Dr Paul Fleischman in Town

The Scientific World View and Vipassana Meditation
A lecture by Dr Paul Fleischman, Psychiatrist and Author.
Tuesday, November 17th @ 6pm - The Morris Center, 10 E Broad, Sav. FREE.

During the 20th century, revolutions in physics and biology transformed our vision of the world and of ourselves, creating increased insight into the scientific basis for Vipassana Meditation practice....a practice for living a balanced life through a technique originally taught by Gotema the Bhudda.

Meditation has gone from unknown, to wildly popular in the Western Hemisphere in only about thirty years. (In contrast, it has been well known in India for about two thousand five hundred years.) This has led to confusion about what meditation really is, how it works, and in what ways it helps people. Vipassana Meditation is an ancient, non-sectarian Indian technique that was designed to guide a realistic and compassionate lifestyle. Western science rocketed forward in the Twentieth Century, describing a testable vision of reality that reaches from minute electron-probability waves, to the Big Bang, from the evolution of DNA as the basis of biological information, to the hubbub of metabolic interactions within each living cell. The new scientific narratives provide increased understanding of the realizations that informed the discovery of Vipassana, why it practiced as it is, and how it helps people. Vipassana focuses on neutral, systematic, evidence-based observation of oneself as a changing process in a lawful universe. It catalyzes realistic experiences from which one can steer both a practical and profound life. Vipassana is not primarily a healing technique, but a window into multiple dimensions within our selves. Meditation is intended to be a mirror of conduct, to lessen attachment to narrow perspectives, and to align our selves with reality as it is, in order to live a more harmonious and contributory life. Based upon the guided curriculum designed by Mr. S.N. Goenka, of Igatpuri, India, Vipassana is taught for free, on a voluntary donation basis, in ten-day residential courses, in scores of meditation centers around the world. Approximately one million students have successfully completed these courses. Vipassana Teachers also teach for free, and the practice is not connected to any profession, or treatment.

Click the 'Dhamma' link on the left to find out more about courses in this area.

The Surf Jam Video.

Thanks again to everyone who came out and supported this event, even the sympo sea kayakers, who had no concept of the 'competition zone'. Overall it was a great day at the beach with surfing, fishing and kayaking all going off. If you were from out of town that day you really would think that Tybee was the healthiest town on the east coast...hey, for some of us, it is.

South Eastern Horizons.

Ga Coastal Expedition - A Rivoting Success

Kristin: So, tell us, Nigel, in your opinion, what was the highlight of your trip?

Nigel: Apart from the weather and the great changing scenery on my right side, paddling across the Altamaha delta was a treat. It seemed to lie in the middle, an equal distance from nowhere as real Georgia Coast back country. The delta consists of a very changeable area, strong currents, huge amounts of sand deposits, lots of accretion and great geomorphology.

Kristin: Was that day then your favorite day?

Nigel: My favorite day was the second day. We left Beach Hammock and crossed three sounds. The wind had been steady out of the Northeast for several days already. The boats were fully loaded and the decks were awash as we went surfing past empty beaches under grey skies.

Kristin: Was there any thing in particular about the journey that you found disappointing?

Nigel: No.It was the best trip of the year. We will do it again next year.

Kristin: No? What did you do with my husband? And which island then was your favorite for natural beauty?

Nigel: Seeing the frontside of St. Catherine's was another highlight of the trip. It has a mysterious feel to it.. in addition to being shrouded in fog for half of the day. It seems to be the most unreachable and private of the islands. Nobody really knows what happens there.

Kristin: How about something else more tangible that came as a surprise to you?

Nigel: That would be a shipwreck that we came upon on the beach of Little St. Simon's Island. It was a tug boat and looked like something straight out of a movie, something for Captain Jack Sparrow.

Kristin: Did you come to especially appreciate any pieces of gear?

Nigel: Yes, my boat and my paddle. I paddled the Tiderace Explore S. At 17.6 feet long it was fast and excellent for such a trip. I also stayed dry in the boat every day which came as a real blessing. All the hatches were completely dry also. I used my Greenland paddle, which proved a great choice for such a trip. It allowed me to alter my stance as needed each day, for instance by altering the length and depth of each stroke. This can be very useful as the sea states change and as your fatigue level changes. Lastly I am also glad that I took along my secret weapon, the C-Tug kayak cart. It was very handy for transporting heavy boats to and from the campsites.

Kristin: Lucky you. How come we didn't have one of those on our canoe trip?

Nigel: Funny.

Kristin: What then would you have done differently?

Nigel: Not much, it was a good plan. I wouldn't have carried quite as much water and definitely more milk for tea. I brought 17 liters which lasted until Cumberland. I could have refilled on Sapelo which would have helped to lighten my load. I also would have carried more chocolate. No, more chocolate cookies to be exact. I had those Ginger Snaps. Them Ginger Snaps made me mad! Several times I thought to myself, "These damn Ginger Snaps are driving me crazy!"

Kristin: Guess I better ask for the hardest day as well..?

Nigel: That would have been Day 3...Halloween. After a long second day, the wind kicked around to the West, then South. It was foggy, then hot. At the end, the take out was at Cabretta, which was difficult. There was a group of witches from Atlanta at the campground who did not want us there. It was a tiresome day.

Kristin: All and all it sounds like a fantastic experience paddling and camping along some breathtaking coastline.

Nigel: I'd say so. Yep. A fantastic bit of the coast of the U.S. What's for dinner?

Lucas Theater - Thurs. 2:30

Letter from Jim Darby:

You may know that every year I attend as many of the SCAD Film Festival showings as I can. This morning I saw a truly great environmental documentary named "So Right, So Smart." The SCAD program describes it as "As environmental awareness increases in customers, business leaders like Ray Anderson are learning that sustainability is an ethical imperative for the future; in the process, they're finding that money just might grow on trees."

The SCAD description doen't do the movie justice. Ray Anderson ran a carpet square company and had an environmental epithany that he could do the right thing and still make money. He did and is spreading the word throughout the business world. This is the company that laid a pipeline from the land fill to their factory in La Grange to capture and use the methane gas. Every environmentalist in Georgia paticularly should know about this guy.

Most environmental documentaries start off telling you how the bad guys are polluting, nobody is stopping them and you leave the theater depressed. With this one I left the theater feeling good.

I spoke to the director in the lobby. The movie will be shown again at the Lucas on Thursday at 2:30. I encourage you to come see it. If you have somethng else planned, reschedule or cancel it. Take a few hours off work. You will not regret it. I'd love for our environmental community to be able to see this at perhaps our only opportunity.

See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1311716/

Jim Darby

Cumberland! The Eagles Have Landed.

Update from the field... Nigel and Steve paddled 16 miles Monday, leaving from the north end of Jekyll and arriving on the north end of Cumberland Island. Cumberland is the final island in the chain of Georgia's barrier islands and marks the end of their coastal journey. They will spend 3 days exploring Cumberland.. camping first at Brick Hill Bluff Monday and then paddling southward 11 miles to set up at Sea Camp for Tuesday and Wednesday. Breaking news... Nigel has found the snack bag!(amazing what a person can lose in the bow of their boat!) Thursday morning will be the last paddle of the 8 day expedition.. 6.5 miles back to St. Mary's for the unload and pick up. With 110 miles under their belts and a smile on their faces, I'm sure it will be a bitter sweet finale. Well done.

Lockwood Family Donations

Donations to assist Dan and his family can be sent to us here at SC&K. We'll make sure he gets them. Specifically Dan has asked for any old paddling gear, and also for some old bicycles for his kids - Sammy (age 11) and Jesse (a tall 13). Thanks to the paddling community for coming together on this one.

Lockwood Family Fire

Our dear friends, Dan Lockwood and family, suffered a terrible loss yesterday as a fire destroyed their home on Tybee Island. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We will post a location to send any donations as soon as we hear.

WTOC Video Link:
http://www.wtoc.com/global/category.asp?c=153752&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=15094&topVideoCatNoB=153746&topVideoCatNoC=133146&topVideoCatNoD=135069&topVideoCatNoE=153742&clipId=3225256&topVideoCatNo=15094&autoStart=true&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4263616&flvUri=&thirdpartymrssurl=

Report from the Field...

Update on the 2009 Georgia Coast Expedition..
Nigel and Steve are doing well, arriving on Jekyll Island today a full day ahead of schedule. Nigel reported that yesterday proved to be a long day... a thick fog and southerly wind set in as they paddled 13 miles from St. Catherine's Island to Sapelo Island. Today's paddle was 22 miles, crossing through the mouth of the Altamaha River and sandbars of Little St. Simon's, through St. Simon's Sound to the north end of Jekyll. Although it was longer in distance, they were blessed with light west winds and smooth seas. As for tomorrow, it will be 6 miles along Jekyll, 5 miles crossing over to the last of the barrier islands, Cumberland, followed by 4 miles to the Brick Hill Bluff campsite, for a total of 15. Let's all hope for a northern blow to push them along! Well done, boys... one more to go.

Photo: St. Catherine's Island Panorama - Larry Dixon

Happy Halloween from Little Tybee

Photo: Larry Dixon