ritual

the rituals that are the symbols used to live my traditions have changed so much over the 65 years of my life. 

reflection reminds me of the deep gratitude i have for my parents and others who showed and still show me what matters. and that they were able to see, as my rituals changed, that the traditions were still strong in me.

what matters deeply to you?

what rituals do you use as daily reminders of these things?

as joseph campbell said, “the divine manifestation is ubiquitous, only our eyes are not open to it. the symbol opens our eyes.”

where do your eyes see the “divine”? it is each of us.  are our eyes open to see it within ourselves, our neighbors, and even our enemies?

my rituals of late include metta (lovingkindness) meditation.  may he be happy.  may she be healthy. may their life be easeful.  calling this forth opens my eyes to our commonalities, that we are not separate. and i see, sometimes, what shines within and without. 

“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”  — rumi

(thank you to peg mulqueen of  ashtanga dispatch for launching these thoughts today.  ashtangadispatch.com)

poem from 4/3, on 5/4

Poem from 4/3, on 5/4

I want to sit long enough to be grounded in eternity

 and then get up off my pillow to move through the field of time joyfully and with purpose.

nam myoho renge kyo within recognizing nam myoho renge kyo without

these are times for wisdom voices speaking

these are times for wisdom ears hearing

these are times for bravely breathing out - delight!

these are times for bravely breathing in - suffering!

without clinging

without fear

open eyes

soft heart

open ears

soft heart

invite all the people

the loving ones

the scary ones

the greedy ones

the joyful ones

or twos or threes or more

coming and going

suffering and delighting

open hands

soft heart

open heart

soft hands

open

soft

open

soft

open

soft

FIERCE/GENTLE

FIERCE      GENTLE

GENTLE       FIERCE

How fiercely I want to be gentle.
Insistent on my softness.

You told me I am fierce.
I took it as compliment.
Several lifetimes later I reflect.

You suggested I be soft.
Open.
Not insistent.
Gentle.

Now I fiercely seek my gentle.
Gently I accept my fierce.

GENTLE       FIERCE
FIERCE        GENTLE

"My life has taught me to be more curious than afraid."

"My life has taught me to be more curious than afraid."  I read this quote somewhere.  It is reported to have been said by Ishi, who had been  plucked from a simple life in the jungle and introduced to life in an urban setting, far from his home both in distance and ways.  I want to be more curious, and to use this pause in "normal" life to develop new ways of seeing and being.

I have recently changed my practice.  As I move into new ways of practice, the old ways still inspire me.  And as I open my heart to new ways to see and participate in the radiance that underlies everything, and that is found within each one of us, I want to continue to find ways to express what began for me as "spanda" (the essential vibration), moved into "nam myoho renge kyo" (a chant expressing resonance with what is) and which I am currently experiencing as radiance.  On my altar now I have placed a wonderful print that is a made of many leaves.  One is overlaid with copper. It shines out, reminding me of the radiance I am learning to see and celebrate everywhere.

Asked to share something that makes me smile as we move through this time of change and distance from each other, I thought of how happy I feel when Scott smiles as he begins to learn to play guitar.  I thought about what dream I can pursue with the extra time we have at home.  And I remembered my blog, and my dream to write things that might inspire others and myself to look at things with a new perspective.  So, I begin again.  Building on what is already within I find new words and ways to begin to express the inexpressible.

(Thank you to Anita Goss for creating my wonderful print).