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.
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In a conversation this week about stress, the discussion eventually led to a simple example. Our example was that there are four things that have to be accomplished, but there is only time to do one of them. This situation causes a lot of stress, including some physical distress. It was agreed that no matter the amount of stress, only one of the four can be accomplished. Then it was also offered that if stress is left out of the situation, one of the four will still be accomplished. The stress does nothing to change that fact.
Our conditioning causes us to get all caught up in beating ourselves up, blaming ourselves, worrying about outcomes, making ourselves physically sick with stress. We are so used to this, that we believe it is just the way we are, that it can't be changed; it never even occurs to most of us that life could be any other way.
But it's not who we really are. It's just patterns of thought that get repeated over and over, ceaselessly, interrupted only by the distractions of tv's and movies and similar temporary respites. It is simply not true that we have to worry ourselves sick.
In the Martin Scorsese film, Kundun (highly recommended), there is a scene where the young monk is studying with his teacher. Kundun is answering a question about the Four Noble Truths. The scene is one that primarily just shows a student with his teacher, and Kundun's answer to the question isn't essential to the plot or even to what happens next. But the answer is a fundamental teaching, and I often think of that scene for that very reason. Paraphrased, the teaching is ...
we cause much of our own suffering needlessly
When one awakens from the illusion that our thoughts are who we are, and breaks identification with egoic conditioning, then all of the stress and dis-ease that used to be central to our daily existence begins to fade.
And in the situation of the simple example from the conversation, when faced with a decision as to how to proceed, when our minds are not burdened under the weight of all the stress and doubt and self-denigration, the next step is more clearly discerned.
One of the reasons that spiritual practice is called practice is because it takes a lot of practice. Spiritual practice isn't something one does on a Saturday or Sunday. Spiritual practice, a spiritual path, is a way of life. Everything that ever happens, every day, every moment, is a part of our practice. And as we move through each day, we have the opportunity to practice the teachings; we have the opportunity to see, to feel, our own suffering, to see the causes of our own suffering, the attachments and aversions, to see how when we let go of our attachments and aversions, our suffering falls away.
We have the opportunity to experience first hand that we cause much of our own suffering needlessly.
There are many dharma paths; they are found within Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism, Judeo-Christianity, Native American, indigenous, and earth-based traditions around the world, etc, etc, etc. They are also found outside of any traditions. Each person's path is unique to them; and no matter which tradition one is within, or if one is outside of any tradition, the opportunity, the invitation, for liberation from suffering lies within. The teachers, teachings, and traditions can be of great benefit along the way; but one must do the work, the practice.
It is all grist for the mill.
We are amazing beings. The mind/heart/body is a precious gift; this life - a rare treasure.
As I write this, it is dusk; the last light of the day is fading quickly above the far ridge. From this small house, in this rural mountain cove, looking out into that fading band of light, into the mystery beyond, the mind is stilled, and the heart filled.
I think it helpful to remember that we need not suffer so much, we need not spend this precious gift of a human life tormenting ourselves. Freedom from suffering is not a belief; it is something that we can endeavor to find for ourselves, through practice, through the simple practice of watching the thoughts that run through mind, watching the reactive patterns, the conditioning, the beliefs, the blaming of others, the blaming of ourselves, and then seeing through the illusion, seeing that it's all just thought, arising and disappearing, one after the other, like the scrolling headlines on some news/entertainment channel.
And then seeing that the thoughts are appearing within a much greater space, much as clouds appear and disappear within the sky; the thoughts appear within a great spaciousness, a stillness, a peacefulness, a place that has the feeling of home.
We cause much of our own suffering needlessly.
But with practice, this suffering can be alleviated.
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Sitting right where you are in this moment,
Let go of all thoughts,
And just breathe for a few moments.
Just bring your attention to the breath,
Just notice the breath moving in and out,
Just noticing,
Quietly,
With no agenda,
Just breathing,
Letting go of tension,
Just resting in the movement of the breath.
Do this for as long as you wish.
Namaste
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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 to 10:00 Eastern. 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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