Introduction to Zen

Something I've taken to do doing--and would recommend to anyone--is listening to the eloquent, simple, and profound Dharma talks posted online by the Zen Community of Oregon. My favorite ones are those given by Chozen Bays, whose training as a physician adds depth and intellectual credence to a subject that some might dismiss as illusory. I don't mean to say that she proves Zen with science--rather, that her robust background in both science and Zen Buddhism makes for very compelling listening. Her mellifluous voice is also a pleasure to listen to, making it easier to absorb the wisdom of her talks. I'd be hard-pressed to think of a wiser person to whom to turn for advice on the ultimate spiritual question of how to live.

Most of these lectures are about thirty minutes to one hour in length, and you can listen to them while cleaning your room (as I often do), doing sit-ups, cooking dinner, icing sore muscles, heating sore muscles, hahaha, etc. If I want to be particularly receptive and attentive to a talk, I'll lie down, close my eyes, and just listen. What she says is generally applicable to people of all backgrounds and religions, and is rarely incompatible with my understanding of Judaism, my own religion. 

Chozen sometimes lets her progressive politics permeate her talks, as my more moderate boyfriend pointed out. But I would encourage you to listen more with your heart than your mind; be sympathetic and receptive rather than critical. She has no political agenda that I'm aware of; her goal is to help listeners dust off the oft-neglected shelves of their minds and open their hearts.

Happy listening :-)

Serendipity

Friday was a fairly slow day at work, so I turned to Psychology Today and found an article called "Make Your Own Luck: Five principles for making the most of life's twists and turns." The first principle the article lists--and the only one I made it through before a work project came along-- is "See Serendipity Everywhere." The article notes,

"Wiseman conducted an experiment in which he placed the same chance opportunities—money on the ground and a potential encounter with a connected businessman—in the paths of two different people, one who claimed she was an unlucky person, the other who said things always seemed to work out well for him. The "lucky" guy immediately noticed the money on the ground and pocketed it, then struck up a conversation with the businessman in the coffee shop where he'd been planted. The "unlucky" woman, meanwhile, stepped right over the cash, and sipped her coffee without saying a word to the same businessman."

Snap! After reading this, I was pretty determined to see the dollar on the floor and the business(wo)man in the coffee shop.

Lunchtime came around, and I drifted into Modell's for a pair of ear muffs since I'd misplaced mine. Modell's didn't have any earmuffs left, but I noticed a rack of bathing suits on sale. Ten minutes later I rang up with a one-piece and a pair of goggles, and over the weekend I swam twice in the pool at the gym.

What a fun and unusual way to enjoy the weekend! My arms are pleasantly sore from all the breast strokes, and at the pool I met several nice folks with similar interests and goals.


ON SATURDAY NIGHT I moseyed into the City Cinemas Paris Theater by myself to catch one of the last showings of "The Artist," and I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in almost a year! We sat together, munched on her Sour Patch Kids (thanks, Arielle), and she introduced me to a friend of hers. The movie was exquisite, the theater lovely. Highly recommended.

Couldn't help but notice, as the film progressed, how large a role serendipity plays in it. At the beginning, Peppy Miller drops her wallet amidst a crowd gathered before actor George Valentin; in lunging forward to recover it, she crosses the threshold separating the celebrity from the crowd, and she manages to laugh off the faux-pas, seizing the opportunity to bear her radiant smile before the cameras, posing and grinning alongside the actor. This serendipitous occurrence launches her into the limelight, propelling her acting career forward.

The lesson resounded this weekend; let's all heed it: see serendipity everywhere!

Book Review: The Meditation Bible (Madonna Gauding)

I started off the morning with a meditation on my heartbeat, inspired by Madonna Gauding's Meditation Bible. Her little book is a marvelous bedside staple, providing endless comfort, inspiration, and serenity. Every page contains a different meditation you can try, ranging from "Distracted Mind" to "Flowing Water" to "Unconditional Love." The book contains meditations on calming and centering, living mindfully, healing, movement, love and compassion, problem-solving, manifesting your dreams, and connecting to the divine; she also provides an introduction to meditation. Highly recommended if the shelves of your mind could use a little dusting off, if you want a way to incorporate a bit of spirituality into your life, or if you simply want to get back in touch with the simplicity of your being-ness in the world.

I do these mostly lying down, which is probably not ideal, but it works for me--I like being fully relaxed yet maintaining a straight spine.

Enjoy and happy Sunday!

13 Personal Commandments

Inspired by Gretchen Rubin's twelve personal commandments for personal happiness, I decided to make a list of my own.

1. Be Marisa.
2. Relax.
3. You're worth it.
4. Laugh.
5. Be at peace with what is.
6. Stop worrying.
7. The glass is half-full...or better yet, overflowing.
8. Don't criticize or harangue yourself.
9. Put away all to-do lists from time to time.
10. Let go, have fun.
11. You are already complete.
12. Let yourself be where you are; trust in yourself to overcome obstacles.
13. Be like Tiger.

Tiger is my beloved kitty, who eats a lot and spends most of his time walking around outside or basking in a pool of sunlight while napping on the couch. He's the epitome of Zen.

Emergen-C: my take

Personally, I love this. My favorite flavor is tangerine, and I like the way the fine little Vitamin C molecules mushroom out of the cup when you pour it in. I also like how it fizzes with water.

Okay, but the real reason I like it is that I find it to be quite helpful, particularly when that tell-tale sore throat creeps into the recesses of my throat every once in a while. There isn't much of a consensus in the scientific/medical community on whether Vitamin C "works" in combating viruses, but the evidence seems to lean in that direction, particularly when mass quantities of Vitamin C are involved (as they are in Emergen-C: 1,000 mgs).

Ladies, I recommend downing a cup or two of this when it's your time of month. Lowered estrogen levels tend to compromise your immunity, so it's a great time to supplement your diet with oranges and tangerines. Or, if you can't get a hold of them, orange or tangerine Emergen-C.

On going to the doctor

I can't tell you how much better I feel after having gone to the doctor. A week ago, I had a "tight feeling in my foot" (an adhesion in the abductor hallicus tendon, apparently), and now it's all better (Graston technique: 5; adhesion: 0). In the other foot, a shard of glass was wedged; I had "forgotten" about it for about six months. Now it's all better. As in gone. No more glass. Woot! Glass: 0 Foot: 95
Mind you, it required a small surgical procedure, but it was totally worth it, plus I feel extremely brave now. (My doctor rocks, by the way. "Tell me when you're ready." Tell me if you need a dermatologist in New York.)

Don't let a busy work schedule or the fear of irritating your bosses stop you from taking care of yourself, which is what I'd become accustomed to doing. Take care of any persistent aches and pains, and your body will thank you! Peace of mind will follow.