Happiness.

Today's conversation was great. There are only two more classes left, but I hope even once this class is over we can all meet up to talk, maybe even some group meditation? In any case, feel free to friend me on Facebook so we can all stay in touch! I won't think you're creepy for finding me too.

On the topic of happiness: one of my favorite poems I've posted below for you all to read. I'm a sucker for good poetry, and this one has really stuck with me. Enjoy.

The Plum Trees
Such richness flowing
through the branches of summer and into

the body, carried inward on the five
rivers! Disorder and astonishment

rattle your thoughts and your heart
cries for rest but don't

succumb, there's nothing
so sensible as sensual inundation. Joy

is a taste before
it's anything else, and the body

can lounge for hours devouring
the important moments. Listen,

the only way
to temp happiness into your mind is by taking it

into the body first, like small
wild plums

-Mary Oliver



Peace,
Ryan John

Synesthesia & The Arts

Also, here's a link to an article about synesthesia and art -

http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/002409499552957

Choice Overload

Hey all, here's the article that I mentioned today in class - a.k.a. the jam example:

http://www.columbia.edu/~ss957/whenchoice.html

Secret spots

Does anybody have any good places they like to go to meditate that around the campus area? In the Michigan League there's a "Reflection Room" on the third floor that I'll go into sometimes. I like it because I go in and close the door and it becomes my own private space. Anybody else have any good spots to share? Maybe if we spot each other meditating we can spontaneously stop and tune in together! Sometimes it really helps to do something that requires focus with other people who are focusing in the same kind of way.

Can't wait until it gets warm out and so many more nice spaces to meditate will reveal themselves!

The Veil

Hey guys. Just thought I'd post this in its original form; hope you enjoy the experience of this idea as much as I am.

The Veil

Silence is pregnant with countless truths, yet unknown. I feel the Great Unmanifest, a humming field of light, churning, swelling, breathing toward me. She is the Tao, the Mother the Everything, and she cloaks herself from our minds' hungry eyes. All we think we see is but this veil that separates us from her skin, which we long to feel soft and naked under our fingers.

There is a veil, yet I know her presence still; I feel her lovely round shape, and her warm breath surrounding me. I hear her deep calm, resonating my heart. I feel her reaching inside me, insisting that I too, am the Unknown. I feel myself disappearing inside her, and at least for a moment, the veil is gone.

mind-body healing

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/03/ep.seidler.cancer.mind.body/index.html

Interesting story from CNN! Check it out.

Also, I'm currently writing a paper on dreams for another psychology class. I will definitely post it on here when it's finished because it has much to do with conscious experiences.

See you all tomorrow.

cool website.

http://www.highexistence.com/

check it out yo.