In the body, out of the mind

For an in the body and out of the mind experience, do a walk in Deep Creek, South Australia, like we did the other day. 14 kms of up hill (to a cliff overlooking the sea) and down dale (to a waterfall in a gully) in 33 degrees heat (that's the crazy bit). Actually it wasn't totally an in the body out of mind experience but was definitely physical.

Last bit of the recipe is to do it with other people, a lot of water, and carryable food (but not food that will go off). If you want to extend the experience you can camp, but we didn't. Instead we went swimming up the road (and some of us swam at the waterfall in rather swampy looking water) in the sea at Normanville. You can also have hot chips at the Victory Hotel, top of Sellicks Hill, and wash it down with a beer (my first for many years). Then home to see the effects of this huge effort (slightly sore legs the next day from the climbing up and down hills, including using your hands to pull yourself up on a very rocky path).

No photos to prove it, and no enlightenment (lots of heavy breathing), but it's a great end to the old year (2011) and a great new year's resolution for 2012 (more of the same). Let's all get outdoors and into it, doing natural things in a natural environment! Reads like an ad for living in South Australia, and it is!

View Deep Creek Cove the easy way (on Flickr)

Sogyal Rinpoche teachings

We need to take care of our minds and hearts. 'Mind' is also the 'heart'. Mind is the root of everything. Keep your mind and heart pure.

• Tame this mind
• Commit not a single unwholesome action
• Abandon negativity
• If you cannot help, at least don't harm
• Be wisely selfish
• Practice good heart

Your happiness is connected to the happiness of others (inter-being). All the happiness in this world comes from thinking of others.

Knowledge and wisdom are the antidote to ignorance.
Love and compassion are the antidote to negative emotions.

If you tame negative thoughts and emotions you can master and transform your mind and perception.

If you have a lot of anger, 90% of your perception is tainted by it.

All fear and anxiety comes from the mind that is untamed. Transforming your mind dissolves anxiety and fear.

'The mind can make a heaven out of hell or a hell out of heaven.' (John Milton)

Your true mind is much more than thoughts and emotions.

• Ordinary mind = clouds
• Ultimate mind = sky

Meditation
Meditation separates ordinary mind from the true nature of mind: it is the process of coming to know your mind:

• relax your mind
• allow your mind to be open, spacious, calm and completely aware
• let thoughts come and go
• be in the present moment
• allow (don't block, don't follow thoughts)

Presence of mind = centre of awareness
Thoughts are not you, emotions are not you

Remain in a state of non distraction. Distraction and worry will gradually disappear. Be relaxed and open (not defensive).

You will get less involved in what you perceive - rest your attention on the sensory information and disengage from the emotional information. You will accomplish more with less effort.

1. Slow down to become more aware of your reactions.
   Don't alter your mind - leave it in its own state. Allow your mind to settle (calm abiding). Peace will bring clarity will bring awareness will bring centredness (BEING).
   Slowly the ego will begin to dissolve.
2. Observe without judgement. If you grasp it you become it. Catch yourself before it catches you. 'In all my actions may I examine my mind.' Don't feel your emotions (eg anger); let them arise and dissolve. Thoughts are not you, emotions are not you. Once you realise this you are not afraid of them.
3. Listen to teachings again and again. Work with yourself.

Advice for daily living
Life is precious; don't waste it.

• Always forgive
• Develop good heart
• Pure motivation
• Abandon laziness
• Acquire wisdom

The true meaning of life is reflected in death. Your ordinary mind dies with death. Your true nature appears. The moment of death holds the possibility of enlightenment.

• Don't analyse and think too much
• Be intelligent rather than intellectual
• Rest if your mind is too active
• Use not just heart but reason
• Analyse ego and anger (they are your enemies)
• Examine your assumptions

We are not permanent.
We are not singular.
We are not independent.