogen Coldstream: maybe if you are focused, there is less room to be bored?
[18:19] Dharma Voyager: perhaps
[18:19] Dharma Voyager: yes
[18:19] Narris Lorefield: I’m distracted and bored, if that helps
[18:19] Dharma Voyager: it is funny the use of the term mundane
[18:19] Dogen Coldstream: grin
[18:20] Dharma Voyager: mundane seems to imply boredom, but that may just be semantics
[18:20] Dogen Coldstream: how did he use that term?
[18:20] Dharma Voyager: oh I’m confusing it with my reading I’m sorry
[18:20] Dharma Voyager: mundane is a term normally applied to concentration and mindfulness
[18:20] Dharma Voyager: to be mindful even of the “mundane”
[18:21] Dharma Voyager: to bring appreciation to those things of every moment
[18:21] Dogen Coldstream: ah, instead of only paying attention to the things that grab our attention
[18:21] Dharma Voyager: so the focused mind will not be bored even with the “mundane”
[18:21] Dharma Voyager: like washing the dishes
[18:21] Danaeah Ballinger: right
[18:22] Dharma Voyager: for some reason that word mundane never seemed to mundane to me
[18:22] Solari Georgia: unless the mind has a mind of it’s own
[18:22] Dogen Coldstream: I guess in even the most ordinary, there are tons of fascinating little details if you are just paying attention
[18:22] Danaeah Ballinger grabs Mr. Dictionary
[18:22] Dharma Voyager: we need a better dish washing detergent… I need a different smell
[18:23] Danaeah Ballinger: ahhhh – aversion/desire – tsk tsk
[18:23] Dogen Coldstream: grin
[18:23] Dharma Voyager: hahahaha
[18:23] Solari Georgia: : )
[18:24] Dharma Voyager: I suppose keeping something you are allergic too would be staying focused and not having aversion or desire?
[18:24] Dharma Voyager: where do we draw the line?
[18:24] Dogen Coldstream: I think that is part of my aversion to virtual worlds. they are so low-res, missing all the fascinating little details that everything in RL has
[18:24] Danaeah Ballinger: mundane: the secular or worldly as opposed to the spiritual – 2) commonplace, ordinary – from latin mundus – the world. – Websters
[18:24] Dharma Voyager: no nose, no mouth,
[18:24] Dharma Voyager: not much body
[18:25] Dharma Voyager: so it means nothing or everything
[18:25] Dharma Voyager: wonderful language
[18:25] Dogen Coldstream: English are good
[18:25] Danaeah Ballinger: all or nothing, bit by bit
[18:25] Dharma Voyager: I knew mundane was not so mundane
[18:25] Dharma Voyager: next points
Why is it important or useful to develop concentration?
It provides a steadiness of attention to stay present. It allows us to understand the deeper aspects of what we are paying attention to. The greater the concentration, the greater the ability to look more deeply. The greater the ability to reflect with the discursive mind in useful and creative ways.
[18:25] Dharma Voyager: Why is it important or useful to develop concentration?
[18:25] Dharma Voyager: It provides a steadiness of attention to stay present. It allows us to understand the deeper aspects of what we are paying attention to. The greater the concentration, the greater the ability to look more deeply. The greater the ability to reflect with the discursive mind in useful and creative ways.
[18:26] Dogen Coldstream: instead of saying “oh that’s just …” and dismissing it
[18:26] Dharma Voyager: selective process?
[18:27] Dharma Voyager: you have to dismiss something to be focused on another?
[18:27] Renwick Tomsen: and how deep can you go before you are no longer present?
[18:27] Dharma Voyager: nice
[18:27] Dharma Voyager: fantasizing about what you are doing?
[18:28] Dharma Voyager: perhaps the next point will help
The unification that occurs with states of concentration heals the fragmentation that so many of us feel. If you are numb to parts of your body, you are fragmented from yourself. If you are unwilling to look at certain memories or unwilling to look at certain feelings then you are shut off from part of yourself and that shuttoffness is a from of fragmentation. To be obsessed about certain things at the expense of being in touch with the holistic sense of who we are is to end up being fragmented. To be critical of ourselves is a state of fragmentation, because part of use is in conflict with another part.
[18:28] Dharma Voyager: The unification that occurs with states of concentration heals the fragmentation that so many of us feel. If you are numb to parts of your body, you are fragmented from yourself. If you are unwilling to look at certain memories or unwilling to look at certain feelings then you are shut off from part of yourself and that shuttoffness is a from of fragmentation. To be obsessed about certain things at the expense of being in touch with the holistic sense of who we are is to end up being fragmented. To be critical of ourselves is a state of fragmentation, because part of use is in conflict with another part.
[18:29] Dogen Coldstream: he was talking about the healing power of concentration. I don’t have enough experience to know if he was talking BS or not
[18:29] Dharma Voyager: well it sounds ok from our context
[18:29] Dharma Voyager: let’s assume he has experience
[18:30] Dharma Voyager: and go with it
[18:30] Dogen Coldstream: he has tons of experience if only we could learn from other people’s experience
[18:30] Dogen Coldstream: me being cynical
[18:30] Dharma Voyager: hehehehe
[18:30] Dharma Voyager: that would assume that you are in exactly the same situation
[18:30] Danaeah Ballinger: One thing everyone experiences – with a sunset or a puppy or a child – when I am concentrated, the self/other split is gone
[18:31] Renwick Tomsen: Watching someone burn their hands on the stove is not as fun as trying it yourself.
[18:31] Danaeah Ballinger: that alone is healing
[18:31] Dharma Voyager: hahahaha nice ren
[18:31] Danaeah Ballinger: or when one is engaged in sports or a creative process
[18:31] Dogen Coldstream: Dana: yeah, I know what you mean
[18:31] Dharma Voyager: so how does this apply to the mundane?
[18:31] Dharma Voyager: washing dishes
[18:32] Dharma Voyager: or washing them
[18:32] Danaeah Ballinger: become one with the dishes, grasshopper
[18:32] Dharma Voyager: when do we get so deep that we are no longer present?
[18:32] Dharma Voyager: hahahah
[18:32] Danaeah Ballinger: no no
[18:32] Dogen Coldstream: I guess the idea is that it is the same effect, we just don’t usually pay that much attention to mundane stuff
[18:32] Danaeah Ballinger: means simply that the subject object awareness goes
[18:32] Danaeah Ballinger: yessss
[18:32] Renwick Tomsen: all you are left with are verbs?
[18:32] Dharma Voyager: so treat your washing dishes effort like a sunset?
[18:33] Dogen Coldstream: our language: “no longer present” can have two different meaning
[18:33] Renwick Tomsen: patterns in the water, bubbles
[18:33] Danaeah Ballinger: perhaps can be as soothing, but not so easy to get to
[18:33] Dharma Voyager: your soaking in it
[18:33] Dogen Coldstream: it can mean that we are no longer aware of ourselves, or that we are no longer paying attention at all
[18:34] Dharma Voyager: not aware of your senses?
[18:34] Danaeah Ballinger: huuuuuuuuuuuuuge difference
[18:34] Danaeah Ballinger: huge
[18:34] Danaeah Ballinger: not paying attention is one thing
[18:34] Dharma Voyager: daydreaming?
[18:34] Dharma Voyager: listens
[18:34] Danaeah Ballinger: vs loosing the *delusive* sense of being a separate self
[18:34] Dogen Coldstream: yes
[18:34] Danaeah Ballinger: as in, the ideal that my separate selfness is a product of thought and habit, not reality
[18:35] Renwick Tomsen: flow comes to mind again
[18:35] Dogen Coldstream: there is a saying, at least in zen: “body and mind dropped away”
[18:35] Danaeah Ballinger: yes
[18:35] Dharma Voyager: is that concentration?
[18:35] Dharma Voyager: complete focus?
[18:35] Danaeah Ballinger: a byproduct perhaps
[18:35] Dharma Voyager: does that mean you no longer remember what you were doing?
[18:36] Danaeah Ballinger: I have been at retreats where mindful gardening or raking a rock garden were part of the process.
[18:36] Dogen Coldstream: it is what the original Dogen-guy said, and his teacher said he had reached uh…
[18:37] Dogen Coldstream: for some reason I don’t like using the term enlightenment anymore
[18:37] Danaeah Ballinger: so no, I don’t think oblivion is favored in any Buddhist tradition
[18:37] Dharma Voyager: perhaps it is no longer concentrating on the effort and just doing?
[18:37] Dharma Voyager: be one one with the dishwater?
[18:38] Dharma Voyager: next points?
The concentrated state brings with it a feeling of well being and contentment, and various levels of joy. This is a very helpful alternative for people who have, for example, feelings of unworthiness, or feelings of anxiety, or feelings of distress.
Concentration replaces self-preoccupation.
[18:38] Dharma Voyager: The concentrated state brings with it a feeling of well being and contentment, and various levels of joy. This is a very helpful alternative for people who have, for example, feelings of unworthiness, or feelings of anxiety, or feelings of distress.
[18:38] Dharma Voyager: Concentration replaces self-preoccupation.
[18:38] Dharma Voyager: I think we are in agreement?
[18:38] Dogen Coldstream: talking about healing again
[18:39] Danaeah Ballinger: that is a hard one
[18:39] Danaeah Ballinger: I think what he said is true as far as it goes
[18:39] Danaeah Ballinger: but experientially and in other’s experience
[18:39] Danaeah Ballinger: in meditation, when we relax
[18:40] Danaeah Ballinger: sometimes the body and psyche will will throw out a lot of painful things
[18:40] Danaeah Ballinger: like purging
[18:40] Danaeah Ballinger: or the way our bodies throw out foreign objects
[18:40] Danaeah Ballinger: ever been meditating and you get angry or start to cry?
[18:40] Dharma Voyager: so you are saying it can be something less than joyful but yet productie
[18:40] Dharma Voyager: prodictive
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: gahhh fingers
[18:41] Danaeah Ballinger: absolutely
[18:41] Dogen Coldstream: sort of a peeling away the layers thing
[18:41] Danaeah Ballinger: yes dogen
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: next points
Ways of becoming concentrated
Being interested in the object you are paying attention to, or give up our interest in other distracting things.
Have a tremendous amount of compassion for oneself.
Understand how to included everything as part of the practice. There is no distraction, it is part of the practice.
Pay attention to the quality of the mind: keep it soft.
Become very familiar with the five hindrances: Sense desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and anxiety, and doubt. These are the five most powerful forces that keep the mind from becoming concentrated.
One good way to start is meditating by counting your breath.
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: Ways of becoming concentrated
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: Being interested in the object you are paying attention to, or give up our interest in other distracting things.
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: Have a tremendous amount of compassion for oneself.
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: Understand how to included everything as part of the practice. There is no distraction, it is part of the practice.
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: Pay attention to the quality of the mind: keep it soft.
[18:41] Dharma Voyager: Become very familiar with the five hindrances: Sense desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and anxiety, and doubt. These are the five most powerful forces that keep the mind from becoming concentrated.
[18:42] Dharma Voyager: One good way to start is meditating by counting your breath.
[18:42] Dogen Coldstream: rather than other meditation techniques, I take it?
[18:42] Dogen Coldstream: boddy san, or metta, or just noting, or whatever?
[18:43] Dogen Coldstream: body scan
[18:43] Danaeah Ballinger: Compassion for self is a key point – means we never beat ourselves up for a “lousy” meditation – in fact, we forget about “good” or “lousy” when meditating
[18:43] Danaeah Ballinger: yes Dogen.
[18:44] Dogen Coldstream: The Japanese have a word for it: joriki. which I think just means concentration. but as you do it more, you build up this store of joriki
[18:44] Solari Georgia: I’m sure his 1 to 10 technique is one of many effective ones
[18:44] Dogen Coldstream: I guess that means you get better at it with practice
[18:44] Danaeah Ballinger: and what I have heard again and again is, we do not ever beat ourselves up if the mind wanders – just return it, bring it back
[18:44] Danaeah Ballinger: yes
[18:45] Dogen Coldstream: don’;t hit the puppy on the nose with the newspaper
[18:45] Danaeah Ballinger: exacctly!!!!!!
[18:45] Danaeah Ballinger: you want to be friends with your puppy and your mind!!!
[18:45] Solari Georgia: she loves doggy analogies : )
[18:45] Dharma Voyager: hehe
[18:45] Renwick Tomsen: It would be nice if there was a point system so I knew when I was going to level up.
[18:45] Danaeah Ballinger: yes
[18:45] Dharma Voyager: hahahaha
[18:45] Dogen Coldstream: Ding!
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: next points
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: Supports for concentration:
[18:46] Dogen Coldstream: Level meditator, you get new spells
Supports for concentration:
Develop a stillness of body. Don’t adjust your body while meditating
Take a bath before you meditate
Meditate in a clean room
Wear clean clothes
Cultivate a simplicity of being: Don’t multi task
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: Develop a stillness of body. Don’t adjust your body while meditating
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: Take a bath before you meditate
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: Meditate in a clean room
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: Wear clean clothes
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: Cultivate a simplicity of being: Don’t multi task
[18:46] Dharma Voyager: how do each of these help?
[18:47] Dogen Coldstream: i know one of them, if the room is dirty, I spend all the time thinking about what I should be cleaning
[18:47] Dharma Voyager: clean house is happiness
[18:47] Danaeah Ballinger: I have heard it is common in most eastern traditions to try to bathe before meditating and it truly helps – at a minimum, I usually wash my face
[18:47] Dharma Voyager: hehehehhe
[18:47] Dharma Voyager: save from distractions?
[18:47] Solari Georgia: reduces the mundane distractions
[18:48] Danaeah Ballinger: and one can try to practice in a bus station, but obviously its not ideal
[18:48] Dharma Voyager: hhahah I was about to say get to the juicy distractions
[18:48] Danaeah Ballinger: everyone listens
[18:48] Dogen Coldstream: the one about multitasking, I think it means get in the habit of not multitasking in the rest of your life. Just do one thing at a time
[18:48] Dharma Voyager: in the zendo no one sees you twitch
[18:49] Dogen Coldstream: we can still hear your screams, though
[18:49] Solari Georgia: : )
[18:49] Dharma Voyager: laughs
[18:49] Danaeah Ballinger: like listening to Dire Straits and petting the puppy right now?
[18:49] Dharma Voyager: to the beat?
[18:49] Danaeah Ballinger looses two points
[18:50] Danaeah Ballinger: tapping foot
[18:50] Dogen Coldstream: well, it’s the middle way. don’t want to go overboard
[18:50] Dharma Voyager: yeah I’m not sure there is much you can really do one thing at a time can we?
[18:50] Solari Georgia: return to Go, do not collect $200
[18:50] Dharma Voyager: even if I turn off the radio I hear the birds
[18:50] Dogen Coldstream: I know I can do better than I usually do, though
[18:50] Dharma Voyager: those birds follow me everywhere
[18:50] Dharma Voyager: heheheh
[18:51] Dogen Coldstream: I have my sound turned off
[18:51] Dharma Voyager: nyuck nyuck nyuck
[18:51] Renwick Tomsen: There are isolation tanks.
[18:51] Dharma Voyager: then I feel all wet
[18:51] Dharma Voyager: and it’s dark
[18:51] Renwick Tomsen: immediate now mystical near wet experience
[18:51] Dharma Voyager: hahahah
[18:51] Dharma Voyager: turn into a monkey
[18:52] Dharma Voyager: wait I am a monkey!
[18:52] Dogen Coldstream: should watch that movie again
[18:52] Dharma Voyager: so cool being on top of a mountain
[18:52] Dharma Voyager: after a long hike
[18:52] Dharma Voyager: the small of the trees
[18:52] Dharma Voyager: the cool wind
[18:52] Dharma Voyager: the beautiful clouds
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: the sound of the wind
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: and to feel it all at once
[18:53] Dogen Coldstream: nothing like intense physical exertion to focus the mind
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: how about just a good time?
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: what does it feel like
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: it takes thought afterwards to really say
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: well… during that good time
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: the weather was nice
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: the sun was out
[18:53] Dharma Voyager: the clouds were beautiful
[18:54] Dharma Voyager: when we experience it… well when I do… usually it is just as it is
[18:54] Dharma Voyager: and then I say wow I’m having a good time
[18:54] Dharma Voyager: why?
[18:54] Dharma Voyager: why am i having a good time?
[18:54] Dharma Voyager: concentration
[18:54] Dharma Voyager: mindfulness?
[18:54] Danaeah Ballinger: Most of this is just common sense. Like those days when “I have a million things to do” I tend to be more scattered [18:55] Dharma Voyager: a good time washing dishes
[18:55] Dharma Voyager: as good as a sunset
[18:55] Dharma Voyager: or hanging with a good friend
[18:55] Dogen Coldstream: I think I have to work on that one
[18:56] Dharma Voyager: you and me both
[18:56] Danaeah Ballinger: me three
[18:56] Dharma Voyager: but it helps me to try to define it
[18:56] Dharma Voyager: what does it mean not to be distracted?
[18:56] Dharma Voyager: what is so important about the mundane?
[18:56] Solari Georgia: well, being in the moment
[18:56] Danaeah Ballinger: yes
[18:57] Dogen Coldstream: you aren’t going to spend your whole life watching sunsets. part of it is going to be washing dishes
[18:57] Danaeah Ballinger: where our lives are really happening. Cant wash past dishes or future dishes
[18:57] Dharma Voyager: sometimes I’m actually happy when I’m just mopping the floor
[18:57] Dharma Voyager: weird
[18:57] Dharma Voyager: hahahah
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: sighing I think is a point of focus
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: a good sigh or a bad sigh
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: spud sigh
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: I think when I sigh I am there some how
[18:58] Danaeah Ballinger: a rolling the eyes sigh – @@
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: that is usually a good one
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: hahhahahaha
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: appreciation of something
[18:58] Dharma Voyager: just for moment
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: an understanding
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: neat
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: well we are out of points
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: any other free form thoughts?
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: I think I used up my quota for tonight
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: hahaha
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: it’s nice being here with you all
[18:59] Dharma Voyager: I really appreciate it
[19:00] Dharma Voyager: <— mush
[19:00] Dharma Voyager: hahahahaha
[19:01] Solari Georgia: first time was ever moderated by a winged creature…or did I miss that previously
[19:01] Dogen Coldstream: the audio for next week is going to be a bit longer. two audio bits
[19:01] Dharma Voyager: I think I have always had my wings on
[19:01] Dharma Voyager: hahahah
[19:01] Solari Georgia: : )
[19:01] Dharma Voyager: I don’t think I have moderated as a lion yet
[19:01] Dogen Coldstream: next week, maybe
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