Voicing Presence

Luca likes to listen to voices. It seems to calm him and keep him happy while he plays. I practiced noting out loud for a bit while he rummaged around. It is a very effective way of continuing the flow of attention. Nothing is an obstacle. Baby, sounds, movement....there are no interruptions. The perception of the impermanence of each occurrence is re-enforced and aids in taking on board all occurrences as equally lacking weight to pull the mind into "interruption territory".

Belief that some aspect of experience can interrupt the flow of attention is the cause of the interruption itself as I see it. When this belief goes poof!, there are no more interruptions, just the field of experience with baby at play within it, of it, it,   .

Sensation-impermanent, sound-impermanent, sight-impermanent, intention-impermanent, I practice and voice my presence at the same time. Father and son are happy.

Baby In The Room

I haven't actually formally sat in meditation for well over a year now. The arrival of baby Luca exactly 9 months ago in May last year signalled the end of 8 hour uninterrupted sleeps and uninterrupted precious me-time to do what I wanted. Now that I've felt the push to return to some more rigourous dedicated hardcore sitting on my bum practice, I've had to learn to integrate mummy-time too, the time when mum has passed the ball to me and I have no choice but to run with it.

I thought I'd video one of my first attempts at sitting on my bum with Luca in the same room.  What can I glean from this situation? It's all about seamless practice; the inclusion of baby into the practice. This practice round I simply became aware of 'intentions'; intention to do this, to do that, to open eyes, become aware of what baby was doing, to accommodate his in the moment needs. As I do this, the experience becomes a seamless playing out of the situation of 'baby in the room'. There are no obstacles as the practice is just this:

"Baby in the room".