Increasingly, our world consists of destinations and goals, with the times and spaces in between them eliminated by jet propulsion. Consequently, there is little satisfaction in reaching the goal, since a life full of endpoints is like trying to abate one's hunger by eating merely the precise ends of a banana. - Alan Watts
I'm out at an eight-day silent meditation retreat. The questionaire asks me: What motivates you to do a retreat at this time?
I'm uncharacteristically concise in my answer:
"All things arise and pass away. But the awakened awake forever." - Buddha, from the Dhammapada
I'm back May 30th. Until then live every moment of your life...
By the time you read this, I will be doing the same thing myself, at a 10-day retreat halfway between Bangkok and and Cambodia. It'll be my second time; I hope that your retreat is as beneficial for you as my first was for me.
Posted by: The Carp | May 27, 2005 at 01:21 PM
Oh, I love Buddha and Buddhist texts. 8 days of silent meditation sounds great. And you will carry that large chunk of silence with you forever. Watch how thoughts jump and dance and beg for attention. Watch how self dissolves and the aggregates disperse in the solvent of being.
Posted by: Steven Streight aka Vaspers the Grate | May 29, 2005 at 05:09 AM
Carp, Sending good wishes for your retreat. I'm still speechless myself... It was a much more profound experience than I was expecting and I now fully understand the value of meditation.
Steven, You are sooooo right - if words can do it justice I think you've captured it. (BTW, I didn't get your comment until I was back.)
Posted by: Evelyn Rodriguez | May 31, 2005 at 01:35 PM