Tag: awakening

A Lesson in Truth.

There’s an old saying I’m quite fond of: ‘Water that is too pure contains no fish.’  It is derived from the text if Ts’ai Ken Tan, compiled by Hong Zicheng during the time of the Ming dynasty.

“Still that is dirt grows countless things,” he writes. It is intended to demonstrate the truth of our experience, that we must engage the messiness in order to get to the meaning.

Though, so often our approach is to exclude – to set aside that which we deem impure. But the reality, my friends, is quite simple – it is impossible to live in a space of perfection.

Instead, we must learn to embrace that which ultimately helps us to grow – and recognizing our awakening is a continuous unfolding.

In peace…

Namsste ❣

This Path to Our Awakening.

Sometimes our awakening happens slowly, like the softened hues overtaking a twilight sky. Though often, there is a catalyst – a triggering of events so powerful that it momentarily knocks us to the ground.   In both cases, however, the path is shared – each effecting a shifting of heart, hope and light. Our lives are in perpetual motion, with balance achieved through the choices made.

“Every spiritual tradition has stories of those who have awakened from their usual dreamlike state to a sacred way of being,” Jack Kornfield writes. “Through initiation, purification, or prayer, or by a great spacious surrender to the dance of life, they come to know that which is ever-present and holy.” They come to know the energy of living.

And just as we know the sun will always rise, so too do we recognize the presence of its potential – the potential which may ultimately serve to transform, to change, to forever alter. Even though we may feel, at times, that we are standing still – stuck in a rut of our own design – trust that we are in constant motion, limited only by our willingness to receive.

My friends, today I wish you the blessing of openness  and peace. May it share its light within each bright and beautiful step…

In peace…

Namaste ❣

As Witness to Awakening.

There is an aspect of spirituality that is often overlooked; one so fundamentally paramount that it must be engaged before the heart’s silence can ever be secured. That is, truthfulness and integrity in our observations – particularly as it pertains to inward reflection.

We are, by our nature, curious truthseekers. Whether gazing thoughtfully towards the heavens, or, rather more simply, enjoying the ‘warmth’ of tea between friends – we want so desperately to know. To embrace our truth and gain from the experience.

And yet, so often our engagement is limited. The legacy of our moments offers its wisdom freely – though, to what end? Do we carry the lesson or cling to our story?

Life continuously seeks to invite our presence – to engage the sensory experience without reaction. Whether through sight, sound or touch – our breath serves as a function of truth. If only, at first, in fleeting glimpses – finally, we begin to see. We begin to see through the illusion and prejudice of ego.

We become ‘as one’ – as witness to our own awakening.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❣️

The Deeper Thread.

Without understanding the nature of our suffering, we are destined to remediate its presumption and not cause. We react to the immediate measure of pain, hoping to secure the matter of our safety.

Is it stability? Is it peace? In this unavoidable push-pull struggle we lose the focus of our true happiness.

Release…

In order to lessen our pain, we must begin the painstaking task of detachment. What we perceive and what we believe are opposite ends of the same spiritual spool. One, more easily accessible and the other more deeply wound.

Though grasping for the former may yield an immediate gain, without care it is prone to entanglement. Meanwhile, the deeper thread rests knowing it shall soon find its place.

Urgency may comfort, through patience reveals…

Such is the nature of our own awakening.

In peace, my loves…

Namaste ❤

The Presence of Child.

“You’re making it worse,” my mother would say. And, she was right. Albeit, at the time we were discussing the snarled mess of my hair – still I think there’s a lesson to be carried forward.

A child feeling pain will instantly recoil, pulling away from that which offends. Though as we age our curiosity compels, in spite of the pain we are moved to ‘resolve’. We want to understand, to challenge – perhaps, even benefit from our circumstance.

Yet still, we impute through external factors.

Why can’t we see, that all is within? The upset, the angst – the remorse and regret. All tightly bound with the intransigent threads of intolerance and perception.

As children, we instinctively retreat. We don’t beg for its vanquish, nor challenge its source. Our only reference based deep within heart.

We see a tree, we climb. And a stream, we cross. Every moment represents a new opportunity to surrender and ultimately awaken.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❤

That We May Awaken.

I’m often asked to provide comment on current events. More specifically, to provide assurance and context; to lend stability to an often overwhelming sense of groundlessness.

I’m humbled, always, to serve in this capacity. To stand in the presence of a heart awakening is, by far, my greatest blessing.

As Bodhisattvas, we are committed to our practice. We listen to the cries of this world with open-hearted determination. Though we may experience fear, we are unwavering in our purpose.

The world is suffering; and, we wish it to heal.

Meanwhile, all around us the chaos grows; as the shadows strike their edges against the outline of a growing polarization.

Buddhism encourages a middle ground, but what if that path isn’t readily apparent? How do we begin to navigate that which we fear can not be found?

My darlings, this is where our practice begins.

Yes, certainly – in this life, we may experience great hardship, suffering and grief. Yet, these are the moments in which the lesson of humanity is learned. Our understanding of our shared condition expands with each life-affirming breath.

We mustn’t lose faith, rather – we should bear witness to its unfolding.

And, that we may awaken…

In peace, my loves…

Namaste ❤️

Just These Words.

There’s a limitation, always, to that which can be placed into words. Though, we may try our best to capture sentiment – there will always be an aspect ‘missing’. For, truth of heart requires so much more…

In our lives there will be moments; moments which may require access to a deeper plane. Far beyond our current awareness, and into the realm of a silent knowing.

In this space, formlessness beckons to greater expanse; and our awakening begins where the clinging ends.

Perhaps then, words are merely a wedge – a catalyst for hope, and further understanding?

After all, it is the inner bond which draws together that which can not be placed into words.

In peace…

Namaste ❤️

On the Edge of the Sand, They’ve Danced.

Leonardo da Vinci once wrote that the greatest deception men suffer is from their own perception. And, with every ‘truth’ rooted firmly in the soil of perception.

Our world is viewed through minute slivers – a fracturing of light through filtered prism. We see what we choose to see, in part. Though, can we observe without this burden of bias?

With a mind like the sky, as free-flowing form; resting in the space of whatever is found. True boundlessness, as the Buddha instructed – without cause, without worry, absent heaviness of heart.

In this space, we merely follow our thoughts – though, dare not ascribe this precedence of story upon the willfulness of ego.

And, knowing – sometimes the stillness is our sanctuary.

“Hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced…”

In peace, my loves…

Namaste ❤️

The Practice of Fear.

I remember once many years ago being lost alone in the woods. I had ventured too far into spaces, unexplored – the depth of which might prove my undoing.

As the sun yielded warmth to the approaching cascade of night, I became suddenly aware – the fear of being ‘alone’ was far too great. I raced through with all my might; running was the only thing I knew to do.

At 8 years old, our instincts are still primal, and emotions flood, largely unimpeded. Is this the grace of youth? That we haven’t yet developed that voice of inner critic?

Had it happened in my 20’s, I would have cursed my ill-preparedness. In my 30’s, perhaps fate working against. And, in my 40’s I may have blamed this weakness of body failing to meet the rigors of day.

Fear takes on many aspects of story. Time and experience are no casual warrior – and, in the end we must face that which is unresolved;

Being, just as we once were and knew before.

We’re born whole, but along the way – something gets hidden. And we are challenged to walk this path on our own. Or, at least what we perceive to be ‘alone’.

But our separateness is, at best, illusion; a presumption of physicality in an ever-changing universe. In the same breath, that which threatens to destroy may prove a catalyst to adventure. In that moment, our unraveling reveals.

And the only question; ‘do we travel forward, or do we concede?’

Which will it be?

In peace…

Namaste ❤️

The Finer Things.

At some point in our lives, that which once mattered most of all is replaced by the finer things. Something we perhaps secretly longed though never believed to be there.

Like the sound of stillness punctuated by the clamoring of trash bin lids, men calling from the backs of trucks and little ones racing to greet the new day.

Or, the softly curled scent rising from the mug of freshly brewed coffee ‘shared’ with a friend.

We find ‘more’ often with ‘less’; as time shares alms to wearied traveler.
All the while, patience abides; the river flows never knowing ‘end’.

Is it faith, or is it will – which helps us find our way again?

In peace…

Namaste ❤️