Today the Universe planted a seed of thought in my mind "Accept the things you cannot change, relinquish the need for control" I'm not sure where it came from, it just popped into my head and made itself at home for the rest of the day. I listened, i let go, i felt calm. Cool. I dont really have a specific plant in mind for this post. Rather, i want to celebrate nature exactly as it is, rain and all. You see, I have a rain face- it just happens whenever it rains...I don't exactly love it when the clouds pour their sorrows on us, i don't love it at all actually. Todays lesson though was about accepting things exactly as they are; the outcome is a resounding feeling of tranquility. To match this rainy old day, i decided to use some rain speckled foliage to frame this post. To test that I had definitely understood this lesson, tonight i embarked on quite possibly the wettest run of my life. It was pouring. I didn't even consider not going though; the weather will do what it wants and so should I. I couldn't change the rain but i could change how i thought about it. I have done a few Vipassana meditation retreats over the years, the experience is always interesting and enlightening, though if i'm honest i struggle to make the time for meditation outside of retreats. However, one of the principal Buddhist teachings that I will always remember is that of non judgement; mostly spoken of in relation to our thoughts and labelling them as good or bad. They are niether, they are just thoughts so let them come and be as they are. The trick is not to react to them in harmful ways e.g remembering something stupid you did and feeling ashamed of yourself. Let the thought enter your mind and then let it leave; if you dont react then the thoughts can no longer hurt you. A friendly Sri Lankan monk told me simply "Make friend with your thoughts" Its good advice. Thoughts are a choice, even though they dont always seem it, they are. Choose to see the light . Rain is neither good nor bad, its just rain. As i ran and voluntarily exposed myself to the raging elements, my mind couldn't help but wander to those people who dont have a warm house to seek shelter in. The homeless, the refugees that are currently displaced all over Europe and the millions of others without a safe home. My heart breaks for them all and if i could take away their suffering, i'd do it in a second. I cant though so i simply sent loving thoughts to them and asked the Universe to show me a way that i can help. The alternative is that i get so upset about all the suffering and retreat back into my eating disorder thus adding myself to the already staggering amount of sufferers on the Earth. No need or point in that. Geez, i don't recognise myself these days! A good friend of mine sent me an email recently commenting on what he referred to as my positive negativism or negative optimism. He couldn't decide which he preferred. I thought that was a brilliant description of my attitude. These days, I think i can be more positive optimism, especially today. As i splashed through mini oceans (puddles) all i could think was -"great, my trainers really needed a good clean". They are spotless now. Thanks.
The rain and wind in my face would normally reduce me almost to tears but tonight i just smiled and pushed on. Stopping just stalls the progress and prolongs the suffering. Better to carry on even if its slowly, simply keep moving. The rain will do its thing, so just do your too.I think that's what its like to feel at peace- a storm can rage around you but you are a pillar of calm and tranquility in the midst of it all. Not that i usually am, but tonight i was. My guardian angels are probably celebrating and thinking- "About bloody time! We've only been telling you to calm the heck down for years!" Yeah well, i got there in the end. Even as i wrung the water from my socks and gloves, i was glad that i met nature head on and we ran together on this dark November night. The rain and i danced separately to the same beat, a silent understanding synchronising our movements as we bowed to the Earth.
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LittlebirdJenna. Free spirit, flower enthusiast, seeker of truths. Archives
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