Comments on: Silently starting a conversation – Reflections on 24 hours of Public Meditation http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/ (Read at your own peril) Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:31:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: rikomatic http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-56 rikomatic Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:29:41 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-56 So amazing to see Rafi and his fellow Interdependence Project folks doing their thing in such a public way. As a Quaker, we wrestle how to make our own ways and concerns known to a broader public. We have a weekly outdoor Quaker meeting for peace that meets at the Washington Square Arch, with I think some signage and flyers. I don't really know the effect of that kind of action. But quite similar to this effort. Everyone deserves the opportunity in the public sphere to be exposed to other ways of thinking, feeling and being. That's really the highest purpose of the public commons, now that I think of it. I'm sure you touched hundreds of people. Excellent job, to all involved! So amazing to see Rafi and his fellow Interdependence Project folks doing their thing in such a public way. As a Quaker, we wrestle how to make our own ways and concerns known to a broader public. We have a weekly outdoor Quaker meeting for peace that meets at the Washington Square Arch, with I think some signage and flyers. I don’t really know the effect of that kind of action. But quite similar to this effort.

Everyone deserves the opportunity in the public sphere to be exposed to other ways of thinking, feeling and being. That’s really the highest purpose of the public commons, now that I think of it. I’m sure you touched hundreds of people.

Excellent job, to all involved!

]]> By: Rafi Santo http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-55 Rafi Santo Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:31:53 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-55 Thanks so much Debbie, I think it's really interesting to hear what the perspectives were on both sides of the glass. I also know that internally I wasn't always peaceful (lots of knee pain, egads!), but that that almost didn't matter. The act of sitting can communicate a message of peace regardless of what's inside. Thanks so much Debbie, I think it’s really interesting to hear what the perspectives were on both sides of the glass. I also know that internally I wasn’t always peaceful (lots of knee pain, egads!), but that that almost didn’t matter. The act of sitting can communicate a message of peace regardless of what’s inside.

]]> By: Rafi Santo http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-54 Rafi Santo Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:26:51 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-54 I occasionally meditate on the train too, so it's good to hear that others practice in that space. I think that there's an interesting balance in considering the idea of being public with one's meditation practice. When we sat this past weekend, there was an active intention to raise awareness, and, by virtue of how we did that, it wasn't actually the most conducive environment for developing mindfulness and concentration. It was good for our purpose though of making a statement. I think it's possible to do both, but not always necessary. And Nick, it is super interesting to be playing with these dichotomies. I think that the event really put many of them in the forefront, which is why it was interesting both for the participants and for the observers. (Decide who was which for yourself!) I also really enjoyed that we played with the line of consumerism, by committing an act that is at its core often about renunciation, but did it in a storefront window. I occasionally meditate on the train too, so it’s good to hear that others practice in that space. I think that there’s an interesting balance in considering the idea of being public with one’s meditation practice. When we sat this past weekend, there was an active intention to raise awareness, and, by virtue of how we did that, it wasn’t actually the most conducive environment for developing mindfulness and concentration. It was good for our purpose though of making a statement. I think it’s possible to do both, but not always necessary.

And Nick, it is super interesting to be playing with these dichotomies. I think that the event really put many of them in the forefront, which is why it was interesting both for the participants and for the observers. (Decide who was which for yourself!) I also really enjoyed that we played with the line of consumerism, by committing an act that is at its core often about renunciation, but did it in a storefront window.

]]> By: Debbie http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-53 Debbie Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:27:51 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-53 From my last posting on my flickr photo of this event: Interestingly, from my point of view, I saw everyone walking past, walking quickly, talking, laughing, traffic noises, wind on my face and inside the windows, all was still and quiet. There was such a sense of unity and peace behind the glass that I was envious of what you were all feeling. On the outside, we were all moving in different directions but inside you were all one, breathing together, sharing the stillness, being purely in the moment. I go to the city all the time and seldom stop to look at anything but I stopped and looked for quite some time. I really think you sent a very strong message, apart from the bloodshed at Darfur, your silence said a great deal about humanity in general. From my last posting on my flickr photo of this event:

Interestingly, from my point of view, I saw everyone walking past, walking quickly, talking, laughing, traffic noises, wind on my face and inside the windows, all was still and quiet. There was such a sense of unity and peace behind the glass that I was envious of what you were all feeling. On the outside, we were all moving in different directions but inside you were all one, breathing together, sharing the stillness, being purely in the moment.

I go to the city all the time and seldom stop to look at anything but I stopped and looked for quite some time. I really think you sent a very strong message, apart from the bloodshed at Darfur, your silence said a great deal about humanity in general.

]]> By: Nick http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-52 Nick Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:17:58 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-52 Way to go Rafi and IDP! I look forward to seeing the many possibilities inherent in this synthesis of public meditation and activism unfold in the future. I think there is a lot of potential for dissolving rigidly conceptualized and implemented notions of private/public, spiritual/political, passive/active, effective/ineffective, etc. that is opened up by activities like this. Public/Collective spiritual practice is one of our next frontiers to explore and map out! Way to go Rafi and IDP!

I look forward to seeing the many possibilities inherent in this synthesis of public meditation and activism unfold in the future. I think there is a lot of potential for dissolving rigidly conceptualized and implemented notions of private/public, spiritual/political, passive/active, effective/ineffective, etc. that is opened up by activities like this. Public/Collective spiritual practice is one of our next frontiers to explore and map out!

]]> By: buddhatrain http://empathetics.org/2009/11/08/silently-starting-a-conversation-reflections-of-24-hours-of-public-meditation/#comment-50 buddhatrain Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:50:14 +0000 http://empathetics.org/?p=466#comment-50 What a fascinating experiment! I meditate in public on my commute to and from Manhattan everyday, but I don't know if anybody even knows that I am meditating. They many think I am sleeping, but I am a little too erect for that. In almost 4 years nobody has ever asked me about it. You have me wondering if I should make it more obvious what I am doing. I am going to check out the interdepedence project. Thank you. What a fascinating experiment! I meditate in public on my commute to and from Manhattan everyday, but I don’t know if anybody even knows that I am meditating. They many think I am sleeping, but I am a little too erect for that. In almost 4 years nobody has ever asked me about it. You have me wondering if I should make it more obvious what I am doing. I am going to check out the interdepedence project. Thank you.

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