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"If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation."
~J. Krishnamurti
~J. Krishnamurti
Mar. 28th, 2007
So lately I've been listening to my Pema Chodron CD and working with some of my stuff: anger, laziness, procrastination---all those shenpas.
I love the way Buddhist classes in the Shambhala tradition can combine exploration of human foibles with laughter. I sit in my car and laugh and laugh as I ruefully recognize the lived experience we all grapple with every day.
It's the personification of gentle, compassionate clear seeing: what Buddhists call "prajna", or that moment when you see yourself exactly as you are, but you don't hate what you see---you just feel compassion for yourself. Like me in my car, you can take the opportunity to laugh at yourself, shaking your head at the absurdness of it all.
Buddhism has never struck me as a religion, in the sense that Westerners think of 'religion'. It seems to me to be set of spiritual technologies based on crystal-clear observation of the human mind/heart/body, plus a toolkit to work with the reality you uncover---a very practical magic.
I enjoy the way that maintaining a sense of humor figures high on the list of tools.
What I'm loving about this CD right now: Buddhists have alot of language that can describe Blue Star's Neophyte and Second Degree work. Their language allows me to articulate my understanding of what is happening during these tumultuous periods of transformation and growth with much greater precision than usual. Listening to this CD, I've pulled out some new ways of explaining to my students exactly what I am looking for in their Neophyte work.
I think my next Blue Star class will be a presentation of this discovery: using Buddhist language to answer the following questions, as my Neophytes and Second Degrees might ask them:
What are you *really* looking for?
When will I be ready for elevation?
What am I supposed to be doing right now, anyway?
What are teachers actually for, and what am I supposed to be working towards myself, as a future teacher?
Damn, I'm tempted to do a Blue Star-only (mostly?) FSG workshop on this topic.
Uh oh--stop it! Stop it, Sabrina! Get a grip on yourself, woman! You will not put yourself on the FSG workshop grid this year!
I love the way Buddhist classes in the Shambhala tradition can combine exploration of human foibles with laughter. I sit in my car and laugh and laugh as I ruefully recognize the lived experience we all grapple with every day.
It's the personification of gentle, compassionate clear seeing: what Buddhists call "prajna", or that moment when you see yourself exactly as you are, but you don't hate what you see---you just feel compassion for yourself. Like me in my car, you can take the opportunity to laugh at yourself, shaking your head at the absurdness of it all.
Buddhism has never struck me as a religion, in the sense that Westerners think of 'religion'. It seems to me to be set of spiritual technologies based on crystal-clear observation of the human mind/heart/body, plus a toolkit to work with the reality you uncover---a very practical magic.
I enjoy the way that maintaining a sense of humor figures high on the list of tools.
What I'm loving about this CD right now: Buddhists have alot of language that can describe Blue Star's Neophyte and Second Degree work. Their language allows me to articulate my understanding of what is happening during these tumultuous periods of transformation and growth with much greater precision than usual. Listening to this CD, I've pulled out some new ways of explaining to my students exactly what I am looking for in their Neophyte work.
I think my next Blue Star class will be a presentation of this discovery: using Buddhist language to answer the following questions, as my Neophytes and Second Degrees might ask them:
What are you *really* looking for?
When will I be ready for elevation?
What am I supposed to be doing right now, anyway?
What are teachers actually for, and what am I supposed to be working towards myself, as a future teacher?
Damn, I'm tempted to do a Blue Star-only (mostly?) FSG workshop on this topic.
Uh oh--stop it! Stop it, Sabrina! Get a grip on yourself, woman! You will not put yourself on the FSG workshop grid this year!
Happy Late Birthday, citabria!
Mar. 28th, 2007 09:15 amHappy birthday, honey! I see that yesterday was the official day to celebrate your addition to this world. That was a good day, girl. I will happy dance today, in belated celebration of your loveliness and the good things you bring to us and the planet.