Photo: Lyla and Wildman have a love-inSo, since this is a very spiritual day (yes - it is ;) I thought I would write about my spiritual path. Jesus and the Buddha actually had a lot in common, so, I’m sure Jesus wouldn’t have a problem with me talking about my meditation practice on his birthday.
I was very fortunate in 1987 to meet my cousin, Gerald, who very eloquently told me about his practice of meditation. Meditation, by the way, is actually a very ‘down to earth’ way to work with the mind and all of it’s goings on. Nothing woo-woo about it. Anyway, I immediately connected to what Gerald was saying. I had been searching for my vocation in life, and hearing what he was saying was like coming home to me – a very immediate knowing that this was my path.
My meditation practice has given me the ability to profoundly take charge of my life through learning to watch my heart and mind. Paradoxically, this has been through seeing how everything is, essentially, pretty much out of our control. Yes – certain things seem absolutely within our ability to control, and it’s our responsibility to use skillful judgement in all areas of our life. The things we don’t have much say over are death, other people and their behaviours, and regardless of how healthily and carefully we live, the inevitability of eventual aging, illnesses, accidents, etc. etc.
When these life events do occur our job is to control our minds/hearts. Regardless of circumstances, this is the area where we can have a powerful impact if we have trained our minds. And this is where my practice of meditation really works. Whatever life delivers up to us, if we can remain fully present with the experience, bringing forth love, kindness, wisdom and compassion, we can free our hearts from suffering, using the many tools of inner and outer wisdom to guide and support us.
This is my quest for happiness - a heart that remains open, even when the vicissitudes of life are swirling around us. And ultimately to completely free the heart from fear, anger, greed and ignorance.
If you would like to learn more about this practice try these links:
www.dharma.org
www.abhayagiri.org
www.dhamma.org
Attending to the predicament of our human condition takes patience and resilience. Cultivating the heart/mind to get to a place of balance and equanimity takes time and perseverance. Laughter, tears, sadness and joy - they are all part of our path.
Climbing the Mountain. One step at a time. One breath at a time. One moment at a time.
May we all dwell in the freedom and clarity of a peaceful heart.
