Tag: transformation

What We Do With Fear.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges facing us each day.

On a global scale, we stand as witness to humanity’s consumption; the ravages of war, poverty and political injustice taking no rest.

While locally our communities erupt with dysfunction, as we long for the simplicity of ‘better days.’

So much of our society is suffering. At times, we feel more connected to fear than than we do our own neighbors. And yet, as the world cries out for an impassioned response – we bolt the door, feeling powerless to help.

This undercurrent of fear lurks within each of our daily habits. Whether we freeze or panic, we can not escape it’s crushing weight. And if we linger in those thoughts, we lose our potential – becoming a prisoner of mind’s own making.

One of my favorite Buddhist stories is that of the Zen master and the samurai warrior. For years, the samurai reigned – terrorizing all within his path. Until the final village, where the Zen master sat.

“You fool! Don’t you know who I am,” he hissed. “I’m the sort who could slice you in two without so much as batting an eye.”

To which the master replied, “And I, sir, am the sort who could be sliced in two without so much as batting an eye.”

We could argue for hours over the intent of the story. Perhaps he was at peace knowing the true veil of our human existence – that life and death were merely aspects of our continuation? Or, maybe he realized there was nothing to be done. And with this, bowed his head in gentle reverence.

Fear demands our attention and forces our introspection. What we discover is ours alone. For some, there exists a vicious denial – a pushing away of truth as we know it.

While others, like the master, accept its presence with a humbled gratitude – knowing truth is the only path to our heart’s awakening.

A little something to consider, my sweet friends…

In peace,

Namaste ❤️

To Be Transformed.

There’s a birch tree which stands along the path behind our home.

Year after year, I’ve watched her grow – through hurricanes and blizzards and devastating ice storms. Yet still, she persevered – oddly stronger than before.

And, with each new season her stiffened bark would break and curl revealing a tenderness within. How ironic – that this ‘cloak’ which once confined had sheared to paper thin.

I thought of myself in the context of her lesson. Are we not much the same? That is to say, even when greatly weathered – our tenderness remains, unchanged.

Though we may fear losing the subtlety of its essence, it’s important to remember-

That which we ‘are’ can never be forsaken. Rather, we are – much like the birch – transformed.

In peace…

Namaste ❤️

The Loveliness of Loss.

The pain in losing someone never really goes away – it simply becomes more familiar. The emotions associated, their physical manifestation – in time, become less foreign. And, those bonds which first threatened to imprison our heart become known as the inseparable within us.

Just as joy is found within each transformation of leaf – from robust gold, to the richest of green; a fiery pitch upon strengthened limb. So, too, are we revealed.

And, all that is beautiful finds its way home.

In peace, my loves..,

Namaste ❤️

The Subtlety of Transformation.

There is a precept within the Buddhist tradition speaking towards the willingness of heart to move from suffering to equanimity. It is the basis by which we cultivate the energy of transformation, and a catalyst for own inner peace.

There are so many ways in which negativity may reach us. Whether directly by hatred or ill will, or indirectly through the chattering of our own self-inflicted ‘wounds’ – it manifests within and all around us. We see it within the onslaught of media images. We recoil when presented through the actions of another.

So often, we are misguided in thinking ours to be a passive role. Impulse begs to silence the angst – though, in reality, our denial serves only to strengthen its resolve. In the end, we’re left wondering — what, if anything, may be done?

In looking more deeply, we realize that the energy to suppress is equal to the energy to transform – though with widely disparate result. And, yet time after time again we choose – the path which causes additional harm.

Buddhism (and, perhaps our own experience) teaches that we can not and should not deny that which may ultimately serve to expand our heart.

But, what does that mean? And, more importantly – how is the energy of transformation engaged?

As Thich Nhat Hanh teaches, we must learn to look deeply into the energy of our emotions, identifying that which may ultimately empower our fear. We redirect the energy into our own transformation.

“You don’t feel the need to fight against your anger or your fear anymore,” he shares. “because you see that your anger and your fear are you. So you try to handle them in the most tender way. There’s no fighting anymore. There’s only the practice to transform and to take care.”

It is the practice of helping our heart grow each and every time.

In peace…

Namaste ❤️

About Those Edges.

I’ve been having some difficulties moving about, as of late. My body, it seems, has found a path of its own and I’ve felt somewhat powerless to help.

Years ago, I would have fallen deeply into my fears – certain of the destiny to follow.

Fear is such a debilitating energy; for in a split second of a ‘moment gone wrong’ our worlds may be reduced to the point of a pin.

At the heart of it, I suppose we’re afraid of being vulnerable — that sense of powerless far too great a burden to manage. Though, even in this moment there exists an opportunity to transform.

Often, we’ll hear the phrase ‘looking deeply into our fears’. Though, in practice – what does that mean?

Most will offer, ‘it’s a moment to pause’ — to reflect on the energy of fear itself, to understand its true source. To some extent, that’s true – however, it also requires moving closer to our ‘edge’.

That is to say…

We mustn’t try to dissuade or ‘hush’ the energy. Rather, we should experience it at its fullest complexity.

As Thich Nhat Hanh once so poignantly shared, “When we succeed in surviving strong emotions, we experience a more solid peace of mind.”

So, let those fears, in turn, deepen you. Allow these lessons of willingness to prevail.

In peace…

Namaste ❤️

The Seeds of Transformation.

“There is nothing to practice. To know yourself, be yourself. To be yourself, stop imagining yourself to be this or that. Just be. Let your true nature emerge. Don’t disturb your mind with seeking.” —Nisargadatta Maharaj

There’s a scene in a television show I quite like to watch, in which the half-witted boss experiences extreme financial difficulties.

In a moment of absolute desperation he cries out, “I declare bankruptcy!” – thinking by just simply *saying* it he might be relieved of his troubles.

And though, the scene is intended for comedic effect – there really is a bit of truth in the ‘telling’.

I remember when I first began my mindfulness training. “I’m a Buddhist,” I would proudly declare – not yet knowing the full depth of its meaning.

It’s never enough to simply profess our intention. In order for the lesson to ‘stick’, we must give it roots to grow.

In the Buddhist teachings, we speak of consciousness in terms of ‘seeds.’ That is to say, in life – we begin to store these seeds of change.

Within all of us, and through our experiences, we have gathered the seeds of compassion, of trust, of promise, and of faith. Likewise, and by way of our more difficult challenges, we have gathered the seeds of fear, of jealousy, of betrayal, and of pain.

These seeds represent our potential – the potential for enlightenment existing just as strongly as that of defeat. But, likewise – these seeds can be transformed.

How often have we criticized ourselves for having acted a certain way. “That not my nature,’ we might lament.

Oh, but my darlings – it really is.

And, that’s okay. For, just as we are born with the capacity towards greatness, so too – must we struggle with these occasional lapses of ‘character’.

“Mindfulness is like a lamp illuminating ourselves” writes Thich Nhat Hanh, “As soon as the lamp is brought into the room, the room changes. When the sun rises, the light of the sun only has to shine onto the plants for them to change, grow, and develop.”

The trick is – to recognize and accept the potential within us all; to shine our light of mindfulness, and embrace the transformation before us.

“Breathing in, I know the anger is in me.” he continues. “Breathing out, I know am strong enough to take care of this anger.”

It is within this light of knowing, my darlings – that our greatest transformation may begin.

This Body in Other Forms.

I was really moved by a passage this morning; from the Plum Village Chanting and Recitation Book, a Contemplation on No-Coming, No-Going by Thich Nhat Hahn.

It speaks to what is often a difficult subject, that is – the impermanence of ‘self.’

It’s a topic that is certainly close to our hearts, and hopefully one that might help us understand the true nature of our connection. In the Buddhist tradition, death is not viewed as ending to life – rather, it is viewed in the spirit of transformation.

As Thay so eloquently describes, we are ‘life without boundaries.’

“One day I took the hand of a young father who had just buried his little son,” he recalled “I invited him to walk with me to discover his son in other forms…A week later I took the hand of his father during walking meditation and showed him many manifestations of his little boy. Together, we visited the plum tree I planted for his son, and as we sat in the afternoon light, we saw his little boy waving to us from every bud and branch.”

My darlings, on this day – I am compelled to share this with you:

“This body is not me.
I am not limited by this body.
I am life without boundaries.
I have never been born,
and I have never died.

Look at the ocean and the sky filled with stars,
manifestations from my wondrous true mind.

Since before time, I have been free.
Birth and death are only doors through which we pass,
sacred thresholds on our journey.
Birth and death are a game of hide-and-seek.

So laugh with me,
hold my hand,
let us say good-bye,
say good-bye,
to meet again soon.

We meet today.
We will meet again tomorrow.
We will meet at the source every moment.
We meet each other in all forms of life.”