Morning Pause

I can't imagine a better location for a long pause in the morning. Riverbend Park before the storm.
  iTunes podcast here, online listening here and stitcher here.

Back on the Water

December, and a perfect day to take the paddleboard down to the river. Stiff gusts and choppy waves, but semi-tropical conditions. I worked my way upstream and rather than letting the current take me back, had to work hard against a southerly wind.  What a treat to get back out there with the Canada geese, the newly arrived coots and our resident swan.

100,000+ Downloads!

 

I was just uploading my latest talk and noticed over 100,000 guided meditations and talks have been downloaded through iTunes and online streaming.

Wow.  Initially I started posting my talks for participants in the weekly classes who were away traveling.  As the listenership has broadened, it's a treat to hear from folks around the planet who've found them helpful, including the woman who wrote me and wanted me to know how grateful she was as the talks helped her fall asleep each night.

My good friend Shobhan Richard Faulds described his aspiration so well I co-opted it for myself:

Practice Deeply, Share Freely

I've received much generosity in this life and embrace the principle of dana - or generosity - in this tradition.

The teachings and practices are considered priceless, therefore there is no charge.  When I offer a weekly class or retreat freely, it's gratifying to know that no one would be denied access and I'm always touched and gratified by the support I receive to keep doing what I do.

Thanks to all who support me in my aspiration to contribute.

Sunrise

Morning in the Berkshire Mountains overlooking the Stockbridge Bowl. I had the gift of living here for 20 years. One morning I joined a fellow ashramite staring at the sunrise. After awhile he said,

'This is my biofeedback device. If it's not beautiful I know there is something wrong with me.'

Congratulations to the Graduates

57 fire-breathing teachers ready to take it out into the world. We just completed the nine-day module called ”Exploring the Energy Body: Teaching Pranayama and Meditation."

What a group of dedicated practitioners and teachers. I'm deeply inspired.

Berkshire Sunrise

An early walk in the Berkshires before diving into morning practices in our teacher training. 23 degrees and dropping.

Morning Drama

Meditation (re) Treat

Moon over Pearlstone Retreat Center

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I just figured out I've supported at least 25 of our residential retreats since I've moved down to DC.  It's the best game in town.

It's never less than awe-inspiring to take this deep dive into self-inquiry with so many dedicated and sincere practitioners.

This practice is not for the feint of heart.  No reading, writing and no speaking except for two short interviews during the week.

Hours and hours and hours of sitting and walking meditation with some optional chi gong in the morning and yoga in the afternoon.  The food was great, the weather supportive and the grounds are beautiful for walking and meditating outdoors.

If you're on for a transformative journey, do consider joining one.  The next is the New Year's Retreat.  More at IMCW.

On Wing

Berkshire Fog

Just completing a three-day Intensive called The Transformative Journey at Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, MA. Not to be too cliché, but I hope we burned off some of the psychic fog through the last three days of yoga, meditation, breathwork and inquiry. It's been ten years since I was president here and I'm delighted to see the place thriving.

On Taking Yourself Lightly

 

Here is a  cool post from Jared Gotlieb on the National Geographic "Travel with Heart" series where he interviews me on packing light.

Many years ago, Jared and I did  a month-long silent meditation retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California.

I distinctly remember watching Jared haul a boatload of stuff up the long hill to the meditation center and him marveling at my 'lack' of stuff.  I'd managed to pack everything I needed for the month in one carryon bag.

Liiving in a 9x11 room in an ashram for a decade or so got me trained in to living light.  Three years in an RV trained me in even more.  I didn't have much, but I really enjoyed each shirt, pair of pants, pair of shoes.  Everything I owned was a 'favorite.'

I got into one-bag packing when I started noticing that when I'd unpack from trips on the road, much of what I'd brought along never got worn.  That got me thinking as to how spare and mindful I could comfortably go.

Thanks to sites like OneBag.com I've come to appreciate I'm not alone in my fetish for traveling light.  I continue to refine my systems and will share more if prodded even slightly.

Here's Jared's blog post on National Geographic.

And if you'd like, before I left on that retreat, you can read my original post.

Before the Rain

All calm and peaceful down by the river this morning. The water is about as low as the Potomac gets but in a few hours, with all this rain to our west, the current will be surging.

Meanwhile, here's a shot of some leaves suspended in a quiet spot on the water's edge.

Speaking of Clouds

Back in the mid-Atlantic, there is nothing quite as thrilling as the movement of the geese up and down the river. Here goes one crew…

Stormclouds over Boulder

I arrived here in Boulder at the tail end of the storms. I spent four days 'underground' in the Sounds True studios recording a six-CD set called Body-Centered Inquiry (due out next year).  Huge thanks to everyone at Sounds True for making this such a great experience.

Boulder dried out pretty fast, but the surrounding area was truly devastated.

They're on the Move

It's getting busy on the river.

12,000 Feet

Rocky Mountain National Park at sunset.

I'll Be in My Office

Gotta love working from home.  A great mid-day break today.

1.  Toss the board in the car

2. Head for the river

3. Blast upstream

4. Do a call

5. Float back.

Retreating

This last Saturday 76 folks filled our room at St. Luke's Episcopal in Bethesda for a day of practice. The program was called, "A Meditative Journey:  Mindful Movement, Deep Relaxation and Meditation.  As the day contained two long "lying down meditations," there was a palpable sense of stress racheting down and softening.  As we practiced silence for most of the day, there was also a sense of 'being alone together' I enjoy so much on retreat.  The silence tends to amplify the experience.

Here's a shot at the end of the day when we finally started talking again:

One More Time

It was the last day on big water and a consistent and blustery onshore 19mph wind had the water whipped up into a froth of whitecaps.    Within minutes I regressed to about six years old, smashing through waves and catching the occasional well-formed one in.  I paddled to exhaustion. Carrying my board up the hill, a guy about my age was coming down with his swim goggles in hand.

"You're going to swim in that?!?," I asked.

"Yeah, he said.  I know it's crazy, but I'm heading out in the morning and I have to get one last shot in.  You were out in that?!?"

"Yeah," I responded.  I know it's crazy, but I'm heading out in the morning and I had to get one last shot in."

Sunset

Sunset photos from the beach get a little rote, but this one was pretty cool.