Morning Mediation up on youtube....

Morning Meditation goes live...

Part of my struggles is with structure and discipline. I work to improve this by setting a goal of getting up every morning, walking 3 miles, and then reading a short morning meditation. Something to keep my focus on how I can keep from getting dragged down into vapid consumerism, rage at all the struggles of the world. When you indulge, or cannot always relate to your fellow man in respect--you are just as much a part of the problem.

I don't always follow through--which means I have to always work to keep focused on this goal. But as a part of this. I hope to do my best at posting my meditations on youtube. For one to keep my feet to the fire, and also to share some very good writers and thinkers with the rest of the world.

Its still uploading... so give it time...

headed to work...

So I'll pass on part of my morning meditation.

In any events, however seemingly dire, there is nothing to prevent us from searching for its hidden opportunity. It is a failure of the imagination not to do so. But to seek out the opportunity in situations requires a great deal of courage, for most people around you will persist in interpreting events in the grossest terms: success or failure, good or bad, right or wrong. These simplistic, polarized categories obscure more creative--and useful--interpretations of events that are far more advantageous and interesting!

The wise person knows it is fruitless to project hopes and dears on the future. This only leads to forming melodramatic representations in your mind and wasting time. --Epictetus, The Art of Living

lovely day outside...

So I didn’t roll out of bed until 11 or so. I got up, ate some food. Caught up on emails and blogs. For the past 20 minutes I was just sitting outside reading. A thought popped into my head about how much work I have to do so I rushed in to type this out realizing I was failing to listen to the essence of the thought I was having.

I have a lot to accomplish if I’m ever to have a somewhat decent grasp of the world. One of my big failings is a get caught up in the rush of the moment and don’t take the time to build a strong knowlege of the things I try so hard to speak on. Its as if I’m trying hard without the effort... which is double hard and causes one to want to pull ones hair out–believe me!

So I will go back out and sit on the patio and read. My dog will vie for my attention every now and again and the warm sun and lovely weather will encroach on my mind. But I will sit and read Karl Popper until time to go to work. I won’t worry about the German I have yet to learn, or the forum my Representitive is holding tomorrow night. I will sit and ponder for a while. And I will accept that I don’t need to catch up to the world, that at some point the world might dare to catch up with me. Thats good enough for now....

Morning Meditation

From the Art of living by Epictetus.

From now on, practice saying to everything that appears unpleasant: "You are just an appearance and by no means what you appear to be." And then thoroughly consider the matter according to the principles just discussed, primarily: Does this appearance concern the things that are within my own control or those that are not? If it concerns anything outside your control, train yourself not to worry about it.

Morning meditation

From the Art of Living by Epictetus

Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours. If you do this, you will be impervious to coercion and no one can ever hold you back. You will be truly free and effective, for your efforts will be put to good use and won't be foolishly squandered finding fault with or opposing others.

Morning meditation

From The Art of Living by Epictetus

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.