Priorities and habit forming

From a spiritual point of view, doing something in a particular way with a particular intent is habit forming. The repercussions, good or bad, that stem from those actions, are therefore more likely to occur in the future, simply because of this increasing tendency. Psychologically this makes sense too. People say someone is "set in their ways" or even "in a rut".

I spent nearly seven hours on Saturday at Dharma class, including the short journey to and fro. For part of that time I was in discussion with someone about meditating, or rather they were admitting to me that lack of meditation was their problem. We both enthused about the effects of morning meditations, but somehow my colleague said they always found other things to do with their time - like an extra half hour of sleep. And so a tendency sets in.

I related to them a quote I had heard from Dr. Susan Jeffers that goes something like: "If we keep on doing what we've done, we'll keep on getting what we've got." My colleague noted this down gratefully. This morning, in the bath, I thought of another quote. I can't remember who said or wrote it but it's even more stark. "When we say to someone, 'I don't have time,' what we're really saying is, 'I value something else more.'"

The path ahead

I think I have a need, a need to feel as though I'm on a journey. I think I need know that there are Stages of the Path and to hear journey reports from fellow travellers who are journeying ahead of me.

Perhaps, for me, playtime is over. I've discovered a lot and I've had a lot of fun, but I see opportunity slipping away with every minute. I feel I need to walk that path now.

This does not mean I'll proceed with deadly seriousness. My steps are light not trudging. Nor does it mean that I will put play away or avoid it, for I see this as a Joyful Path.

I'll send journey reports! :)

Play as Being 32

• Breathing in the imagined scent of rose petals.
• Just breathing, or being breathed, or being both breath and breather.
  

Play as Being 31

• I reject the short term view. It may be conventional and pragmatic but it has brought endless suffering. Now is the time to stop. I embrace the long term view, the essence of Being.
• There is no escape. I have to do this sooner or later.
  

Play as Being 30

• 9 seconds, and a different notion of Play as Being occurs to me... How about if, instead of play being a game, the play were a drama, a performance? The curtain rises and I come on stage. Why am I clothed this way? Who am I playing alongside? Is the play scripted or unscripted? If scripted, who wrote the script? If unscripted, what freedom do I have to create the scenery I will find in the next act? Who directs this play? Who is the audience? Where is it taking place? HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN THE FINAL ACT IS OVER?
• Free will or predestination: which is true? What a silly question!!
• No one should use the word "should" in a sentence.
• Swimming in solid objects, in Real Life not Second Life, can be a revelation!
  

Want IQ?

My teacher told me tonight of a 4 month retreat she went on some time ago. During that time she participated in 4 meditation sessions every day, totalling 8 hours a day. Understandably, her powers of concentration improved no end.

Concentration is a mental factor whose function is to bring peace. It also brings suppleness - a comfort and flexibility - to the mind. But something else as well. During the retreat, her teacher told her that the effect of this level of sustained improved concentration was the equivalent to increasing your IQ by 40 points!

My teacher is a genius. Or was! :)

Play as Being 29

• If I am playing, what am I worried about!?
• If I am playing, why am I waiting!?