Practice of the week: Meditative Origami

The week which passed by, I started a new practice.I committed to make one origami model in a day. So far I was able to make six origami model. Beginning was simple and swift. I missed one day, so next day i make it up. Today, it went little deeper and longer. Purpose behind starting this practice got fulfilled to some extent.

I started the practice of making origami model with three intentions. 

• First one is Learning & Sharing, to learn something every day.
• Second intention is to share this learning later on to others. 
• Last and most important to meditate in this new form.

Whole week, I tried to practice it and was somewhere going good. so many different things comes in.

Today, thought came why not search on youtube to make something related to yoga pose. I came across meditating buddha. Just like any other work, finding right video came up as a challenge. Many had not shown steps, few were too fast and few details, camera angle were missing. 

Finally, I came across something which was slow and provided good starting point.

(video link here.)

Challenges didn't stop here. Rest of the week, I practiced with just simple 5 to 7 minutes max video. Origami model were made within 10-15 minutes. You feel elated, once you do it. Yesterday's chair was simple. It didn't turn up well towards end. so after finishing satisfaction was very less. Almost in between I used to take it up and make some crease again, do some fold again and try to make it look perfect. After some attempt I succeeded in it. How wonderful! such small observation of movement teaches. Reflection upon this movement gave newer insight. Some of our habitual natural urge.

Today's challenge was double. 

Before landing up to the video from where I learnt and made. I had two unsuccessful attempt. 

When I began with Claudio, after 5 minute or so, I found its same model as in first attempt. The way they arrived to base structure was different and slow pace of video really helped. 

Here! mind got a chance to wonder. And in this wonder it started wandering at places. To be precise it went out thrice by the time, video reached to 11 minute. At this point, pace of hand and camera angle changed. I couldn't make out what exactly were done. What I have to do? Frustration was building up and control mechanism had started. I tried and left it. I saw video few times back, but couldn't make out. Then i left it on side. Next moment, took it again and just followed something out of head. Wow! it was happening as it should happen. Got some encouragement. One side done. Other side, again had trouble. Challenge is good, it helps to improvise. improvisation took place. Sole focus was on the hand, actually fingers were moving much faster.

Again, I tried to see video and see what next? I found some clue but couldn't find what those hands did exactly? By now mind was little calmer. So, instead of frustration it went to focus and did something.

Finally, not so perfect as shown in video. I was able to make,my first Origami Buddha. Zen Meditation.

I could not have made that perfect, as claudio is making it from last 25years and meditating with it.

It made the day amazing.

origami buddha

front view - origami buddha, zen meditation, learning practice with youtube video.

Now looking forward to next week.

Looking into past- I thank my maa, for asking me to remove unnecessary things last Sunday. What I came across was multiple photocopies and true copies of HSC marksheets and Leaving Certificate. Initially, I gave it for recycling. Soon idea strikes and I kept those paper with me. Practice began.