Dear friends,

As you probably know, I play a lot of piano. Sometimes I sing, sometimes I even chant! Then I do a dancing type of workout, a lot of stretching and waving around.

I also practice TM (transcendental meditation) and chant, "Aum" usually but not always.

It dawns on me that some people don't really have the time for TM, so instead of "med"ing their "tation," as in med-itation, hopefully they can be mindful while acting, or, I have a new word: actitation. Like how the Buddhists say "mindfulness." And of course no-one should be in a meditative trance when driving, or doing critical activities!

Sometimes when playing music I get into a state, I don't know if it is "alpha state" or what, but it feels meditative. When playing piano it wouldn't really be logical to start chanting "Aum," well knowing me now I'll go try it...

I have a very deep bossa-profundo voice and once was chanting a very low tone, it got down to the low "A" on the piano. Guess what happenned? The TV and computer screens I was looking at started vibrating! Electric power is at 55 to 60 times per second, and the note A=440,220,110,55! My head was vibrating at the same speed as the screen! Did you know that the "tritone" of "E" and "B flat" played together is the same tone as the OPERATOR "0" on the telephone? Well these two are just examples of things overlapping, doing one thing and it "runs into" another.

If I'm in a meditative space and playing a song, I don't really need to chant, or "empty the mind" as Buddhists say, I'm already "occupying the mind." Some people would say that you have to do certain yoga movements and stretches, but I believe that often the body knows best, and to some people walking, doing their work, is or can be their yoga! To some people, getting into their work is their meditation!

I always advocate people should clear the mind of it's constant chatter and "hear the silent gap between thoughts" as Dr. Deepak Chopra says, but at the same time, if a person flows with their work or job, people shouldn't act like they are not "yoking them selves," or "medicating their tating" already! Also, someone's being "wound up" may be what helps them get through the day, perhaps they need the stress that they are in?!?

People should suggest yoga and meditation to people when it will help them, but sometimes a suggestion to be more yoga-like or meditative WITH WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING is just as good of a suggestion. Just my tots on d subject.

Love and light being, Teo

Thank you Teo.

quote:

actitation.

is a perfect word.
This is a very good topic.
When I walk I find myself in a state of meditation, and the same thing happens when I just sit and enjoy my garden.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for this very informative post Teo.

quote:

People should suggest yoga and meditation to people when it will help them, but sometimes a suggestion to be more yoga-like or meditative WITH WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING is just as good of a suggestion. Just my tots on d subject.

All of us have very little free time, so this post is really helpful.

Love
Vicky

Speaking as someone with a degree in Physical Education from Oberlin with Yoga as the focus, and as someone who has had a continuing practice as a teacher and coach of hatha yoga, I would offer the other side of the argument.

While it is important to see how our everyday life can be just as "yogic" (it is a real adjective) as the practicing of postures, that the posturing part of Yoga is as important as mantras, visualizations and all the rest of the meditative arts that we call "yogic." This would include much of daily love and other elective practices like martial arts that are meditative but which do differ from Yoga in that they are not as concerned about Ahimsa - not doing harm - in the martial arts. They don't start fights but justify a bit of harming as long as it is in self-defense. I don't pretend that Aikido is Yoga. It's probably the least agressive of the martial arts next to Tai Chi.

Preparing a cup of hot tea, singing a song or making love could be Yoga or yogic - on the other hand.

It is curious how one can't avoid applying a sort of yogic perspective to both daily life and other meditative practices, even if it grates against the wish to be a pacifist.

One could become a meditative pugilist if one had a mind to. Whether or not it is yogic the issue is that in Professional Boxing, it becomes a matter like spare the rod spoil the child. Before I would go so far as to imply that we can be yogic about everything we do, I would point out that there are many things we do that are not done with awareness by their very nature. If we were aware of them we would not do them we would put a check on that sort of behavior as we want to as a rule where it involves lying stealing killing or coveting.

Isn't beating someone up by definition, heading in the direction of killing them?

It is sad to see for example, the Greatest, whose greatness was for being a spiritual person and not allowing himself to be drafted to kill overseas, now aging and showing how damaging the Thrilla in Manila was to both him and his dance partner.

I'd rather not do a rope-a-dope meditation. Sometimes it feels like the world is making me do a rope-a-dope. Sometimes there is a day like that.

Preparing a burger cannot by definition be yogic either, nor can slaughtering a cow, a pig or a chicken.

It's never too late to meditate. Ali's spirit still flies like a butterfly.

Does whacking a child in the bottom train the child? Or does it merely let a frustrated parent take out an agression?

I've taken care of children. One in particular at the age of four hit me in the head by swinging around a dog's leash trying to be a dangerous little devil - and you'd best believe she took a solid one in the form of a slap with the hand from yogic me on the bottom, and the bad behavior did immediately stop.

I recall that the spanking was not done meditatively. Some things simply can't be done meditatively.

A yoga posture is a sure thing. My suggestion is to keep returning to them with all their wonderful animal and vegetable names etcetera, and don't make excuses because you are getting old and lazy (like me).

A little pranayama can really clear out the sinuses, and you have sit down to do that. You are old father William and why are you standing on your head?

Aum Mani Padme Hum (the jewel is made manifest in the thousand petaled lotus).

Namastes to all your lights. . .

Nick

Did I write "Daily Love?" I meant "daily life." We should be so fortunate as to have lots of love on a daily basis.

NB

Thank you Teo for another fabulous post.

I always respect Dr. Deepak Chopra's views.

quote:

I always advocate people should clear the mind of it's constant chatter and "hear the silent gap between thoughts" as Dr. Deepak Chopra says, but at the same time, if a person flows with their work or job, people shouldn't act like they are not "yoking them selves," or "medicating their tating" already! Also, someone's being "wound up" may be what helps them get through the day, perhaps they need the stress that they are in?!?