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Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Hibernation
I love the Fall, when the weather turns crisp. I get to wear boots, cook soup, and light candles. However, it also makes me feel like I want to hibernate. When it starts getting dark earlier, I just want to watch tv, eat comfort food and sleep.
I was struggling with this tonight. So, to combat those negative feelings, I made the Intention that I was going to have a healthy snack, do a practice, and paint my toenails. Lama Jigme often says that it is the intention that counts. For instance, even when I'm feeling grumpy or angry, I can choose to be loving. Our emotions do not define who we are, our choices do. Off I go to have a salad and paint those nails a cheery shade of pink.
Om mani padme hum
I was struggling with this tonight. So, to combat those negative feelings, I made the Intention that I was going to have a healthy snack, do a practice, and paint my toenails. Lama Jigme often says that it is the intention that counts. For instance, even when I'm feeling grumpy or angry, I can choose to be loving. Our emotions do not define who we are, our choices do. Off I go to have a salad and paint those nails a cheery shade of pink.
Om mani padme hum
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Three days
Last week, I traveled to Boston for work. It was a challenge (to say the least) to stick with my usual routines of practicing, exercising, and eating paleo.
When I got back, I shared this with Lama Jigme, and he told me that it's been said that it takes 28 days to make a new behavior into a habit, and 3 days to undo it. I agreed.
I'm grateful that I can see the changes in mood and physical health that happen when I eat what isn't good for me, neglect my Dharma practice, and don't get enough exercise. So luckily, now that I'm home, I'm getting back on track with my regular routines. Hope it doesn't take me 28 days!
Om mani padme hum
When I got back, I shared this with Lama Jigme, and he told me that it's been said that it takes 28 days to make a new behavior into a habit, and 3 days to undo it. I agreed.
I'm grateful that I can see the changes in mood and physical health that happen when I eat what isn't good for me, neglect my Dharma practice, and don't get enough exercise. So luckily, now that I'm home, I'm getting back on track with my regular routines. Hope it doesn't take me 28 days!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Spider webs
I had a wonderful time yesterday hiking with my friend Dana and her 2-year-old son Dustin. It was a very foggy morning, and the mountain was shrouded in mist.
We usually hike this mountain every Saturday, and have been for years. So naturally, there is very little that surprises us. However, yesterday we noticed that there were spider webs everywhere! We could see them clearly for the first time, since they now had dew on them that made them visible. There were spider webs at every turn, and in every shrub!
All three of us were fascinated at these webs which we had never noticed before. We had the greatest time pointing them out, stopping to gaze at their intricate shapes, and really appreciating them.
It made me think about awareness. Those spider webs have always been there. We pass by them all the time, week in and week out, but we never notice them. When suddenly they were illuminated by the water clinging to them, they were so very captivating. I sometimes feel this way about awareness. When practicing with awareness and letting go, I'll have moments of clarity upon seeing something ordinary like a car's bumper, or a pen, or the blade of a fan. And suddenly I'm hanging out in the present moment.
Whenever it occurs to me, I turn to this simple practice that Lama Jigme suggested:
In Breath: Noticing!
Out breath: Letting Go
May you see spider webs at every turn. Om mani padme hum
 |
| This is a photo we took on the hike |
All three of us were fascinated at these webs which we had never noticed before. We had the greatest time pointing them out, stopping to gaze at their intricate shapes, and really appreciating them.
It made me think about awareness. Those spider webs have always been there. We pass by them all the time, week in and week out, but we never notice them. When suddenly they were illuminated by the water clinging to them, they were so very captivating. I sometimes feel this way about awareness. When practicing with awareness and letting go, I'll have moments of clarity upon seeing something ordinary like a car's bumper, or a pen, or the blade of a fan. And suddenly I'm hanging out in the present moment.
Whenever it occurs to me, I turn to this simple practice that Lama Jigme suggested:
In Breath: Noticing!
Out breath: Letting Go
May you see spider webs at every turn. Om mani padme hum
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Familiarization
The following sentence from "Heart of Compassion" jumped out at me last night:
"Through gradual familiarization, great aims can be easily achieved."
I admit it... sometimes I wonder if practicing twice a day everyday is really doing anything. Is it making a difference with me? With others? With the general energy state of the world?
But then I look back at where I was almost two years ago. Two years ago, I didn't have a spiritual bone in my body. In fact, I was an athiest. I'd always been drawn to Buddhist writings and teachings, but I didn't desire to be part of a "religion." Back then, I had this subtle anger that I carried around with me all the time. I knew I wanted to be free from it, but I didn't know how I could do that. I read self-help books by the dozen, but their solutions never seemed to stick with me. The subtle anger remained.
Then I met Lama Jigme. He taught me some useful tools that are now becoming easier and more habitual. The more I use them, the easier they are to apply.
If you are new to the path, or are just beginning your journey, I know it can seem like there is so much to learn, and you may wonder if you are making progress. One day in the near future, you will look back and be amazed at the progress you have made. Remember, through gradual familiarization, great aims can be easily achieved. May you continue to have the courage to look unflinchingly at the present moment, use it to benefit others, and then let it go.
"Through gradual familiarization, great aims can be easily achieved."
I admit it... sometimes I wonder if practicing twice a day everyday is really doing anything. Is it making a difference with me? With others? With the general energy state of the world?
But then I look back at where I was almost two years ago. Two years ago, I didn't have a spiritual bone in my body. In fact, I was an athiest. I'd always been drawn to Buddhist writings and teachings, but I didn't desire to be part of a "religion." Back then, I had this subtle anger that I carried around with me all the time. I knew I wanted to be free from it, but I didn't know how I could do that. I read self-help books by the dozen, but their solutions never seemed to stick with me. The subtle anger remained.
Then I met Lama Jigme. He taught me some useful tools that are now becoming easier and more habitual. The more I use them, the easier they are to apply.
If you are new to the path, or are just beginning your journey, I know it can seem like there is so much to learn, and you may wonder if you are making progress. One day in the near future, you will look back and be amazed at the progress you have made. Remember, through gradual familiarization, great aims can be easily achieved. May you continue to have the courage to look unflinchingly at the present moment, use it to benefit others, and then let it go.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A Good Day
Today has been a really great day. Everything seems to be going my way. The traffic lights are green.
People are happy with my work. My heart is light and joyful. This kind of day doesn't happen to me often.
But as I was fixing a snack for myself just now, I realized that my practice is not just for those days when I have yucky emotions that I'd like to get rid of. My practice is also for these days. When I'm feeling joyful, I can give my joy to others with a love and letting go practice. So I did three reps of the following:
Chenrezig
Give all Joy
Chenrezig
Letting go
It was amazing, but just taking a few seconds to do that practice made me feel like my heart was going to pop out of my chest. It made me even happier than I already was.
May you have a joyous and happy day today as well.
But as I was fixing a snack for myself just now, I realized that my practice is not just for those days when I have yucky emotions that I'd like to get rid of. My practice is also for these days. When I'm feeling joyful, I can give my joy to others with a love and letting go practice. So I did three reps of the following:
Chenrezig
Give all Joy
Chenrezig
Letting go
It was amazing, but just taking a few seconds to do that practice made me feel like my heart was going to pop out of my chest. It made me even happier than I already was.
May you have a joyous and happy day today as well.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Patience
Ok, so I'm not the most patient person in the world. It's one of those things I need to practice. But today I had a good experience.
Today I dropped off my car at the auto body shop to be repaired. After the consultation, they called the rental car company to come pick me up so I could get a rental car. I sat down and started to read a little book I keep in my purse called, "Teachings of the Buddha," by Jack Kornfield. It's a collection of little excerpts on Buddhist teachings. I earmarked the following:
Live in Joy,
In Love,
Even among those who hate
Live in joy,
In health,
Even among the afflicted
Live in joy,
In peace,
Even among the troubled.
Look within.
Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of the way.
So I was reading along, sometimes really struck by a passage I had just read. I occassionally glanced at my watch and noticed that another 10 minutes had past. At one point, the man who had called the rental company for me walked by and saw that I was still waiting.
"You're still here?" he said in amazement. "It's been more than 30 minutes! I'm going to call them again." I noticed that I was still calm and happy. In most situations, I would have been fuming by this time, having angry thoughts about why people can't do their jobs correctly, or how my time was being wasted. So, I was happy that I wasn't feeling that way. The rental car guy showed up a few minutes after that.
Then, while waiting for another 30 minutes or so at the rental car place for them to find me a car (still feeling pretty happy and relaxed and grateful for being in such a state), I sat next to an older woman with a cane and a stuffed animal, who appeared to be distraught. The man behind the counter asked how she was doing. "Oh, I'm just really upset with myself," she said as she looked for a Kleenex in her bag. Her hand was shaking. She started talking outloud in my general direction, as if to explain herself.
"They tried to give me a car, but when I got in the driver's seat, I just couldn't do it. I'm just scared to drive a different car that's not mine. I've never been afraid to drive before... I drive myself everywhere."
"Oh, I don't blame you," I said. "I know how that feels." She then told me how she was going to have to ask her neighbor to come get her, but that she didn't want to do that because she hated to inconvenience him. I saw her eyes start to water again. I tried to think of something to say that would help. "You know, I always hate to ask for favors, too. But then I try to remember that people probably don't mind helping. I know if someone asked me to do them a favor, I wouldn't mind. And you probably wouldn't mind if he asked you. So, he probably would be happy to help you." That's all I could think of.
So then I just sat quietly next to her and practiced with compassion and letting go.
Take all fear
Chenrezig
Chenrezig
Letting go
I did this for about 5 minutes until the man indicated my car was ready. I felt really in tune with her, and I felt like she was starting to calm down a bit and relax. I hope this helped her. It certainly made me feel grateful for that opportunity. I was also grateful that I hadn't been in an angry, inpatient grump. If I had been, I would have missed this opportunity to be of service to this sweet woman who needed a little bit of compassion.
Today I dropped off my car at the auto body shop to be repaired. After the consultation, they called the rental car company to come pick me up so I could get a rental car. I sat down and started to read a little book I keep in my purse called, "Teachings of the Buddha," by Jack Kornfield. It's a collection of little excerpts on Buddhist teachings. I earmarked the following:
Live in Joy,
In Love,
Even among those who hate
Live in joy,
In health,
Even among the afflicted
Live in joy,
In peace,
Even among the troubled.
Look within.
Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of the way.
So I was reading along, sometimes really struck by a passage I had just read. I occassionally glanced at my watch and noticed that another 10 minutes had past. At one point, the man who had called the rental company for me walked by and saw that I was still waiting.
"You're still here?" he said in amazement. "It's been more than 30 minutes! I'm going to call them again." I noticed that I was still calm and happy. In most situations, I would have been fuming by this time, having angry thoughts about why people can't do their jobs correctly, or how my time was being wasted. So, I was happy that I wasn't feeling that way. The rental car guy showed up a few minutes after that.
Then, while waiting for another 30 minutes or so at the rental car place for them to find me a car (still feeling pretty happy and relaxed and grateful for being in such a state), I sat next to an older woman with a cane and a stuffed animal, who appeared to be distraught. The man behind the counter asked how she was doing. "Oh, I'm just really upset with myself," she said as she looked for a Kleenex in her bag. Her hand was shaking. She started talking outloud in my general direction, as if to explain herself.
"They tried to give me a car, but when I got in the driver's seat, I just couldn't do it. I'm just scared to drive a different car that's not mine. I've never been afraid to drive before... I drive myself everywhere."
"Oh, I don't blame you," I said. "I know how that feels." She then told me how she was going to have to ask her neighbor to come get her, but that she didn't want to do that because she hated to inconvenience him. I saw her eyes start to water again. I tried to think of something to say that would help. "You know, I always hate to ask for favors, too. But then I try to remember that people probably don't mind helping. I know if someone asked me to do them a favor, I wouldn't mind. And you probably wouldn't mind if he asked you. So, he probably would be happy to help you." That's all I could think of.
So then I just sat quietly next to her and practiced with compassion and letting go.
Take all fear
Chenrezig
Chenrezig
Letting go
I did this for about 5 minutes until the man indicated my car was ready. I felt really in tune with her, and I felt like she was starting to calm down a bit and relax. I hope this helped her. It certainly made me feel grateful for that opportunity. I was also grateful that I hadn't been in an angry, inpatient grump. If I had been, I would have missed this opportunity to be of service to this sweet woman who needed a little bit of compassion.
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