tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post6372073552126529287..comments2023-08-31T16:48:07.769-07:00Comments on SOLO: BittersweetMary Lellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00146419800234049924noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-79579740546930452272010-10-21T15:22:29.365-07:002010-10-21T15:22:29.365-07:00Ah, the mind. For Buddhists (and anyone with a na...Ah, the mind. For Buddhists (and anyone with a natural inquisitiveness), it’s a key question. I think it’s something to definitely look into from your own direct experience, rather than try to seek out an opinion or idea – such as it’s our soul (from a particular religious point of view) or it’s just a phenomenon of the brain (from a particular scientific point of view.) Those may or may not be aspects of our mind – and partly depend on semantics. <br /><br />But for me what’s most helpful is simply exploring it. This simple sense of knowing that is so intimate, no matter what the content of our experience. And also its vastness. Is there really a place where it stops and something else begins? Or does it embrace everything? Where do our thoughts, perceptions, feelings – our sense of an seemingly interior self and a seemingly exterior world – occur? Within this knowing? <br /><br />A simple exercise that some find helpful is to simply notice: Where do thoughts arise? Or, where do thoughts dissolve? Not trying to figure it out, but relaxing and seeing if you can notice that, following a thought back to its source or to its point of dissolution. Then maybe resting in that place of arising or dissolving, even just for a timeless instant. And, as you get used to this, maybe also noticing where do thoughts abide, while they seem to appear? (By “thoughts,” in Buddhist meditation, we mean mental thoughts as well as feelings and emotions, anything that arises in our awareness.) <br /><br />For myself, the more I explore in this way, the more it seems that my “mind” or maybe I should say my “awareness” is not limited to the body. Nor is it something that is so clearly “mine” distinct from yours. It’s more a shared knowing, the way right now I am writing something that you can then read. But it’s beyond the content of what I’m writing and you're reading. It includes that, but what is even more basic is the simple shared knowing. <br /><br />In a way, it’s like how Jim, for example, would have a twinkle in his eye, a gleam, no matter how hard he might have been struggling with words, that would reflect the light within you. To me, if anything’s visible as “essence,” that’s it. But of course that gleam is just an outer expression of something that seems far vaster and more mysterious. And I think the more you become intimate with that “within yourself,” the more you tap into what you share with everyone. That raises an interesting question: Can that ever die?bob morrisonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-13354329819039385032010-10-16T09:21:50.731-07:002010-10-16T09:21:50.731-07:00Mary, I can't think of a better place to have ...Mary, I can't think of a better place to have spread Jim's ashes. Islesford is one of my favorite places so spreading Jim's ashes has special meaning for me as well. I will make sure I sail there next summer with both you and Jim in my thoughts. Love you both forever. DaveDave Tuemmlerhttp://www.stretchstudio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-70608056045681005012010-10-10T18:59:48.198-07:002010-10-10T18:59:48.198-07:00Hi Mary, I have been adjusting to adding a job to ...Hi Mary, I have been adjusting to adding a job to my life and have not been as good at keeping up with things...I didn't know when we sat together last night what you had been doing on the island this weekend. My heart is full of so much love for you and for Jim. I too miss that wacky, loving, arms wide open man. You are such a love to share so much of your pain, your journey, and your what the hell do I do now, with the big wide world. I hope your answers come when you need them to. And I hope I can find a way to be more present with you too.<br />love, MargoMHarringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00540317231124394859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-89024751388260450312010-10-09T14:17:27.577-07:002010-10-09T14:17:27.577-07:00HH - I thought you might have some insight on this...HH - I thought you might have some insight on this topic, love!<br /><br />Simone - trust me, you would LOVE this island. It's simply gorgeous<br /><br />Rhonda - Ah, wonderful image from you. Thank you<br /><br />Kelly - I would look your mum up in a heartbeat!!! I'd love to meet her. Next time!Mary Lellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146419800234049924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-57454364362322336872010-10-09T11:31:24.174-07:002010-10-09T11:31:24.174-07:00So glad you got to go to Islesford and that some o...So glad you got to go to Islesford and that some of Jim's ashes are spread into the ocean from there. I will most definately think of him when I go "home" next time. Would love for you to have met my Mom while you were there. She has a really good soul. I think you would connect with her.Kelly Fernaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-50881576831728240622010-10-08T22:07:37.889-07:002010-10-08T22:07:37.889-07:00I suspect Jim is very happy you did this for him. ...I suspect Jim is very happy you did this for him. Helping him settle his earthly soul so that he can travel on to the next spirit level. Beautiful.Rhondanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-60122998121751312662010-10-08T08:05:25.472-07:002010-10-08T08:05:25.472-07:00Mary, you brought tears to my eyes.
I wish I coul...Mary, you brought tears to my eyes. <br />I wish I could visit this place in MAINE.<br />love<br />SimoneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714489377640369698.post-48098838216492735072010-10-08T07:33:36.621-07:002010-10-08T07:33:36.621-07:00Oooh the final frontier of brain science: What'...Oooh the final frontier of brain science: What's the mind? Dominant theory: It's the result of a massive brain so complex and so socially tuned that it's able to consider even its self.Hannah Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06499835257046049155noreply@blogger.com