Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Endurance and Enlightenment

This morning's NPR show, my standard entertainment on the daily Truckee-to-Reno adventure, acquainted me with a Japanese Buddhist monk named Endo Mitsunaga. It turns out that I have more in common with Buddhist monks than I would have ever thought, (especially considering my recent post on indulgence).

Mitsunaga completed the Sennichi Kaihogyo, 1,000 days of walking meditation, by walking 26 miles each day. He insists that it's "really not that hard."

One thing he learned during his experience: "'Everybody thinks they're living on their own without help from others,' Mitsunaga says. 'This is not possible. I really think that others have done something for me, and I have a feeling of gratefulness for other people.'"

You can read (or hear) the complete story here.


In other news, today on her advice column, fabulous author/editor/blogger Victoria Mixon responded to my question. If you read my post on discipline, you won't be too surprised to hear what I asked. I love what this woman has to say about writing, and today's post is no exception.


Additionally, if I can manage to edit and respond to a stack of reports on the Scientific Revolution and a stack of short stories in the next day and a half (I've really got to start assigning less homework!) then I also have a few upcoming posts. One is a gear review on a company I love. And my weekend! Oh, you have to hear about my amazing weekend in Marin: running, dancing, live music, kickball, picnicking, and a long beach walk with the dogs. Hmmm. I love California.



6 comments:

  1. Dude, that response is NAIL ON THE EFFING HEAD. I love it.

    BTW, we are soooooo related somehow.

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  2. HA! I heard that story yesterday and was thinking similar thoughts, I had heard about running monks that lived similar lives but not about the walking ones.

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  3. Russ - I'm assuming you mean Victoria's response? Yeah, I think you would like most of what she has to say on her site.

    And yes, we must discuss this whole "separated at birth" thing we have. ;) You're still planning on being down for Western States, yeah? I'll be working the finish line this year. Looking forward to sharing a beer at some point.

    Rebecca - I love the idea of a meditation that takes 7 years to complete and is all about movement. Sitting meditation? MUCH harder!

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  4. You were in Marin and it sounds like you had a great time. Awesome. I'm a big fan of Marin. I've also heard of those endurance Buddhist monks they are unbelievable.

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  5. Oh, yeah, I meant her response. Damn, that was good stuff.

    Ohhhhh yes, I'll be at the finish. TWICE. I should be relatively punch drunk by the second time, so a beer would make me vastly entertaining.

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  6. Russ - Sweet! See you there. (I'll bring the beer.)

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