Insights for June 2018
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Awakening:“Transforming our way of being in the world involves taking ethics seriously so that all our conduct is shaped by our newly transformed outlook and commitment to compassion.” Thupten Jinpa, Lion’s Roar July 2018.
“But awakening is nothing like the unicorns and rainbows of our imagination, although it can sometimes be glorious. It can also be subtle and even quite mundane." Melissa Myozen Blacker, Roshi, June 2018.
“In the moment of realization, everything simply appears as what it is.” Melissa Myozen Blacker, Roshi, Lion’s Roar, June 2018.
“Push yourself to live your truth every day, and grow stronger.” Eric Francis Copplolino.
“To forgive and be free, you must honor your measure of grief, betrayal, the whole difficult story, and hold it with all the compassion you can. Remember that you are bigger than anything that happens to you. Then you can turn your heart toward forgiveness." Jack Kornfield, “No Time Like the Present.”
Meditation:
“Meditation turns you completely upside down, says Norman Fisher. That’s called enlightenment.” Lion’s Roar, July 2018.
“When you meditate you elevate a problem from despair to a place of equanimity. “ Margaret Gervais
“Meditation. Is the ultimate honesty, because we face whatever arises without looking away.” Koun Franz
“...the point of meditation is to wake up. To wake up from the dream of ignorance-the dream that we are separate, independent beings. To wake up to the knowledge that we are dependent beings connected with all other beings, and therefore, by extension, to the knowledge that we are responsible for and to all beings. Compassion arises naturally from this recognition, for it experiences the suffering of others as our own and this wishes, from the heart that the suffering will end.” Jan Willis, Lion’s Roar, July 2018.
Healing: "To be free of your past, you must recognize what happened and feel it’s hold on you.It is here, consciously or unconsciously, held in your body, feelings and mind. It is critical to honor the loss before you can take the next step of letting go. Then you can practice forgiveness and with it use meditation, therapy, trauma work, art and intimate support to help touch and heal the betrayal and trauma." Jack Kornfield, “No Time Like the Present.
Anxiety:“Anxiety is so tricky…the key is to find ways to work with anxiety. And this means – and I know it is difficult – practicing relaxation.
There are a variety of ways you can do this, from standard practices of relaxation (taking a walk, going to a movie, getting away from it all) to something more radical – allowing yourself to relax with the anxiety by allowing yourself to feel it. I know that doesn’t sound like fun. It isn’t. But when you try to bargain or beat your way out of such situations, they only become more deeply entrenched. It’s a trap.Instead, you could sit down and invite the anxiety into the room. That means the feeling of the anxiety, not the story behind it. This difference is critical. The feeling is usually located in your body. Maybe your shoulders feel hunched, your tummy hurts, or your forehead tightens. Whatever it is for you, allow your attention to rest on it.When your story tries to hijack the situation (I am so messed up, if only I hadn’t said this, done that. I’ll never be successful/happy/proud/funny/smart), it is very important to let that go. Return to the felt sense of the worry. Feel the texture. Get to know it. In this way, you establish some agency within the situation rather that falling victim to it. Spend a minute or two (or longer if you like) extending the hand of friendship to your inner worrier rather than always trying to fight them off. Good luck! You can do it!” Susan Piver, “Worried About Worrying” Lion’s Roar, July 2018.
Resources:For additional resources, guided meditation, and reading lists, please go to http://theinsightcenter.net/resources/.