A Day of Mindfulness in CDMX
You might be wondering, so here's how it works -
Body stretch
Before sitting, we all do some yoga-like stretches together. This prepares the body for a long period of stillness. In fact, whereas many people enjoy the benefits of yoga for its own sake, its original purpose was to prepare the body for meditation. There are few things more delicious than sitting for meditation after a comprehensive body stretching and twisting session. Ahhhhhh....!
Guided meditation
With the use of the friendly bell to move from one stage to the next, whoever is guiding gently talks the group of practitioners (the sangha) through the first four of the Mindfulness exercises:
(i) breathing in, I know I'm breathing in; breathing out, I know I'm breathing out.
In... out... (uniting our body - through the breath - and our mind - by knowing 馃檹)
As a natural consequence of maintaining our attention on our breath like this, our in-breath deepens, and our out-breath slows.
(ii) breathing in, I follow my in-breath from beginning to end; breathing out, I follow my out-breath from beginning to end.
Follow in-breath... follow out-breath...
As a natural consequence of following our in-breath and out-breath, we feel calmer and our body feels at ease.
(iii) breathing in, I feel calm; breathing out, my body feels at ease.
Calm... ease...
As a natural consequence of feeling calm and at ease, a gentle half-smile forms on the corners of our mouth... our eye muscles relax.
Even in the case where a half smile does not form itself, we can go ahead and create it - this is the smile yoga - a half smile helps our parasympathetic nervous system kick in so that our body might rest, restore, heal, digest, repair.
(iv) breathing in, I smile; breathing out, I release all tension in my body.
Smile... release...
As a natural consequence of smiling and releasing, we bring our attention to the present moment, and we realise it's a wonderful moment.
(v) breathing in, I bring my attention to the present moment; breathing out, I realise it's a wonderful moment.
Present moment... wonderful moment
Walking meditation
Silent meditation
After sitting through the guided meditation and walking mindfully for some minutes appreciating the wonders of nature and life, we congregate in the meditation hall once again to sit in silence and enjoy the fruits of the practice.
Dharma sharing
Dharma means the teaching. Today's reading was from Thich Nhat Hanh's Fear. The section we read today was about fear being like a dagger in our heart and how the suffering this creates makes us behave in such a way that creates suffering for others. Such a simple, kind way of explaining our own and others' behaviour... I can't say much more about this at the moment - today's reading is being processed 馃挆馃挒
After the reading, the forum opens for everyone to share any impressions or experiences in relation to the reading or the morning's practice. You can speak or decide not to.
Mindful eating
I took this photo early so this is a cheeky sneak-peek at what was to come. Lasagne, cous-cous, salads, enchiladas, and many other delicacies.
Here's an extreme vegan buffet 馃構:
We help ourselves and sit in silence. Next, the New Contemplations Before Eating are read and then we enjoy our meal in silence, savouring every morsel, and occasionally looking up to enjoy the fact that we are sharing a meal within a community.
Wonderful practice!
Total relaxation
Back to the meditation hall, we all lie comfortably on our backs while someone leads the session.
That's it!
Time to go home and enjoy the rest of the day 馃挀馃槉
How did you spend the day today?
Body stretch
Before sitting, we all do some yoga-like stretches together. This prepares the body for a long period of stillness. In fact, whereas many people enjoy the benefits of yoga for its own sake, its original purpose was to prepare the body for meditation. There are few things more delicious than sitting for meditation after a comprehensive body stretching and twisting session. Ahhhhhh....!
Guided meditation
With the use of the friendly bell to move from one stage to the next, whoever is guiding gently talks the group of practitioners (the sangha) through the first four of the Mindfulness exercises:
(i) breathing in, I know I'm breathing in; breathing out, I know I'm breathing out.
In... out... (uniting our body - through the breath - and our mind - by knowing 馃檹)
As a natural consequence of maintaining our attention on our breath like this, our in-breath deepens, and our out-breath slows.
(ii) breathing in, I follow my in-breath from beginning to end; breathing out, I follow my out-breath from beginning to end.
Follow in-breath... follow out-breath...
As a natural consequence of following our in-breath and out-breath, we feel calmer and our body feels at ease.
(iii) breathing in, I feel calm; breathing out, my body feels at ease.
Calm... ease...
As a natural consequence of feeling calm and at ease, a gentle half-smile forms on the corners of our mouth... our eye muscles relax.
Even in the case where a half smile does not form itself, we can go ahead and create it - this is the smile yoga - a half smile helps our parasympathetic nervous system kick in so that our body might rest, restore, heal, digest, repair.
(iv) breathing in, I smile; breathing out, I release all tension in my body.
Smile... release...
As a natural consequence of smiling and releasing, we bring our attention to the present moment, and we realise it's a wonderful moment.
(v) breathing in, I bring my attention to the present moment; breathing out, I realise it's a wonderful moment.
Present moment... wonderful moment
Walking meditation
Silent meditation
After sitting through the guided meditation and walking mindfully for some minutes appreciating the wonders of nature and life, we congregate in the meditation hall once again to sit in silence and enjoy the fruits of the practice.
Dharma sharing
Dharma means the teaching. Today's reading was from Thich Nhat Hanh's Fear. The section we read today was about fear being like a dagger in our heart and how the suffering this creates makes us behave in such a way that creates suffering for others. Such a simple, kind way of explaining our own and others' behaviour... I can't say much more about this at the moment - today's reading is being processed 馃挆馃挒
After the reading, the forum opens for everyone to share any impressions or experiences in relation to the reading or the morning's practice. You can speak or decide not to.
Mindful eating
Here's an extreme vegan buffet 馃構:
We help ourselves and sit in silence. Next, the New Contemplations Before Eating are read and then we enjoy our meal in silence, savouring every morsel, and occasionally looking up to enjoy the fact that we are sharing a meal within a community.
Wonderful practice!
Total relaxation
Back to the meditation hall, we all lie comfortably on our backs while someone leads the session.
That's it!
Time to go home and enjoy the rest of the day 馃挀馃槉
How did you spend the day today?
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