Blissfully back

The Vipassana meditation retreat was an excellent experience. Not only were the 10 days themselves the perfect envelope of silence and reflection, the days after the retreat have been notably good as well. The technique seems to deliver, although I also feel the distinct sharpening of the senses developed during the 10 days slightly dulling now - but this should be just the beginning of a long road. And before you think I've gone off and joined a cult, no, I'm talking about a non-sectarian, mostly secular meditation technique that does base on Buddhist heritage, but that is also completely physical, experiential and non-denominational. Buddhist teachings and anecdotes were included in the few discourses the course contains (it's mostly just meditation, a good 10 hours a day), but they are not essential to the efficacy of the technique. I'm aiming to continue putting in at least 2 hours per day while I'm travelling - not an unreasonable dedication, especially as it seems that my need for sleep dropped dramatically during the course. I may not be able to maintain that, but continuity of practice is the key to success. And, I'm happy not to have to observe the holidays in anyway - haven't even heard a Christmas carol. Bliss.


 

Log> Vlog #3

Hi from Melbourne, still. I'll be taking off on the 10-day Vipassana Meditation course starting tomorrow which includes total silence, so I'll be even quieter than normal. So I'll speak now.



Also, here's some photos from a roam across the outback and the Southern coast with the Belgians. Ta-daah for now.

The Trip: Windswept

 

Thoughts> Cabin fever

The sound of the opening road is thunder
and inside the windows marked in burning code
are maps with dragons and horizons asunder
in the house where my restlessness has overflowed

A raging moon now kept awake by crickets
in the pregnant air of the morning floodplain
clouds smuggle out the sun in their pockets
and of heat the road roars again

A bridge extends, a sky opens up
the droning noise of all steps ahead
gyrates around this heating hub
as progress bites its tail in dread

This is me boiling in Adam's brine
a green thought on the black plain
scalding the back nothing but straight spine
a shadowless man may over the sun reign

For this day are clouds summoned
a shelter built of sea and rain
water-wound the time thus released
the inert heat no longer the stock, the cane.

--

I've been a bit sick lately, which is unfortunate since these are the only days when I had any kind of a schedule. I can't make it to Uluru anymore, so I'm concentrating on the Southern coast and Tasmania over here. It's great being stuck - the movement feels much better after that again. And I need the movement to clear my head before the Vipassana retreat starting in a week.

Oh, and send me your address if you want a cool postcard, potentially featuring me, a motorcycle, and a scenic location in Southern Australia.