A provocative title! I would have thought dedication is the key to consistency, but yes, I see that now—flexibility is needed cuz circumstances can shift! Thank you!
the quote by Frank Herbert reminds me of a quote from The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer:
"Life rarely unfolds exactly as we want it to. And if we stop and think about it, that makes perfect sense. The scope of life is universal, and the fact that we are not actually in control of life’s events should be self-evident. The universe has been around for 13.8 billion years, and the processes that determine the flow of life around us did not begin when we were born, nor will they end when we die."
I really enjoyed listening to The Surrender Experiment on Audible several years ago. The way of living he talks about makes sense to me on a deep level, although in practice, it's hard to let go of wanting my life to be a certain way!
I totally agree. honestly, I read The Untethered Soul by him a few years ago before I started doing inner work and could not relate at all – now, I have way more reference points for being in tune with the inner workings of the world, but that still doesn't mean that surrendering comes intuitively 😆
This comes at a good time for me as I need to write this week's newsletter from a dead start today before tomorrow. "But if you want to be consistent about anything in life, it’s also important to be flexible." This is a very simple idea but quite a profound truth when it comes to practical progress and growth. It's easy to forget that it's all made up, we're the authors of this journey, and we can bend the rules creatively on the path to success. Thanks for the postcard.
Yes, being flexible provides us with the necessary grace to get things done even when all the circumstances aren't right (hint: they hardly ever are :D). By the way, curious about that Japanese cushion. I've been sleeping on the floor the last few months as a way to improve posture. I usually throw down a couple of yoga mats and a spare comforter as a mattress but I've seen these Japanese pillows before. Might be time for an upgrade!
Hey David, the zafu and zabuton are for sitting, but if you're interested in Japanese-style floor sleeping, I can recommend trying a shikibuton (sometimes referred to as a Japanese futon). It's a 3" or 4" mat, usually stuffed with cotton and is very firm. I have used them in the past (though I have a regular bed now) and they're also great for camping or unexpected guests. If you Google shikibuton some good options should come up.
I was introduced to these at age 16 or 17 when I first attended the San Diego Zen Center and have owned one ever since. They are great for sitting on the floor, but many westerners will be more comfortable sitting in a chair.
A provocative title! I would have thought dedication is the key to consistency, but yes, I see that now—flexibility is needed cuz circumstances can shift! Thank you!
Dedication is important too, and I actually like that word a lot more than 'discipline.'
the quote by Frank Herbert reminds me of a quote from The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer:
"Life rarely unfolds exactly as we want it to. And if we stop and think about it, that makes perfect sense. The scope of life is universal, and the fact that we are not actually in control of life’s events should be self-evident. The universe has been around for 13.8 billion years, and the processes that determine the flow of life around us did not begin when we were born, nor will they end when we die."
I really enjoyed listening to The Surrender Experiment on Audible several years ago. The way of living he talks about makes sense to me on a deep level, although in practice, it's hard to let go of wanting my life to be a certain way!
I totally agree. honestly, I read The Untethered Soul by him a few years ago before I started doing inner work and could not relate at all – now, I have way more reference points for being in tune with the inner workings of the world, but that still doesn't mean that surrendering comes intuitively 😆
This comes at a good time for me as I need to write this week's newsletter from a dead start today before tomorrow. "But if you want to be consistent about anything in life, it’s also important to be flexible." This is a very simple idea but quite a profound truth when it comes to practical progress and growth. It's easy to forget that it's all made up, we're the authors of this journey, and we can bend the rules creatively on the path to success. Thanks for the postcard.
Thanks, Rick :) Yes--you of all people should know that the rules are all made up! Best of luck with this week's newsletter!
Yes, being flexible provides us with the necessary grace to get things done even when all the circumstances aren't right (hint: they hardly ever are :D). By the way, curious about that Japanese cushion. I've been sleeping on the floor the last few months as a way to improve posture. I usually throw down a couple of yoga mats and a spare comforter as a mattress but I've seen these Japanese pillows before. Might be time for an upgrade!
Hey David, the zafu and zabuton are for sitting, but if you're interested in Japanese-style floor sleeping, I can recommend trying a shikibuton (sometimes referred to as a Japanese futon). It's a 3" or 4" mat, usually stuffed with cotton and is very firm. I have used them in the past (though I have a regular bed now) and they're also great for camping or unexpected guests. If you Google shikibuton some good options should come up.
Awesome, thanks for the tip!
I wasn’t aware of either of those styles of meditation cushion. Interesting, and looks comfortable.
I was introduced to these at age 16 or 17 when I first attended the San Diego Zen Center and have owned one ever since. They are great for sitting on the floor, but many westerners will be more comfortable sitting in a chair.