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.
~~~~
Practice. One aspect of practice is to watch the stories, the streams of thought, that run through our minds; not just when we are sitting in meditation, but throughout the day, every day.
In spiritual terms, when we talk about suffering, we are talking about a broad range of dis-satisfaction which includes everything from anger, hatred and fear to annoyance, frustration, and disappointment. For most folks, their normal experience of life, every day, can be characterized by some aspect of this broad range of dis-satisfaction. Each person seeks happiness, and from time to time finds a temporary break from their suffering; but each time happiness is experienced, it soon fades, to be replaced once again by some aspect of dis-satisfaction with one's life.
Dis-satisfaction, or suffering, is caused by attachment and aversion; I want, I don't want. This attachment and aversion stems from identification with the idea of being a separate self. There are the things that I want and the things that I don't want; I hate my boss, I want to work somewhere else; I want a different car, I don't like the people living next door; this line isn't moving even though there are empty tables and we could have been seated by now and wouldn't have to still be standing here.
Most folks identify with these stories as who they are; the identification is so complete that it never occurs to them that they can step back and actually watch the stories, watch the streams of thought as they move through mind.
The idea of separate self was taught to us when we were very young, and it has been reinforced continuously by the culture in which we live; it is just assumed as the way it is, just the way things are, and it is woven into the fabric of our language. It is in our tv shows and movies, advertising, politics, government, and our relationships with each other. Most of us have no idea that it can be otherwise.
Most of us have never been taught that one can actually step back from the stories and just watch the stream of thoughts move by. And most of us have never had the opportunity of, once learning that one can step back and watch the patterns of thought, then breaking identification with the stories. Most never get to experience that they are so much more than the dramas large and small that play out in their minds throughout each day.
And because our suffering is caused by separate self's attachment and aversion, its greed, jealousy, hatred and desire for power, its fear of others, most folks never get to experience the freedom from suffering that comes with breaking identification with the stream of thoughts as who we are.
When we aren't absorbed in the dramas of mind, our daily lives are much more enjoyable; our awareness of everything around us is enhanced considerably. It is a fundamentally different way of being in the world; it is the experience of being more fully human, more alive, more at peace, happier.
This awakening into the truth of who we are doesn't mean that our workplace will suddenly become a wonderful job with a joyous boss, nor will the highways clear for our passage; the lines at the grocery or restaurant won't magically disappear. But with the lifting of the clouds of dis-ease that so much of our attention was focused on, it becomes easier to see what changes can be made and how they might be brought about; our path in life begins to become clearer, the way forward is seen more easily.
There are many who are doing this practice, watching the stream of thoughts, seeing through the illusion, discovering that they are more than these passing thoughts. There are many who are awakening into the truth of who they really are, experiencing a much richer day to day, moment to moment life, free of the dis-satisfaction that filled so much of every day, the dis-satisfaction that was believed to be just the way things are.
There will be resistance. The idea of separate self has many defenses, patterns of thought that will arise in response to anything it perceives as a threat to its existence.
But this world of greed, selfishness, war, hatred, inequity, abuse, is the result of the idea of separate self being played out my so many of us, competing against each other, placing our selves over others, our personal wants and desires over those of others.
The evolution of this world into one of peace, co-operation, compassion, fairness, begins with each of us; it begins with our own evolution, our own awakening into the truth of our very being, our becoming more fully human.
Namaste
~~~~
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.
~~~~
Enjoy your day!
~~~~