In the pandemic years, in our isolation and worry, the daily practice we shared was a lifeline for me. I needed to connect – to myself, to others and to the Earth. Here is one of the musings of that time, from May 2021:
“Morning comes early in this season, and I’m surprised how easy it is for me to awaken, to join in the unfolding beauty of these days. I need the beauty. I need to be reminded of the vitality of life. I often need to be lifted above the continuing challenges of navigating the human world. I need help with the mixture of fear and anger which weighs on me – at people and their selfish, short-sighted ignorance. (And meanness). I need help as I remember that I am one of the people too. And that we all have egos which lead us astray.
I’m pondering a Buddhist teaching – I don’t know the source. It is two definitions side-by-side: “An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system. An ego-system is a community of old outdated voices in conjunction with the desire to make the moment other than it is, generating a false reality.”
I’m not sure I quite agree with the first definition – some would say that every component of the world is alive in some way. (But yes, some are not breathing). The second definition is definitely worth pondering. I’ve learned enough to know that we are always influenced by old outdated voices, within us and around us. Today I’ll try to identify some of my own.
I pause to breathe. I remember that nurturing inner nobility and steadiness requires time and space and willingness to acknowledge where I am. With thanks for this part of the path, and this day on the journey, I’m sending love to you all.”