Good morning! Welcome to the DKos Sangha weekly open thread.
This is an open thread for members of the DKos Sangha and others who are interested in discussions concerning how we integrate our progressive political activism into our spiritual practice. If you have observations about the political discourse of the week, or about practice, or about anything else related to walking a spiritual path through the political world, if you wish to share, or if you seek support, or if you simply want to say hello, please do; this space is for you.
If you would like to write a diary for the DKos Sangha, please let me know.
If you care nothing for spiritual practice and only wish to denigrate and disparage, please do so elsewhere, and respect that this is a community diary for the DKos Sangha.
It is raining here this morning; cloudy, gray. Quiet, still. The dishes are washed; the coffee made and cup filled. The laptop is booted up; and I sit here in the stillness.
Deep in the stillness, we can see that what arises, the reactive patterns that arise in response to events, are not who we are. They arise like dark clouds hiding the heavens beyond.
When we are not resting in the stillness, what arises seems real. There is separation, a problem, there is something wrong, there is tension, there is conflict.
And that's ok. Even then, when reactive conditioning seems to take up all the space, we can be tender with what arises, tender with ourselves; we can simply be with not knowing why and how and what.
And as we are simply present, nonjudgmental, no blaming, no beating ourselves up, just present with whatever clouds have arisen, as we are simply present we move deeper into the stillness. And from within this deeper stillness we see that the dark clouds are just clouds, just vapor, with no substance to them. From this deeper stillness separation fades away; and without the story of separateness, our experience is what we tend to describe as oneness.
And without separation, there is no conflict; and the absence of conflict is peace. This peacefulness is our natural state. This peacefulness lies at the core of our being for all of us, for everyone on this planet, all of our sisters and brothers who share this earth with us.
Our journey is theirs; their struggles, their conflicts, their suffering, is ours.
When we are on the path of awakening, the universe gifts us with challenges; it pushes our buttons, it elicits responses. The universe shows us what is still unmet within us, the unresolved karma, the hidden traumas. And as we meet what arises, as we open lovingly, compassionately, tenderly, gently, we become more fully human; we more fully know the suffering of others, we are better able to be of benefit to this earth and all of its people.
So we welcome what arises, no matter how painful or confusing, no matter that we don't know the answers or even understand the questions; we open our hearts, we open into the stillness, and invite in the whole universe.
May your clouds dissipate in the warmth of the sun that is the heart of your very being.
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You are welcome to join us each week in our Monday night group meditation here at DKos Sangha. This online group meditation is hosted by Ooooh, and the diary is posted at 7:00 Eastern. So that we are able to be together for as many here at Daily Kos as wish to participate, the meditation period runs from 7:30 - 10:00. This group sitting is open to beginners and advanced, and is not restricted to any particular traditions or practices. It is not expected that you sit for the entire period; sit for as long as you like, when you like. The idea is that we are here together; supporting each other, holding space for each other.
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Enjoy your day!
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