Timed Races And Meditation

Right now I'm prepping for my two timed races of the fall - a 12 hour and 24 hour run. I'm really excited about both and the concept of timed races really seem to flow nicely with my meditation efforts of late. The goal of Samatha meditation is calm abiding within each moment - it's a letting go of all else but the breath and at a certain point even letting that go and entering into the deeper Jhana states of absorption. It's letting go of the self and all the concepts that we hold dear that we believe make up the self. Timed races (I believe) can have a similar effect. There is less outside stimulation to drive our efforts - we are left only with our mind and body and even these too we will have to surrender in order to continue. Once will is surpassed we run on spirit and that's the only fuel that sustains. My goal is to run and abide in what each moment offers and in the end - letting go of all else. The results that matter are internal. I only need to remember that.

Peace,
Eric

Blue Skies

In Buddhism there is a lovely analogy of Blue Sky Mind - it's our original nature, our "Buddha" Nature. The sky remains clear and blue no matter what may pass within or beneath it. It does not mistake itself for clouds or airplanes. It doesn't know anything other than blue. Blue and clear is it's nature. Likewise with our own minds - except we commonly mistake our true nature for everything that passes through. Our language points this out clearly - "I am jealous", "I am angry", I am...... - and so we think we are. Yet we're not. We're the clear, blue mind of calm beneath it all. We're Buddha's momentarily confused with a passing cloud of emotion. Meditation reminds us of who we really are. We learn to watch the clouds pass through while we settle into the original stillness of our minds. It's a wonderful experience and one that little by little stays with us outside our sitting meditation. The clouds still come and go and we still may experience the storm of their emotions - yet we remain aware of their fleeting nature while at the same time we retain our sense of blue sky reality. In time, perhaps, the clouds will cease to come all together and we will realize fully only blue skies.

Peace,
Eric

The Law Of Least Effort

Again I'm struck by the yogic law of least effort in it's application in my life. From struggling with a concept in meditation (Jhana absorption) to the mental approach of running a hill during an ultra - it seems the internal battle makes the task all the more harder than it really needs to be. Mentally struggling during meditation actually pushes us farther from the source we wish to reach - it's in the surrender that we finally relax and see that the source was within sight all along. It's the same with running a hill - the steps will be the same regardless of our thoughts on them - yet the struggle of the hill climb will be reduce when we surrender and don't fight the mental battle of "the hill".
These are lessons that I am continuously applying in all different aspects of my life. In fact some days it seems that I'm struggling with the whole concept. And then I remember - and smile - and relax. It's the law of least effort.

Peace,
Eric

Two Steps For Vegan Success

I believe that the key to being a successful vegan is twofold - 1. Eat wholefoods as the mainstay of the diet. A little bit of faux meat or vegan cheese or chips is fine - especially when first making the transition to a plant based diet. But the bulk of calories should come from fruit, vegetables (lots of greens) grains if they can be tolerated (many it seems can't) starchy root vegetables such as potatoes and yams, legumes and lentils. Eat plenty. The secret isn't in how much protein we get or how little carbs we take it - it's calories. Take in enough high quality calories and the details will be covered. 2. Ethics. Eat for something larger than ourselves - have a purpose. We can change and save the world by how and what we eat, we can diminish cruelty, eliminate starvation and erase each and everyone of our global footprints - all by what we choose to put on our plates. Every meal is a simple choice and yet we seem to willfully keep ourselves unaware of the consequences of our food choices. We think it's easier - it's not though - not in the long term when the dietary karma catches up with everyone. Even vegans will suffer for the mindless choice of momentary pleasure others chose for their meals. We're all in this together. A commitment to the ethics of eating will help us stay on the path.
Two steps.
They might prove helpful.
I hope so.

Peace,
Eric

Vegan Made Simple

I'm not sure of the claim made by a few that vegan diets don't "work" for them - it's really not a complicated process and it's as paleo as a diet can possibly be. If we think of ourselves as hunter/gathers then what's easier to gather then fruit, greens and other plant sources. Replace the "hunting" with legumes for the extra protein that is so often touted as the be all of nutritional goodness and there you have it. Try this - a fruit (yes all fruit) smoothie for breakfast. Bananas and dates are the basis for mine since they are calorically dense. A large green salad for lunch and throw in what's available - I do a fruit salad mixed with greens fairly often and I'll also most often have another smoothie for a green smoothie (spinach or kale along with the standbys bananas and dates along with blueberries) Be creative with the salad - half an avocado, lentils and whatever cooked or raw vegetables are available. I prefer to stay raw through the day but that's not really necessary - just a personal choice of mine. For dinner  - another green salad with cooked and or raw vegetables (I lightly sauté - in low sodium, oil free vegetable broth - peppers, onions, mushrooms, asparagus and what ever else I have on hand) another avocado, some red cabbage. Sometimes I will throw in some tofu or Beyond Meat chicken strips or sometimes lentils - it's great to have options. I make a dressing out of Dijon mustard and a splash of Tabasco. None of this is fancy and it takes only minutes. Quite often this salad alone (it's pretty large) is enough to fill me up but I usually follow it up with a baked potato topped with some humus. For variety it can be served with low sodium tomato sauce or BBQ sauce and I'm not opposed to some of the new vegan cheese that's now available - not too often but on occasion. And there we have it! Not enough? Make a bigger salad, eat two potatoes or a larher smoothie in the morning. Just keep things simple, fresh, whole and wholesome.
Good luck!

Peace,
Eric

The Gift Of Inspiration

Of all the blessing I ask to receive I believe inspiration to be the greatest - once inspired genius is lit and we move swift in new creations. No one is bereft who is gifted by inspiration - or who trusts that this gift will come in time and patience. The infinite mind is our mind and inspiration is the creative force that fuels the mind and the soul to expand in greater wonder. It's gift is constant. We only have to be open and ready to receive. We have to trust. We have to act.

Peace,
Eric

It's Not To Late

It's not to late to end the year in an epic fashion - a big race or event that gets us motivated to finish the year and begin the new one with new found faith in our ability and enthusiasm for what's to come. However - as always - it is to late if we don't start, if we don't focus and push aside the self talk that holds us back from great things. The voice that whispers in our ears and tells us to not bother, that we're not good enough or it's to late - that's not our voice. The voice of our soul is stillness and confidence and it whispers too - yet the quiet voice of the soul is drowned out by the mayhem of media and the doubt implanted by well meaning efforts of those too who could not hear their true voice. Be still. Listen. Act.
It's not to late.
In fact...our lives are just now beginning.

Peace,
Eric