Tuesday, May 18

I began the journey toward accomplishing some of the summer goals yesterday. A grueling spin class that was made enjoyable by Jeff's leadership. Still reeling from the all-day lawn work session on Sunday, the muscles ache! But, a bit of progress was made.

Last evening I worked just a bit on the Chopin Impromptu, which is predictably tricky, but not terribly difficult. The Scriabin Prelude--Op. 11, No. 1 is treacherous. Big sonorous waves of sound with few notes. But the notes that are there challenge the hands to stretch in his trademark intervals of perfect fourths and fifths.

Re-reading the Dhammapada: "He abused me, attached me, Defeated me, robbed me!" For those carrying on like this, Hatred does not end."

The Buddha reminds us that remaining in a mindset of victimization halts our ability to notice the wonder of the present. That accepting all things--good and challenging--are part of our path.

Staying Still

Better than one hundred years lived
With an unsettled mind,
Devoid of insight,
Is one day lived
With insight and absorbed in meditation.
(from The Dhammapada).

Monkey Mind

The toxins multiply
For the insolent and negligent
Who reject what they should do
And do instead what they should not.
But the toxins come to an end
For those who are mindful and alert,
Who are constantly well-engaged
With mindfulness of the body,
Who don't resort to what they should not do
But persist in doing what they should.
(The Dhammapada, Gil Fronsdal's translation)

With the beginning of the new year, accompanied by the cold weather, resulting in more time inside, I find myself struggling with mindfulness. The passage above settles into my centeredness, reminding me that choice is part of the path. I abide by the perception that nothing is dichotomous...that I am always on the path; one cannot be "off the path." The path includes rocky terrain, and smooth warm sand, cool grass...just as in a race, one may be at times in the front and other times at the aid station. But one is never not in the race. And finishing first is not my goal--my goal is to be fully engaged and aware of the experience.

I am allowing my distractions some room on the path, but they will not deter my enlightenment.