Quote of the day: “After several days, I had a pivotal interview with my teacher. When I described how I’d become so overwhelmed, she calmly asked, “How are you relating to the presence of desire?” I was startled into understanding. Her question pointed me back to the essence of mindfulness practice: It doesn’t matter what is happening. What matters is how we are relating to our experience. For me, desire had become the enemy, and I was losing the battle. She advised me to stop fighting my experience and instead investigate the nature of my wanting mind. Desire was just another passing phenomenon, she reminded me. It was attachment or aversion to it that was the problem.”
―Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha
Living in a Snow Globe
I live in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, woodlands, and lots of winter snow. It’s a beautiful place to live. But now, I’m dreaming of spring. My wish is for warm breezes, green leaves, open windows. And what I got yesterday was 9 more inches of snow.
Part of me has repeated the mantra, “Love what is. Love winter. Be joyful about winter’s beauty.” But it hasn’t been working. I’m longing to go on long photo hikes without wading through knee-deep snow or risking slipping on ice hidden underneath the snow. I’m longing to dig in the garden and watch flowers grow and see ducks swimming in the pond behind the house.
It’s easy to take the being present goal to extremes, believing that radical acceptance means not having longings for something different from what is. But here I am looking out the window and wishing for signs of spring.
So what if I stop fighting my wish for spring and explore it. What if I stop fighting all desires and thoughts and just let them be, floating by like clouds in the sky?
Sometimes I cling so hard to “should” and “ought to.” Letting go of judging and allowing feelings to come and go, letting monkey mind distract me with thoughts and keep me awake, watching the drama unfold, and counting my breathes – one… two… three…
As Tara Brach says, “Nothing is wrong—whatever is happening is just “real life.”
Cleaning up after the latest snow storm
Nobody’s home
Steep Hill – Walk Your Bike
Snow-covered trees in the back yard
0 Comments