A new type of Meditation ... #writebravely #WriteTribeProBlogger #MondayMusings

I've always enjoyed doodling.  And now it has a fancy name Zentangling.  I bought myself a teach it yourself Zentangling book but somehow learning to Zentangle didn't gel very well. I think I am too impatient to learn the techniques.

But I love to doodle freehand. Some days ago I came across the Inktober challenge but I was too late to join.  I thought I would do the challenge anyway just for myself and Zentangling seemed to be most appropriate. Each day I Zentangle and as I do it, I find it quite meditative.

So now I've discovered a new type of meditation. No wonder it's called Zen-tangling.

Here is one of my Zentangles. Not the best and I could've done a whole lot better. But it will do for now.

A child isn't thinking about whether their painting is good enough.

They're just enjoying painting.

~ Billy Fingers (from the book The Aferlife of Billy Fingers)

Have you tried your hand at Zentangling?

Written for:
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#MondayMusings


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Quieting the Mind ... #atozchallenge letter Q @AprilA2Z

My theme for the 2017 AtoZ Challenge is "Daily Thoughts".

Each day I will post a thought that comes to mind. The first word of the thought will correspond with the letter of the day.

So here is my thought for the letter Q

Quieting the mind is not an easy thing to do

Have you ever tried to meditate, clearing and quieting the mind?  I marvel at people who can meditate like that because it is such a difficult thing to do for me.

But some years ago someone said to me that meditation and quieting the mind is a very personal thing. That is what works for one not necessarily works for another. We need to find our own way of meditating. And when we find our way and connect with Spirit, then we have automatically quietened the mind.

I am very late with my post so will not ramble further.

Share your quieting the mind experiences in the comments below.

If you do leave a comment, please make it easy for me and add a link to your blog / post. Thanks.

Teaser for the letter R: Respond Intelligently ...

Written for the #atozchallenge drop by and check out some awesome posts.

My posts so far
All roads lead to your destiny               
Be like the river       
Change occurs at every moment
Do or do not                  
Expectation              
Find the Fun
Great Minds Think Alike
Help Comes
Inaction can
Journeys
Kite Flying
Live as if
Music
Now and then
Open Doors
Patience



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Life's Jigsaw - Vibrational Energy

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each little piece is an aspect of our journey through it. And when at last we find that last piece and fit it into place, we eventually see the meaning of this life.

UBC Day 25
The V Piece - Vibrational Energy

How is it that even though we are millions of miles away,  the Universe and the Divine can communicate with us?   And how is it that we feel connected to people from the different corners of the world?  And if we are all inter connected, how are we connected?

These are questions I've asked constantly and frankly the answer is I don't really know. But what I do believe is that we all have a field of energy that surrounds us. To test this rub your hands together then move them apart and you can actually feel that energy pulsating.

This I believe is our vibrational energy. We use this to set our parameters of our private space. Our vibrational energy also attracts people of similar vibrational levels. When we feel a complete affinity with someone, it probably means that we are at similar levels and when we feel uncomfortable or not in synch with that person, it means that our energies are out of alignment. I'm pretty sure we also use this vibrational energy to sense danger.

If you are familiar with the chakra system or energy centres within our body, our vibrational scale follows that system. A long time ago I used to do Qi Gong. It's aim is to balance the life energy or qi (chi or prana). Unfortunately the classes near my place shut down and moved too far. But while I was practising this regularly I could feel that energy move in me. Perhaps it is time to get back into it and practice at home.

Feeling that energy move through you is an amazing feeling.

image source: google images

Have a balanced and peaceful day. Om Shanti.


The Jigsaw Pieces of my journey so far

Check out some blogs participating in the AtoZ Challenge


Written for: A to Z Challenge and The Ultimate Blogging Challenge


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Life's Jigsaw - Meditation

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each little piece is an aspect of our journey through it. And when at last we find that last piece and fit it into place, we eventually see the meaning of this life.

UBC Day 15
The M Piece - Meditation

My greatest joy comes in love for the Divine, my sweet Lord. And what better way to connect with Him than through meditation.

I started meditating about 15 years ago. It's one of the best practices I've adopted.

When I first started meditating, I started with the traditional method of sitting in silence, cross legged on the floor, finger and thumb together, concentrating on my breath. I was uncomfortable, I moved about constantly and it was downright boring. I failed miserably.

Then I tried guided meditations visualising a grand staircase that you're going down slowly. But I always wanted to climb upwards on a staircase made of clouds!  Or I wanted to walk down a wooded path or I just wanted to sit in a garden on a swing and have a great time.  Or they were going to fast and I wanted it slowed down or they were going to slow and I wanted it faster. I failed miserably again.

Then I tried meditative music but that just made me bored and restless or I fell asleep. I just couldn't still my mind. I failed miserably yet again.

Stilling the mind is obviously not my cup of tea and by this time I was just about ready to give up on meditation, but that thought inside my head wouldn't go away - someday I will find the perfect "thing" that will take me there.

And so many other thoughts came into my head. Perhaps meditation for me is not stillness of mind. Perhaps it's just the ability to tune out and connect with my Lord. That's all, nothing more nothing less.

Meditation took on a completely different meaning for me when one night, while listening to instrumental music - pan flutes, all I could think of was the fusion of souls in a cosmic dance. I was in a different world. Meditation for me just meant the ability to be in a total state of bliss. No need for any messages or answers and no reprogramming of the mind is necessary, just peace and bliss.

The flute mesmerises me. It's melody is haunting.  Here's a song that can take me into that place of bliss where my soul goes on a cosmic dance.

Love Story - pan flutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiXmWWb4v_c

But the one song where I feel that Divine connection the most is George Harrison's My Sweet Lord. I always feel that whenever I get a strong urge to hear this song, it is my sweet Lord who wants to connect with me. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kNGnIKUdMI

Walking in the hills and taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature is also another successful mediation for me.

So no need for all that stillness and breathing. Just find something that resonates and takes you into another world and that's your meditation. Who says one has to be quiet and focussed. George Harrison's song proves that even a song with a fast beat can take you to that place of peace. And the louder the volume the faster I go into that connection.

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo, Maheshwara

Guru Sakshat, Parabrahma,

Tasmayi Shree, Guruve Namah

O Master; You are the Creator, the Sustainer, the Divine, the Destroyer

And the true embodiment of omnipresent, transcendental Divinity.

To You, glorious and supreme Master

I humbly and reverently bow.

My sweet Lord

Hare Rama, Hare Krishna

May you find that state of bliss.


Written for: A to Z Challenge and The Ultimate Blogging Challenge


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Six Word Saturday - Meditation

Six Word Saturday

Meditation brings peace for a while

I love meditating. In the midst of turmoil, it brings peace to my mind for those few moments.

Yesterday was my dad's death anniversary and I've been restless and jittery since then. Don't know why.  I feel out of synch with the Universe today. So this afternoon I did a 15 minute meditation to clear any negative energies, release blocks. Wow that was so powerful.

I've been meditating for many years now but it's rare that I can feel something. I usually feel great after meditating but don't always feel or see anything. But today was a day to feel it.

When I started I could feel a huge weight just below my throat chakra - like a large, heavy hand on me. And then towards the end of the meditation I could feel it lift off. I've never had that before.

I felt great for sometime and then the restlessness started again. So I'll probably do it again tonight.

Please share your meditation stories and if you've had success with any specific meditations, please share them too.

Have a peaceful day. Om Shanti.

Warm Regards

List It - Karate - What it means to me.

When I started Karate 3 years ago, I took it up purely as a sport and martial art. To advance to the next belt was my only aim.

Then about a year ago it dawned on me that for me it was more than a sport and martial art and earning the next belt was no longer important or the focus for me.

I believe that we progress just enough to get what we require from an event or experience and I think I reached that with Karate a year ago.


Karate for me took on a different meaning. So what does Karate mean to me?

o  Keeps me in Balance
    Practicing kata (detailed patterns of movement) engage both the right and left side of your brain and
    body. It keeps me balanced

o  Takes me to a State of Zen
    When I am stressed or feel out of sorts, performing kata and the basic karate movements helps
    to relieve stress. The kiai (short exhalation during a strike) is particularly helpful at
    relieving stress as when done correctly, it channels the energy within into a destructive force. It
    requires timing and focus and hence a clear mind. Relieving stress takes me back to a state of Zen.

o  Sharpens the mind
    Karate demands focus as movements need to be undertaken with precision and right technique.
    In a class it also means keeping up in synchronized harmony with the rest of the karatekas.
    The mind must be engaged at every second. The same applies during kumite (sparring) as even a
    momentary lapse in concentration can lose the match for you.

o  Keeps me Fit
    Karate is very demanding on the body. My fitness levels absolutely soared after I first started.
    And I also lost a lot of weight.  It's a great fitness regime.

o  It's a Meditation
    Kata is meditative as it is a coordinated pattern of movements. As in the kiai, it requires timing,
    focus and clear thinking. After a while, it becomes quite hypnotic if you are in "the zone".

o  My Spiritual Practice
    Karate requires the synchronized engagement of body, mind and soul. Karate demonstrates the
    concept of "Be here now" perfectly which is the essence of a spiritual practice.
    Dan Millman illustrates this concept perfectly in his book "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior".
          Where are you Dan?  Here
          What time is it?  Now
          What are you?  This moment.
    To be in "the karate zone" you need to be here, now, in this moment.

o Teaches me to use circumstances to my advantage
    During kumite you always study and understand your opponent. Then you quickly learn 3 things -
        -  exploit your opponents weak points to make a strike
        -  use your opponents strengths to your advantage (eg defend instead of attack)
        -  take them by surprise - change the pattern
    You can apply the same to everyday circumstances. For example, at work,
        -  when in difficult situations use the strengths of a coworker to help you or
        -  if something isn't working and you've tried over and over again, change the pattern,
           try something different.
    In all honesty I do not enjoy kumite, I am not even good at it, but that's not important.
    What's important is that it has taught me skills that help me everyday particularly at work.

I love karate. I no longer strive for belts, I don't need to. Karate is now more a way of life for me.

Thank you Sensei Scott for introducing karate to me. You are an inspiration.

Osu.