Aa
I'm off to Sydney
Hi all,
Just wanted to check in to let you know I will be gone for a week, am heading down to Sydney for a conference. I didn't have to pay for it as I am being sponsored. HH the Dalai Lama is in town for a 5 day teaching of meditation. They let me know last week so I have been trying to organise everything at the last minute. I leave today, yeh! I get out of the house and go somewhere different which will be a blessing in itself.
Last week I was feeling bad. I had this terrible headache that sort of crept up on me. Eventually, I ended up with a really sore neck, I've never had pain like it ever and every time I put my head forward the pain was unbearable. This went on for 4 days.I spent most of last week flat on my back. On Friday ( day 5 ) my temp went up to 37.8C so off to the Doc I went. He sent me to hospital but they couldn't find anything and as usual I was accused of making it up! They sent me home at 4am for heavens sake and I had to get a cab which cost a fortune. It has come back a few times but seems to be going thank goodness. I was worried I wouldn't be able to take my trip, I would have been really upset.
It remains a mystery as to what it was but I did also have increased double vision so maybe it was some sort of migraine but, having had those before, this was nothing like that. My neck was the worst. I didn't do anything to strain it or pull muscles or anything like that so who knows? I am a qualified massage therapist so I do have some knowledge of the human body and the muscles. It wasn't muscular but the Doc said it was!
Take care all and catch you when I get back.
TB
Just wanted to check in to let you know I will be gone for a week, am heading down to Sydney for a conference. I didn't have to pay for it as I am being sponsored. HH the Dalai Lama is in town for a 5 day teaching of meditation. They let me know last week so I have been trying to organise everything at the last minute. I leave today, yeh! I get out of the house and go somewhere different which will be a blessing in itself.
Last week I was feeling bad. I had this terrible headache that sort of crept up on me. Eventually, I ended up with a really sore neck, I've never had pain like it ever and every time I put my head forward the pain was unbearable. This went on for 4 days.I spent most of last week flat on my back. On Friday ( day 5 ) my temp went up to 37.8C so off to the Doc I went. He sent me to hospital but they couldn't find anything and as usual I was accused of making it up! They sent me home at 4am for heavens sake and I had to get a cab which cost a fortune. It has come back a few times but seems to be going thank goodness. I was worried I wouldn't be able to take my trip, I would have been really upset.
It remains a mystery as to what it was but I did also have increased double vision so maybe it was some sort of migraine but, having had those before, this was nothing like that. My neck was the worst. I didn't do anything to strain it or pull muscles or anything like that so who knows? I am a qualified massage therapist so I do have some knowledge of the human body and the muscles. It wasn't muscular but the Doc said it was!
Take care all and catch you when I get back.
TB
Sigh, I can't help but feel a little envy once again. I climbed mountains years ago and dreamed of trekking in Nepal. I read all about it, and was captivated by the beauty and majesty of it all. My life took a different path, but it is wonderful to hear from someone that visited somewhere I've only dreamed of. The "friend" is a bonus that I never considered, though I knew I would have met people of amazing character and strength.
It is very sad, the changes that are happening in such places. How wonderful that you were able to visit three times and have such magical memories. Too see the Himalayas in person! I still love mountains, though I'll never climb another. The highest I ever climbed was Mt. Shasta in California, and that is only 14,179 feet high. Mountain climbing was a meditation...
So is breathing.
Thank you for sharing some of your great life experiences with us.
Kathy
I
It is very sad, the changes that are happening in such places. How wonderful that you were able to visit three times and have such magical memories. Too see the Himalayas in person! I still love mountains, though I'll never climb another. The highest I ever climbed was Mt. Shasta in California, and that is only 14,179 feet high. Mountain climbing was a meditation...
So is breathing.
Thank you for sharing some of your great life experiences with us.
Kathy
I
Hi,
Yes I got your meaning,
The only reason I put the meaning there was for others who might not know what it does mean, I wasn't correcting you.
I traveled to Nepal 3 times, first time in the late 80s then last time in the 90s. I had the opportunity of learning the language a little bit which enabled me to get around easier and converse with the locals, and also not to get ripped off!
I had a Nepalese "friend" for many years but naturally, the distance prevented us from taking the relationship further. He was just magical! The last time I was there I had learned a little more and didn't tell him to start with and so I could listen to him talking about me to others, ( all nice words ) I had lots of fun there, now I believe it is not so nice and has been taken over mostly by Taoists. The lady I met at the conference had been there recently on a retreat.
I don't know whether my medical condition would allow me to return there and I'm not sure that I would want to. I really felt very connected to the country. It is so scenic and so beautiful, unfortunately now the people there, who were just so beautiful, are spoiled by the Western influence and the desire for money money money. It is such a shame.
Anyway, back to meditation. It is so hard to do and really takes so much practice to find that "empty space."
There are many who have tried for over 30 years and not attained it but I think it worth pursuing, especially if even for a little while it takes our minds away from the pain, etc.
Happy meditation,
TB
Yes I got your meaning,
The only reason I put the meaning there was for others who might not know what it does mean, I wasn't correcting you.
I traveled to Nepal 3 times, first time in the late 80s then last time in the 90s. I had the opportunity of learning the language a little bit which enabled me to get around easier and converse with the locals, and also not to get ripped off!
I had a Nepalese "friend" for many years but naturally, the distance prevented us from taking the relationship further. He was just magical! The last time I was there I had learned a little more and didn't tell him to start with and so I could listen to him talking about me to others, ( all nice words ) I had lots of fun there, now I believe it is not so nice and has been taken over mostly by Taoists. The lady I met at the conference had been there recently on a retreat.
I don't know whether my medical condition would allow me to return there and I'm not sure that I would want to. I really felt very connected to the country. It is so scenic and so beautiful, unfortunately now the people there, who were just so beautiful, are spoiled by the Western influence and the desire for money money money. It is such a shame.
Anyway, back to meditation. It is so hard to do and really takes so much practice to find that "empty space."
There are many who have tried for over 30 years and not attained it but I think it worth pursuing, especially if even for a little while it takes our minds away from the pain, etc.
Happy meditation,
TB
Darn, I was thinking namaste (I bless the divine in you) was used in parting, too. I looked it up, and it is used in parting in the silent form. Oh well, you got my meaning!
Neuroscientists are studying the effects of meditation on brain activity.
In the article I mentioned, it talked about a study at San Francisco State University. They used a system called qEEG to map electrical activity in the brain of a yoga master while he had his tongue pierced. The researchers found that the pattern of brain activity suggests that the meditationg yogi entered a state similar to that produced by pain numbing drugs.
In another study with MRI, it was shown that adaptations to pain may persist during times between meditation practice. I know when I was practicing, I found pain and stress much easier to deal with.
I like the idea of "training" my brain through meditation. "Meditation may sharpen the ability to focus by training the brain to apply limited processing power more efficiently". (from the article). I think this could be valuable information for MS patients, chronic pain sufferers, heck, just about everyone on the face of the earth! Now, to get people to slow down and meditate is the tricky part, I'll bet!
Good stuff!
See you around the forum!
Kathy
Neuroscientists are studying the effects of meditation on brain activity.
In the article I mentioned, it talked about a study at San Francisco State University. They used a system called qEEG to map electrical activity in the brain of a yoga master while he had his tongue pierced. The researchers found that the pattern of brain activity suggests that the meditationg yogi entered a state similar to that produced by pain numbing drugs.
In another study with MRI, it was shown that adaptations to pain may persist during times between meditation practice. I know when I was practicing, I found pain and stress much easier to deal with.
I like the idea of "training" my brain through meditation. "Meditation may sharpen the ability to focus by training the brain to apply limited processing power more efficiently". (from the article). I think this could be valuable information for MS patients, chronic pain sufferers, heck, just about everyone on the face of the earth! Now, to get people to slow down and meditate is the tricky part, I'll bet!
Good stuff!
See you around the forum!
Kathy
Hi and thanks for the warm welcome back.
HH did talk about the benefit of meditation for the brain, mind and pain. He certainly has done his homework.
His information came from, as he put it "brain specialists", I believe he means Neurologists or Doctors in research on the subject. Very interesting and I believe that it has been scientifically proven that the brains of people who meditate are somewhat different from those who don't. I'm not sure whether this means chemical or physical but none the less very interesting.
It wouldn't do any harm to try meditation, we have to something other than have doctors load us up with pills and think we are all nuts!
Let me know how you go
and,
Namaste to you also ( Nepali greeting meaning blessing )
TB
HH did talk about the benefit of meditation for the brain, mind and pain. He certainly has done his homework.
His information came from, as he put it "brain specialists", I believe he means Neurologists or Doctors in research on the subject. Very interesting and I believe that it has been scientifically proven that the brains of people who meditate are somewhat different from those who don't. I'm not sure whether this means chemical or physical but none the less very interesting.
It wouldn't do any harm to try meditation, we have to something other than have doctors load us up with pills and think we are all nuts!
Let me know how you go
and,
Namaste to you also ( Nepali greeting meaning blessing )
TB
Welcome back. I am so happy for you! How wonderful that you were able to go and experience such a marvelous event.
There was a large article in the local paper today about the health benefits of meditation that scientific evidence is supporting. This includes reducing suffering from pain. It reminded me that I keep meaning to start meditating regularly again, remembering the feeling of peace that it brings.
I can almost feel how amazing your experience was. I'll check out the DVDs or CDs, could use some help in starting to practice meditation again. Thank you for sharing this with me through this forum.
Namaste,
Kathy
There was a large article in the local paper today about the health benefits of meditation that scientific evidence is supporting. This includes reducing suffering from pain. It reminded me that I keep meaning to start meditating regularly again, remembering the feeling of peace that it brings.
I can almost feel how amazing your experience was. I'll check out the DVDs or CDs, could use some help in starting to practice meditation again. Thank you for sharing this with me through this forum.
Namaste,
Kathy
Hi Everyone, well, I'm back and am still trying to get over the tiredness, but, wow, what a wonderful experience!
Every morning we were treated to different chanting from different countries and on the last 2 days we had the well known Tibetan chanting which was wonderful. It was a very busy 5 days and a lot to absorb.
HH was gave us teachings on meditation straight from the old scriptures in Sanskrit and he needed an English interpreter for this, who is also Tibetan. Sometimes it was a little confusing but I took lots of notes and have ordered the DVD's which won't be
available until the end of July. It is probably only going to make sense to those who already have some experience with meditation and in particular, Tibetan Buddhism Meditation.
On Saturday afternoon he gave a public talk and that was also just wonderful, this will be on DVD and CD also. I think people will be able to purchase this separately from his teachings.
His interpreter by then, was exhausted and kept making mistakes and HH teasingly pulled him up several times. We learned lots about him as a person and throughout the 5 days he would stop and tell us different stories about the people he has met, his life in exile, his tutors, family, pets and all sorts of interesting bits and pieces. ( He loves cats )
The first day I had trouble staying awake, a bit of jet lag and travel tiredness apart from my usual tiredness, I kept dozing off, very embarrassing but couldn't help it.
On Sunday he bestowed a Tibetan Buddhist blessing on us ( very rare for him to do this, I am told ) and it was nothing short of magical and filled us all with such peacefulness. There was a wonderful feeling in the arena after he had finished. I am just so blessed to have been given this rare opportunity.
I hope everyone is well and hanging in there. No headaches while I was away but I had a bad one yesterday and ended up sleeping the whole afternoon. I took quite a few photos but some of them were not so clear as I was sitting a long way back. I think it is ok to put them on the internet.
If anyone is interested and wants to get the DVDs or CDs the website is www.dalailamainaustralia.org The teachings are quite expensive but the public talk is reasonable, I am not sure how much they will charge the general public.
I believe he is coming back again next year but I'm not sure whether it will be in Sydney again or somewhere else.
If anyone gets the chance to see him, don't miss it, he is truly one of the most amazing people of our time.
Blessings to all,
TB
Every morning we were treated to different chanting from different countries and on the last 2 days we had the well known Tibetan chanting which was wonderful. It was a very busy 5 days and a lot to absorb.
HH was gave us teachings on meditation straight from the old scriptures in Sanskrit and he needed an English interpreter for this, who is also Tibetan. Sometimes it was a little confusing but I took lots of notes and have ordered the DVD's which won't be
available until the end of July. It is probably only going to make sense to those who already have some experience with meditation and in particular, Tibetan Buddhism Meditation.
On Saturday afternoon he gave a public talk and that was also just wonderful, this will be on DVD and CD also. I think people will be able to purchase this separately from his teachings.
His interpreter by then, was exhausted and kept making mistakes and HH teasingly pulled him up several times. We learned lots about him as a person and throughout the 5 days he would stop and tell us different stories about the people he has met, his life in exile, his tutors, family, pets and all sorts of interesting bits and pieces. ( He loves cats )
The first day I had trouble staying awake, a bit of jet lag and travel tiredness apart from my usual tiredness, I kept dozing off, very embarrassing but couldn't help it.
On Sunday he bestowed a Tibetan Buddhist blessing on us ( very rare for him to do this, I am told ) and it was nothing short of magical and filled us all with such peacefulness. There was a wonderful feeling in the arena after he had finished. I am just so blessed to have been given this rare opportunity.
I hope everyone is well and hanging in there. No headaches while I was away but I had a bad one yesterday and ended up sleeping the whole afternoon. I took quite a few photos but some of them were not so clear as I was sitting a long way back. I think it is ok to put them on the internet.
If anyone is interested and wants to get the DVDs or CDs the website is www.dalailamainaustralia.org The teachings are quite expensive but the public talk is reasonable, I am not sure how much they will charge the general public.
I believe he is coming back again next year but I'm not sure whether it will be in Sydney again or somewhere else.
If anyone gets the chance to see him, don't miss it, he is truly one of the most amazing people of our time.
Blessings to all,
TB
I wanna come! Wishing you an awesome painless trip!
Enjoy! And, please do tell us ALL about it when you return.
Be safe,
SL
Enjoy! And, please do tell us ALL about it when you return.
Be safe,
SL
The Dalai Lama was in Portland once, spoke at Pioneer Courthouse square. I climbed up on a wall and was only able to see the top of his head, and the sound system made it difficult to understand what he was saying. I wish I was going to Sydney!
I am so happy for you! I hope the headaches stay away so you can be fully present to the meditation.
Several years ago I flew to Oakland CA for a Day of Mindfullness with Thich Nhat Hahn, and I can still remember the feeling of incredible peace and interconnectedness.
Awesome sponsor! A friend sent me to the Day of Mindfulness, and I will always be grateful.
Wishing you all the best,
Kathy
I am so happy for you! I hope the headaches stay away so you can be fully present to the meditation.
Several years ago I flew to Oakland CA for a Day of Mindfullness with Thich Nhat Hahn, and I can still remember the feeling of incredible peace and interconnectedness.
Awesome sponsor! A friend sent me to the Day of Mindfulness, and I will always be grateful.
Wishing you all the best,
Kathy
Yay! A fellow Aussie!
The Dalai Lama is so funny, I've watched him on ABC a few times when they've filmed his talks, he cracks me up. Enjoy!
Jemm
The Dalai Lama is so funny, I've watched him on ABC a few times when they've filmed his talks, he cracks me up. Enjoy!
Jemm
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