Week 25 Day 1

Medi object Choiceless awareness
Intention to remain alert and deconstruct boredom

Evening all! I practiced earlier this morning and finished at1220 meditated for 35 mins due to deadline.

Today very alert. Did eat something beforehand.  But it is middle of day so this may explain alertness.

Metta was excellent I was able to maintain the feeling for 5 minutes easily. Thought of Liz's grandson Dean, my mother and my niece.

Moved to choiceless awareness straight away, moved focus round reasonably quickly - breathing and ringing of ears were home base.

Thoughts of a beautiful scenery of open sea sparkling in the sunlight came into view.  Then someone took me to a hill top to survey the scenery below (I spent most if the time thinking about the hill!) Then I had thoughts of my darling niece and her family situation which brought a sensation of sadness and tears to my eyes. I stayed with this sensation for as long as it lasted. Unpleasant vedana but it is situation I cannot control so have  accepted it.

My neighbour was coughing badly,  may not be the son actually.  Each time they coughed my focus went to it. A deep hollow drilling noise which was very unpleasant.

The ringing of the ears when it was in focus was multi layered. At least 4 different frequencies.

At all times, the warmth on my knees, the ringing of my ears and breathing were in the periphery so I knew that my attention was good.

My left lower back was aching. I noted my intention to adjust but it took a few times to stop it aching. It stopped altogether when I was watching the sensations relating to my niece.

Felt very calm mainly yet alert like the sparkling sea expansive and all encompassing.  A most pleasant vedana indeed.

No weariness, no drowsiness just relaxed contemplation which I could have continued but now I had to dash!

In terms of alertness, it is not for lack of enthusiasm that I find myself dozing. In reality I thought the best energy would be at the start of the day but I think it is actually just before lunchtime for me.  I have always been a night owl. The practices in the evening are reasonable and sometimes pretty good. May be I have an aversion to practising in the evening because the natural assumption is that I would be tired.

Unfortunately practising every day at around 11am is not possible due to work particularly now I practice for longer. But I could do a shorter practice (bog medi) then to supplement a second session in the evening. I do tube meditation but I realise now that that is not always ideal either.

Played golf today in the glorious sunshine. I have been playing well recently and have added some mindful focus to my feet to maintain balance with good results (handicap cut by 2). If I don't focus on the balance, shots are a bit unpredictable. Anyhoo golfing is over for this week so will need to put those ideas into
practice next week. Mindfulness also helps with mood and keeping cool when other players are unravelling!

Weekend is over, back to the daily grind! Today is Day 1 of the 25th week of daily meditation...do you think it might be a ha it now?

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