The Esoteric and The Exoteric - Explained

You may find this exposition of the difference between exoteric and exoteric useful. I find it significantly less than prefect, but also a useful beginning for understanding meanings and differences. To begin simply, esoteric refers to the more difficult to understand and to communicate. The exoteric is the more easily understood and communicated. The core meaning of exo is out or outer while that of eso is in our inner.             

                        rcs

Our Communication and the Information Around Us

There is a more complete exposition and vision. There are dimensions of communication. We have been told to see and to observe other sides of the question or subject. Our observation can be vital to us. Science may be vital to our ability to communicate.

                                                                            Richard

Contemplating the Practice of Meditation

Meditation:

                    Meditation covers a lot of ground. One may know that there are many ways to meditate and that there are many kinds of  meditation. However, it is interesting to know that that only a few sorts are widely practiced. There are reasons for that. Most of us appreciate simplicity and effectiveness and so we choose a practice which we find effective and simple. Over time one may become grateful for the other ways and varieties of form from which he or she may choose. This introduction is from my point of view of the day and contains hints of what is beyond the intro.

                This essay is written from my present point of view. Here I intend to mention what a meditation is, how some practitioners do it,  and why the do it. I'll also say a bit about me and meditation. I will put more emphasis on how you may begin your practice now.

                Meditation is a practice. For some it is a life-long practice. For more than a few it has been a way to keep their mentation more usefully organized and tranquil. For others it is both fun and powerfully organizing. For many it is a practice which evolves over time and the goals of which change over time. Some say it is sitting. 

                My aim is to make this essay simple and explanatory without boring you.

Meditation and Me:

                Meditation as I know it is mostly do in one's self by one's self. However, group meditations are popular and useful. There are even guided practices. It is often a matter of focused observation. A simple yet important aim can be keeping one's mind on a chosen object, subject, doing, happening feeling, thought, word, activity, and like that. So, it is often a practice of mental focus. My practice has often been to focus on a word or a short phrase for a period of time that I select. My practice is continued in a relaxed way for that period of time. That's it.

                I have learned that which I understand of meditation through the experience of practice and by reading the works of Vitvan and Leshawn. I also learn important attitudes and more by meditating in a variety of groups. Words and language have been an important part of my practice. I found that meditation on a word extended, broadened, and deepened my familiarity with and understanding of its meaning and the reality it pointed to. I found that some words pointed more clearly than did others.

                For me practice often begins by being seated upright in a comfortable chair and closing my eyes. Neither the chair, the sitting, nor the eye closing is necessary, but it's my practice. I like using a timer, but that isn't necessary either. I set the timer to tell me when the time I have chosen to meditate has concluded. I hope to say something about other activities I have chosen related meditating in future essays. Check essays on meditation on this blogsite that have already been published here. I intend to publish more this year.

                Sitting in a meditation group has been good for me, but I have often been pleased to meditate alone. I like a calm, quiet place and a comfortable chair, but not a chair not so comfortable that sleep would tempt me. For me, meditating is an awake, active, alert, observing process. It is so even when I stretch out on the grass or floor to meditate.

                Without a timer I have found myself meditating far beyond my allotted time. At another time I have opened eyes ready to go on to other things only to find that I had meditated only five minutes of my allotted forty-five minutes! Some experience meditators would say that these happenings do not matter, that five minutes is just right for one time and 2 hours just right for another time. However, for me, right now, practicing my time discipline is important to me.

                More of me. In my practice I may decide that I shall focus on my breath and that I shall count my breaths. Even so, I may use words to help me with that focus. To begin I might count rounds of four for a time. Counting seems a use of words. An inhalation and an exhalation  may represent one complete breath and four such breaths complete a round. I might think the word 'in' as I inhale and the word "out" as I exhale. An in and an out would count as one breath in my rounds of four. As I counted this practice I might add attending to the differences 

                    Form me meditation practice is and ought to be attention and and attentiveness and very often it is just that. One is paying attending to ones self, one might say to your inner self. Your principle attitude is one of attentiveness. I found this to be part of an important learning experience. In each practice I often

focus a limited defined "topic." That topic has often been a word or short phrase or even a very short sentence, which I determine before I begin the practice.

Meditation Generalities:

                    A teacher can help one to sort out these these ways, means, purposes, and attitudes of meditation. I am not that teacher, but I do try to answer questions posted in "comments." I do have some knowledge of the practice. Finding a good instructor, teacher, guru, or coach can be useful for developing your practice. If you find the teaching less than congenial leave it. Remember your practice is yours. Later if you feel you have made a mistake, you can beg to come back or seek similar instruction. You are the boss of your practice and you have that responsibility.

                    I have mentioned that meditation can be of great variety. Here is a small hint of that great variety. Body position can be a part of that variety. Body positions and movements can represent a bit of that variety. Ways and variations  of walking, sitting, and lying down add to that variety. There are solo meditations, group meditations to add to that variety. There are yoga movement and postures that are included. There are also a variety of purposes for meditation which call for a variety of practices.

Preparing to Meditate:

                    There are many ways to prepare. Most might have to do with personal preferences. For example, I feel better when I have a timer or alarm I can set. 

                    Just sitting in awareness or mindfulness can be good preparation. It is also meditation! Starting to meditate is the most important act to begin meditating. Just sitting quietly can be a real start.

                    Good preparation for some is trying to find a qualified meditation coach. A qualified coach is one who keeps up to date with what you are doing and how you are doing: one who know the the state of your practice today. Otherwise you might just as well get a video, read a book about meditation. Getting a guide for your meditation is not the same as being taught about meditation. Your experience in your practice is important.

Your Meditation:

                    You are the one responsible for your meditation practice and the only one in the world who can do it. You can keep in mind that there are may ways to learn and many ways to practice. Your learning and your practice is in you.

                    Determining  a time and a place for your first meditation could be useful preparation for that meditation. You might consider what you will want once you get there. When you do get there you can check to see that there is enough there to allow you to practice. Then you can make ready to observe and pay attention to my doings and happenings. Not difficult tasks. Should you  forget what you are doing you are likely able to remind yourself to get back to it.

                    You can meditate right now if  you want to. You can use this little to help you if you wish: Take a few full breaths, no need to force them. Now continue to be aware of your breath and begin to breathe more naturally. As you continue to be aware of your breath, repeat "good posture, no pain" slowly and calmly. Breathe normally or slightly more deeply if it feels right to do so. Aim to breathe smoothly, regularly, rhythmically or to let yourself to do so. when you find yourself not repeating the phrases, remind yourself to do so. When you find yourself not breathing correctly remind yourself to do so. Continue you until you have completed the time you have allotted to the session. Five or ten minutes may be plenty for this session. It's meditation.

                    If  above seems a bit much. Just give yourself ten minutes to sit quietly for ten minutes. That can be your good meditation for this day or longer.

You are meditating. You are a meditator. You have a practice.

                    Congratulations! You have learned a lot about meditation and you have actually meditated! When you consider it, you may have learned something about your self too.

                                                                                                               RCS

      

 

            

Odin Knowledge

Odin of Pre-Christian Europe:

Sorting "Odin" as used by a variety of people in a variety of  cultic ways. Some of these people may have been members of warbands. Odin has been seen as a god, a wise ruler, Woden, a source of knowledge and poetry. He has had a contradictory history, but we can believe that the reality of the man can be approached.

Our Visitors Seem Like This

                Visitors to these several blogsites seem much like this to me today.

                    

               They are ordinary people, but are not interested in hashing over the same old stuff.

                Many have some college. Some have post graduate degrees. Some have very little formal learning. They are more curious then most and are lifelong learners. They explore in their own way. They may even explore blogs.

                They may be interested  in facets of science and to have imaginations which tend to be realistic. Those imaginations are often wide ranging. A number of them are interested in kinds and sorts of history and sociology! A few have considered the nature of governance. They can also be interested in thoughts relate to world affairs. Others are happily married.

                Often they are interested in getting the backstory of  the news and other happenings and doings, but often don't tell me so.

                They believe that the quality of communication is important. They suspect that face to face communication is very important. They want to learn more, to understand more, to let more meaning in to their life.

                Health is an interest of theirs, both public health and personal health. They are also interested in personal development. Many love honesty, reality, and clear thinking. Some feel ready and willing to ask a question or make a comment.

                   Some are finding the interactivity of these sites and others have found some of the various search aids available. Many feel free to make some intuitive explorations on some of associated blogsites. If you are finding something of yourself in these descriptions, you may find some pleasure, profit, and satisfaction in further exploration of a couple of these several associated sites.

                You may even surprise yourself by being attracted to either the Governance site or the Dialogue site. You could find some interesting information in my kind of prehistory in the History blogsite. 

                

                I am always please to hear from you especially by way of the "comments" app available at many of the sites. I am also learning to accept help.

                Do let me hear from you whenever you feel like doing so.

                Here are some are some associate sites to take a peek at:

~ Mago Bill

~ Dialogue With RCS

~ History With RCS

~ Governance With RCS

                Thank you for reading!

                                                                                                                       rcs

            

                

Freedom Contemplation

                     Let in more open awareness at the moment of most adversion.

It may be said that:

~ One who sleeps is less conscious of emotions.

~ One is awake in so far as one is aware of being aware of feelings.

~ Awarness of feelings without grasping or adversion brings freedom.

                    Let there be a courageous, open, and spacious sense of self.

                    With awareness can come wholeness, well-being, freedom, and a natural flow of life.

A Meditation:

Sit an be aware ofthat which arises in mind and watch itas it moves on.

Where there are repeated patterns, let your awareness expand.

Sense what is asking for acceptance; it may be reality.

Repeating patterns often exist where you resist. Ask, "How am I receiving this?" "Is there a fear or difficulty?"

                    With awarness can come wholeness, well-being, freedom, and a natural flow of life. Still without awareness can come bliss.

                    Let a part of your meditation be an investigation and discovery. Let difficulty, conflict, and pain lead you to higher levels of freedom.

                    Meditation takes some time.

                    Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

                                                                                                    rcs

            

Zennish Thoughts

                             This will seem more esoteric than usual. It seems that way to me. You may find it curious. A few may find it valuable. You may get more value from these thoughts the more you stay relaxed and keep it simple. As I write, I believe.

                        You can see freshly and newly the doings of life and the happenings around you. 

                        Zen is much about posture, breathing, attitude, and understanding, I am told.

                        Noticing yourself is good for you and me.

                        We can teach ourselves and learn.

                        You can be willing to practice.

                        We can be aware of the dualisticness among us and go beyond.

                        We can be pleased by becoing more aware of the possibilities. You may be aware of doing so for the first time. Note their newness. Note them.

                        We are capable of letting more meaning into our lives. Meaning is limitless. 

                        It is said that your posture reflects your state of mind. A straight back is often a part of good posture. You can benefit by being more aware of a strong abdomen.

                        There is one and there is all. When you know that, you can better know the inbetween.

                        You can open your mind and so be ready, and it is easier than emptying your mind.

                        We can exist for ourselves and not be selfish. You can benefit be being more aware of yourself. You are right here and right now. You exist right here and right now.

                        You are a activity. You can be aware of a pleasant activity within, as you sit relaxed.

                        You can do. Your are willing to do. You can be ready to do that which you must. You probably don't have to do any doing.

                        You can be mischievious and be in control. You can practice some of that control by avoiding doing damage.

                        You can observe an experience or a thought. You can benefit by asking a question about your observation. Some ask, "How is this?" Other questions may be better for you. It may be best to let the happening and observation go. You can let it go as it goes.

                      It is possible to see doings and happenings as they are and to let them go as they go.

                        Let the observation into your mind and let it go out. Noting it is enough.

                       You do not have to continue to be bothered by anything. You can be ready, willing, and able to do something about the bother and it may be best to do it promptly. But you probably don't really have to bother at all.

                    Our understandings change our attitudes.

                    Taking some time to keep one's mind on one's breath can be a beneficialpractice, but nor always.

                    Accepting reality is accepting what is. Not doing so is often deleterious. Still, changing or mind can be the sane action. Often the change can be called beneficial growth.

                     You know there is more than either or.

                      We improve. We improve with practice and will. An effort to improve onesself is seldom wasted.

                        We each have more than one nature. It is good to express them. Express them with care and caution. It is good to express your best selves actively, simply, and directly.

                            May you be well.

                                                                                                            rcs

                        

Introductory Notes Related to Meditation Practice

     Ways and Kinds of Meditation:               

                  One may know that there are many ways to meditate and many kinds of meditation, but only a few sorts are regularly practiced. There are reasons for that. Most of us appreciate simplicity and effectiveness, so we choose a practice which we find effective and simple. Over time we may we may come to be grateful for the ways and varieties of meditation from which we may choose.

                Body position or movement can represent ways and varieties and may include variations of walking, sitting, and lying down. There are also a number of ways of guided meditation. There are solo meditations and group meditations. There are those that include yoga postures. Meditation is done for a variety of purposes which call for a variety of practices.

                A teacher can help one to sort out these ways, means, purposes and attitudes of meditation. I have been a student of meditation and have some experience and knowledge of the practice. I have learned that for me it is best to keep it simple, to aim for good effect, and to treat it as a sort of exploration.

Preparing to Meditate:                

For one contemplating practice, some preparation is helpful. Reading this little essay may count for som preparation as can looking over other posts on this blog. Finding a good instructor, teacher, guru, can be useful preparation.

                There are many ways to prepare. Some have to do with personal preferences. For example, I feel better when I have some sort of timer  which I can set to tell me when the time I have alloted for a session has been completed.  

                Just sitting in awareness or mindfulness is good preparation. I is also meditating! Still, such sitting calls for having an appropriate place to sit. That is, one has preparation to complete. 

                Starting to meditate may be the most important act to begin meditating! Just quietly is a real start when you know you are doing so.

                More good preparation can be to get a well qualified meditation coach. A qualified coach is one who keeps up to date with what you are doing and how you are doing, he, or she, is one who knows the state of your practice today.

                You are the one most responsible for your meditation. You are the only one who can do your meditation. You are well positioned to know what you are doing and how you are doing it. The thing is to do it and to find out more about what it is by way of your observation. As a meditator you are a learner. You may come to note that much learning includes practice and observation. 

Beginning to Practice:                

For me, practice often begins with me seated in a good chair and closing my eyes. Neither the sitting nor the eyeclosing is necessary, but they both have helped me to a good sort of meditation, and so are often part of my meditation. 

                A timer isn't necessary for good meditation either, butI have found it helpful. One thing it does is to tell me when the time I have chosen to meditate is concluded. I sometimes have divided a meditation in to parts and the timer can remind me of when to begin the next part. For more of what I chosen to do in meditation, you can search the posts of this blog. You may discover something unexpected.

                Sitting in a meditation group has been good for me, but I have often been pleased to meditate alone. I like a calm quiet place and  a comfortable chair, but not a chair so comfortable that sleep would tempt me. Actually sleep does not tempt me, but my thoughts of sleep certainly can. However, we can use our power over our thoughts, can't we? For me, meditating includes an awake, alive, alert, observing process. And it is so even when I stretch out on the grass or floor to meditate.

                It seems important to add that my meditation is often the practice of maintaining focus. It is way to develop my skill of maintaining attention on that which I have chosen to attend to. It reminds me of the hunter who has decided to come home with fresh venison. He chooses a position from which he expects to see a deer. He waits expectantly. He avoids thoughts or sights that so divert his attention so as to cause him to miss the coming of the deer.

                I expect that you are now clear that determining a time and place to meditate is useful preparation for meditation. As further preparation for meditating I, upon arriving at the time and place to meditate, would check to see that my timer and chair were ready. I would arrange my mind to make ready to observe and pay attention to my doings and intentions. Not difficult perhaps, but important. You have probably heard that concentration and focus are often important parts of meditation.

                Without my timer I have  found myself meditating far beyond my allotted time. Others learn to avoid that problem without a timer, but I have not. at another time I have opened my eyes ready to go on to other doings only to find that only ten minutes of my allotted time of 45 minutes had passed! 

                It seems to soon to cover much more in any detail. I have covered more in posts available here and will add more in future posts. And, you can use the the "comments" app just below to ask questions as well as to make comments. I try to respond to "comments" promptly in a useful way.

                I do have a bit more to write ab0ut before closing this post.

Details of Practice:

                For me, meditation practice ought to be about attention and attentiveness and most often it is just that. In each practice, I tend to focus on a limited, defined topic. The hunter had his deer. I have often chosen a word or short phrase on which to focus. The hunter perhaps chose a vision. I attend to all that comes up and may ask myself what it has to do with my chosen focus. Then I let it pass and resume my intended focus.

                I may decide that I shall focus on my breath and that process I shall count them. To begin I might count rounds of four. Counting entails words or symbols and that is fair. An inhalation and an exhalation may represent one complete breath and four such breaths complete round. I may think the word "in" as in inhale and "out" as I exhale. An 'in' and an "out" would count as on breath in my rounds of 4 breaths. As I continue the practice I may add attending to the difference of feeling air passing in through my nostrils to the air passing out.

Meditate Now:                

                  You can meditate right now if you wish. Sit with good posture. Take a few full breaths. Now as you continue to be aware of your breath try repeating "good posture, no pain" slowly and calmly. Breath normally or slightly deeper than usual. Intend to breathe smoothly, regularly, rhythmically. When you find yourself not repeating your phrases remind yourself to do so. When you find that you are not breathing as intended, remind yourself to return to doing so. Continue until you have completed the time you have allotted to the session. That's fairly big time meditation. You may now know enough to to develop your practice well for the next many months.

                When the above seems too complicated for comfort, set your timer for ten minutes and sit quietly for that time. That's good meditation. Just sit quietly without using the timer. That's meditation too.

                Congratulations! You have learned a lot about meditation. You may have moved from esoteric to exoteric. You may have meditated and also have learned a bit about yourself.

               Thank you for the visit. 

               Come back to explore and find out more. 

                                                                                                RCS

         

Here and Now

                             One who lives in the present, in the here and now, and is becoming more aware of our world as it is, may be called sane.

                        Today is the very life of life. In this brief span are all the truths and realities of one's life. The bliss of growth is today. The glory of action is today. The splendor is today.

                        It does seem worth a second thought.

                        Look over the rest of this little blog.

                                                                                              rcs

We Have a Capacity for Careful Thought

 Our Goodness:  

            Our practice of good reading, good conversation and our ongoing learning maintains our capacity for careful thought with no damage to our creativity. Among us there is continued resistance to deceit and delusion. We have stayed on the way of well founded thinking and the road of sane judgement and so, continue able to resist incredulity, indignation, fear, false shame, hypocracy, pride, and I have run out of breath.

            By avoiding too much pride and having abundant care for ourselves, we have succeeded in allowing ourselves to do that which is useful for others and pleasant for ourselves.

            We have remembered the meaningfulness of our work, and the value of the thinking and sweat we put into our work. We know that thinking and working up a sweat is sane and healthy. We are pleased with our awareness of the value of moderation.

            It is amazing and pleasing to know that we are capable of such goodness.

            We have remembered the significance of work without putting too much thought or sweat into it. We attend to the value of balance. One marvels at that which we can do.

           

Still we sometimes neglect helping our children and youth to learn to:                      
~ be cautious in sex and to avoid promiscuity.

~ to be outwardly courteous to all, but inwardly remain free to never put to much trust in anyone or anything. This while remembering that with so little faith in the light switch that they fail to switch it to on, they may spend much time in the dark.

~ be with the work they love and to love the work they are with and to find the usefulness and pleasure in it and to find the joy in it as well as in the cash it brings.

~ be open to new ideas and new discoveries.

~ to let abundant consideration and reconsideration of doings, feelings, processes, emotions, and happenings into their lives.

~ help their day dreams to be realistic.

~ Remember that reality is a way to sanity. 

~ let their doings be pleasing to themselves and useful to others.

~ love their parents and to be aware that it is good to see them realistically,

            It can be good for us to remember that the lessons we offer our youth and children may be usefully applied to ourselves.

            As a gift to ourselves we can reconstitute and fortify our capacity for careful thought and its usefulness with the following doings:

            ~ Encourage our willingness to be more aware of our actual state of being.

            ~ Take time for quite contemplation of that which has recently(and perhaps for long)has seemed important to us. This in not a time for figuring things out.

            ~ Arrange opportunity for relaxed, thoughtful, conversation.

            Thank you for reading. I may read it again, again.

                                                                        rcs

       

  

Sacred Geometry

 Our Brains:             

              Most of us don't know much about sacred geometry and that certainly includes me. I'm curious and want to learn more about it . We certainly can't learn a lot about everything, but our brains are hungry and sacred geometry may be very nutritious.

                That which we have called sacred geometry has affected much of our culture and, of course has been much affected by it. It has been felt much in astronomy, astrology, art, architeture, mathamatics, religion, philosophy and more.

                I am just begining to look into it. I have seen that it is very ancient and has had a strong effect on humanity around the world. There seems to be that which is very worthwhile in it.

You May Want More:               

                 With a stream of  thought here I hope to peak your curiosity. The stream will relate to connections to sacred geometry. I will not explain terms and names this time. You might want to check out some their meanings and perhaps even report on your findings in the "comments" section. A logarithmic spiral is an example of geometric progression; polar slope; Jacob Bernoulli; self-similarity; Hindu Garanthos; Manasa, ancient Hindu writings on architecture and design; integrations and connections of culture, the world, nature, being, and building; physical structure and music.

A Long and Varied History               

                 Plato and the Greek mystery schools thought of the Sacred Geometry as important 2,500 years ago. Hindu thinkers thought it important long before that. Others think so today. We could try to find out why. I can't do it all, I have other fish to fry. 

                I will more about this if you wish. You may find that my spellcheck is working better.

                The "comments" app here is working well. Comments are a great encouragement for me. At my age I need plenty of encouragement to keep me going.

                Thank you for reading!

 

                                                                                            rcs

Search This Site

EsoExo: Blog search

           For readers who are not familiar with the many search options available to them here, I will begin t to review some of them.

            It seems that blogs are so out of fashion that few remember how they may be fashioned. For example this blog is of three columns. I have used the central column as the place up to 400 essays or posts.

                An important function of the columns to the left and right of the central column is to offer you apps to help you find the essays which interest you. They are largely made up of search apps. However, they also contain other helpful apps.

             Let me begin with the column to your left on the main view of the page. On all of my blogs the this left hand column begins with the app which allows you to select the language in which to choose to read the post you select.

                Other apps you will find in this column may have a different order on each of the associated blogs. For example the next app might be "Associated Blog Sites to visit." To be transported to the one which interests you and be transported to it. The next app may be "Popular Posts." There you can find the names of up to four posts others have been finding interesting. Each name will be follow by a few words about it. click on that name and that post will appear. Next you may come to a title that reads "Pages." Click on one of the listings there and be taken to another page where you can find posts much like this one or different.

                The last listing in this column will usually be "Blog Archive." This can be a very useful app for you. Use it to become familiar with the essays and other posts available on this blog site. You will see a list of years and months. Click on one and you will taken to all of the posts published in that period. All are interesting and usually contain some hard to find YouTube videos which YouTube allows me to show.

                The right hand column usually begins with a search app, perhaps with the  title "Search This Site." There is a little window in which you may enter a word or phrase and then click on the word "Search." Try it and see what happens.

                I will leave this little post here for a few weeks and then move it to "Pages." You are now on the home page.

                This is a good place from which to comment.

                                                                                rcs

 

 

 

Exploring Mysty Roots of Irish Culture

Ireland and the Irish: Exploring ancient Irish history could lead us to a more realistic of our world and Earth.                           

 

                Remember the proper names in this video. They are threads to our past. The eastern Mediterranean connections have been firming. Early Geek connections are firming. Phoenician connections are firm to many.

                Remain open to verification and evidence to the contrary. My father who could claim two Irish surnames, claimed the he was the world's shortest giant. But then he claimed that the chick came from the yoke of the egg and not it's white.

                The believing game is good for we are surrounded by truth and the believing game may last the longest with the fewest losers. While cleaving to reality leads to sanity and a chance for wisdom.

                

                                                                        rcs

 

Choice

 EsoExo: We Don't Have to

 

We don't have to choose:

 

                ~ to be aware and informed.

 

                ~ to do the good that we can.

 

                ~ to understand and share.

 

                ~ the lovely and healthy.

 

                ~ to be more honest with ourselves and others.

 

But we can.

 

 

                                                                                rcs