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Life Design Ezine>
CULTIVATING CALM AMIDST THE STORM
October 1, 2008
When I cannot help but catch the scarcity tension in the
air born of real events like the worst market crash since
1929, the most constitutionally abhorrent form of
leadership since I don't know when, the denial of death in
the form of global eco-irresponsibility, and the grossest
form of greed that now expects to be bailed out (this is
something for which I've been guilty, by the way, "So
sorry, Dad"), I try to practice what I call, The Four A's:
Awakeness, Awareness, Acceptance and Acting skillfully
(these are attitudes to which I aspire--something I do
totally imperfectly).
What helps a great deal is the guidance of Pema Chodron,
author of Start Where You Are and The Wisdom of No Escape.
Chodron is a Tibetan Buddhist who is also an Abbess at
Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia and her titles' say exactly what
she means. Though she's a rigorously-trained Buddhist
practitioner and teacher, she offers the rest of us
(non-Buddhists) a very basic philosophy that claims, "the
emotions you resist persist."
But the good news is that there's a practice one can begin
that fosters working with what arises without shellacking
it. The method is called Tonglen or what some Tibetan
Buddhist's call Lojong ("taking and sending"). How you
cultivate this practice amidst the storms in you and all
around you goes like this: breathe in the fear and release
"not fighting fear."
Breathe in the fact that we're all feeling fear; and, while
breathing out, send the wish to self and others (including
our perceived enemies) a message that may go something like
this: "May we all find a peace and water the roots of peace
in our hearts and mind."
Again, not fighting my feelings, not denying the emptiness
or hopelessness of the perceived state of the world or
denying the "vibes"of what feels like MY current experience
in this cultural context. I know that what I'm experiencing
feels real but, this pinched reality of greed, ignorance,
and aggression, like all reality in the cycle of living and
dying, will not last.
I'm sure our friend some of my readers may think this is
gobbly gook and others may believe this cultural moment is
God's way of humbling us. Maybe that's how it is for
her/him. I find life includes me but is not all about me,
it's not happening TO me but FOR us to be with in a
skillful way.
That skillful way might include an attitude that arises
quite naturally when we're with a friend/stranger in
hospice.
We wouldn't pretend "it's all groovy," "let's focus on the
positive," nor would we say, "you're totally screwed, my
friend!" we might just BE with our friend, hold his/her
hand, wish her/him well and, if we had to speak at all,
perhaps say, "I'm here with you, wide awake and aware, not
denying anything that comes up in me or in you
[acceptance]. Let's work with IT [action] until there's no
IT to work with." Again, this Four A's approach need not
be the way but may simply be a way to practice living with
what some people call mindfulness.
NOTE; Don't hesitate to checkout the PUBLICATIONS PAGE on
this website for my book, LOVING LIFE AS IT IS. It's full
of meditation techniques to work with whatever arises in
your life (bringing calm to your particular storms).
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