Week 23 Day 1

Medi object choiceless
Intention to meditate for 60 mins observe sensations and aversions

Afternoon all! Today is a rest day so I had the opportunity to meditate for a longer period - 60 mins. 5 mins metta 55 mins noting.

Metta efforts passed quickly so I may have to increase to 10 mins.

Noting started with a few breaths and then I observed the rising and falling of the abdomen, then moved to seeing - deep purple slow moving swirls in front of my eyes. I then moved to hearing and it seems that all the families are out in force round the pool along with the intermittent screams of children. I find this noise very irritating but accepted my aversion to this sensation and at times the noise moved to the background. I could also hear a buzzing which I thought was a vacuum cleaner but it was actually music. Greek music to be precise, when I eventually focused on it. This is being broadcast in the public areas. There is an automatic door near my room so I heard that open several times. The ringing of my ears was subdued due to the busy noisy external environment.

I felt my hands on my knees and my feet in the slippers on a towel. The seat sloped backwards so my feet didn't touch the floor without the towel under them.

As I was facing inwards and the window was only open a crack,  I didn't hear the waves only the piercing children noises, table tennis playing and the canned music. There is little privacy in the hotel otherwise I would find a quiet spot outside to practice. With so many people in our group several of them are always milling around the grounds. And they are very sociable so it would not be long until I would be accosted by one of them.

I continued easily past the 45 min bell, but began to drift after that so I moved to the edge of the bed and faced the cream wall with my eyes open. The unusual thing is that my shadow appeared not solid as I sat there.

Not many thoughts the first 45 mins, then a flood of them the last 15. It appears that the mind drifts to what it does best ie thinking when it is weary. I watched the thoughts as I realised I was in them to the end of each and then returned to the breath.

So not quite ready for 60 mins but 45 to 50 is comfortable.

Kris Akabusi, for those know him, is joining us for the rest of the stay. I saw his loud trousers walk by earlier!

So now I'm going to totally chillax and lounge and lunch, followed by more lounging and will watch the vids ready for the start of 30 DOM tomorrow.

Love, lunch and light, lunch to you all. 🐽💜🐽

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