Merle,
Maybe the t'ai chi teacher has experience with zazen-styled seated meditation,
and can set you up with a cushion to suit you, and suggest and "model" several
postures which could suit you.
Be sure that a cushion is not one of those "hand-woven" ones that you repeated
write that you detest... although no actual meditator has ever heard of any
such thing. But it's possible to make your own cushion, though, and many
people do. "Made-to-order"!, that way. And then you know how to maintain it,
too, as it mats-down with use.
If the t'ai chi teacher knows Taoist-styled meditation, maybe let him teach you
Taoist-styled meditation.
Here's my reason to suggest these practical things, and inquiries to put to the
t'ai chi teacher. I believe that in a few short months of your practice of
sitting meditation -- say 20 minutes in the morning, and 20 minutes in the
evening -- you will become aware of interesting changes in your VISION.
I don't mean changes in visual acuity (changes to the lens of the eye, or to
the muscles that focus it), but I mean changes in other features of the visual
field.
And I DON'T mean changes in your vision WHILE YOU ARE SEATED, AND CARRYING OUT
THE MEDITATION PRACTICE. No. I mean changes in your vision while you are up
and around and doing all your daily activities.
For example: you may already, after a few months, notice an increase in the
depth and saturation of color. And you'll see a change in the interplay of
light and shadow. A "chiaroscuro" effect will increase and will become really
noticeable. And a soft moonlight aspect sometimes.
And as you continue with practice, objects will appear wetted, really deep and
pure in saturated color, as wet things do (as we know, stones, leaves, tree
bark, all appear more pure in color when they are wet).
As practice deepens, if you become established in samadhi, you will see big
changes while you are seated in meditation, too; and you will also see them
while you are up and around and busy in your day. It's around this time that
yellow or golden notes will become strong.
And as you continue, you can believe there is more of this sort of thing to
"focus" on. We can stop at this for now. I just wanted to mention this again,
directly for you. I've written about this here already on a couple of
occasions.
What about the t'ai chi teacher? Would you be able to get started in a seated
meditation practice with him? And, would you be interested to do so?
Or would you like to learn with a Zen teacher?
Rest assured: To practice for these visual changes -- and even *strong* visual
changes -- is not a "bad" motivation to practice. People practice for
different reasons. Usually three different reasons, and sometimes for one or
more of them: Physical Health; Mental Clarity; and Awakening.
To practice in order to enhance one's vision and one's appreciation of the look
of things is "good". But there will be additional side-effects: better health;
good stress reduction; physical flexibility of body; depth of relaxation; plus
all sorts of benefits in social relations, personal enjoyment of life and of
friends, better sleep, and, well, the lists go on.
But you'll notice wonderful vision, truly remarkable changed vision. No
metaphor, it is really a kind of washing of the windows or doors of perception.
It's not something that we can force, or notice in one day or one month (well,
maybe one month). But once you notice some of the first benefits clearly, and
unwaveringly, you will see what there is to this. For me, these effects or
changes came as side effects, and I did not practice for them. But I see no
reason not to be interested in them since they come naturally.
People who attend sesshin for 7 days may remark about such changes even after
that one week. But usually people who attend a long retreat have an
established practiced of sitting at home each day: you can't usually start a
practice by attending retreat "cold".
But I think you -- YOU, personally -- would really enjoy the visual changes
that develop on a long retreat, and last for weeks afterward. In fact, I think
they would amaze you, or, the WORLD would amaze you, and you would tell all
your artist friends about this, and you'd start a sitting-group at home for
them, or in your Studio.
Ahh. Hopes for you, dear Cousin! And your artist friends there.
--Joe
> "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Merle,
>
> Merle wrote:
>
> > "please enhance this !"
>
> > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote:
> >
> > please enhance this !..merle
> >
> > >
> >
> > Merle,
> >
> > The moonlight of Samadhi.
> >
> > The Great Golden Ocean Seal samadhi, for example.
> >
> > I recommend Zen practice to Painters, regularly. A few of them have taken
> > it up. They know I would not mislead them.
> >
> > There's gold in this path, Merle. You are it. But you are bigger than you
> > think.
> >
> > Now, don't go jumping on the bathroom scale. ;-)
> >
> > --Joe
> >
> > > Merle Lester wrote:
> > >
> > > why joe..why would it be yellow?... red is red is red as red can be..it
> > >cannot be yellow... merle
> > >
> > > Merle,
> > >
> > > Yeppers, in the Outback, because of the Iron content of the soil, it
> > > would be red.
> > >
> > > But if you're practicing well, it will look yellow.
> > >
> > > --Joe
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