Check page 1/52 to learn what I am doing for 52 days.
While you are there, note my mention of Germans coming to town and 4 presentations. Well, on that day, in my journal, I wrote about how I wanted to be recognized for what I do in the world. I wanted the recognition to be that I got invited to the meetings in Germany.
Today I learned: my presence in Germany has been demanded.
I am grateful to The Universe, or Universal Guru, or whatever you call it. Or just that I knew what my Higher Consciousness wanted and I went along with it. Now, I have to let go of one other thing. Maybe the conference in Germany is during the time that I have already scheduled a vacation. I'll need to let Universal Consciousness handle that problem.
Today is day 9/52. I exercised this morning with the idea that all is love; and I don't have to be afraid to release my love. My love is caged due to an unfortunate childhood. But now that I am conscious, I can let it go. Fear is the self that needs to be transcended. Don't accept it at all. Be yourself fully.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Self Transcendence 8/52
I have thought about self transcendence alot today, but there weren't any massive revelations.
It is Houston summer; the temp where I live never goes below 80F and it is very humid. I try to stay near trees; but even so, the heat index goes above 100F and I can only walk. Today was such a day. I got started at 6:35am in a small park doing 0.37 mile laps. I seemed to be very slow and by about 9, I had to walk only. I stuck it out for 4 hours, when my water ran out.
During the afternoon, I managed to work on a paper I need to write. I am scheduled to give a talk in October, but I need to write the paper to go with the talk. I had to first remember it at all, then force myself to re-direct my thinking and try to do even the smallest little work on it. I wonder if I pretended I was giving a TED Talk if I'd feel more energy. I'll try that.
Then this evening, even though I was tired from the morning heat, I did 45 minutes of cross training machines and 21 minutes of free weights. I was listening to Freak-onomics radio. The phrase "life organizing principle" came up. That caused me to stop and think. First, I keep wanting some spiritual breakthru which affirms consciousness of my higher self. Second, I've been a life long athlete and plan to continue. Third, I work for financial security.
It is turning out that my 52 day Self Transcendence retreat is different from the rest of the year in its focus on transcendence; as in what am I transcending?
I had vegetables for dinner.
It is Houston summer; the temp where I live never goes below 80F and it is very humid. I try to stay near trees; but even so, the heat index goes above 100F and I can only walk. Today was such a day. I got started at 6:35am in a small park doing 0.37 mile laps. I seemed to be very slow and by about 9, I had to walk only. I stuck it out for 4 hours, when my water ran out.
During the afternoon, I managed to work on a paper I need to write. I am scheduled to give a talk in October, but I need to write the paper to go with the talk. I had to first remember it at all, then force myself to re-direct my thinking and try to do even the smallest little work on it. I wonder if I pretended I was giving a TED Talk if I'd feel more energy. I'll try that.
Then this evening, even though I was tired from the morning heat, I did 45 minutes of cross training machines and 21 minutes of free weights. I was listening to Freak-onomics radio. The phrase "life organizing principle" came up. That caused me to stop and think. First, I keep wanting some spiritual breakthru which affirms consciousness of my higher self. Second, I've been a life long athlete and plan to continue. Third, I work for financial security.
It is turning out that my 52 day Self Transcendence retreat is different from the rest of the year in its focus on transcendence; as in what am I transcending?
I had vegetables for dinner.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Self Transcendence 6/52
It is hard to write your blog several hours after you had the inspiring thoughts. But I needed to get outside before it got too hot or no miles would have been done.
As I began my morning meditation today, I thought of how I like to take a little extra time on the weekends to snooze a little longer and do spiritual reading a little longer. Then I thought of the 3,100 mile runners. They do not get to do any slacking until they are done with the race (52 day cut off). The volunteers don't get to rest either.
Self Transcendence waits for no one.
I had a fruitful week being of service to others. Lets no digress. Spirituality does not wait. Do the work today. I never mention spirituality to anyone at work. They hear about running because they ask; and it seems a safe subject to mention. I don't mention the spirituality of running. But they always say something like, "You are so disciplined." I claim not, since I like my exercise. But as I watch the 3,100 mile self transcendence runners, I realize, yes, they are disciplined.
As I began my morning meditation today, I thought of how I like to take a little extra time on the weekends to snooze a little longer and do spiritual reading a little longer. Then I thought of the 3,100 mile runners. They do not get to do any slacking until they are done with the race (52 day cut off). The volunteers don't get to rest either.
Self Transcendence waits for no one.
I had a fruitful week being of service to others. Lets no digress. Spirituality does not wait. Do the work today. I never mention spirituality to anyone at work. They hear about running because they ask; and it seems a safe subject to mention. I don't mention the spirituality of running. But they always say something like, "You are so disciplined." I claim not, since I like my exercise. But as I watch the 3,100 mile self transcendence runners, I realize, yes, they are disciplined.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Self Transcendence 4/52
Sri Chinmoy said:
I have been quite busy at work for two days (and again tomorrow) as we have guests at the plant and we are doing a workshop.
I have had fruitful morning meditation and journaling. I am grateful for that. But during the day, I have been completely wrapped up in serving the group; so no time to ponder the universe. This morning, I had a good topic for philosophical discussion. So, now I suppose I would need to put together the resources to write a proper essay on that topic. Lets see if I do.
This morning, since I didn't have to be at work at my usual crack of dawn time, I got to run in the park across the street in daylight. And I went really fast. I was very happy with that run.
Then when driving to work, I was thinking about isotopes when a slow vehicle turned in front of me. I perfectly executed an emergency stop.
I have been quite busy at work for two days (and again tomorrow) as we have guests at the plant and we are doing a workshop.
I have had fruitful morning meditation and journaling. I am grateful for that. But during the day, I have been completely wrapped up in serving the group; so no time to ponder the universe. This morning, I had a good topic for philosophical discussion. So, now I suppose I would need to put together the resources to write a proper essay on that topic. Lets see if I do.
This morning, since I didn't have to be at work at my usual crack of dawn time, I got to run in the park across the street in daylight. And I went really fast. I was very happy with that run.
Then when driving to work, I was thinking about isotopes when a slow vehicle turned in front of me. I perfectly executed an emergency stop.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Self Transcendence 2/52
Today in my morning spiritual reading, I realized I was quietly hating my boss; just for various reasons of being hemmed in by hierarchy. Reasons of old consciousness. I called my feelings the hateful self. Today's transcendence points to transcending the hateful self.
It is an ancient hate of oppression and abuse.
There must be another way to live, another synapse. I realized my job is just to move the energy. Or A Course in Miracles calls this "forgiveness" ; looking beyond the physical world to the love energy within the true heart.
There are tremendous possibility for achieving higher consciousness, if we have a way to focus. That is part of my problem. I go off to work and completely forget anything higher; I'm just immersed in the annoying relationships.
The results from the first day of the self transcendence race have not yet been posted. typically, the do 70 to 90 miles the first day.
For myself, I will go ride my exercise bicycle and my nordic track and then go to work.
It is an ancient hate of oppression and abuse.
There must be another way to live, another synapse. I realized my job is just to move the energy. Or A Course in Miracles calls this "forgiveness" ; looking beyond the physical world to the love energy within the true heart.
There are tremendous possibility for achieving higher consciousness, if we have a way to focus. That is part of my problem. I go off to work and completely forget anything higher; I'm just immersed in the annoying relationships.
The results from the first day of the self transcendence race have not yet been posted. typically, the do 70 to 90 miles the first day.
For myself, I will go ride my exercise bicycle and my nordic track and then go to work.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Self Transcendence - 1/52
Today is the first day of the 3,100 mile Self Transcendence race. Here
I have been following this race for many years. I love the idea and I love the daily blog about the athletes. This year, I began looking at the web pages several days ago with anticipation of who was coming and various other bits of information. I mean, I'm excited about it. I can't wait for the daily reports by Uptal at "Perfection Journey" blog. Here
This morning, I remembered the race while I was doing my morning spiritual reading. I made a decision. I am going to celebrate 52 days of the race with my own focused situation. Each day when I journal, I will find a point of self transcendence within myself, my inner runner. I might not have time for blogging every day, but I will journal.
Today I asked myself, "What self is it that I am trying to transcend?" Immediately came the answer: the punishing self. My inner punishing self came about first from my parents but then from society; a continuous dis-sing of females in general, smart females in particular. And the hierarchies of society and corporations which make some people "better" than others.
In transcending the punishing self, I get to be the wonderful divine self that I was born as. We are all wonderful divine selves, but few of us really know it. I am going to make progress in consciously being my wonderful diving self as a focused project for 52 days.
Some people do Ramadan. Some people do Lent. I do Self Transcendence.
I should get plenty of practice this week. The Germans will be in town. I work for a German company and us Americans know full well that The Germans think they are better. Since I am making 4 presentations for an international group, I'll get plenty of exposure and emotional feelings about myself.
Today I was able to do 4 hours of jog walk in the Gulf Coast heat and humidity. I'm pretty happy about that.
I have been following this race for many years. I love the idea and I love the daily blog about the athletes. This year, I began looking at the web pages several days ago with anticipation of who was coming and various other bits of information. I mean, I'm excited about it. I can't wait for the daily reports by Uptal at "Perfection Journey" blog. Here
This morning, I remembered the race while I was doing my morning spiritual reading. I made a decision. I am going to celebrate 52 days of the race with my own focused situation. Each day when I journal, I will find a point of self transcendence within myself, my inner runner. I might not have time for blogging every day, but I will journal.
Today I asked myself, "What self is it that I am trying to transcend?" Immediately came the answer: the punishing self. My inner punishing self came about first from my parents but then from society; a continuous dis-sing of females in general, smart females in particular. And the hierarchies of society and corporations which make some people "better" than others.
In transcending the punishing self, I get to be the wonderful divine self that I was born as. We are all wonderful divine selves, but few of us really know it. I am going to make progress in consciously being my wonderful diving self as a focused project for 52 days.
Some people do Ramadan. Some people do Lent. I do Self Transcendence.
I should get plenty of practice this week. The Germans will be in town. I work for a German company and us Americans know full well that The Germans think they are better. Since I am making 4 presentations for an international group, I'll get plenty of exposure and emotional feelings about myself.
Today I was able to do 4 hours of jog walk in the Gulf Coast heat and humidity. I'm pretty happy about that.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Training and in the Zone
I have had a fantastic day.
First, the alarm went off at 5:15 am. Eeeek! But I made it out of bed at 5:30.
Then I decided to go to Brummerhop park so I could leave my newly washed car in the garage. There was a few dribbles coming from the sky, but still 77F.
I started running. It felt pretty good. I was getting more than 13 laps per hour which is good. I did get soaked in a downpour. Then the sun came full out. Oh boy! I stopped running at 10 miles, and walked one more mile. My speed was very near 5 mph, which doesn't sound very fast until you realize the humidity. When I got home, I looked at the weather and the humidex was 99F. I felt damn proud of being able to run 10 miles at all let alone in a hot shower. While running, I was glad to see that I am recovered from my triple marathon.
Then this afternoon I did some cross training inside. First was an elliptical/versa climber combo. I did 5 min on the elliptical and one minute on the versa climber. I was really going fast and feeling good about the elliptical and then doing the full 20" on the versa climber. Total of 60 min on elliptical and 10 min on versa climber. I like that really long pull on the versa climber because it engages my arms and core. Second I did a nordic track/ trx combo. I did 5 min on the nordic and then switched to the trx for one round/ 5 reps of my 6 exercises. I was less energetic for this and quit with 40 min of nordic and 25 min of trx. I added 100 crunches to the tail end.
While I was working out this afternoon I felt like I was in the zone. I realized I must have been in the zone this morning. Feeling strong and painless, I feel like an athlete. It is cool.
No really, being able to run 10 miles at age 57 is incredible. It feels incredible. For once I noticed that I don't have to be in a race to be in the zone. I just have to feel good. I felt good today.
First, the alarm went off at 5:15 am. Eeeek! But I made it out of bed at 5:30.
Then I decided to go to Brummerhop park so I could leave my newly washed car in the garage. There was a few dribbles coming from the sky, but still 77F.
I started running. It felt pretty good. I was getting more than 13 laps per hour which is good. I did get soaked in a downpour. Then the sun came full out. Oh boy! I stopped running at 10 miles, and walked one more mile. My speed was very near 5 mph, which doesn't sound very fast until you realize the humidity. When I got home, I looked at the weather and the humidex was 99F. I felt damn proud of being able to run 10 miles at all let alone in a hot shower. While running, I was glad to see that I am recovered from my triple marathon.
Then this afternoon I did some cross training inside. First was an elliptical/versa climber combo. I did 5 min on the elliptical and one minute on the versa climber. I was really going fast and feeling good about the elliptical and then doing the full 20" on the versa climber. Total of 60 min on elliptical and 10 min on versa climber. I like that really long pull on the versa climber because it engages my arms and core. Second I did a nordic track/ trx combo. I did 5 min on the nordic and then switched to the trx for one round/ 5 reps of my 6 exercises. I was less energetic for this and quit with 40 min of nordic and 25 min of trx. I added 100 crunches to the tail end.
While I was working out this afternoon I felt like I was in the zone. I realized I must have been in the zone this morning. Feeling strong and painless, I feel like an athlete. It is cool.
No really, being able to run 10 miles at age 57 is incredible. It feels incredible. For once I noticed that I don't have to be in a race to be in the zone. I just have to feel good. I felt good today.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Quiet and Wet
This weekend, there is no excitement with racing. I am quietly doing miles. Owing to a stationary low pressure, Houston has been drenched all week and it continues to rain.
This morning, I thought about the treadmill. But, nah! It wasn't raining that hard and was pretty warm. So I went outside for my run. I ran pretty fast for 7 miles. It surprised me how fast.
Then I went out again in the afternoon. I was taking it easy by walking and jogging on a path by a lake. I went there to be near water. It did rain some more. For awhile it was very light, but finally a downpour with wind so I stopped as I was getting cold and not having fun. 14 miles total today.
This evening I did a strength workout of 34 minutes. Now my shoulders are quivering. I did this workout while listening to Garrison Keeler on A Prairie Home Companion. He was cracking jokes about his seizure earlier this week. He will retire in July. I will miss his shows.
I am reading a book written before 1900. Maybe more like 1800. It is upstairs so I don't have it in front of me. I love the detailed writing style.
Today I downloaded a voice recording app to my ipad. And I recorded my own voice reading a meditation. I think it will work very well to go deeper into Mind. Last weekend, when I was in the zone, I learned about my inner self. This weekend in my running and meditating and silence, I am learning about my inner self also. What I know about my inner self is it's drive. It has an urgent need to push forward.
Tomorrow, there will be more miles.
This morning, I thought about the treadmill. But, nah! It wasn't raining that hard and was pretty warm. So I went outside for my run. I ran pretty fast for 7 miles. It surprised me how fast.
Then I went out again in the afternoon. I was taking it easy by walking and jogging on a path by a lake. I went there to be near water. It did rain some more. For awhile it was very light, but finally a downpour with wind so I stopped as I was getting cold and not having fun. 14 miles total today.
This evening I did a strength workout of 34 minutes. Now my shoulders are quivering. I did this workout while listening to Garrison Keeler on A Prairie Home Companion. He was cracking jokes about his seizure earlier this week. He will retire in July. I will miss his shows.
I am reading a book written before 1900. Maybe more like 1800. It is upstairs so I don't have it in front of me. I love the detailed writing style.
Today I downloaded a voice recording app to my ipad. And I recorded my own voice reading a meditation. I think it will work very well to go deeper into Mind. Last weekend, when I was in the zone, I learned about my inner self. This weekend in my running and meditating and silence, I am learning about my inner self also. What I know about my inner self is it's drive. It has an urgent need to push forward.
Tomorrow, there will be more miles.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Triple Marathon - the inner and the outer runner
This discussion is not a tweet. Are you able to read serious stuff and ponder? Not many people do now-a-days. It is difficult for me to focus long enough to write out my thoughts in enough detail for someone else to enjoy them.
Lots of ideas and factors went in to this 3 day journey, ending in some new understanding of myself and my higher consciousness.
Paul Brunton (philosopher) once wrote, "Every word has therefore two meanings: the external meaning, which is the objective fact or event in external experience, and the internal meaning, which is the idea of that fact or event which is formed in the mind."
This is a race report, but I'd like to focus on the internal meaning, what is in my mind. I'd like to focus on content vs form. I'm not alive on this planet to brag about how I ran 3 marathons in three days. I'm here for some spiritual activity; and everything I experience is for that activity. Don't dumb down the purpose of human life.
Sri Chinmoy taught about the inner runner and the outer runner. Here The outer runner is what I appear to be doing: suffering through 26 hot miles, 3 days in a row. The inner runner is how I am pushing the spiritual purpose of my life forward.
Paul Brunton said in another place, "The goal towards which man is slowly travelling by successive steps is a threefold one: the fully developed environment, the fully developed intelligence, and the realized soul. The last is the best and the other two are servants of it, for he comes first to a comprehension and then to a realization of himself. ""The purpose of gathering experience (the evolutionary process) is precisely to bring such an awareness (of the realized soul)." I am wanting to express how three days of marathoning is an experience gathering activity.
For everyone, their first marathon is amazing. For me, finishing any marathon is also a journey. Every marathon has its learnings. I've now done 61 of them.
Besides Brunton and Sri Chinmoy, there is something my energy practitioner said the last time we talked. I have talked to her about my continual frustration with enlightenment. I'm frustrated because I haven't had that peak experience that so many spiritual teachers write about in their books; even though I've tried all the methodologies (short of drugs or traumatic brain injury). She discussed with me that realization of my inner essential being (realization of my soul), my quest for consciousness, is in itself The Thing. My Higher Self is The Quest Itself. This 3 day marathon journey was exactly that.
In a 3 day marathon, there is some aspect of my quest for consciousness. I want to discover That.
How difficult it is for me to pause and really dissect the inner experience. I have feelings which are hard to put into words.
Form: I completed 3 marathons in 3 days. The first took 5:59. The second took 5:54. The third took 5:27. These times are my garmin times and do not contain pit stops. They were all on the same course. Okay, done.
Content:
The inner experience is about how hard it was to get to the start of day number 3. Wow, that is the gist of it. Enlightenment is about pushing past the ego's shrieks, complaints and barriers. That takes some kind of spiritual effort.
I've been a life long runner. In 2005 or so, I learned about the Sri Chinmoy 3,100 Mile Race. In reading about this race, I learned about the self transcendence aspects of distance running. I tried to enact that possibility. Time and distance are involved; but not necessarily entertainment. Many laps are run. Laps are boring. Laps are perfect place to turn inward and listen. This 3 day marathon was on a 3 mile loop. It was a place to turn inward and listen.
In February of this year, I completed a double marathon. This made it possible to believe my dream of going on a Mainly Marathon vacation could come true. So I signed up for the Texas Threesome as a step along the way.
In the days prior to this race, I could hear my ego grumbling. I live in Houston where the main topic of conversation is traffic. My ego was grumbling about traffic on the trip home from Dallas and traffic around Houston if I left later in the day. This grumbling was bad. It was forcing me to think that maybe I would skip the third day of the race and drive home inthe middle of the night when there wouldn't be any traffic. This is the first ego barrier I had to overcome. I call it an ego barrier meaning it is something I have to spiritually get through in order to achieve conscious awareness of my soul.
Second problem was my ego questioning why I needed to do a third day at all. I mean, if two days are successful, shouldn't I skip the third day and not hurt my body? After all, I am signed up for a triple in July, why not wait until then? Why risk injury now? These fears are another ego barrier. They suggest a lack of understanding about what is going on metaphysically: ie. I hadn't had the experience yet so I didn't know what it was for. I have a habit of quitting difficulties based on my ego's yelling at me. I had to solve this problem spiritually as well.
There were other minor issues like not having enough vacation time at work but needing a day off prior to this adventure to sleep. There is the malaise which occupies every ego. It takes energy to get it out of a rut and go do something.
Day 1
I got my packet on Friday evening. At packet pickup I spoke with a woman who is older than me who finished a 300 mile race over 10 days. She got 5 stress fractures but finished the race even with the severe pain. Ever since, she has had various physical problems. But she mentioned to me she wants to go back to the 300 mile race because it was such an inspirational experience for her. At this event now, she hadn't been able to train, but still walked 5 hours on 2 days to finish 2 half marathons. I have to honor the inner runner, that deep desire this woman displayed.
These races begin at 5 am. It was warm and humid (even though I wasn't in Houston!). I planned to do all the races with 3 minutes run/2 minutes walk. The first day I spent most of the time with a cancer survivor who was finishing his 100th marathon. The survivor part is a new American idolatry; and yes, I buy into it and see the inner runner in it. But as he continued his story I became less impressed. There is some opioid use. It became clear that he had no regular workout routine other than walking marathons. He was killing his inner runner. Finally about mile 17, as I was jogging very slow and listening to his breathing, I blurted out that I thought he should talk to his doctor about that. He was gasping when I was not even near winded. I mean slow jogging for 3 minutes. After that he quit tagging along with me. After he left me, I did speed up some. This makes me wonder if he hadn't been sucking my energy.
But, I finished in my goal time of 6:03 by the course clock which includes the pit stops. All in all, a satisfactory day.
Day 2
Again we are there at 5 am. Lightening in the distance. The race director mentions that we should seek cover if the storm gets close. I don't know any runner which would make the right choice without being told. But, the storm didn't get very close and the rain didn't get hardly more than a sprinkle. I ran mostly alone until about 17 miles. Then my friend Mathew suddenly showed up. I was so happy to see him I tried to hug his sweaty body. Mathew is a 73 year old Indian. I don't know much about him but I enjoy talking to him during races.
It became hot again towards the end of the race. But even so, I had an inkling. I knew at the end of day 2 that I would be back. Despite all my ego's desire to just high tail it back to Houston in the middle of the night and not finish day 3; I knew. Very quiet was that knowing. I finished in 6:01 by the course clock which includes pit stops.
I went back to my hotel room. I realized that I had just finished 2 marathons without any real physical problems. That, in and of itself is amazing. I had no excuse about tomorrow. If I didn't do it, I'd have to make up something to tell others.
I sat there with my Paul Brunton book and tried to listen. I got some intuitive thoughts.
The first thing was to just pretend I am doing a third marathon, but not really commit. So I repaired my tape jobs, rubbed my legs with muscle rub, got my things organized.
Then came a truly monumental thought. "Why don't you let go? Why don't you let the universe worry about Houston traffic?" OMG! Why don't I? The inner experience is about the decision to let some higher consciousness worry about traffic during the drive home. It turns out, I drove home in record time. Many drivers seemed to think 87 mph was a good speed. (more about letting go below)
Next there was another mind altering thought. How would you feel about yourself as you drove past the race site on your way out of town. Wouldn't your ego immediately attack you with tons of thoughts about how stupid you are and what are you going to say to others? The mind altering thought was a decision.. A decision that a DNF (did not finish) would be better than a DNS (did not start). Check out the picture of the shirt I got at an emotional race 3 years ago. My honor was involved. My honor is totally about the inner essence of me, my quest for my higher consciousness. I actually didn't have the energy to make excuses for my sorry self. It would be much easier to run a marathon.
Day 3
Again it is warm and humid with thunder storms around. As I started the race, I realized than nothing hurt. I had no pains of any kind. So, I took off the brakes and began really running. I mean what the heck, its the last day. I kept to the 3x2s, but during the run, I was really running. I felt great! I was making great time.
As I was getting to mile 20, I thought, "You can't tell me I'm not an athlete." What an athlete, 3 days of marathons and still strong! I was in the zone. I never know how or when I'll get in the zone. But when it happens, I fly with no effort at all. I finished in 5:33 by the course clock which includes pit stops.
I had solved my ego problems with spiritual solutions. First, to let go and let something higher be in control of everything. Second to honor my integrity. These decisions tell me about my higher self. They tell me the truth of my being.
Day 3 finisher picture taken with a sweaty cell phone.
The inner experience is about how I feel now: sort of special? Awed at myself. Dis-belief that I ran so well on day 3. How maybe the three days was like being pushed through a birth canal. I was reborn. It is not that I prayed and the universe did what I wanted. It is that I let go of trying to control so I lived in harmony. The miracle was that I ended up at the starting line on the third day only to discover that I was filled with positive energy. I got to the starting line, not by self will, but by letting go. Then I felt guided all day. This is not about God but about a higher consciousness. The quest is about discovering essence not about defining God. So in letting go, I allowed higher consciousness.
Lots of ideas and factors went in to this 3 day journey, ending in some new understanding of myself and my higher consciousness.
Paul Brunton (philosopher) once wrote, "Every word has therefore two meanings: the external meaning, which is the objective fact or event in external experience, and the internal meaning, which is the idea of that fact or event which is formed in the mind."
This is a race report, but I'd like to focus on the internal meaning, what is in my mind. I'd like to focus on content vs form. I'm not alive on this planet to brag about how I ran 3 marathons in three days. I'm here for some spiritual activity; and everything I experience is for that activity. Don't dumb down the purpose of human life.
Sri Chinmoy taught about the inner runner and the outer runner. Here The outer runner is what I appear to be doing: suffering through 26 hot miles, 3 days in a row. The inner runner is how I am pushing the spiritual purpose of my life forward.
Paul Brunton said in another place, "The goal towards which man is slowly travelling by successive steps is a threefold one: the fully developed environment, the fully developed intelligence, and the realized soul. The last is the best and the other two are servants of it, for he comes first to a comprehension and then to a realization of himself. ""The purpose of gathering experience (the evolutionary process) is precisely to bring such an awareness (of the realized soul)." I am wanting to express how three days of marathoning is an experience gathering activity.
For everyone, their first marathon is amazing. For me, finishing any marathon is also a journey. Every marathon has its learnings. I've now done 61 of them.
Besides Brunton and Sri Chinmoy, there is something my energy practitioner said the last time we talked. I have talked to her about my continual frustration with enlightenment. I'm frustrated because I haven't had that peak experience that so many spiritual teachers write about in their books; even though I've tried all the methodologies (short of drugs or traumatic brain injury). She discussed with me that realization of my inner essential being (realization of my soul), my quest for consciousness, is in itself The Thing. My Higher Self is The Quest Itself. This 3 day marathon journey was exactly that.
In a 3 day marathon, there is some aspect of my quest for consciousness. I want to discover That.
How difficult it is for me to pause and really dissect the inner experience. I have feelings which are hard to put into words.
Form: I completed 3 marathons in 3 days. The first took 5:59. The second took 5:54. The third took 5:27. These times are my garmin times and do not contain pit stops. They were all on the same course. Okay, done.
Content:
The inner experience is about how hard it was to get to the start of day number 3. Wow, that is the gist of it. Enlightenment is about pushing past the ego's shrieks, complaints and barriers. That takes some kind of spiritual effort.
I've been a life long runner. In 2005 or so, I learned about the Sri Chinmoy 3,100 Mile Race. In reading about this race, I learned about the self transcendence aspects of distance running. I tried to enact that possibility. Time and distance are involved; but not necessarily entertainment. Many laps are run. Laps are boring. Laps are perfect place to turn inward and listen. This 3 day marathon was on a 3 mile loop. It was a place to turn inward and listen.
In February of this year, I completed a double marathon. This made it possible to believe my dream of going on a Mainly Marathon vacation could come true. So I signed up for the Texas Threesome as a step along the way.
In the days prior to this race, I could hear my ego grumbling. I live in Houston where the main topic of conversation is traffic. My ego was grumbling about traffic on the trip home from Dallas and traffic around Houston if I left later in the day. This grumbling was bad. It was forcing me to think that maybe I would skip the third day of the race and drive home inthe middle of the night when there wouldn't be any traffic. This is the first ego barrier I had to overcome. I call it an ego barrier meaning it is something I have to spiritually get through in order to achieve conscious awareness of my soul.
Second problem was my ego questioning why I needed to do a third day at all. I mean, if two days are successful, shouldn't I skip the third day and not hurt my body? After all, I am signed up for a triple in July, why not wait until then? Why risk injury now? These fears are another ego barrier. They suggest a lack of understanding about what is going on metaphysically: ie. I hadn't had the experience yet so I didn't know what it was for. I have a habit of quitting difficulties based on my ego's yelling at me. I had to solve this problem spiritually as well.
There were other minor issues like not having enough vacation time at work but needing a day off prior to this adventure to sleep. There is the malaise which occupies every ego. It takes energy to get it out of a rut and go do something.
Day 1
I got my packet on Friday evening. At packet pickup I spoke with a woman who is older than me who finished a 300 mile race over 10 days. She got 5 stress fractures but finished the race even with the severe pain. Ever since, she has had various physical problems. But she mentioned to me she wants to go back to the 300 mile race because it was such an inspirational experience for her. At this event now, she hadn't been able to train, but still walked 5 hours on 2 days to finish 2 half marathons. I have to honor the inner runner, that deep desire this woman displayed.
These races begin at 5 am. It was warm and humid (even though I wasn't in Houston!). I planned to do all the races with 3 minutes run/2 minutes walk. The first day I spent most of the time with a cancer survivor who was finishing his 100th marathon. The survivor part is a new American idolatry; and yes, I buy into it and see the inner runner in it. But as he continued his story I became less impressed. There is some opioid use. It became clear that he had no regular workout routine other than walking marathons. He was killing his inner runner. Finally about mile 17, as I was jogging very slow and listening to his breathing, I blurted out that I thought he should talk to his doctor about that. He was gasping when I was not even near winded. I mean slow jogging for 3 minutes. After that he quit tagging along with me. After he left me, I did speed up some. This makes me wonder if he hadn't been sucking my energy.
But, I finished in my goal time of 6:03 by the course clock which includes the pit stops. All in all, a satisfactory day.
Day 2
Again we are there at 5 am. Lightening in the distance. The race director mentions that we should seek cover if the storm gets close. I don't know any runner which would make the right choice without being told. But, the storm didn't get very close and the rain didn't get hardly more than a sprinkle. I ran mostly alone until about 17 miles. Then my friend Mathew suddenly showed up. I was so happy to see him I tried to hug his sweaty body. Mathew is a 73 year old Indian. I don't know much about him but I enjoy talking to him during races.
It became hot again towards the end of the race. But even so, I had an inkling. I knew at the end of day 2 that I would be back. Despite all my ego's desire to just high tail it back to Houston in the middle of the night and not finish day 3; I knew. Very quiet was that knowing. I finished in 6:01 by the course clock which includes pit stops.
I went back to my hotel room. I realized that I had just finished 2 marathons without any real physical problems. That, in and of itself is amazing. I had no excuse about tomorrow. If I didn't do it, I'd have to make up something to tell others.
I sat there with my Paul Brunton book and tried to listen. I got some intuitive thoughts.
The first thing was to just pretend I am doing a third marathon, but not really commit. So I repaired my tape jobs, rubbed my legs with muscle rub, got my things organized.
Then came a truly monumental thought. "Why don't you let go? Why don't you let the universe worry about Houston traffic?" OMG! Why don't I? The inner experience is about the decision to let some higher consciousness worry about traffic during the drive home. It turns out, I drove home in record time. Many drivers seemed to think 87 mph was a good speed. (more about letting go below)
Next there was another mind altering thought. How would you feel about yourself as you drove past the race site on your way out of town. Wouldn't your ego immediately attack you with tons of thoughts about how stupid you are and what are you going to say to others? The mind altering thought was a decision.. A decision that a DNF (did not finish) would be better than a DNS (did not start). Check out the picture of the shirt I got at an emotional race 3 years ago. My honor was involved. My honor is totally about the inner essence of me, my quest for my higher consciousness. I actually didn't have the energy to make excuses for my sorry self. It would be much easier to run a marathon.
Day 3
Again it is warm and humid with thunder storms around. As I started the race, I realized than nothing hurt. I had no pains of any kind. So, I took off the brakes and began really running. I mean what the heck, its the last day. I kept to the 3x2s, but during the run, I was really running. I felt great! I was making great time.
As I was getting to mile 20, I thought, "You can't tell me I'm not an athlete." What an athlete, 3 days of marathons and still strong! I was in the zone. I never know how or when I'll get in the zone. But when it happens, I fly with no effort at all. I finished in 5:33 by the course clock which includes pit stops.
I had solved my ego problems with spiritual solutions. First, to let go and let something higher be in control of everything. Second to honor my integrity. These decisions tell me about my higher self. They tell me the truth of my being.
Day 3 finisher picture taken with a sweaty cell phone.
The inner experience is about how I feel now: sort of special? Awed at myself. Dis-belief that I ran so well on day 3. How maybe the three days was like being pushed through a birth canal. I was reborn. It is not that I prayed and the universe did what I wanted. It is that I let go of trying to control so I lived in harmony. The miracle was that I ended up at the starting line on the third day only to discover that I was filled with positive energy. I got to the starting line, not by self will, but by letting go. Then I felt guided all day. This is not about God but about a higher consciousness. The quest is about discovering essence not about defining God. So in letting go, I allowed higher consciousness.
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