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the Sundays  after a Gathering at the Well….everything is always So Clear,  so clearly clear and then slowly, over days  it gets a little lost and i have to find it again….seems to be a process that's recurring .  This morning:

i drew this a few days ago.     didn't have any idea why,  what exactly i was drawing?  but i remembered Shambhala.

"the inherent wisdom, compassion, and courage of all beings and even in our human society~our fundamental nature"      even Google knows

Late last night,  the phone with Kay,  Kay Gould Caskey,  me  lamenting  how all my life  i'd thought there were  so many possible Ways to uhhh,  "believe"  in,  true Ways,   knowing they were all really the Same,  feeling like i could choose which Path  to "learn Into",  but that now,  with how things are,  how things seem to be going,  how things are "turning out" in the world….the seeming rise in the thirst for war,  the rise in the thirst for division and hate in the   "political, sociological" landscape in this country….i feel like all those rugs have been pulled from beneath my feet…  BUT …..somehow…..there remains       some insistent belief that somehow….there IS     A     truth,  that it IS       offered             from ……The Unknowable Brilliant Mind of The Universe….it remains…it remains

 

and as i am saying these things to her there came this,  somewhere from nowhere, like a direct transmission:        "It is important that you remain steadfast to Me"         The Universe said.        and I said….wait,   wait,   i need to write that down and i did

 

 

and in first light of This day,  i looked to my left and there it was…this drawing….and i thought…      it's the ticket.  my ticket  !  and i remembered Gelek Rinpoche of Jewel Heart Temple,  Ann Arbor Michigan ,  the 70's?  early 80's?     saying:

"Practice like your hair's on fire."

and so.

i come away from this time at the Well

The Universe said:            "it is important that you remain steadfast to Me"         and

All the Teachings say,        in their own way,

Practice like your hair's on  fire

Ok.        i am ready.

journal entry

 

 

 

 

  

 

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10 responses to “the Sundays after”

  1. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    I think I understand what you’re saying.
    But, all I am thinking:
    Reuben, Reuben, I’ve been thinking
    what a grand world this would be,
    If the boys were all transported
    Farr beyond the northern sea.
    I used to think that women and mothers were here on earth
    To civilize children and men. I have new books to teach how
    This is changing.. I have so much to learn at this late time in my life.
    I have many great books. I don’t wish to die clueless!
    I want, so much, for humans to evolve.

    Like

  2. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    What happens when practice as if your hair is on fire meets radical acceptance?
    The first, to me, implies that we take action, that we use what we know, what is in our gut, heart, mind, the fire in our belly, to move beyond acceptance to try to affect change. BUT how do we maintain any semblance of balance or what I call personal stability when: hatred is rampant in this world; when our planet is suffering from so much devastation; when humanity seems to have lost its way’ when in this country, the undermining of democracy continues albeit a brief spark of hope re abortion When the mantra of the 60’s, let’s love one another for we are brothers and sisters, is trampled to the ground. At the age o 76, I am becoming so very aware that time is finite, that it will take more than my lifetime to balance all of this so do I radically accept that whatever fire is in our hair, in our belly, more than likely has turned to ashes?
    These are hard thoughts, painful thoughts. I have always believed that it takes the ordinary small acts of extending a helping hand, giving kindness, having a willingness to listen to the other side or at least try to do so, that the totality of many, many of these small, ordinary actions, lead the way to change for even in ashes, an ember resides…
    As I’ve been writing this, lyrics from a song, “Get Together” by The Youngbloods has been playing in my head:
    “Love is but a song to sing
    Fear’s the way we die
    You can make the mountains ring
    Or make the angels cry
    Though the bird is on the wing
    And you may not know why
    Come on people now
    Smile on your brother
    Everybody get together
    Try to love one another
    Right now”
    So I keep on hoping, keep on blowing like a small wind, to bring that ember to life.The only radical acceptance here is that I accept that we must not give up.

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  3. Yvette Avatar

    Yes Grace, stay standvast with me….
    It’s according to me, if I understand well, about balance.
    The light could not exist without the dark
    I was totally sucked in the Gaza war seeing things that stayed on before my sight.
    I couldn’t stop crying but being in the dark….does it help anybody?
    I’m busy finding my own task in life
    I must continue on this road
    Trust the universe
    Choose love

    Like

  4. Tina Avatar
    Tina

    The Gathering .. I hated to miss it! I’m always left with a feeling of goodness and hope that although the weight of all the things you listed are so so truthfully awful we can find trust in each other .. believing that together we got this. Every generation has had to face uncertainties .. believing and working towards a better future for the next generation .. generations to come will be doing the same. Gosh I guess I just want to keep believing. .. to not loose faith. Yes Yvette said it even better .. Trust!!!

    Like

  5. CatherinE Avatar

    I was kind of handed a belief system (Tibetan Buddhism) because of where we moved to. I had some previous exposure to it, so it seemed like a real benefit to find the center here. A lot of learning for me, but a lot of resistance too. I go forward and then back away. Over and over. I guess that’s the nature of a path. It really hurt to watch the news this morning about Gaza, but I have to bear witness.

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  6. grace Forrest Avatar

    learning is such a Beauty Full thing
    how stuff Blossoms out

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  7. grace Forrest Avatar

    remain steadfast
    No te Rindas

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  8. grace Forrest Avatar

    continue of the Road.
    Choose love.
    this is the Work

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  9. grace Forrest Avatar

    our Hearts beat together

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  10. grace Forrest Avatar

    yes. bear witness, do not turn away
    this matters
    i am looking at my own patterns about my buddhism…always, i
    know it is the Truth
    and always my Practice is so lacking
    am looking closely at that right now

    Like

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