Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Reflections: In Case You Missed It

It's been awhile since I've written and I have the afternoon off so I thought I'd give it a try. Also tonight I start a two month retreat so it's my last chance for awhile.

I haven't been writing much because I'm giving my brain time to reprogram it's synapses. I have an idea how synaptic reprogramming works, but that doesn't make it any easier or faster. I'm also pretty certain changes are reversible. It's my guess that synaptic and behavior patterns, once formed, are never completely erased -- which, incidentally, is a good reason to keep practicing, whether your primary practice is meditation, mindfulness or yoga. 


There were a lot of posts I thought of writing in 2014 and one of them is why blog? Blogging seems counter-intuitive since I don't have any inclination to be famous. The original reason I started blogging was for friendship. Certainly not because I think I have lots of answers. I don't feel I'm that knowledgable or skilled in a variety of the topics I find myself thinking about, though I have to admit I've wondered how much that line of thinking is due to conditioning I've unknowingly received, at least in part due to gender.

The best reason I can think of for blogging is that it may be a good way to learn, as well as share what I've learned from life up to now. I also have to admit I think it's a more productive way to to spend my 'free' time than shopping for things I don't really need. Shopping seems to be another method many people use to create a projection of self. 


Other posts I wanted to write over the last year include:

My ever-evolving thoughts on happiness. 

Sharing some of the interesting conversations and experiences I've had while traveling.

My thought's on Dogen's Instructions for the Cook and various commentaries, especially Uchiyama's. Incidentally, from what I've gathered, Uchiyama's definition of religion concerns precisely that question of how to live one's life.

The fact that, given interdependence, I don't think there is such a thing as an orginal thought, each thought is merely a thought experienced by a unique place-time-being. 

How to contribute to a better world for all beings. Along those lines, thoughts and questions concerning religion, politics, gender and race, the economy and the environment. 

More on feminism, especially since feminism hasn't been a topic I've spent much time thinking about in my life. In fact, in contrast to some, most days gender has been a topic I prefer not to be confronted with.



Finally, I've also decided that, as extra motivation both for writing and for learning, I'm going start advertising  particular petitions, volunteer projects, and/or donation sites. Today's site is from Avaaz. Please check it out: 



Perhaps, since I'm not going to be able to write for awhile, it's okay to also mention pressuring our governments and contributing to efforts to rebuild various places recently destroyed by conflict including Gaza, the Central African Republic, and Sudan. We're all culpable and I honestly believe that part of the frustration each of us feels, whether we recognize it or not, is our own internal frustration over not being able to help or help enough.

Until next time, happy sitting!