I honestly can’t remember ever reading something that I feel like I’ve read before, that you’ve written before, that someone else has written before, that was like being in a dark room & no - someone didn’t flip the light switch on & blind me with the truth but rather put their hand on the dimmer switch & turned it up so slowly, so gently, so gradually that i didn’t even realize the light was on. And at the same time I can’t count the times i laffed out loud, raucously, truthfully, joyously - “presence is not spiritual molasses”. I’ll stop with that, no spoilers fair or needed, just one of those rare moments where you know better (maybe) but can’t help feeling like, “this was written just for me & orchestrated perfectly for me to read at this particular time today to change my life…..”
And also laff your ass off at the same time. At the hysterical truths that are splattered all over the place. Feeling sacrilegious while doing so but that’s screaming from the past. That takes an outer limits writing skill to blend what seems like two very different things into one.
How do they rate things - 5 star review? 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (🤣 😂😅🤣😂 couldn’t help it)
Thank you for this. That you make laughter a beautiful gift for insight amazes me. Like this one...."But she discovered something that most of us miss because we are too busy dragging our precious identity behind us like a designer suitcase full of grievances". Just made me stop, laugh, and marvel. I now have an image of the ego I never considered and now cannot forget. I will of course steal it and use it like I thought of it. I will do my best at attribution when writing it but don't count on it. My suitcase still has a copy of How To Be A Cool Spiritual Teacher in the side pocket. I try not to reach for it...but...
“The hidden power of being fully here is that reality recognizes itself through us.” There is something in this sentence that stopped me in my tracks . . . reality.
One can experience a lot of lovely gentle sanity if willing to live in reality. But a lot of people and life, at least in our culture, is about avoiding reality at all costs. The media, money makers, and power lovers have capitalized on THAT reality. Nothing medicates the fear of reality like entertainment and/or addiction.
Referencing reality can be very upsetting for those that can’t bear even the mention of it. But there is something indescribable about those moments when “reality can recognize itself THROUGH us“. Not “in” but “through” us. I have never considered the huge difference between “in me” and “through US”.
Ah yes, the toilet brush is a good metaphor for being a homeowner & caregiver — there are many necessary tasks that aren’t so pleasant, but are humbling reminders of Presence & maybe even seeing some humor in it.
Thanks for the option to listen — you have a nice voice!✨
Encountering that kind of presence is a magnificent gift. And not encountering it when you have been led to expect it is a Moment. Someone recently mentioned to me how astonished they were to realize that our tiny choir director was the epicenter of a room full of 107 singers and 7 band members, and I realized, she has Presence and I am so grateful to get to be in it so often.
Liitle by little, bit by bit, becoming a open space for reality to emerge with all it's energy and aliveness, while doing nothing, nothing at all (even cleaning the toilet, sitting in traffic, paying a cashier, picking up dog doo, thanks for another beautiful post with depth and remembrance,
VMB, combining and reflecting the profound works of Cynthia and Helminski.
To the Monastery Complaint Box: after a 2nd try with the Listen option, I’m sorry this is not your real voice — you chose an AI voice to read your writings. I understand your need for privacy; it’s just too bad, when it’s not safe for a writer to read aloud their own essays.
This is fantastically affirming; it also reminds me in some ways of the confident humility displayed by many high level martial artists I've had the honour to have known. They have a level of self knowledge, which renders calmness to any room they enter. Purely by their presence. Not because they're in some way better than other folk in the room; not because they reckon in a physical confrontation, they could beat anyone else in the room, but rather the presence of having defeated their ego, hence not being concerned about buoying their ego by being seen to be right...
I feel this truth so deeply.
I honestly can’t remember ever reading something that I feel like I’ve read before, that you’ve written before, that someone else has written before, that was like being in a dark room & no - someone didn’t flip the light switch on & blind me with the truth but rather put their hand on the dimmer switch & turned it up so slowly, so gently, so gradually that i didn’t even realize the light was on. And at the same time I can’t count the times i laffed out loud, raucously, truthfully, joyously - “presence is not spiritual molasses”. I’ll stop with that, no spoilers fair or needed, just one of those rare moments where you know better (maybe) but can’t help feeling like, “this was written just for me & orchestrated perfectly for me to read at this particular time today to change my life…..”
And also laff your ass off at the same time. At the hysterical truths that are splattered all over the place. Feeling sacrilegious while doing so but that’s screaming from the past. That takes an outer limits writing skill to blend what seems like two very different things into one.
How do they rate things - 5 star review? 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (🤣 😂😅🤣😂 couldn’t help it)
Thank you for this. That you make laughter a beautiful gift for insight amazes me. Like this one...."But she discovered something that most of us miss because we are too busy dragging our precious identity behind us like a designer suitcase full of grievances". Just made me stop, laugh, and marvel. I now have an image of the ego I never considered and now cannot forget. I will of course steal it and use it like I thought of it. I will do my best at attribution when writing it but don't count on it. My suitcase still has a copy of How To Be A Cool Spiritual Teacher in the side pocket. I try not to reach for it...but...
Hand me the toilet brush…
“The hidden power of being fully here is that reality recognizes itself through us.” There is something in this sentence that stopped me in my tracks . . . reality.
One can experience a lot of lovely gentle sanity if willing to live in reality. But a lot of people and life, at least in our culture, is about avoiding reality at all costs. The media, money makers, and power lovers have capitalized on THAT reality. Nothing medicates the fear of reality like entertainment and/or addiction.
Referencing reality can be very upsetting for those that can’t bear even the mention of it. But there is something indescribable about those moments when “reality can recognize itself THROUGH us“. Not “in” but “through” us. I have never considered the huge difference between “in me” and “through US”.
Ah yes, the toilet brush is a good metaphor for being a homeowner & caregiver — there are many necessary tasks that aren’t so pleasant, but are humbling reminders of Presence & maybe even seeing some humor in it.
Thanks for the option to listen — you have a nice voice!✨
sooo needed
So true
Encountering that kind of presence is a magnificent gift. And not encountering it when you have been led to expect it is a Moment. Someone recently mentioned to me how astonished they were to realize that our tiny choir director was the epicenter of a room full of 107 singers and 7 band members, and I realized, she has Presence and I am so grateful to get to be in it so often.
Liitle by little, bit by bit, becoming a open space for reality to emerge with all it's energy and aliveness, while doing nothing, nothing at all (even cleaning the toilet, sitting in traffic, paying a cashier, picking up dog doo, thanks for another beautiful post with depth and remembrance,
VMB, combining and reflecting the profound works of Cynthia and Helminski.
Really nice. Thank you.
To the Monastery Complaint Box: after a 2nd try with the Listen option, I’m sorry this is not your real voice — you chose an AI voice to read your writings. I understand your need for privacy; it’s just too bad, when it’s not safe for a writer to read aloud their own essays.
Love this!!! Thank you.
This is fantastically affirming; it also reminds me in some ways of the confident humility displayed by many high level martial artists I've had the honour to have known. They have a level of self knowledge, which renders calmness to any room they enter. Purely by their presence. Not because they're in some way better than other folk in the room; not because they reckon in a physical confrontation, they could beat anyone else in the room, but rather the presence of having defeated their ego, hence not being concerned about buoying their ego by being seen to be right...
💜🌶🧠🌶💜