Wow, what a fantastic read this morning. I’ve never heard of the two streams related to meditation but immediately felt like I knew them intimately. I’ve always felt like an outsider looking in as other people move around me . This sounds sad or bad but it’s isn’t, it’s just how I’m wired I think. I observe and can feel overwhelmed and exhausted from too many emotions, my own and those I observe and consequently absorb and feel from others. I had to learn a certain level of detachment, of seeing without allowing what I see to consume me. As an empath I can feel very intensely and this can be incredibly painful. Especially when I see pain and suffering in animals or humans who do not have a voice and are helpless. I’m still trying to figure out how to see in this case and help without falling apart myself. The streams feel oddly like home but also like I’m not really a part of them. I’m standing in the middle of them as I watch everyone else in them. Maybe there could be bridges for people to get out and cross to the other one ? ( vivid imagination anyone ? ) in any case, I don’t want to go into either stream. I want to sit in the woods by the trees with nature and become nature.
I approach my own meditation in this informal way as well. Everything can be viewed as meditation. When I’m walking and my mind tries to take over, I bring it back to the beauty of nature. When I’m stuck in traffic or a long line I try to create a bubble of peace around me and focus on stillness in my mind and it tells me that I’m at home there and I can’t change my surroundings at the moment so focus on the self, just like coming back to home base.
Thank you for this. I feel very peaceful 💕
And apologies for my ramblings. I haven’t even had coffee :) but felt the need to respond and share how much your thoughts and writings touch me.
On another note, I love the neurodivergent retreat idea and would love to go, but am unsure if I can make this one. Hopefully this will become a regular offering
Hello Jeff. I read you this Sunday morning. Now waving to you from Gaspésie, Québec, Canada. I work as a psychiatrist and paddle my canoe in whitewater for fun. Your parallels between whitewater rafting and the deap stream of life are beautiful. We could have fun playing with this comparison. You can’t fight the river. You have to commit. Dealing with obstacles is an occasion to find a calm eddy behind. You can surf fast moving waves, being in contact with their speed and power but finding your own pace and balance, and look around to orient yourself and make decisions in your way down the stream. You can paddle solo or decide to paddle tandem to share the challenges and achievements. The river is sometimes calm, but not for long.
Morning Jeff 🌟 sending you a lot of love and big buckets of thanks for what you provide. Meditation has changed me both inside and out. Your teachings are of deep comfort and help. I pilfer a lot of your stuff within my work as a therapist. I know you’ll be glad to hear that. Big hug, Karen
Morning Jeff! A nice gift to see this email and the 1st thing I read upon awakening! Your beautiful words, thoughts teachings and reminders of the Buddhist Paths are comforting.
Choosing to jump out rather than thrash and fight the stream’s current has been my challenge as of recent and you’re right ,, it can be lonely!!
I had an opportunity to break away from work and travel to a retreat center in the northern Italian countryside with my daughter ( the best!) for a week! For the first time in a long time was able to give way and slip into a peaceful routine of mostly unguided long meditations ( without falling asleep lol) in nature. Words cannot convey the joy and tranquility of mind-body presence and stillness! Especially in a world that seemingly continues to invade and challenge my meditation practice more than ever!
Thanks , Jeff for this momentary sanctuary as we go forth and navigate all that our streams offer today. Hoping to find a good line to paddle inn or around! Feeling empowered that loving kindness and meditation will steer us right!
So grateful for this community you’ve created and the content and camaraderie it provides. 🙏😊 🩷
Wow, what a fantastic read this morning. I’ve never heard of the two streams related to meditation but immediately felt like I knew them intimately. I’ve always felt like an outsider looking in as other people move around me . This sounds sad or bad but it’s isn’t, it’s just how I’m wired I think. I observe and can feel overwhelmed and exhausted from too many emotions, my own and those I observe and consequently absorb and feel from others. I had to learn a certain level of detachment, of seeing without allowing what I see to consume me. As an empath I can feel very intensely and this can be incredibly painful. Especially when I see pain and suffering in animals or humans who do not have a voice and are helpless. I’m still trying to figure out how to see in this case and help without falling apart myself. The streams feel oddly like home but also like I’m not really a part of them. I’m standing in the middle of them as I watch everyone else in them. Maybe there could be bridges for people to get out and cross to the other one ? ( vivid imagination anyone ? ) in any case, I don’t want to go into either stream. I want to sit in the woods by the trees with nature and become nature.
I approach my own meditation in this informal way as well. Everything can be viewed as meditation. When I’m walking and my mind tries to take over, I bring it back to the beauty of nature. When I’m stuck in traffic or a long line I try to create a bubble of peace around me and focus on stillness in my mind and it tells me that I’m at home there and I can’t change my surroundings at the moment so focus on the self, just like coming back to home base.
Thank you for this. I feel very peaceful 💕
And apologies for my ramblings. I haven’t even had coffee :) but felt the need to respond and share how much your thoughts and writings touch me.
On another note, I love the neurodivergent retreat idea and would love to go, but am unsure if I can make this one. Hopefully this will become a regular offering
Hello Jeff. I read you this Sunday morning. Now waving to you from Gaspésie, Québec, Canada. I work as a psychiatrist and paddle my canoe in whitewater for fun. Your parallels between whitewater rafting and the deap stream of life are beautiful. We could have fun playing with this comparison. You can’t fight the river. You have to commit. Dealing with obstacles is an occasion to find a calm eddy behind. You can surf fast moving waves, being in contact with their speed and power but finding your own pace and balance, and look around to orient yourself and make decisions in your way down the stream. You can paddle solo or decide to paddle tandem to share the challenges and achievements. The river is sometimes calm, but not for long.
Morning Jeff 🌟 sending you a lot of love and big buckets of thanks for what you provide. Meditation has changed me both inside and out. Your teachings are of deep comfort and help. I pilfer a lot of your stuff within my work as a therapist. I know you’ll be glad to hear that. Big hug, Karen
Thanks for this. Expertly expressed some ideas I’ve been thinking about
Thank you! This is great.
Morning Jeff! A nice gift to see this email and the 1st thing I read upon awakening! Your beautiful words, thoughts teachings and reminders of the Buddhist Paths are comforting.
Choosing to jump out rather than thrash and fight the stream’s current has been my challenge as of recent and you’re right ,, it can be lonely!!
I had an opportunity to break away from work and travel to a retreat center in the northern Italian countryside with my daughter ( the best!) for a week! For the first time in a long time was able to give way and slip into a peaceful routine of mostly unguided long meditations ( without falling asleep lol) in nature. Words cannot convey the joy and tranquility of mind-body presence and stillness! Especially in a world that seemingly continues to invade and challenge my meditation practice more than ever!
Thanks , Jeff for this momentary sanctuary as we go forth and navigate all that our streams offer today. Hoping to find a good line to paddle inn or around! Feeling empowered that loving kindness and meditation will steer us right!
So grateful for this community you’ve created and the content and camaraderie it provides. 🙏😊 🩷
Thank you! Grateful this home base subscription is on my path :)