Someone mentioned the baseball spring training season to me on Monday.   I don’t follow baseball but I have a son who played for years, so I have done my time!  Ever since our last meeting, I have had this crazy baseball image popping into my head.

Baseball player approaches the home plate.  He takes a few practice swings to get relaxed and comfortable in his stance.  Maybe he takes a few deep breaths.  He settles in, faces the pitcher, focuses - attending to the ball, his object of attention, the present moment.  This is much like what we do as practitioners of meditation, right?  Approach the cushion, relax into our posture, find the breath in the present moment.

The pitcher is hoping to fool the batter, distract him, get him to take a swing.  Our mind plays these tricks with us too.  The pitcher/mind winds up and lobs in the first pitch - here it comes - craving, the wanting mind.   The batter wants to take a swing, wants that hit, to get on base, wants to hear the crowd cheer.  Because of his practice in the batting cage, he is steady.  He sees that this is not the pitch for him.  He lets craving go right on by, high and inside - ball one.   He takes another practice swing, assumes his stance, and brings his focus back. 

The pitcher/mind winds up again, “ok, let me try this one, it’s my old standby, it gets ‘em every time.”  The second pitch - aversion, the not-wanting mind.   The batter doesn’t want to strike out, he doesn’t want to walk back to the dug out with his head hung low, doesn’t want to let the team down.  Because of his practice, he is steady.  Again, he sees that this is not the pitch for him.  He lets aversion pass right by - low, inside.  Ball two!  Back to his stance, his focus, the present moment. 

Let’s not forget, the batter is questioning himself - the doubting mind.  “What am I doing here anyway?”  “I should have spent more time in the batting cage yesterday. “  “That probably wouldn’t have mattered.” 
And, so on - the mind comes up with yet another distraction, another hindrance.  Make it pitch three - dullness, the sleepy mind.  Nope, low and outside, ball three.  Pitch four is high and outside - the restless mind, full of judgment, worry, constant planning and ruminating.  Ball four, batter takes a walk! 

The mind is our internal pitcher.  It just keeps lobbing distractions our way, on and off the cushion.  If we don’t take a swing, that’s okay, the mind will try another and another. Meditation practice is something like the batting cage, practice for the real game - life.  Then, like the practiced batter, we can be steady - acknowledging each pitch, letting them arise off the mound, cross the plate, and fall away.   Then, we can choose to bring our stance, our focus back to the present moment.   Batter up! 

This week we learned that one must be present to win! 

What does it mean to be present?  One dictionary defines the adjective to be present as:  being or existing now.   Are we truly present, that is, being or existing NOW? 

Do we spend much of our time ruminating about the past or fantasizing or worrying about the future?  Maybe we are wishing we had won or we hoping we will win? 

Meanwhile, the present moments of our life NOW,  the rich textures of sight, sound, tastes, and smells are happening stage left.  Think about a favorite memory, chances are you can recall minute details of that time.  You can recall the rich texture of that moment because you were truly present in the NOW.  If you think about it, we live our life in units of NOW.  To miss the NOW is to miss one's life.  With meditation, we can learn to turn down the volume on the past and future.  We can learn to savor our life, unit by unit, moment by moment.   Like the old saying, we can learn to be here NOW. 

I am pretty sure the intention of meditation doesn't involve "winning,"  per se, but I would agree an intention of meditation would be to benefit yourself and therefore, others.  Maybe that is a win-win now that I think about it. 

Welcome to the allthingsmindful blog! 

This is my first foray into the blogosphere so I ask for your patience while I get the hang of it. 

Mindfulness is such a vast topic and one that, to me, is endlessly fascinating.  It is a beautiful jewel with countless facets to explore.  In the days, weeks, and even months and years to come, we have a great many avenues to travel together in the discovery process. 

I wanted to say just a few words about our first practice gathering.  For me, to have a local practice group is  a long held dream come true!  It was especially gratifying  to have both experienced and novice practitioners come together to start something special. 

One of my favorite concepts from the study of mindfulness is the Four Immeasureables, comprised of Equanimity, Love, Compassion, and Joy.   I was amazed that the energy in the room was at once comfortable AND exciting.  Moreover, I was struck by the strong feeling that the Four Immeasurables were present among us!  

It appears  the group is open to seeing what comes next.  I see that as a tribute to the real "beginner's mind" that was mentioned on Monday; ever open and curious about what mindfulness practice has to reveal to us. 

Try to spend 5 minutes each day just simply being - not doing.  Simply sitting still - do we do that anymore?
Simply resting in the moment - just being.  Set an intention of being still; not planning, not watching TV or listening to the radio, not making lists - just being.  Bring awareness to your breath and watch each moment unfold - without trying to change it - just being.  What do you notice?  Bring your questions, your comments, your observations to the group. 

Namaste,
becky

May all sentient beings...
     Enjoy happiness and the root of happiness
     Be free from suffering and the root of suffering
     Be not separated from the great happiness that is devoid of suffering
     Dwell in the great equanimity that is free from passion, aggression, and prejudice.