Everything that slows us down
and forces patience,
everything that sets us back
into the slow circles of nature,
is a help.
Gardening is an instrument of grace.
May Sarton
photo m tullottes
Tag: Ireland
Not looking for right or wrong
Instead of making others right or wrong, or bottling up right and wrong in ourselves, there’s a middle way, a very powerful middle way. This middle way involves not hanging on to our version so tightly. It involves keeping our hearts and minds open long enough to entertain the idea that when we make things wrong, we do it out of a desire to obtain some kind of ground or security. Equally, when we make things right, we are still trying to obtain some kind of ground or security. Could our minds and our hearts be big enough just to hang out in that space where we’re not entirely certain about who’s right and who’s wrong? Could we have no agenda when we walk into a room with another person, not know what to say, not make that person wrong or right? Could we see, hear, feel other people as they really are? It is powerful to practice this way, because we’ll find ourselves continually rushing around to try to feel secure again – to make ourselves or them either right or wrong.
Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart – Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Two aspects
Meditation is like a mirror or coin with two sides.
Facing out is letting go
and facing in is compassion.
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje
photo of old Irish Three penny coin.
…but noticing blessings
Beannachtai na Féile Padraig oraibh go léir!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day (literally “The Blessings of St Patrick’s Day be with you all”)
The word “blessing” is related in English to the word “blood.” Blessing is like the spiritual bloodstream that flows through the universe. When we bless something we are returning what we have received to its source. We know we receive life and breath from a source which is beyond us. We haven’t bought it or earned it. We are just put here and life comes to us from some mysterious source, and we can give it back. That is like the blood coming from the heart and going back to the heart. That blood keeps on flowing and if we tune in to the bloodstream of blessing the world comes alive. The same thing happens if we cut off the bloodstream or drain the sap from a tree; life withers.
The gifts or blessings of life are always there but if we are not aware of them, they don’t do much for us. That is where gratefulness comes in. Gratefulness makes us aware of the gift and makes us happy. As long as we take things for granted they don’t make us happy. Gratefulness is the key to happiness.
David Steindl-Rast.
Becoming the ground
Summer was like your house: you know where each thing stood.
Now you must go out into your heart as onto a vast plain. Now
the immense loneliness begins.
The days go numb, the wind sucks the world from your senses like withered leaves.
Through the empty branches the sky remains. It is what you have.
Be earth now, and evensong.
Be the ground lying under that sky.
Be modest now, like a thing ripened until it is real,
so that he who began it all
can feel you when he reaches for you.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Trees at Bolton Abbey, Moone. Co Kildare
Letting go of perfection today
It is interesting being back in Ireland this December and seeing how Christmas is portrayed in advertisements. In today’s world there is a constant push toward self-improvement, towards presenting oneself perfectly and being seen in control of events. So we are encouraged to have the “perfect Christmas” by shopping in this store or by getting this product. This type of mentality gets us into a state of anticipation, of waiting, of thinking that things are transformed by getting this or changing that. We look forward to a special day or to the holidays, believing that it will somehow fix whatever out of balance in our lives. This drive can be almost overwhelming. However, there is never any such thing as a “perfect” Christmas, or a perfect holiday. It is better to recognize that lives and days are inevitably messy, a mix of good and bad, and to find our balance in that.
A lot of disappointed people have been left
standing on the street corner
waiting for the bus marked Perfection
Donald Kennedy
photo tinou bau
Mindfulbalance 