by Tessalin » Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:02 am
Gyre...
Actually, I am interested in activities that simply remind me to be the space rather than the content. That's what meditation means to me. Of course, there are many styles of meditation that are about controlling the mind to sort of force it into submission (exactly like your facetious imagining of forced meditation!) The environment and cacophony of Burning Man can turn controlling the mind into a big challenge. But ultimately the mind of the meditator must surrender to witnessing what is- whatever that is- if it is to transcend itself.
The challenge of the BM cacophony of sound reminds me of some of the Buddhist Tantric chanting I've heard on CD- perhaps you've heard them: the monks are chanting, chanting, chanting relentlessly and along with their deep resounding voices are these intermittent, frequent crashes of cymbals that sound like they are being dropped on the floor. To the western ear this at first seems horribly wrong and contrary to producing the "meditative state." However, perhaps these annoying, outbursts of sound that are impossible to ignore are the very thing that ushers the mind into surrender- allowing the natural state of innocence and awe to be revealed as the ever-present is-ness of true reality.
Blessings of the Inner Burn,
Tee
"What is to give light must endure burning".- Viktor Frankl