Good morning! Welcome to the DKos Sangha weekly open thread.
This is an open thread for members of the DKos Sangha and interested visitors who happen by. Each of us has our own path; we come here by way of many different traditions, and of no particular tradition. While the language we use may differ depending on the traditions, teachers, practices, and teachings that have shaped our journeys, we find in common, generally, a search for who we truly are, our true nature, and to bring the peace and compassion born of that search into the greater world of which we are a part. 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.
The invitation is always extended to go deeper within, to inquire more deeply into your true nature. The invitation is extended by your true nature, for that which you are is calling you home. We call this grace.
The invitation is always extended. Whenever our buttons are pushed, whenever egoic separate self is in resistance, when we get caught up in the story of “me”, the drama of “me”, we have an opportunity to meet our conditioning, to see through the story, to loosen the binds, to dive deeper within, to find the stillness. This is grace.
We can feel it, viscerally, when we are in resistance; if we are paying attention, we’ll notice it as soon as it happens, as soon as egoic separate self reacts, pushes back, denies, blames, ignores. We can tell, if we are paying attention, when we are not being fully truthful with ourselves. This is grace.
As the heart opens, we begin to see others as ourselves; we see their suffering and know it as our own, there is understanding and compassion, for we know the story of “me” through our own experience, and we know the path to liberation. The heart opens, and there is clear seeing. This is grace.
Each day the world shows us where we are as a people in our long journey of evolution; each day the world shows us divisiveness, one against another, racism, bigotry, greed, anger, assault, murder, war. Each day the world shows us the cause of suffering, and its alleviation. This is grace.
The path we walk, our self-inquiry into the nature of who we are, is not to benefit ourselves, but to benefit all beings; for who we are is not separate, there is no “me” that benefits separate and apart from all beings. We walk each step therefore with patience, kindness, and understanding; with compassion, love, and humility. This is grace.
The invitation is always extended to go deeper within, to inquire more deeply into your true nature.
Breathe
Find the stillness within which thoughts arise, within which sounds are perceived, within which all perceived phenomena arise.
Rest here
Abide here
Be still
And Know Thyself
~~~
Namaste