An election time is a great time to see the depth of your meditation. To explore the feelings in your body as you talk with others and react to their thoughts as well as your own.
Do your muscles tighten?
Do your thoughts begin to race as someone says something wrong?
Does the dopamine drain out of your nervous system, causing you to even become violent?
How much your lake is stirred?
I have found discussing and even arguing with another person about politics, or anything really, can unburden both people if you remain centered. It is an opportunity to share the fragrance of your meditation. It itself is a kind of meditation. It is a chance to observe and clarify your thoughts, before kissing them off into the abyss.
They are fleeting things, after all.
Our minds are actually burdened by the weight of their own beloved opinions. This happens without conscious awareness for the most part. The image of Atlas holding the entire world on his shoulders has some application here.
I don't know where I'm going with this. I just wanted to say that as you go about debating, by all means, have fun. But sometimes, in the midst of hammering home that final point, notice your being.
You may find that there's...
not even a ripple.
I liked your reflection Brock. I think it is appropriate in many ways. I hope we have all had fun this debating season! I am wondering about your comment that our minds often get burdened by the weight of our own opinions. I need to ask spirit if I am guilty of that. I think I will meditate now and see the depth of my meditation this election nite and examine some of the things you mentioned.
I found many insights to nite because of external events. Often external events bring insight because of internal reflection. Our support or views may not change about external events yet still these events lead to acceptance of what cannot always be changed and a personal attitude that sees what changes may be ahead for us personally because of external pressures. We are not able to change the views and attitudes of those around us but we can make changes in our own environment and conditions. We find ourselves where our desires have led us. But slowly our desires also change. We may not be content with our own circumstances but we find more peace when we recognize that we have created those circumstances and we are doing much to improve them as we meditate and alter our attitudes.
As you have also said; "I do not know where I am going with this." Sometimes we do not know where we are going. What matters is that important transformational experiences are taking place if only on a subconscious level.
For me the answer to your thread is this; I feel content with my views and also with events as they are playing out. This is God's drama not mine. If I can enjoy the show why should I want to change it?