Time: 8:36am
What: 20 minutes seated practice
Focus: First Foundation / Exercise 1 - 4
Lots of "firsts". First day back to work. First Foundation of Mindfulness. First time sitting with new form in practice. Feelings prior to sitting were tired, rushed... Had a heated conversation (about nothing of importance... funny how that happens) to be abruptly ended in order to have time to sit. Last words were "Shut up! I need to sit". Sat my bottom on the cushion and began reading the first Mindfulness Training... Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion... Doh! Reflected on more skillful means of being in conversation that demonstrated a commitment to compassion. TBD. Felt confusion around the new form. Plan to reread (done and done!*) the outlined material and flesh out the practice and/or form questions. Touched a sense of calmness. In, out, breath awareness, long, long, oh... there's calm... go there...
*After rereading the material, I feel as though this is the form outlined by the first four exercises in both the Anapanasati and Satipatthana Sutta... Awareness of breath. Labeling of breath (In/Out, Long/Short). Expand awareness to include awareness of entire body. Notice feeling of calmness and pay attention to it. Thoughts arise, notice and/or label "thinking". Return to breath awareness.
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