Days 3 & 4

Without planning so, this past weekend has been like a two-day course in Spirituality 101.


Saturday


It started with a three set sit at ZCLA (Zen Center of Los Angeles) where I began going about a month ago. Each set lasted about half an hour with two walking meditations in between. I visited with a Buddhist teacher who reminded me to look at the bigger picture instead of looking at things from the perspective of the little me.


Following the sit was the precept talk. In Buddhism, precepts are fundamental codes of ethics to practice in the every-day life. As it happened to be the day of reflection, we reflected upon the 6th precept. It goes something like this: Unconditionally accepting what each moment has to offer. Not talking about others errors and faults. Taking responsibility for everything in your life. Very much common sense, but when looked at closely, how often do we really accept each moment as it is and so on...


Then it was on to the silent snack, followed by a precept circle where we each shared where we are in our lives right now both situationally and psychologically. I found it beautifully revealing how open people are when given the opportunity.


Reconnecting with an old and a new friend at the Zen Center, the three of us continued our spiritual journey at Zpizza (As in Z is for Zen, it was not intentional). We went to Larchmont Village and all three of us wanted to go that place. The pizza and salad were delicious. One thing led to another and we ended up watching Eat, Pray, Love at Arclight Cinema. A new theater experience for my two friends, not to mention, deeply connected movie. The evening did not end there. After the movie, it was on to Krishnamurti video and discussion group in West Hollywood. More people having the dialogue on spiritual truth. Ending with a vegetable soup and a good night's sleep only to wake up the next morning and do it all over again...


Sunday


Back at ZCLA in a kneeling position, I was meditating for two sets of half an hour sits and one walking meditation. I got to talk to another Zen teacher as non-members are allowed to see one on Sundays. I didn't know what I wanted to ask him about, but as soon as I got inside that little room, I saw exactly what has been plaguing my mind since forever. He shed the light on that part of my little self and yet another piece of ego chipped away.


He gave a talk following the meditation covering the topics that I wondered about and that everyone who comes to see him wonders about. And the answer is always the same... to see within. In order to really see within, one has to be still, and in order to be still, one has to sit long enough to still the body and then the mind. It's never about what's out there and it's always about what's in here.


I came home, took a nap, and was about to put up some posts, catch up on some phone calls, and reflect upon the day in a half that I had, but Life had other plans. I called one of my friends back when she told me that there is a talk at the Ford Amphitheater by Swami Kriyananda, the last direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda to be introduced by Neale Donald Walsch. And it was free. Three hours prior to the start of the event, I got online, printed out a ticket, and an hour later I was at the theater.


Neale's book Conversations with God was the first book of its kind that got me seeing life in a whole new light. And I remember thinking back then, I would love to hear him talk some day. And here came that day. He managed to hit the nail on the head within fifteen minutes that he was given on stage. He reminded us that we're all part of God's dream and making a difference is only one five second glance away. To hold eye contact with another human being for five seconds or more is to see their humanity, their essence, and ultimately oneness of all things.


Ending the two-day course in Spirituality 101 at the French Market Restaurant, I re-connected with my breath, let out a long tired sigh, and reminded myself that even exhaustion has its place in the universe. In my bed, I realized that my body was not that tired, it was my mind. It is always my mind. I placed my attention on my breath and I watched my bouncy thoughts dim their lights as my light of consciousness went to sleep.


The Practice  

Total of 3 hours of Zazen in two days
Total of 3 hours of Dharma talk, including the guest speakers
Light Stretching
Indefinite amount of hours of attentive listening


Reflection


I had to wait until today to write this post for the past couple of days because not only did I not have time, but my mind was incapable of forming coherent sentences passed 10pm. Staring the day at 8am with meditation, then listening to teachers speak, then participating in stimulating, yet awareness-based discussions, sharing with friends, and coming home at midnight left little room to focus on writing. However, living and experiencing is a part of the writing process. Without one there would not be the other.

Although, externally I was kept busy, internally there was still some space to observe it all. I was not always aware of this space, but kept coming back to the breath and watching the mind. Otherwise, even the most amazing spiritual experience turns into a stale, "not another word on oneness,"or fruitless endeavor. In moments of least alertness, my mind got tired, judgmental, and worrisome. In moments of high alertness, the thought-process was playing somewhere in a distance where I could see it, but did not have to deal with it. In those moments, I felt at peace, knowing, and freedom.

In reality, it is all one moment. The difference being in the labeling. I keep reminding myself with words like "even this..." Even this is a part of it all. Even the tiredness. Even the judgment. Even the not knowing. Even the laziness. Even the little me. I'm learning to embrace all of it because it is all of it... IT IS.