Nelson Madela

I'm very much surprised to see some of the replies on Facebook by the followers of leading conservatives and their remarks on the passing of Nelson Mandela. The majority were actually angry that these leaders had kind words to say about the former South African leader. We are quick to forgive our soldiers for what they may have done in the name of war and well we should - no one should be faced with the horrors of war and what a man does to survive, what he does for his comrades and for his country are a personal matter and not really open to judgment. Of course this is different with war crimes where the military will judge to the standards they hold. Mandela sought to liberate his country and for a number of years used violent means to do so - this was after many years of seeking non-violent ways. He thought of himself as a liberator, a soldier and a patriot. There are things in his past I'm sure he regretted. When I read statements condemning Mandela I am reminded of Saul of Damascus and his transformation. Of Francisco the soldier who wounded and tired of war became transformed into a beloved saint. Of Tibetan Saint Milarepa who was a criminal and mass murder who later cleansed his mind through meditation and renunciation. I am not declaring Mandela a saint - yet he was a man transformed by his experiences and he emerged through the silence of his cell with forgiveness and insight uncommon to all but a few. If we judge then lets judge him for this remarkable act and forgive the past as we too might wish to be forgiven.
Just my thoughts.

Peace,
Eric

The Way #60

With no boundaries...all things
pass -
Un-opposed
Through the spacious nature of
the mind.

 

`

 

Meditation isn't the absence of thought - it's the absence of attachment to thoughts that are occurring. When strong attachments gather to specific thoughts they form beliefs. Some beliefs may serve. Others may not. A spacious mind s a free mind and beliefs may be discarded when they no longer serve. Observe thoughts - find the space between them. Rest in this silence. The rest is just details. Happy meditation my friends.

 

 

Peace,

Eric

Beautiful Day

It was a beautiful day to run - high 50's and after the past few weeks of very cold temperatures it felt wonderful to be out and putting in the hard miles. Winter is fast approaching and days like these may be hard to find - it's important to not just take advantage of them but too truly appreciate them. All things in life serve some purpose if we recognize and allow them too. If enduring ill weather serves only to remind us that beautiful, warm days are always ahead then that alone may be enough. Better yet - find beauty (and warmth) wherever we may find ourselves. It's worth a try.

Peace,
Eric

Sway

So much unnoticed - as if our eyes were meant to
view the world but not the secrets of its
gifts.
Yet grace appears in the faith beyond
our senses...it's the sway of leaves
dancing in an unseen breeze.

There's a holy breeze constant in its giving...close your
eyes and sway

 

 

~

 

When the Buddha was quizzed on his status of a deity his denial was followed by the simple answer of who he truly was - "I am awake"

 

We too can awaken - in a single moment. It's the grace that nature offers in the bounty of her gifts. feel the breeze and accept the rain. Invite the sun to warm our bones and tress to give us shade. Be appreciative. Notice. Awaken.

 

Peace,

Eric

5:2 Diet

For a few years I practiced intermittent fasting (IF) and enjoyed it for it's various heath benefits and it kept me pretty lean. When I began ultra running though it became difficult to maintain as my mileage increased and soon after I began distance running I became a vegan (from a vegetarian) and felt that it was harder to get in the quality calories I needed as most vegan fare is low calorie. However recently I have been reading of the 5:2 approach to IF - basically it's fasting for two days out of the week (hence the 5:2) and maintaining a normal diet for the remaining days. This easily fits into a vegan lifestyle especially as on the fasting days 500 to 600 calories are permitted. A large salad and baked potato would cover that nicely. Weight is not an issue but the many health benefits of IF are attractive  -especially reduction of inflammation. So this is where my thoughts are leaving me and it may be worth a try again. I'll keep you posted!

Peace,
Eric

Holy Days

With Christmas season beginning I hope the foremost thought we have is the true purpose of the season. It seems it's become somewhat of a cliche to point this out (year after year) and yet we never seem to quite grasp the holiness of these coming days. Look at the recent Black Friday events that have made the news - people were hurt in an attempt to buy gifts in the spirit of honoring a man crowned the King of Peace - it's beyond ironic - it's sad. These are indeed holy days approaching - regardless of faith and religion and the debatable date of the birth of Christ - they are holy because generations of people have made them holy with their gathered thoughts of what this season means. It's no wonder that these are called the Holidays (Holy days) and not only Christmas. There is a sacred tradition of this time of year from all cultures. If we're still - even for a few moments removed from the bustle of consumerism - we'll fill this holiness. Try it. Perhaps if in tune even slightly to the sacred undertone that fills these days are shopping will be a little less frantic, maybe have a little less importance and our connections to each other, and the earth itself will shine a little brighter. It might be worth a try.

Peace,
Eric

Running - Not This, Nor That

Running doesn't make one spiritual - that's beyond the scope of any activity. Running can strip away our non-essential layers and reveal the aspect of Self we've always been - spirit. It's a meditation of the body - as pain and fatigue set in we discover an ability to keep moving with a faith that we are beyond the experience of any given moment. We are not legs, nor heart, nor lungs or bones - we are not the will which drives us only to a certain point - we are spirit which moves us beyond the point of mind and body to a realm that's seldom known. Running becomes our "Neti, Neti" meditation - an ancient meditation method described in the Upanishads. Neti, Neti means "not this, nor that" it's chief aim being to negate all that is not the Self. In distant running we dismiss all that is not motion and all that does not drive our motion forward - we move beyond the point cramping legs, burning lungs and weakened will - we are only what keeps us moving - spirit.

Peace,
Eric