Author: Karl Duffy

This is a Mindfulness Practice Blog written in Laois, Ireland, containing reflections on meditation practice, psychological growth, spirituality and wellness which hopefully may encourage and benefit others as they reflect on their lives and seek to develop a more balanced, mindful and conscious approach to it.

The open space

Karl Duffy6 Comments

File:Wicklow Mountains National Park Glenealo Valley 02.JPG

Yesterday was a lovely Spring morning and I was driving through the beautiful countryside of Co Wicklow to start an MBSR Course in Arklow. The mountains in the distance, the lambs playing in the fields, and the brightness of the light made it easy to feel a mind that was spacious. When that happens I find that I do not struggle with life as much. And our meditation practice is simply that – letting the mind settle, become more spacious and resting in that.

There is a foundation for our lives, a place in which our life rests. That place is nothing but the present moment, as we see, hear, experience what is. If we do not return to that place, we live our lives out of our heads. We blame others; we complain; we feel sorry for ourselves. All of these symptoms show that we’re stuck in our thoughts. We’re out of touch with the open space that is always right here.

Charlotte Joko Beck, Nothing Special

photo j h jansens

Teach us to sit still

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Still-Water

For the Week that is in it, an extract from TS Elliot, Ash Wednesday:

Blessed sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated

And let my cry come unto Thee.

Moment by moment

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File:Child pushing grandmother on plastic tricycle.jpg

We do not remember days,

We remember moments

Cesare Pavese 1908 – 1950 Italian poet and novelist

photo Catherine Scott

Allowing things find you

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Campanula barbata

This morning dawned misty and foggy here in Kildare, restricting the view to just a few metres, making travel a bit more slow.  This can be good. It is not always  healthy that we move as fast  or as far as we want to. There is a place for slowing down,  making space and listening.  Some things are only learnt that way, despite our desire to be always in command.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow.

WB Yeats, The Lake Isle of Innisfree.

“But it isn’t easy,” said Pooh. “Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get

They’re things which get you

And all you can do is to go where they can find you“

A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner

Where else

Karl Duffy2 Comments

Primula_aka

If you are unable to find the truth right where you are,

where else do you expect to find it?

Dōgen

Appreciating life

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walking222

The overall tenor of mindfulness practice is gentle,
appreciative and nurturing.
Another way to think of it would be heartfulness.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life