The process of mindful living, as we practice and teach it, always begins with purpose. We always return to the question “what matters most to me?”. From acknowledging the answer to that question we are presented with the challenge of expressing those values through intention and action. This is the meaning of purpose.
Now that we have successfully initiated Red Maple Mindful Living in Pembroke and Renfrew County, we too, as the community of mindful living, have to ask ourselves how will we express our commitment to purposeful living in practice and learning for the coming year. Some of this will simply mean continuing practice sessions as we began last fall. However, as we learn of different needs in our community, we are called to provide different formats and material for different needs. As outlined in our monthly newsletter, SODAI, the first of these new initiatives will be the presentation of our CORE mindful living program. This multi-week program will introduce our unique Red Maple approach for the first time.
Further, the presentation of the CORE program represents more than another learning opportunity. In addition to the training we will provide, the experience of working with our approach will contribute in a significant way to the preparation of a new publication which will further present our approach to a wider audience.
As this year opens up for us, we are all invited to participate in the learning, teaching, practice and community of mindful living. Each of us has unique gifts and needs, and our participation in Red Maple activities provides many opportunities to give and receive, for the benefit of ourselves and our community of practice.
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Monday 29 December 2014
Sunday 21 December 2014
ATTENTION AT CHRISTMAS
ATTENTION AT CHRISTMAS
Its everywhere this month - blinking lights, seasonal music, signs and advertising. Christmas is the Eldorado for the machine called consumer capitalism. We find ourselves bombarded and bathed in stimulation to get us “in the season”. Whatever your thoughts on the commercialism of the Christian and Jewish celebrations, there’s no denying this is a time of year for over stimulation and over-indulgence. Not much can be more of a challenge to mindful living than this end of year spasm.
For those of us engaged in the process of mindful living, we have some things we can do to preserve the equilibrium and calm we have tried to sustain for the other eleven months. Here are some suggestions:
• mix keep your social schedule with high and low demand events; quiet times with close friends and family are important;
• likewise, mix up meals, so most are normal and balanced, indulge as you like, but balance that with some sensible eating;
• set limits on alcohol consumption, don’t drink and drive;
• if your practice time is interrupted, as it is for most at Christmas, set some specific re-boot time in early January when you will get back to a schedule;
• take regular walks away from the commercial areas, stay connected with nature;
• find as many ways as possible to express your gratitude for all you are receiving
• spread your generosity around to the less fortunate
• set sensible limits on your spending
• emphasize relationships not more stuff
• whether you are or aren’t religious, remember the “reason for the season”.
Yours, on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Its everywhere this month - blinking lights, seasonal music, signs and advertising. Christmas is the Eldorado for the machine called consumer capitalism. We find ourselves bombarded and bathed in stimulation to get us “in the season”. Whatever your thoughts on the commercialism of the Christian and Jewish celebrations, there’s no denying this is a time of year for over stimulation and over-indulgence. Not much can be more of a challenge to mindful living than this end of year spasm.
For those of us engaged in the process of mindful living, we have some things we can do to preserve the equilibrium and calm we have tried to sustain for the other eleven months. Here are some suggestions:
• mix keep your social schedule with high and low demand events; quiet times with close friends and family are important;
• likewise, mix up meals, so most are normal and balanced, indulge as you like, but balance that with some sensible eating;
• set limits on alcohol consumption, don’t drink and drive;
• if your practice time is interrupted, as it is for most at Christmas, set some specific re-boot time in early January when you will get back to a schedule;
• take regular walks away from the commercial areas, stay connected with nature;
• find as many ways as possible to express your gratitude for all you are receiving
• spread your generosity around to the less fortunate
• set sensible limits on your spending
• emphasize relationships not more stuff
• whether you are or aren’t religious, remember the “reason for the season”.
Yours, on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Friday 12 December 2014
END OF PROGRAM YEAR
END OF PROGRAM YEAR
This is the final week of programming at the Red Maple Mindful Living Center for 2014. This has been a turbulent year, full of hellos and goodbyes, growth and changes. When I was looking at our expectations for 2014, the Year of the Horse, the main themes were those of movement, “herd” development and leadership. It is not difficult to see those themes playing out in our experience of RMML. It is never easy to relocate, but all the more difficult when we leave not one, but two familiar and supportive environments. We had thought to concentrate on our familiar presence at the Marguerite Center, only to realize that their own uncertainty made our co-location problematic.
Perhaps more significant than the theme of movement, is the theme of leadership. Never before, in our 12 year history, have we been in such a position of leadership. We are the pre-eminent training and practice site for mindful living in all of rural Eastern Ontario. We have set the bar very high for these practices and living. It is not difficult to find others who are piggy-backing on the prominence of mindfulness and making that an add-on to their services. Sadly, very few have the training and understanding to do so in an authentic manner. For us, we are not a me-too position, but rather the position of demonstrating the highest quality, most current, and most authoritative presentation of mindful living.
We’ll talk about next year over coming weeks, so this is the appropriate place to express gratitude. First, and foremost, we are grateful for the strength and commitment of all those who have kept Red Maple active over this year. Week after week this dedicated group shares the responsibility described above. We are grateful to former and present landlords who have ensured excellent spaces for our activities.
Note: Last Wednesday was the first, but likely not the last occasion, when it was necessary to cancel our practice session due to dangerous weather conditions. In general, I prefer to err on the side of caution. Myself, I prefer not to drive when there is some risk from weather, and I hope this is similar to other practitioners. My apologies for this inconvenience.
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
This is the final week of programming at the Red Maple Mindful Living Center for 2014. This has been a turbulent year, full of hellos and goodbyes, growth and changes. When I was looking at our expectations for 2014, the Year of the Horse, the main themes were those of movement, “herd” development and leadership. It is not difficult to see those themes playing out in our experience of RMML. It is never easy to relocate, but all the more difficult when we leave not one, but two familiar and supportive environments. We had thought to concentrate on our familiar presence at the Marguerite Center, only to realize that their own uncertainty made our co-location problematic.
Perhaps more significant than the theme of movement, is the theme of leadership. Never before, in our 12 year history, have we been in such a position of leadership. We are the pre-eminent training and practice site for mindful living in all of rural Eastern Ontario. We have set the bar very high for these practices and living. It is not difficult to find others who are piggy-backing on the prominence of mindfulness and making that an add-on to their services. Sadly, very few have the training and understanding to do so in an authentic manner. For us, we are not a me-too position, but rather the position of demonstrating the highest quality, most current, and most authoritative presentation of mindful living.
We’ll talk about next year over coming weeks, so this is the appropriate place to express gratitude. First, and foremost, we are grateful for the strength and commitment of all those who have kept Red Maple active over this year. Week after week this dedicated group shares the responsibility described above. We are grateful to former and present landlords who have ensured excellent spaces for our activities.
Note: Last Wednesday was the first, but likely not the last occasion, when it was necessary to cancel our practice session due to dangerous weather conditions. In general, I prefer to err on the side of caution. Myself, I prefer not to drive when there is some risk from weather, and I hope this is similar to other practitioners. My apologies for this inconvenience.
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Sunday 7 December 2014
Friday 5 December 2014
THE LITTLE STORE
THE LITTLE STORE
Our practice space has expanded its services to all our loyal practitioners with the introduction of The Little Store. We’ve always had books and things people could borrow and that hasn’t changed. Now, with this little addition, we have made available a small selection of popular items for mindful living folks.
The first items are:
• malas - these are what are commonly called meditation beads. We purchased a bunch from 3Trees in Ottawa, all in a reasonable price range
• prayer flags - these are an unusual but common Tibetan item which features a set of multi-coloured (chakra colours, in fact) flags printed with prayers and chants.
• Walk Like A Mountain - Ray’s groundbreaking (or ground-walking at least) work on contemplative walking
People have asked for bells and other items which we will add in the New Year.
In addition, we will add to our lending library of books by bringing in some Buddhist pictures and sculpture which, like the books, can be borrowed for a month. Some of these items will actually be marked for sale as well.
Yours, on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Our practice space has expanded its services to all our loyal practitioners with the introduction of The Little Store. We’ve always had books and things people could borrow and that hasn’t changed. Now, with this little addition, we have made available a small selection of popular items for mindful living folks.
The first items are:
• malas - these are what are commonly called meditation beads. We purchased a bunch from 3Trees in Ottawa, all in a reasonable price range
• prayer flags - these are an unusual but common Tibetan item which features a set of multi-coloured (chakra colours, in fact) flags printed with prayers and chants.
• Walk Like A Mountain - Ray’s groundbreaking (or ground-walking at least) work on contemplative walking
People have asked for bells and other items which we will add in the New Year.
In addition, we will add to our lending library of books by bringing in some Buddhist pictures and sculpture which, like the books, can be borrowed for a month. Some of these items will actually be marked for sale as well.
Yours, on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
Monday 1 December 2014
LOOKING BACK
Each year for most of the last 10, when we come together on the 3rd Saturday in December, we have used that as an opportunity to look back on the past year. (This year it will be the 2nd Saturday, December 13). On the one hand, we reflect on our announced intentions from January to consider how on track we were. (These are posted in the tab on the Red Maple Leaflet blog). On the other, it is necessary for us to remind ourselves who has contributed to our activities so we can express our gratitude to them. These two activities act together to mark a conclusion to our year, leaving us ready to meet again in the month of January, to set our intentions for the coming year. For this reason, December’s theme is always “looking back”.
Over this past year I have realized there is another aspect to this activity, one which we are wise to highlight. This is momentum. By this I mean to bring us back to the idea we express in our saying “action follows intention - what’s got your attention?” We are never in the position of starting fresh, there is no point in our lives when we are unmotivated by our prior actions, and actions around us. Our lives are, by definition, interdependent with whatever is happening around us. All our choices and decisions occur within a context of countless other decisions and choices, all of which impact on us in some way. The Ayn Rand-ish image of the man of determined power who charts his own course based on his will alone is patently a fantasy, one ignorant of this reality of interdependence.
This looking back needs to measure the form and sources of momentum on which our lives ride. It is like our image of paddling our boat across a wide and rapidly flowing river. We can aim for the other shore, we can have that intention. However, we are wisest to align ourselves with the motion of the current and observe other forces in that stream, including all those other boats among which we are striving. If we try to force our will on the river, we court disaster. Momentum means we act in concert with the river, accepting its will and strength. We will reach the other shore, of this there is no doubt. We will do so most expediently when we work with, not against or ignorant of, the momentum of the river.
Yours , on purpose,
Ray
Mindful Living in Renfrew County ....What’s got your attention?
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