Mikan Meditation

23/11/2022

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This story I find amusing because it highlights for me, the importance of being able to engage in meditation from variety of different perspectives? Can I look at the orange and delve its depths? Can I ask myself truly, is it is what it seems to be? But can I also appreciate that regardless of what it is under the surface, whatever it really is, that it’s also an orange, too? And if I can do this with an orange can I also learn to do this with my self, my feelings, my emotions? Can I learn the freedom to engage with life in a variety of ways from a variety of perspectives, that minimise suffering, enhance happiness and benefits others? and stuff.

21/11/2022

What does an orange have to do with meditation? The orange story: Part 1.

Below is an account of a true story that occurred actually not too many years ago. It’s the funny tale of a meeting between a Tibetan Rinpoche (Rinpoche meaning respected teacher) and a Korean Zen master.

Before I tell this story it’s perhaps important to know that Zen and Tibetan traditions are famous for their use of unconventional teaching methods. One such method, shared between the two traditions (albeit expressed in different manners) is the practice of debate & inquisition - where monks and teachers alike meet to challenge the depth and breadth of their understanding, and contextualise their meditation experience. To the surprise of many unacquainted outsiders these debates are often rowdy, almost combative affairs with much a pushing and shoving, clapping and shouting! (One Zen teacher was famous for bonking his student’s heads with a stick if they gave him an inadequate response)!

In much the same manner of the above practices, the intent then behind the meeting of these two masters was that they could engage in lively discussion. The Zen monk, in deep meditative equipoise is first to initiate the debate. He reaches deep within his grey & black robes and from its depths withdraws an orange! ‘What is this!?’, he asks the Tibetan.

Unsure as to the requirements of the proceedings the Rinpoche remains quiet. Wanting a response the Zen monk presses the orange closer to the Rinpoche and with great determination in his voice repeats the question, ‘What is this!?’.

Still none the wiser, and now confused, the Tibetan begins to look around to the spectators for clues. Yet, he does not break silence. The Zen Master pushes the fruit ever closer to the Rinpoche and repeats ever-more-tersely the question. ‘What is this!?’

Dumbfounded the Tibetan finally breaks his silence. ‘What’s the matter?’ He says, ‘Do they not have oranges where they come from?’.

15/11/2022

Consistency is the golden thread with which the fabric of a meditation practice is sewn. A consistent practice compounds, making the sum effect of meditation greater than the individual meditations. Consistency should not be based upon idealistic notions of what you would like to ‘achieve’ nor what you (or others) believe is optimal, (not even your own expectations) but rather, but by asking yourself, what’s realistic?
Perhaps even more than that one could ask, “what realistically is the smallest amount of time I know I can consistently repeat day-in, day-out, week-in week-out?”. 1 breath? 1 minute? 10 minutes, an hour, perhaps?

When you have your answer, you will have your golden thread. And with this golden thread you can fabricate a practice. And if, some days you find that you’re given the opportunity to do more sewing, do more! But if you can’t, just be consistent.
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14/11/2022

13.11.2022
Sitting down to meditate was, last night, a difficult task. I was tired, and as I often feel when I am tired, I was also restless and distractible. In spite of this, once I had determined to meditate, I found myself settling quickly. The breath was easy and sweet, and for a short period attention was effortless. Adequately settled, I decided to play with the seat of perception.

(The seat of perception: the point where one feels oneself is situated within the body-mind.)

I began with the position where my perception already was; a little distance away from the breath, somewhere around the region of the head and neck. From this place, I allowed the breath to come to ‘me’. The breath became subtle and delicate. It took great care to conduct my attention with likewise delicacy. This was today too difficult a task. Consciousness began to shrink, inertia was lost and I started to fall into a dull and sleepy void. I decided to swap the place of perception.

Next, I placed the seat of perception where I could feel the breath began - where there would be as little distance as possible between the breath and where I was situated. Here the breath was lively and energetic and spread quickly across consciousness, enlivening my dull sleepy-like state, like a firework light’s the dark sky. But it was unstable, and so too were my mind’s capacities. Tired and sleepy, yet never losing the breath completely, I found myself shifting back and forth between dream and reality, focus and distraction.

By the time the meditation timer bleeped, I was very ready for sleep.

15/06/2022

Obs, inget meditationpass på Lördag den 18 Juni, eftersom jag ska på semester. :). Ha det gott!

03/06/2022

This Saturday's class will also take place 09am - 10am. Come and enjoy a quiet moment before starting your Saturday!

20/05/2022

Due to un-forseen circumstances I must unfortunately cancel this weeks meditation. Sorry for the short notice.
Saturday meditations will resume as normal in 2 weeks.

02/05/2022

Please note, this week's class (week 18) will take place at the slightly earlier time of 9-10am. 👍

21/04/2022

Note, there will not be a meeting this week as I will be co-hosting a day-retreat. If you think you might like to attend the retreat you can do something I don't understand with this barcode below. Alternatively you can follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/376527927676392
Cheers 😊

18/04/2022

April is shaping up to be a cool month in Norrbotten! On April 23rd we have the day-long retreat in Luleå, hosted by myself and Camilla. And on the 30th Victor will be hosting a Wim Hof Method Workshop in Luleå. Its definitely worth attending if you have not tried it before :).

Hello. I'm Victor Åhman, official Wim Hof Method Instructor. View my upcoming Wim Hof Method activities or ask me a question here.

08/04/2022

I thought sharing a meditation might break up the monotony of posts reminding everyone when the next meeting takes place (but just in case, the next meeting tomorrow! @ 09.30 👍).

I recorded this meditation to give people a bit better of an idea of what we will be doing/practicing on the retreat on the 23rd April. It's pretty short, just 15 minutes.
I hope you enjoy it.

Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow :).
All the best!