Meditation Archives - Paul Yanuziello

Newsletter 46

Hello all. Welcome to a new week. I hope you are staying safe; staying strong, and staying well. This week my 5 interests included coping mechanisms for a stressful time, the best bass players in the universe, and more. Hope you find something of interest. Have a great weekend!

1. St. Francis and the Sow by Galway Kinnell, a poem that speaks of self-blessing. We all need to remember our essential nature and focus on self-compassion during these trying times.

A classmate of Galway Kinnell, also a poet; is the poet laureate, W.S. Merwin. He is quoted here, “The world is still here, and there are aspects of human life that are not purely destructive, and there is a need to pay attention to the things around us while they are still around us. And you know, in a way, if you don’t pay that attention, the anger is just bitterness.” W.S. Merwin

I like to write prose and poetry; a sample, my poem: Gratitude.

“To S.T.O.P and pay attention to what is happening in the moment is one way of snapping out of … fixations. It is also a reasonable definition of meditation.” Stephen Batchelor

2. Some of the bass players who have blown my mind with their phenomenal chops. Renaud Garcia Fons, Dave Holland, Stanley Clarke, Dave Young, Michael Moore, and Buster Williams. I mention these bassists as I have seen them all performing in concert and each one has moved me with their stirring performances. I spent the week enjoying and reminiscing on the where and the when, of these amazing performances.

3.) RIP Ennio Morricone; I loved his music, it made some of the movies of my youth so much better. Rest in Power Joe Porcaro, fantastic jazz drummer and patriarch to the Porcaro musical family. The family, that mostly comprised the pop band, TOTO. Rest in Peace Nick Cordero; Hamilton, Ontario born; Broadway star. Tony-nominated star of “Bullets Over Broadway” succumbed to Covid-19, my deepest condolences to his family.

4. For the kids in all of us, I spent time learning how birds; especially weaver birds, weave their nests. The kids should see this, and I learned something too.

On the subject of kids, and meditation; it’s all about practice. Just show up. A wonderful site with plenty of bite-size pieces; things to do and things to see, for all the curious minds out there.

5. Speaking of meditation; I use the word meditation to imply the activities to unify one’s life and the whole world. Can you find a better time to be a practitioner of some form of mindfulness? I practice Tohei style Ki Development; as mentioned in my previous newsletter, and one of the basic principles is to relax completely. Relaxation, deep breathing, and cold showers — all while maintaining the one point in the abdomen.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project by buying me a coffee (in a ceramic mug), swing by Ko-fi.com. Every coffee helps out during these challenging times.

Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Newsletter 38

Hello all and welcome. 5 things that interested me this week and may offer you some enjoyment too. I found this awesome video on meditation, it sums it all up beautifully. I joined Decathlon Canada Partners and prepare to give back to the community and a few other things to check out as well.

1. “Peace: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” the opening text for the mindfulness video The Samurai and the Fly.

2. Coaches Canada has an initiative with Decathlon Canada Partners and I registered to take part. Meaning that I will be putting some martial arts training videos together for virtual classes designed for young or old folks.

Virtually JUNIOR, is an online edition of JUNIOR, Toronto’s international children’s festival, launching during the Victoria Day long weekend from Saturday, May 16 to Monday, May 18. Something entertaining for all the children and it is happening this weekend.

3. I am reading Chi Kung – The Way of Healing by Master Lam Kam Chuen and I am practicing a few Tai Chi and Chi Kung exercises. Here I am featured in a video doing a part of my traditional Yang Family tai chi chaun form. Another video featuring Sifu Vincent Chu doing the full medium frame form.

Never Enough Books

Another book that I have started Life by Lu Yao, promising to be an informative look at the new China.

One more book I am slowly thumbing my way through, Integral Life Practice by Ken Wilber, Terry Patten, Adam Leonard and Marco Morelli. Described as a 21st century blueprint for physical health, mental clarity and spiritual awakening. Ken Wilber is the author of A Theory of Everything.

4. Koerner Hall Concert Hall and free concerts from the comfort of your home. All of the theatres in my home town are shuttered, but the show must go on. Koerner Hall is offering many of the concerts that they recorded live when concerts were a happening event, here are some for your streaming pleasure. A mix of classical, jazz and world music, Koerner Hall Concert Livestream. https://www.rcmusic.com/performance/live-from-koerner-hall-concert-livestream

5.) I am seeing more wildlife in my suburban home near Toronto. A racoon is on the hunt for grubs, a skunk was foraging in the flower garden, rabbits are everywhere and the birds are looking predatory. Here is a cool story about a fox family living on the beaches boardwalk in Toronto.

How many times do humans need to be told to not feed wild animals? Even the really cute ones. And that brings me to another story. I have completed draft number five of my Scratchy the Squirrel manuscript, a children’s story about a squirrel making new friends and trying to stay out of trouble.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, one of my favourites, Samba on a Snowy Day is still available at Amazon.com.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project by buying me a coffee, swing by Ko-fi.com. Every coffee really helps out during these challenging times.

Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.