Today,I am watchful of leftovers- the residues of past, the bits, and pieces I thought were over and perhaps stayed back somewhere somnolent.
Today, I choose to be watchful, curious and kind, non-judgmental overall of all that follows in the flashes, specks, memories, and words.
Tenderness begins right from where I am and in the whatever challenging manner I meet myself, let tenderness be my offering.
While facilitating this session, there was a specific question about the eyes, the alertness.
How much watchful?How stimulated while watchful?How does being watchful taste like?
The audience was so diverse,from the age of 5 to 50.Yes, this happens when I travel to far away in the rural.Nobody is excluded, the community feeling is beautifully embedded in the togetherness that we share in the villages.So, everyone from all age groups wants to be a part and also help others to understand, cultivate more of the practice.
I am very open to this experimentation, it makes me feel like a part of the farming family-where we all play a role, to feel the ground, be open and giving.We remain alert yet relaxed, fun-loving and open to listening everyone’s suggestions.That is exactly what this practice is: sharing the benefits with others, growing it for self and others.It is so much like growing the food for others with others- with happiness,sweat, and wisdom.
And back to the question about eyes and alertness.As I told them that it is perfectly okay to keep your eyes open or closed.Mindfulness is not about postures and coercion,it is your watchfulness in whatever you do, that makes it right.
Being watchful in a placid manner, not on a high alert, over-energized or low and passive.Being watchful like elements in nature, being joyful like plants bathing in the rain, being watchful like sitting in front of the fire while cooking, being watchful in meeting the air that breathes through your skin and wind that makes noise through the surroundings.Being watchful as you take the step on the floor and drink your coffee.Being watchful in words and action.Watchful with a smile, a tear or nothing.Watchful of your intention, smell, and plannings.Being watchful as you are, being watchful without pressure, stress, and laziness.Being watchful as you are, wherever you are!
And we did get it right, for you can never do it wrong:)
And today-just listen to your self: the flutter, the criticism, the bickering, the noise, the stillness.
Whatever it is, pay attention.
Are there multiple thoughts or there is one primary thought underlying the multiple thoughts.
Whatever it is, pay attention to the need underneath the thought and there is always a need for love, offer self-love in whatever way you can.
What is it that you like?
I want a cup of tea, sit and breathe.
Time is not the constraint, five minutes, one minute-a pause is always welcome.
Sit back,watch-the thought, the feeling, the need and move on!
May we experience our presence as it is!
🌻🌻
💟
It has been a while that I posted and checking my situation right now:I notice bags and packs,we have been on the move,in a new city with my infant daughter,sitting with her clothes everywhere around me,doing her diapers and singing lullabies,watching my companion pigeon Fifi by the window,with plans of how to unpack and where to find what is already unpacked.
Breathing. And,while I am writing this post,my dearest Fifi has decided to do her movement meditation in the food tray,so I have all the pigeon food scattered everywhere on the floor. My heart 😦 as I watch and write,as I long for a cup of tea and would want the baby to take a nap,my heart as I look at the dishes that need to be done and the baby’s complaining longing eyes that I am not playing peek-a boo instead of wanting her to sleep.
We are housed in a service apartment,till we actually have our apartment up and running.Since this is a service apartment and we couldn’t bring all our pets,our dogs are in a hostel somewhere they have never been before. My heart is in multiple routes, my heart is anxious and running like this very bustling Indian city,we are exploring and my husband would want me to title this as the safest,least crowded and greener than any other.
My heart is slow to respond,I search for my energies-I check I am running in depletion but it is amazing that I am running and functional.Integrated?I am not sure,if that is what we usually look at.Am I integrated?Am I feeling whole with my situation?Ah,that’s usually ignored the best for we work on solutions,fixes,patches and not on healings,slow work and regeneration.
I look at myself-what do I need right now?How is the outward rush treating me and how am I holding myself in all this.I sincerely appreciate my response,presence and balance.What else I could do?There is something I haven’t fully paid attention to:something I am more addicted to ignoring than any thing else and I see,it is Self-Compassion Practice.
I offer myself a Self-Compassion Facial Massage:
Breathing in softly,gently,appreciating myself.I notice the tiredness,the noise,the food,the clothes,the baby,I notice everything in this moment.
Bringing my palms closer to my heart,I gently press them on my heart and feel the temperature,the warmth,the tenderness of my presence.
Folding the palms in a Namaste position,I breathe into the palms and feel the breath moving from my nostrils to my palms.(I notice that choosing my nose to focus is more neutral for me than my chest and stomach.This could be different for different people.We can choose wherever we feel more comfortable with a neutral anchor in our body and we can bring our palms to our chest and our stomach too.Just offer ourselves what is comfortable and best within the situation we are in.)
In the next step,I rub the palms softly, feeling the skin,the texture,the pores,the temperature and breath with full awareness into the palms.Breathing in-fully feeling the exhaustion,the dullness and breathing out-appreciating all that I have been doing for myself and everyone in this situation.Massaging my fingers,my palms,softly noticing any tinkle,any sensation in the palms.I keep my awareness open and flexible as I breathe in to the palms.Continue doing this for as long as you like.I did this for 6-7 minutes.
In the last step,bring the palms to your face and massage your eyes.Fully feeling your eyes,your eye brows,your nose,your lips.Fully draw your face and facial features with your fingers.Imagine you are an artist or imagine you have never met this face before.This is the first time you are fully feeling your face with your fingers,your palms.There is nothing right or wrong.Offer as much pressure as you like and continue as long as you would like to.If your mind wanders,thoughts take over,that’s okay.It is alright to recognise this and accept where we are and the amazing efforts we are putting through the toil.
Open your eyes whenever you feel ready to.I really enjoyed this practice, thinking of trying this twice a day 🙂
How did you feel with this gentle breathing massage.I felt my palms were very alive, breathing on my face.I felt energised,eased and filled with appreciation for myself.
In this deep and colourful,
sea of human emotions,
every day has something
beautiful to hold
and intense to practice with,
a consistent check of
intention and attention
is such a canoe,
wish us all:
smooth rowing, my dear friends.
Holding and watching,
holding and walking,
holding and sailing,
smooth rowing my dear friends.
Sifting and watching,
sitting and holding,
smooth rowing my friends.
Lulling and waking,
yawning and preserving,
carrying what we can,
not ordering, not punishing,
not deluging, not arguing,
navigating and holding,
smooth rowing my dear friends.❤🌻
🌷
🌿
Watching my presence as I stop, feeling my feet as I walk is all that I know.
The breathing ground under my feet and breathing me in my chest is all that I know.
The breathing presence around me and composed stopped me is all that I know.
Nothing wears me down as long as I know what holds me under and calms me down.
So, stopping by amidst breathing and wavering is all that I know.
This groundedness in vacuity and stillness in wisdom is all that I know.
Stopping by is all that I know.
I noticed that behind inspiring someone, looking deeply into their eyes and offering a hand,I was offering myself incredible bundles of support, inspiration and love.I was offering myself what many a times I couldn’t find the courage to do,I was loving and fulfilling myself.I was moving into present and rejoicing for others,my words were unfolding worlds of joy…who knows what you can achieve just by believing in someone,by baring your heart and bearing your failure.I rejoice in everyone’s happiness and success.I rejoice in all that everyone has,the capacities and wonders.I rejoice in my past, imperfections and losses.I rejoice and honour myself,I celebrate you,me,us and everyone here and everywhere.❤❤♥🌻
Sarabsri 