it’s not what we want. or not want. that keeps us from being.
the wanting itself creates the tension.
when wanting falls away. we rest on the ground of what is.
the inner nature of things
„the knowing through experience is much more profound than the intellectual unterstanding.
allow the understanding to come from experience, it’s the experience that touches us in deep places, it’s that being touched that brings about transformation.
being touched very deeply allows the letting go.“
from a talk of norman feldman.
most intimate.
Sitting quietly,
one minute, one hour, no matter,
finding the quiet within
I find myself again and again.
Finding myself, I offer the quiet light
to those on the street, in the office,
all around me.
To the lost and suffering beings, to the bewildered
and questioning,
even to the bare tree with its leafless
branches filled with chirping sparrows.
From „Most intimate“ / Roshi Pat Enkyo O‘Hara
how we support each other
we hold space for each other in many different and often unexpected ways.
over distance, in silence,
beyond the obvious,
beyond time and space.
a dream, a memory, a piece of art.
a word, a glance, a touch.
any other appearance.
mutually.
sangha.
sometimes sangha is the people that sit with you on retreat. sometimes it’s the people you share a ride on public transport with. or the people that help out in the neighbourhood. the ones you carry in your heart is sangha. and the ones you don‘t want to let in. sometimes wild animal in front of the window is sangha. wherever you are. there is sangha.
from a place of ressources.
sometimes I feel there is a gap between what is offered as practice and life. words like „practice gratitude“ are too distant from a place of deficiency.
but we can always turn to something, that‘s already there. the breath. that vital body. the cycle of seasons in the trees. still there.
before the conceptual mind snaps in. a felt sense in the body before language. what a relief.
„The Self and things of the world are just as they are. The gate of freedom is open.“ – Dogen
life happens NOW.
there is no ‚after’ this present moment and no ‚before‘. what you perceive as ‚now‘ has already been there, and what will be roots in ‚what is‘. your awareness shines a light on a hidden timeline. do you see?
accordingly, don’t practice as if there would be a ‚later’. there is none.
the closer you get. the more intimate you become with something. the less personal it is.
Michael Stone
practice.
„What is your practice?“ Yun Men was asked by a student. „An appropriate response.“ He replied.
lilayoga monika scherer. 