Reflections On What Is Asked Of Us In These Times

"When we hold on to our opinions with aggression, no matter how valid our cause, we are simply adding more aggression to the planet, and violence and pain increase. Cultivating nonaggression is cultivating peace."   

― Pema Chödrön

These are times that, I believe, ask of each and every one of us to deepen in our spiritual practices. How else are we to resist the pull to become part of that which we know causes harm? 

 

It is so difficult to not turn our outrage and deep pain for the relentless assaults and atrocities directed at other humans, at other living beings, at other nations, and at our Earth Mother into unskillful reactions that add more injury to injury. Yet, in the larger picture, this is what is asked of us, to meet all the darkness ― the hatred and heartlessness, the ignorance and illusions, the prejudices and projections, the rage and racism, the judgments and self-loathing inflicted upon others, the fears and greed and righteousness and violence ― to meed all this with our conscious, wiser, stronger, more courageous and fiercely compassionate selves. 

We are given these painful and powerful opportunities, not just to suffer and endure, but to use these tears we cry and the anger and anguish in our hearts and these exact painful moments to become yet even more clear and mindful of our intentions to transform our pain and suffering, the pain and suffering of the victims of this violence, and even the suffering of the perpetrators, into Love, Truth, Humility, Honesty, Wisdom, Respect, and Bravery.

May we remember that this is what is asked of us.

Believe me, I am writing these words not just to whoever may stumble across this post, but very much for myself, too...

And don't we all need these reminders? Don't we all have places inside ourselves related to balance and grounding that need reminders and reinforcement? When a new attack on life itself emerges, don't we need to remember that there is more than this, this tragedy of the suffering that is perpetrated onto others by those who are so deeply asleep? Don't we need to support one another in remembrance of the value of mindfulness of what we feed ourselves and that there is also much beauty and bravery and compassion and kindness in the world, too? And within our own hearts? Let's feed that... all that helps our hearts to grow stronger and stronger and stronger.

"The more we love, the more real we become." ― Stephen Levine

Does this mean that we turn away from the suffering in ourselves and our world while pretending that everything is just all peace and love and unfolding "for the highest good?" NO. Not at all. What does make all the difference, I have learned, is how we choose to respond to what is happening. It is so important to be aware of our attitudes, our judgments, our pull to split off into an us versus an Other, and act in ways which harder and weaken our hearts, minds, spirits, and souls rather than strengthen that which is most needed. This is where I believe we can help each remember that there is another way. We can very consciously commit to being part of the Great Awakening that is also emerging through all these crazy times. We can tend to our own individual and to our collective awakening.

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Sometimes I open one of the many books that I have that hold treasured spiritual teachings with a small prayer that the page I open to will be exactly what is most needed in this moment. And just as I was seeing the beautiful painting above from a post by my ceremony sister Connie Sharman, I also opened one of Jack Kornfield's books to this:

Compassion Meditation 

The human heart has the extraordinary capacity to hold and transform the sorrows of life into a great stream of compassion. Compassion is the movement of concern and kindness in response to the difficulty of any living being. Compassion arises when you allow your heart to be touched by the pain and need of another.

To cultivate compassion, let yourself sit still in a centered and quiet way. Breathe softly and feel our body, your heartbeat, the life within you. Feel how you treasure your own life how you guard yourself in the face of your sorrows. After some time, bring to mind someone close to you whom you dearly love. Picture them and feel your caring for them. Notice how you can hold them in your heart. Then let yourself be aware of their sorrows, their measure of suffering in life. Feel how your heart opens naturally, moving toward them to wish them well, to extend comfort, to share in their pain and meet it with compassion.

This is the natural response of the heart. Along with this response, begin to wish them well, reciting the phrases, May you be free from pain and sorrow, may you be at peace, while holding them in your heart of compassion.

After you learn to feel your deep caring for this person close to you, turn your compassionate heart toward yourself. For a time recite the phrases, May I be free of pain and sorrow, may I be at peace. Then, one person at a time, extend your compassion to others you know. Picture your loved ones, one at a time. Hold the image of each in your heart and be aware of their difficulties and wish them well. May you be free of pain and sorrow, may you be at peace. After this you can gradually open your compassion further, to neighbors, and all those who live far away, and finally to the brotherhood and sisterhood of all beings.

Let yourself feel how the beauty of every being brings you joy and how the suffering of any being makes you weep. Feel your tenderhearted connection with all life and its creatures, how it moves with their sorrows and holds them in compassion. 

Now let your heart become a transformer for the sorrows of the world. Feel your breath in the area of your heart, as if you could breathe gently in and out of your heart. Feel the kindness of your heart and envision that with each breath you can touch the pain of others and breathe out compassion. With each out-breath wish all living beings well, extend your caring and merciful heart to them. After some time, sit quietly and let our breath and heart rest naturally as a center of compassion in the midst of the world.

― Jack Kornfield

From Buddha's Little Instruction Book

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This is but one among countless practices that can help both soften and strengthen our hearts, something so vital... and especially in these times when a lack of kindness, consciousness, courage, and caring is all too prevalent. May we each find what is most needed to ground ourselves in compassion, wisdom, and all that adds to the peace within ourselves and this beautiful Earth we share. May we remember that the ripples we create matter deeply and choose wisely what it is that we bring to our hearts and the Heart of the world.

With compassion and blessings for us all ― Molly

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