Moving meditation

Colleen and I have both found ourselves to be much more able to obtain greater presence and inner peace throughout our travels since coming in contact with Vipassana. 

Meditation isn't restricted to the hour in the morning and evening, we attempt to maintain this mindfulness throughout the day.
While cycling our minds are quieter, we just observe the sensations in our bodies, the thoughts that arise in our minds, watch the world pass by, and listen to sounds come and go.
Cycling brings even more clarity to the truth of the impermanence of each experience.

While moving throughout the day, I try to experience the world in each present moment without any words, definitions, or labels entering my mind. Experiencing the moment simply as it is without any of the conditioning that tends to put up a screen over the reality of the present.
We are breaking away from this conditioning by simply removing the words, removing expectations, by truly watching.
Each interaction becomes more fufulling, eyes and smiles become brighter,  connections are deeper, my heart feels lighter.
Without craving or aversion each moment is complete and seamlessly flows into the next.

The more we practice the easier it is to remain in this state of just being. When tension does begin to arise I now have a greater ability to understand the need to stop and observe and try to find the source.
Watching this tension without judgement it easily subsides, taking away a knot that otherwise would have held itself inside if I had tried to suppress it.

On our way to Haldwani from Rishakesh we stay one night in a empty room in a Catholic mission hospital and another night with a loving Muslim family. Falling into each experience without trying to force anything, just being open to what comes.

We leave our bicycles in Haldwani for a few days and visit the Himalayan Farm Project where I had spent several months volunteering last year.
It's nice to come back feeling truly like a visitor, though I was always only a visitor. And to see the space fufulling it's purpose, full of passionate loving people from different parts of the globe creating a temporary community together, learning from and with each other how to live a more peaceful harmonious life.
We stay for a couple of days, cook delicious food, share stories and work to restore fertility to the soil.
Colleen and I come down the mountain feeling calm and clear, feeling at peace with the idea of spending the next month learning from another farm a little further north in the mountains.

We first take a bus to the nearby Nepal border to refresh the 6 month duration that we can stay in India at one time.
Then after a quick Nepal visit we head back to Haldwani to start our journey further north into the mountains.

Wishing you all love, peace, and inner harmony in this moment :)

Hi:)

Enjoy each moment as it is:)
Have a nice day and go slowly.

Vipassana- 'as it is'

Wow what a change and mental shift... seeing the world around and within in such a new, clear way.  In regards to the last couple posts it was probably quite apparent that we were questioning the journey and ourselves... not really feeling like our hearts and minds were where we were. What made this even more difficult was that we had created these tensions towards each other within our own minds that hindered being able to love and share with each other fully.  Signing up for Vipassana at this time was the best thing we could have done and will truly be the best thing that you can do for yourself! 

Vipassana means 'as it is' and was rediscovered by Gotama or Buddha in 2500. He had used this Vipassana technique to become enlightened and thankfully this technique was kept and passed down in its authentic form to share the Dhamma with all. 

We all find ourselves in times of unease and misery where we feel stuck in our minds. Often times this feeling gets attributed to external forces rather than looking within to cultivate peace of mind. The Vipassana technique gives one the tool to look within to the unconscious level where the root of these habitual reactions take form and where these habits that create misery can be stopped.  By looking within at this level one can truly experience the sensations and see the truth in the universal law of impermanence. In remaining equanimous by just observing ones sensations one will begin to stop the habitual responses that external forces bring. In looking within one sees the truth without as well. 

The beauty of this technique is that after this 10 day course (which is by donation only with food and lodging provided and is offered everywhere) one has the tools to continue practicing and continue cultivating a calm and quiet mind and follow the path of Dhamma in selfless giving and gratitude. 

We feel very blessed to have taken this course and in coming out of it we truly feel we have new eyes, Seeing the world in such a new way and seeing one another in a new more true way. The tensions are better understood and we feel we now have the power to look within and figure out how and why these tensions arise with each other and in many circumstance. Of course this path to a calm and quiet mind of selfless compassion will be a life long journey but even the first steps down this path show such promise. Just in the first week there had been less stress causing thoughts and more awareness and observation of ourselves and the world around us. 

Please share this wonderful gift with anyone and everyone and with yourself! Check out where the nearest course to you is at www.dhamma.org. if there is not a course facility nearby then take a trip somewhere where there is one:)! It is truly the greatest gift you can give to yourself and others. 

We love you all

Be well and enjoy every moment as it is:) 

We all have the gift of love and compassion... let's give one another love and compassion. 

Ladedah&tathata