suffering

Beauty Blooms with Practice

January 14, 2011

“For only in space can beauty bloom.”  Anne Morrow Lindbergh I’ve been playing around with this whole notion of creating space these last couple of years.  I do this in large part by simply witnessing whatever arises.  Witnessing is quite different from identifying with what arises.  It is the identification with what arises that causes [...]

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The Art of Acceptance

December 27, 2010

“Ultimately, happiness comes down to choosing between the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions and the discomfort of being ruled by them.”  Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche My partner and I took off a few days before Christmas for vacation.  I got sick on the very first day.  I was sick over Christmas, and I’m [...]

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White Knuckle Grip

December 7, 2010

I’m thinking of my Dad this morning.  He turns 85 on Friday.   He’s been talking about this birthday ever since he was 80.  For reasons I don’t understand, his 85th birthday is particularly important to him.  It will be especially sweet to celebrate with him after all he’s been through with the cancer.  I don’t [...]

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Resisting Now

December 2, 2010

I can’t seem to open myself to the flow this morning. Resistance.  I don’t want to put pen to paper.  The pain and discomfort in my body distract me.  I want to squirm away from it. How can I bring presence to this discomfort?  It is, after all, what is here now.  What if I [...]

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Give Sorrow Words

November 5, 2010

“Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart, and bids it break.”  William Shakespeare I went to the chiropractor today.  While waiting for the Doctor, I began to meditate—focusing on my breath and letting go of thoughts.  As I breathed into my heart space, I noticed sensations of sadness.  Then [...]

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Accepting What Is

November 4, 2010

“When you live in complete acceptance of what is, that is the end of all drama in your life.”  Eckhart Tolle I doubt the osprey is thrilled to have a plane roaring overhead as she hunts for breakfast at dawn.  Can you imagine her flying towards the plane and fussing at it for coming so [...]

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This Present Moment

September 3, 2010

Two o’clock in the morning.  Up doing yoga in an attempt to open up my screaming lower back and hips.  What is it about being at Daddy’s that makes sleep so elusive?  Can the new bed really be this uncomfortable?  Is it how hot he keeps the house?  Is it that I am hypervigilant—listening out [...]

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Liberated from Drama

August 25, 2010

“To see your drama clearly is to be liberated from it.” Ken Keyes Jr. When I look back on the drama in my life, it looks different from when I was consumed by it.  I can see how I contributed to most of it, at least since I’ve been an adult.  As a child, I [...]

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Attachement + Control = Suffering

July 16, 2010

I could’ve kept sleeping this morning.  I’m so tired.  My body aches.  It was difficult going to sleep…again.  I don’t know how to ascend this weariness.  Sometimes I get frightened about being tired.  I get frightened because I have had issues of chronic pain for years, though I am much better.  Sleep is a fundamental [...]

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The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

June 9, 2010

The problem with steeling myself to the pain in the world, like the gulf oil spill or a difficult relationship, is that I then steel myself to the beauty in life.  I simply can’t steel myself in one area and not be affected in all other areas…not really.  Sure, I get to have boundaries, like [...]

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