Uncategorised – Biking the Path

Life is change, we also change.

My mirror is very kind with me. Every day, when I get ready to start, my mirror says to me that I look great: well shaved, my hair combed and looking neat. But when I see a photo of me, definitely, I can see an old man.

Recently, I was listening to an interview where a woman was talking about being natural, aging naturally. I have seen people trying to cover up their aging process.

My wife decided, a couple of years ago, to stop dyeing her hair, because it was painful. Some were thinking that it was something shocking. How could she be that brave by looking like an “old lady”? She doesn’t look like that. She looks great!

Being old doesn’t mean you stop doing things. It doesn’t stop you looking for new projects, or the chance of learning. I may have a different rhythm, I may like different things.

I’m still living my time, because THIS is my time. I might remember “the old times”, but I am living, today, my time.

A cultivated habit

En español

I was reading recently that “Rituals bring comfort when we stumble under the pressures and demands of everyday existence… Knowing how to live well is a cultivated habit, and rituals can help.” (L’art de la simplicité, Dominique Lorean.).

With this I remembered the practice of daily meditation, a ritual I adopted as part of my life. A ritual that, by being such, stops to be a repetitive action.

How is possible that the habit of meditating becomes something so useful for a good life? Well, this simple act let me be attentive to myself, attentive to what happens, attentive to what I perceive. It allows me to accept myself, as I am, and work from what I know, to live well. It gives me with what I need to be able to decide and choose. It let me live from a perspective of someone that is not in a rush, in a pace that makes me savor what I live.

It doesn’t make me a different person, or a better one. It’s as if I can function within my capacities and potential. So rituals may turn a simple chore into something important, that you live consciously.

What kind of rituals do you have in your life?

The folding bike

En español

Just like my folding bike, that lately has been left by itself at a corner, my spiritual practice has been let by itself, in silence, without public eye

It has been a time of spiritual silence. By this I don’t mean no practice, but I have kept it by my own. There were things to be experienced, and kept for me, as if I was recharging myself to have something to share out.

Now, like the vegetation in spring, I make a comeback. I will be publishing again and share with you.

It feels so good

En español

I have been on a bicycle since I remember. Of course there have been times when I didn’t ride one, like when I lived in London. But for must of my life, I have enjoyed riding one.

For the past two months, due to knee arthrosis, I hardly walked. I’m using a cane to help go through daily tasks. At first, I didn’t like the idea. “I’m not that old”, “I’m going to look as an elderly person”. But actually, it’s really a great object. And, after all, I’m 64, I am old.

At first, I was thinking that my knee wouldn’t recover. It was really painful, and looked like there was no improvement. But today was the day: I got up on my bicycle and ride for 5.5 km. A smooth ride, no hurry, not much effort.

The feeling was incredible. To be on the machine, feeling the air on my face, pedaling again.

I will be using the cane for a time, but knowing that tomorrow I may be riding, makes me very happy.

Stay at Die Quelle

En español

At the beginning of October I had the chance to go back and stay at Die Quelle, the house and quarters of The International Satsang Association.

We had our Board of Trustees annual meeting, and the General assembly for the association. But, also, the chance to talk with Ishpriya, our founder, and with all the members of the Board of Trustees.

There’s a place in the house, the cave, that allows you to connect within, to connect with the Source. During my stay, I had the chance to do a morning and night meditation with my peers. So the possibility to some silence, a walk through the woods, or nature contemplation was possible. It’s always enriching to get away from daily life and have some silence.

Soon I will be telling you more about the association.

Just do it!

Español

A few days ago, we were enjoying an afternoon tea and chatting. Someone said that she couldn’t make time to exercise. You know, take the decision, getting ready, and actually doing it.

Some days later, she was very happy, cause she started with her program. She said that it was like doing the bed (she read the book “Make your bed”, by William H. McRaven), very easy, “Just do it! Make yourself do what you want to do”.

Many of our chores, things we have to do or want to do, are done because we decide to do them. Choose one thing, say when you are going to do it, and keep up with it. Stop asking why, or doing something else instead. Just be prepared and do it.

The same happens with meditation, or riding the bicycle. I know it, I’ve been there. I have been ready for a ride, but decided to do something else. Or I have turned off the alarm in the morning, started thinking about getting ready for my morning meditation, and be overwhelmed by the huge task ahead….and going back to my dreams.

It’s surprising how decision and focus can make in our lives. Just plan ahead, get ready without much thinking, and do the task.

Who am I?

Español

Yesterday, I read about Eckhart Tolle, and the process he lived as a young guy when discovered he could be himself and live consciously. I have read the life of Zen monks, swamis, or special persons and teachers.

And I was thinking, who am I to talk about meditation and mindfulness? Am I suffering from a case of impostor syndrome, am I a pretender?

I have a common life. I have a family, the need to provide for them. A common guy.

But, some how, that’s my advantage. I’m a common guy living a process. One that has led me to meditation and mindfulness, and has given me the opportunity of choice. It has given me the rare chance of understanding some things, and to see the bright side as well as the dark one, and accept both.

How could I not share it?

Are you interested?

Español

“Mindfulness is about accepting the present moment, and everyone and everything in it (including ourselves) as sufficient. So whatever it consists of, your ride today will be enough.” (Mindful thoughts for CYCLISTS Finding balance on two wheels. Nick Moore)

I was reading again this beautiful book. It’s a good reading, and makes me re-think my love for bicycling and meditation. It goes beyond the bike and the cushion.

When I started my trip in Mindfulness and conscious living, I didn’t know hoy joyful it was going to be.

What I want to say to you is that, if you’re interested in meditation, in Mindfulness, try it. Go for it! I don’t think you will regret it. The danger is that you will never stop.

Let it be simple

En español

I have been reading this book (“Zen, Simple Seikatsu No Susume”), and it reminded me of living a simple life.

I recall a constant remark of a Tae Kwon Do teacher: practice the essential, let it be simple. Also, in my Sangha, the teacher said, zen is simple, seat in silence and stillness, there’s nothing else to zen, but simply live the present moment as it is.

Now, as a mindfulness coach, this is the message I want to share: the practice will not add a thing to your life. Just keep it simple, live the moment as it is, without judgement.

I know it sounds very simple, but may not be. It means to let go many things we have been adding to ourselves, many possetions that are not important, many tags we have been creating on us and on others. But the process is worth it, you may feel free.

Mindfulness for teens

En español

As a professor at Universidad Marista de San Luis Potosí, I have worked with teenagers for at least 12 years, at the Preparatory school.

Usually there’s pressure from parents, peers and teachers. It’s a time for students to reaffirm who they are and to guess what will be the future for them. Parents have their own idea of what they expect from them, but they want to be themselves, as a unique individual, and they also want to fit in the group, which may confuse them on who they really are.

I think that there is something that a teenager could learn at this stage, and this is connecting within, learn a technique that may allow them to get in contact with themselves (individually), in the present moment, consciously.

Mindfulness can be such a thing. They can learn to pause, to get in touch with their feelings and understand where they come from. It’s a technique that can make them diminish a state of anguish, focus better and longer, and be more empathic.

It’s a way to know themselves without tags, understand who they are, and that they have the opportunity of choice. As Carl G. Jung said: “Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes”.