Thank you for sharing this with us. Your struggle gives me much hope. It’s just what I needed to read today. The longer I practice (buddhism), the more I connect the things I’ve learned from my teacher and from reading, to things I learned from being a member of a Congregational church for 25 years and attending Al-Anon for 2+ years. Having faith in our buddha nature is like Jesus explaining the concept of “faith as small as a mustard seed”. Al Anon taught me one day at a time; let go and let (God); the serenity prayer; acceptance, not apathy; and the danger of holding expectations whether it’s of ourselves or others. When I sit on my mat with loving kindness meditation, I silently begin with a chant: “may I be filled with loving kindness, may I be safe, may I be strong, may I be at peace.” I then extend it to others I love and care about. but I’m still struggling to extend it to those that either don’t care about humanity at all, or actively wish us ill will.
I love your writing and benefitted from this honest accounting of how difficult it is to be with “what is” especially today, especially as a woman, worried about losing health care that saved my life, worried about the natural world which also saves my life everyday. Thank you for sharing your path and being a light.
Thank you so much, Lydia! I'm glad to know that my writing about my own inner experience is helpful. It can feel a bit self-indulgent at times, but I know that we are all trying to figure this out!
Thank you for sharing this with us. Your struggle gives me much hope. It’s just what I needed to read today. The longer I practice (buddhism), the more I connect the things I’ve learned from my teacher and from reading, to things I learned from being a member of a Congregational church for 25 years and attending Al-Anon for 2+ years. Having faith in our buddha nature is like Jesus explaining the concept of “faith as small as a mustard seed”. Al Anon taught me one day at a time; let go and let (God); the serenity prayer; acceptance, not apathy; and the danger of holding expectations whether it’s of ourselves or others. When I sit on my mat with loving kindness meditation, I silently begin with a chant: “may I be filled with loving kindness, may I be safe, may I be strong, may I be at peace.” I then extend it to others I love and care about. but I’m still struggling to extend it to those that either don’t care about humanity at all, or actively wish us ill will.
Thanks for reminding me about LK meditation. And yeah, that is a challenge right now but a v. good practice!
Thank you, Sara. You so eloquently put to to words all the angst I’m feeling and trying to not feel. 🙏🏼
Thank you for telling me that, Joyce! Your yoga classes are definitely helping me clear off the mud!
I love your writing and benefitted from this honest accounting of how difficult it is to be with “what is” especially today, especially as a woman, worried about losing health care that saved my life, worried about the natural world which also saves my life everyday. Thank you for sharing your path and being a light.
Thank you so much, Lydia! I'm glad to know that my writing about my own inner experience is helpful. It can feel a bit self-indulgent at times, but I know that we are all trying to figure this out!