Photography as Meditation: The Friday Flower. Sometimes just photos. Sometimes with writing. Appearing every Friday.
illumination. © 2009 Mahala Mazerov
When I take photographs, I work in a state of meditation and engagement. I’m searching through the lens for an image that goes beyond labels. Beyond peony. Beyond flower. Beyond petal. Until something new is revealed.
I believe there’s a dialog going on, but it’s not a verbal one. Even after I edit my shots and select the images that resonate I don’t usually have a story or a why.
In that respect, this image is different. I remember being drawn in to the luminous gold at the center. (A luminosity that unfortunately is not well conveyed here. I’m tempted to learn to play with Photoshop, but love the immediacy of printing as is with minimal adjustment.)
In that golden center I discovered a state of spiritual illumination, of unceasing meditative awareness. In that moment petals turned to turned to ice and the story of the ice caves came into my mind.
My Tibetan Buddhist lineage, the Drikung Kagu, is known as the Blessing Lineage. It is also known as the Practice Lineage as there is a history of yogis immersed in meditation that continues to this day. Many great Drikung yogis are featured in the popular documentary film, The Yogis of Tibet. (Click the link to view it free, online.)
Anyone who repeats the much overused stereotype of meditation as hiding away from reality, has never spent any real time in meditation.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet and receive teachings from people who have completed a traditional 3-year meditation retreat, or have spent as many as 12 years (!) engaged in silent meditation. Invariably they are people of great humility and humor. You might easily pass them by because they make no great show of themselves in the world. But in the right conditions you catch a glimpse, or hear a story that indicates their exceptional inner power.
They are engaged in reality in ways far beyond our minds (which run endlessly like hamsters on a wheel) will ever grasp.
In the remote landscapes where yogis and yoginis meditate in caves, there are stories of hardship and harsh weather. [Scroll for photos of Lapchi meditation cave.] Food is sparse and simple; comforts and distraction are reduced to zero. Sometimes layers of snow and ice build at the entrance of the caves. You have to break through to go out and see the sky.
That’s the story that came to me in the golden center of this flower. It’s a place that calls to me now, a place to discover illumination found at the center of meditation.
Truth be told, I feel like I’ve been too much in another cave lately. Plato’s Cave. Chained with my back to what is real, seeing only shadows on the cave wall. Shadows created by others, of what they want me to see, know, believe, buy, value. I’ve held my own fairly well, but lately I’ve gotten lost in meaningless distractions (not the soul-feeding, revitalizing variety) and in business marketing programs (as I learn to bring courses and projects to you) in particular.
I choose instead the cave where illuminating awareness is born and nourished. Then I will break free to see the sky, and create blessings.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you. Beautiful image, simple sharing, so true. May you feel the warmth of the golden center.
Constance Casey´s last blog ..True Advertisement
Your words captured what the photo didn’t of the luminous gold in the center.
Both are appreciated and much needed.
I absolutely love your Friday Flower, you’ve managed to touch my heart through your writing each time. You really DO from my heart to yours. Thank you Mahala.
Marilyn´s last blog ..The time for change is upon us
“Chained with my back to what is real, seeing only shadows on the cave wall.” This resonates with me, except that in my case, the shadows were cast not by others but by me–they were specters of the shadow side of my imagination, the stories I tell myself about failure and worth. I don’t really like it there in the cave, but it’s comforting in its familiarity, and the blinding brightness of the outside (i.e., What Is, in its vastness and complexity) can overwhelming. It helps to remember that I have a choice about cave vs. light, and there’s never a wrong choice–just what feels the most okay in the moment.
All those shades of white, so rich and astonishing–I could easily miss them without your focusing lens, the attention of your gaze.
Thank you.
Melynda´s last blog ..Maybe There Are Some Things I Just Can’t Make Better At Home
Thank you Mahala,
A meaningful and moving post.
And your photography is beautiful.
Warm wishes, Kim
Kim Wood´s last blog ..song of the unconventional business
mahala,
an illuminating truth you have revealed…blessings to you my friend.
hazel
hazel colditz´s last blog ..A Weekend of Openings!
Mahala have a nice weekend
Here we have some rain the wheater is very cloudy.
Last week I had Cleaning around my village Buena Vista
That same day we had raining the whole morning
I went on with my cleaning activity in the rain.
Because i plan that to do that saturdary oct. 10th 2009
I did the activity with two boys who really wants to help me.
The work was big and haevy.
both we did in to days.
The people said you have guts to do that.
I said yes because one have to start the rest will follow
I was meditated how to do the cleaning.
Thanks for the Friday Flower.
I had put all my energy to do what I plan
With love Virginia.
Constance ~ Thank you. What a lovely wish! May we all feel the warmth of the golden center, whatever that may mean for us.
LaShae ~ I’m happy to see you here. Thank you for your kind words. There’s much good in the world, and much needed.
Marilyn ~ Thank you so, so much. It’s actually really new for me to be writing in this way. It’s true for me, but I’m never really sure how it will be for others.
Tracey ~ That’s a brilliant point. The shadows aren’t always created by others, they can be created by our own thoughts. Be kind to yourself, yes. But listen to the story of Plato’s cave, too. When the prisoner was first brought out he was blinded by the light and overwhelmed by the chaos in comparison to his chained existence. But after time to adjust, he never would want to be chained again.
Melynda ~ Buying a macro (extreme close-up) lens was a huge (and expensive!) gift I gave to myself. It has made for many happy visual contemplations. It’s truly my pleasure to post them here so we can all focus a little differently.
Kim ~ Thank you. It is fun to sit with the image and see what words come forward. I’m glad you’re enjoying them.
Hazel ~ I think maybe I’m the one being illuminated. Blessings to you too. I must say, even though it was the right decision, I miss your tweets.
Virginia ~ What courage you have to start cleaning your village with only two boys who want to help. Your words “I said yes because one have to start the rest will follow” are so powerful. You are teaching me. I am asking myself how can I be more like Virginia in my life?
I am sorry it rained. I thought of you this week when the weather got very cold in upstate New York. I thought, “Well, at least where Virginia is in Curacao it is sunny and hot.” I hope the sun and warmth returns to you soon. You have sunshine in your heart, I know. Much love to you.
Dear Mahala, once again you touch my heart with your incredible photo and your intimate words. I too am currently in Plato’s cave, caught up in all the day-to-day stuff that fills my time. I come home from work mute after talking all day. So thank you for your gentle reminder that I don’t have to be brilliant and wise to let you know that I was here, and to to say thank you.
Beautiful picture and beautiful sentiments. Sometimes you gotta stare long and hard to get beyond the shadows on the wall of the cave. Your post is a good reminder!!!!!!!!
Beautiful, Mahala, so beautiful! I’m speechless, and very grateful.
Love, Hiro
Hiro Boga´s last blog ..The With-ness of We
Beautiful picture, and I love this juxtaposition of caves…
Lisa (mommymystic)´s last blog ..The Anti-Dogma Dogma, in Parenting and Spirituality
Beautiful picture, Mahala!
This is my first ever visit to your blog and it was certainly worth waiting for. Just know that we are all here for you:-)
Love and best wishes
Arvind
Arvind Devalia´s last blog ..10 Ways to Turn a Boring Relationship into a Party of Love
Ann ~ Thank you for your kind words.
I think we are all too much caught up in Plato’s cave, don’t you? So many things demand our attention. It really can feel we’re chained like Plato’s prisoners.
I’m glad that “gentle reminder” helped. I know I get tongue-tied at other peoples’ blogs. I’m just happy you’re here. Besides, your brilliance and wisdom shines through anyway. No effort required.
Becky ~ What you say about staring long and hard at the shadows makes me think of one of my favorite words. Discernment.
Hiro ~ Thank you. Your beautiful posts leave me speechless, too.
Lisa ~ When I started writing I had no idea there were going to be two caves. Plato’s cave just showed up. Amazing what lies tucked away in our brains!
Arvind ~ So honored you stopped by. As you know I recently visited your wonderful blog for the first time and left a comment. I look forward to more conversations.
i like your use of illumination!