Sunshine

[Jenna]

Hello All

Well thought I would post to say that I did my morning sitting (albeit 5 mins instead of usual 10) in the car and spent the whole 5 mins concentrating and feeling the sun on my face. For the first time this year I have appreciated the weather and loved the feel of the sun on my skin. Definately helped me to remain calmer for the day.

Have a great day and be mindful.

[JonW]

It's wonderful to see that mindfulness is bringing calm and sunshine into your life, Jenna.

[Gareth]

The sun is always shining, it's just that the clouds sometimes get in the way.

[JonW]

"Time is a relative concept."
At least until Gareth remembers to put the clock forward...

[Steve]

Your post struck a real chord with me: meditating on the warmth of sunshine is a favourite of mine, especially in the fresh air - it provides a strong sense of connection with nature and just basking in the present moment. There's something special about sunshine too, I like to feel it as a direct radiation of an endless reservoir of love from the universe (and all those in it past and present) - that may sound a bit flowery but its the best way I can describe it.

As Gareth says, on cloudy days, its also good to remember that the sun is still shining as brightly up above the clouds, nothing has changed except our perception. That's more challenging. It's easy to understand but harder in put into practice - how is it that we let a bit of water vapour have such an influence on the way we think and see things?

Steve

[JonW]

There's a lovely passage in Brad Warner's Hardcore Zen when he describes bubbles on a river's surface:
"They float along on the river for a while, then burst. The bubbles are just air and water. The water returns to the river. The air returns to the atmosphere. But that one bubble we watched will never appear again...that bubble was always part of the river even when it appeared as a bubble."
As good a metaphor for life and afterlife as ever I've read.