“The benefits of silence are off the books. They are not measured in the gross domestic product, yet the availability of silence surely contributes to creativity and innovation. They do not show up explicitly in social statistics such as level of educational achievement, yet one consumes a great deal of silence in the course of… Read more »
Posts By: Mariana
#tds411 Listen to Rumi in silence
It is Sunday today! You can take time to listen to Coleman Barks reciting Rumi on Soundcloud. The audio lasts an hour, listen to as many poems as you can. Be still. Rumi said: ‘Where I am silent, I fall into the place where everything is music’. We are recycling this one, in case you… Read more »
#tds410 Poems on Twitter
One poet’s reflections on Twitter, Enjoy away from Twitter! Tweet your response to @livedtime and be sure to include the hashtag #tds410
#tds409 Find a quiet place online
John Johnston created a lovely space to reflection online. Take time away from clicking and watching the stream: we can watch ephemeral art as we reflect on this most wonderful poem also offered to us by John: We can kiss joy as it flies today by visiting John’s online reflection spot. If you want to… Read more »
#tds408 The point of practice is to practise
“It is still dark above the trees when I rise and light a candle and try and settle myself in the same undivided calm as the flame while I wait for morning’s first bird song. Life pulls with its many demands, but for the moment nothing compels me. I am filled with peace; receptive, rather… Read more »
#tds407 The joy of repetition
“Repetition – ‘is fundamental, not only to machines; it is the fundamental method in both ritual and the arts. It shows the soul’s pleasure in practice, in polishing, in precision’. Hillman views repetition as necessary to growth, not for efficiency’s sake but for its own sake. If we learn to view repetition as: ‘the essence… Read more »
#tds406 Get to know your patch of grass
Find ‘the broad lawn, spread out, sit alone and watch a small patch of grass. Observe and record ‘what happens there’. Stay with your patch of grass long enough to get to know it.’ A. Sullivan Source Image Wikemedia Show us your patch of grass in a photo. Tweet your response to @livedtime and be… Read more »
#tds405 How do you find stillness?
Today read a TED blog titled: How do you find stillness? You might find some ideas to incorporate into your own routines. Be aware that one of the respondents to this survey said: “I don´t bring stillness to my life, because there will be plenty of time for stillness after death, when there is nothing else… Read more »
#tds404 Why I am not going to buy a computer
This essay was written a while back and it is a glimpse into a world with different values from our current social media driven lives. Take time to read it today and wonder if we have lost something essentially human in finding our way to a life that cannot be without a computer. Take… Read more »
#tds403 Taking time to feel the silence
Can you take 5 minutes in your day to just pay attention to how you feel inside? You can just sit in silence and set a timer. Or you may find it helpful to listen to a guided meditation such as this video. If you have tried this activity before with us or elsewhere, may… Read more »
#tds402 Counting, repetition and rice
Now we are not making soup! Get 2/3 kinds of grains and legumes you might have at home (lentils and rice will do) and put them in an old jar. Sit down in a quiet place with your jar and start counting. Why? Because, as you count, you may find a similar experience to that… Read more »
#tds401 Sitting with boredom
So, the next time boredom overcomes you, it might be best not to ignore it. It might be best not to cover it up with your smartphone. Boredom might be trying to tell you something. After all, how often do you ignore pain? How often do you treat it with your phone? Photo by… Read more »
