So, dear ones....
Today begins the second week of this month's Daily Practice. If you're just joining us, you can look back at the previous posts to learn about this month's practice of the "Waking Up Gatha" and the "Gatha On Impermanence."
Today, I am simply reminding those of you who have made the personal commitment to take up this month's Daily Practice, to share any and all insights, questions, experiences you might like to share. I am hoping to hear from those of you who have taken up this practice so that we can create the situation of a 'virtual sangha.' Also, hearing how you're doing with this month's practice can influence future month practices.
So, have you noticed any effects of the Waking Gatha on how you move through your day? Has the evening gatha provoked any interesting, perhaps challenging thoughts and/or feelings? Has it been difficult or fairly easy to remember to practice the gathas?
I'm all 'ears!'
metta
frank jude
I have remembered reciting the Gathas more than not. The Gatha on Impermanence rests on the night stand by my bed. Since I have the lamp on my side, I am reminded to read the Gatha and turn off that light. That offers time to reflect before falling to sleep. I noticed busy, searching nondescript dreams last night.
ReplyDeleteMay waking Gatha is on my sitting area alter. I am now reading this by the light of a candle. Beginning my time with the Gatha has become more light hearted. It even seems as if my focus is more clear.
The practice of Gathas, as well as bells of mindfulness, together are offering more frequent moments of awareness. This is good.
Thank you.
Ah, thanks for sharing your experience so far. It's interesting that you use the phrase "light-hearted" in describing the effect of the Morning/Waking Gatha. I too find that even if the night's sleep had not been completely restful, that reciting the gatha 're-sets' my mood. The whole day seems to take on a new 'light' after saying that gatha and re-commiting to awakening!
ReplyDeletemetta
frank jude
I find that morning and evening reflection on the two gathas to be a great way to frame my day.
ReplyDeleteThe morning gatha is perfect for setting my focus for a new day, since the last two lines nicely define how I want to live my life. In fact, I've adapted part of it into the banner statement on my blog, so that I see it again every time I log in. I use the word "aspire, because, to me, "vow" and "intend" imply that all I have to do to achieve it is to decide to do so. I don't feel like I'm that far along, but rather, need to focus and work at it every day.
For me, the essence of the evening gatha is the line "Let me reflect carefully on how I have acted."
So it sets up a nice daily process. Set the right tone and focus at the beginning of my day, practice my intentions to the best of my ability during the day, and reflect upon it at the end of the day.
Thanks so much for your observations!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the practice of these two gathas forms a frame for the whole day, and believe me, most of my day is fairly unstructured, so the structure provided by the frame makes it feel like all else is 'contained' within these two simple contemplations.
I also appreciate your comment about aspiration! And in that case, I'm aspiring to live in such a way as well!
metta
frank jude
The gathas have been an excellent reminder for me to practice gratitude, discipline and patience. A couple things that I feel need a little extra thought in my life. I find that the morning gatha inspires me to really "live fully in every moment" by being grateful for my family, my life situation and opportunities to share a smile with someone everyday. That little extra reminder in the morning really goes a long way in establishing a more thoughtful routine in an unstructured day and to observe habitual reactions that arise throughout the day.
ReplyDeleteThe evening gatha lets me reflect with an open mind on my actions. The reflection process has been very positive in that I find that self-criticism hasn't been arising like in the past.
The challenge I'm experiencing in establishing a consistent practice in reciting the gathas is an extremely unsettled sleep pattern. I'm four weeks from my due date, first baby, and find myself waking up 4-5 times at night and once a night taking time to have a little bite to eat. Then falling asleep to wake quite tired a couple hours later. It's when I'm not fully rested and aware in the morning that I'll jump out of bed to get my day started since I've slept in a little later than my usual "schedule". At some point I'll recall that I haven't observed the morning gatha and take a few moments to sit and "re-start" my day in mindfulness from that point when I remembered.
Thank you so much for having this open sangha, it is really a special thing to be able to share a month's practice. I just received my book in the post today and look forward to catching up on some of the more recent posts.
Oh! How wonderful! AND, I know just what you mean... my wife and I are expecting a baby. In fact, the due date was a week ago today, so the interrupted sleep cycle is one we've come to be very familiar with. Indeed, our experience has been similar, in that there are days when because of sleep interruption, we've been a bit groggy in the morning, and it's not till we're out of bed that we 'remember' the practice. AND, we do just as you do: we stop what we're doing and take some breaths, and recite the gatha; kind of re-(jump)starting the day!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to remember that sati (the word translated as "mindfulness") does indeed mean "remembering!"
I'm also happy to hear that the morning gatha connects you to the appreciation and gratitude for what you treasure in life AND that the evening gatha is not provoking any self-criticism. To tell you the truth, I had some fear around that happening with some folks who may be either new to practice or prone to hyper-critical thinking. Of course, as you have found out, that is not at all the intent of the practice.
Again, thank you for sharing and do please continue to feel free to share as you wish!
metta
frank jude
PS: it's kind of funny not knowing names for some of you; should I address you as sistafunk??? :-)
HI Frank.
ReplyDeleteSweet. Sati, is a very helpful insight and reminder that the day is not "lost" (for lack of a better word) if the gatha isn't said immediately upon rising from bed.
Oh yes, the secret identities of the internet, I forgot my name doesn't appear in my profile. It's Barbara, I was in the 2008 Moksha India training and still experiencing the sprouting of many of the bīja planted during that time.
with deep gratitude and best wishes for you and your family in this beautiful time,
b
I've been reading and/or reciting my gathas and have found my response to the two to be quite different. The waking-up gatha, for me, is full of potential and optimism and easier to remember (maybe just because it's shorter). The Gatha on Impermanence requires more self- reflection and attention, particularly, "let me reflect carefully on how I have acted" which I have a bit of an aversion toward doing. Once I identify those daily actions that I could have done differently, or not at all, I will be in a bit of confusion on how to change those behaviors. I love the last two lines that encourage us to look directly at impermanence, "so that life does not drift away meaninglessly."
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful opportunity, frank jude,
Judith
Thank you for your comment, Judith.
ReplyDeleteYes, the evening gatha can be a bit 'intimidating' or 'provocative,' I think especially for those of us in the west who have been en-culturated by the Judeo-Christian (especially Puritanical) currents of American culture. Such a reflection can all too often fall into self-criticism, and hyper-perfectionism.
That aversion that comes up is a wonderful opportunity to forge new patterns of relating to yourself and your actions! All we can do, I think, when we see that some action we've done has been less than skillful is to make a new intention -- or reiterate an old one that has been forgotten -- to find a more skillful way in similar situations in the future. Sometimes we'll 'succeed,' and sometimes we'll 'fail' to do so. But ultimately the only real 'failure' is to not make the attempt! Not knowing all possible conditions, the best we can do is stay awake to any potential negative consequences and not be afraid to make changes as we go along.
metta,
frank jude
I am remembering the morning gatha and love beginning a new day with it. I also love the evening gatha as the idea of impermanence speaks to me profoundly. I also need the reminder to look back at my actions. So many of them I would have done differently with a little more mindfulness. Somehow, even though they are by my bed, I keep forgetting to say the evening gatha!
ReplyDelete