Unplugged
Friday February 10, 2006
It’s been one of those weeks and I’m all wrung out. It’s been a busy time since the new year, and I’m in need of a break. In busy periods like this, it often feels as if the richness of experience thins, whilst at the same time mental complexities seem to proliferate. And when this happens, it is necessary to step back.
Blogging is a strange affair. On the one hand, in my experience it can be an effective aspect of practice ; on the other hand, it can easily slip into what the Pali texts call papanca: the proliferation of thoughts, spreading out in all directions, without any prospect of finding a limit. The trouble with papanca is that it begets further papanca, and this can go on forever. The endless hyperlinking of the internet sometimes seems to me like the greatest temptation to papanca conceivable, as well as being the greatest ever example of papanca in the history of the world.
So I’m unplugging myself for a few days. The spring half term break starts today, and having taught the last class of the week, I’ve got a whole nine days off. This should be plenty of time to paint a few more turnips, to sit and look at the view, to read a novel or two, to get out of the city into the countryside and feel the air in my lungs, to do a spot of meditation…
Be well and happy – and I’ll be back soon.
#2 · Nacho
17 February 2006
Yes indeed, have a good break. I have been devoting myself to academics lately. But then again, this also raises the point that if indeed the net will be like this, we don’t want to leave it without our presence and mindful engagement? : ) All kidding aside, perhaps the best places for practitioners, strong ones, are those places where the need is greatest?: )
All the best,
N
#3 · Tyson Williams
18 February 2006
Since I do read your blog and I was recently tagged by lotusinmud… You have been tagged:
http://www.tysonwilliams.com/archives/4_things_blog_tag.html
Regards,
Tyson
#1 · Sujatin
10 February 2006
Happy chilling