January 2020 - Spice

Everydaycountslikecrazy 2020 will serve as a monthly blog for the Joseph Garlington 



January 2020


I will be leaving Thailand at the end of February.

I came to Thailand to "learn about Meditation and Buddhism" and i did.

Lived with monks and nuns, asked questions, observed, and meditated alot, and now I know the role I want meditation to play in my life:

     Seasoning.

I thought it could be an entrée, and that I needed waaay more, but no. 

Just seasoning.

And I want that "meditation flavor" to season every moment of my life. 

Because it is simply awareness, and I think it goes great with everything.

My 2020 schedule will be:
At least 5 minutes a day 
1 hour on Sundays
1 10 day silent retreat a year


👏👏👏👏👏
👏👏👏👏👏
👏👏👏👏👏
👏👏👏👏👏
👏👏👏👏👏
           -clapping hands emoji


A note on Buddhism 
(As I experienced it in the country of Thailand):

Buddhism is a religion. 

There are many things that I will NOT be taking with me:
  • Bowing to golden statues
  • Belief in spirits and gods 
  • Serious belief in past lives 
  • Veneration of monks over nuns
  • Enlightenment

i WILL be taking:
  • Vipassana meditation
  • Mindfulness
  • Walking meditation
  • The big concepts:
    • Suffering is basic
    • The self is a construct
    • Everything is temporary

Sam Harris articulated how he views the relationship between Meditation and Buddhism in this 2014 video https://youtu.be/Iwac6Uk-zyk, (Start from 4:21, *disclaimer* I do not agree with his argument about religions being poison).

So....................................................................

"1 year in Thailand" has been "5 months in Thailand", and I will be leaving with many memories, new friendships, and appropriate [for me] amounts of Meditation and Buddhism.

Everydaystillcountslikecrazy

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