Chapter 18, the secret of the middle way, is based on the Tao. It is about living in the middle instead of at the extremes. For example, instead of eating all of the time or starving to death, it is good to eat some of the time. If you live at one extreme for too long you will eventually swing back to the other (extreme) direction. Just like a pendulum, if it swings 90 degrees in one direction it will then swing 90 degrees in the other direction. If you were starving when you finally had food you would stuff yourself.
"The Tao is in the middle. It's the place where there is no energy pulling in either direction. The pendulum has been permitted to come to balance concerning food, relationships, sex, money, doing, not-doing, and everything else." (T.U.S., p. 166)
There is a lot to think about here. I can see areas in my life where I am over-invested and other areas that need more attention. Learning to have balance seems like such a practical matter that it is hard to see it as a spiritual practice...but who am I to argue with Lao-tzu's Tao!
So my path this week is to notice where my life is off balance...where I am living in the extreme. Right off the bat I recognize several areas such as worrying too much about my children.
If you read the last paragraph on page 167 and page 168 you will see that centering all of our energies on the middle way allows us to function much more efficiently. Michael says that "when you spend your energy trying to maintain the extremes nothing goes forward." He suggests that we can stop living in the extremes by simply letting them go, not participating in them.
Please join me this week in identifying an area where you live in the extremes and watch what happens when you let this go.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
life is precious
There are so many important points on page 161, please check it out for yourself. Michael is talking about how we are afraid of living life, and yet, if we live as if death were right around the corner we would let go of this fear and live more fully.
He suggests that "it is your attempt to get special experiences from life that makes you miss the actual experience of life...Life exists without you...You simply get the honor of seeing a tiny slice of it. If you're busy trying to get something, you will miss the slice you're actually experiencing." (T.U.S., p. 161). Yes I can relate to this...living for the future, longing for the next vacation, relationship, a larger income, more time...
Yet THIS moment is worthwhile. Each moment is precious. Any moment could be my last.
As I've mentioned in the last few postings this focus on death has motivated me to be more aware in the present moment. I've had different experiences with this...sometimes I'm filled with gratitude and other times inner disturbance/anxieties/sanskaras (things that I like to avoid!) become apparent. I try not to get sucked into these dramas and instead I remind myself that this recognition of inner disturbance is good...it is unfinished business that needs to be witnessed and released. I ask "Who Am I?" (am I these feelings and thoughts of lack and limitation or am I the Observer?). And finally I remember that death is stalking me...so why not get on with the business of letting go and take a step closer to my true Self.
He suggests that "it is your attempt to get special experiences from life that makes you miss the actual experience of life...Life exists without you...You simply get the honor of seeing a tiny slice of it. If you're busy trying to get something, you will miss the slice you're actually experiencing." (T.U.S., p. 161). Yes I can relate to this...living for the future, longing for the next vacation, relationship, a larger income, more time...
Yet THIS moment is worthwhile. Each moment is precious. Any moment could be my last.
As I've mentioned in the last few postings this focus on death has motivated me to be more aware in the present moment. I've had different experiences with this...sometimes I'm filled with gratitude and other times inner disturbance/anxieties/sanskaras (things that I like to avoid!) become apparent. I try not to get sucked into these dramas and instead I remind myself that this recognition of inner disturbance is good...it is unfinished business that needs to be witnessed and released. I ask "Who Am I?" (am I these feelings and thoughts of lack and limitation or am I the Observer?). And finally I remember that death is stalking me...so why not get on with the business of letting go and take a step closer to my true Self.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
How much of you is living your life?
"Death changes everything in a flash....If all these things (e.g., your possessions, loved ones, hopes and dreams for your life...) can be changed in an instant, then maybe they aren't so real after all. Maybe you'd better check out who you are. Maybe you should look deeper...you don't have to change your life; you just change how you live your life. It's not what you're doing; it's how much of you is doing it." (T.U.S., p. 160)
It's how much of you is doing it that matters. That's where the work is...am I the awareness or am I lost in thought totally unaware of what is right in front of me?
I've been using the breath as a way to ground myself in the moment as I go throughout my day. I'm reading another book "You Are Here" by Thich Nhat Hanh which talks about focusing on the breath as a way to bring oneself back into the moment and as a way to unite the mind and body. Thich Nhat Hanh recommends the phrase "Breathing in I know that I'm breathing in...breathing out I know that I'm breathing out." (This can be used during sitting meditation or as we go about the business of the day). Once my awareness is returned to the here and now I can witness and release.
Another technique in this book which has been very helpful with releasing is the simple phrase "Breathing in I am aware of feeling sadness/anger/jealousy...breathing out I embrace the sadness/anger/jealousy." Thich Nhat Hanh uses the analogy that our feelings are like a crying baby. What would you do if you heard a baby cry? You'd pick it up, embrace it. Embracing the feelings brings a sense of calmness and this allows the feelings to pass through. Try it for yourself and you will see!
It's how much of you is doing it that matters. That's where the work is...am I the awareness or am I lost in thought totally unaware of what is right in front of me?
I've been using the breath as a way to ground myself in the moment as I go throughout my day. I'm reading another book "You Are Here" by Thich Nhat Hanh which talks about focusing on the breath as a way to bring oneself back into the moment and as a way to unite the mind and body. Thich Nhat Hanh recommends the phrase "Breathing in I know that I'm breathing in...breathing out I know that I'm breathing out." (This can be used during sitting meditation or as we go about the business of the day). Once my awareness is returned to the here and now I can witness and release.
Another technique in this book which has been very helpful with releasing is the simple phrase "Breathing in I am aware of feeling sadness/anger/jealousy...breathing out I embrace the sadness/anger/jealousy." Thich Nhat Hanh uses the analogy that our feelings are like a crying baby. What would you do if you heard a baby cry? You'd pick it up, embrace it. Embracing the feelings brings a sense of calmness and this allows the feelings to pass through. Try it for yourself and you will see!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
death and gratitude
Chapter 17, contemplating death was a chapter that I was reluctant to read at first, with death being one of my least favorite topics. However, I have found a lot of wisdom in this chapter and I now use the technique of 'contemplating death' to motivate me to move forward in my spiritual evolution and to improve the quality of my life.
Realizing that life could end any day, makes me want to live each moment more fully.
As I was getting my running clothes on the other morning, I stopped to notice the bright and cheerful colors of my running top. Instead of mindlessly putting on my clothes and thinking about how I would like more running clothes, I felt filled up with what I already had. How nice it is to be filled with appreciation, instead of feeling a yearning for more or a feeling of lack. This gratitude came from my heart. It is not something that I had to work at getting.
The feeling has stayed and carried over into many areas of my life. Instead of worrying about future health issues, I feel gratitude for my eyes, my legs...all that I have RIGHT NOW! The same goes for relationships, my house, etc...
Life really is short. If we are lucky we will have 100 birthdays, 100 summers, l00 4th of Julys etc. Whenever I am feeling stuck/unhappy/resentful, I think of death...and I begin to experience an appreciation of life.
Realizing that life could end any day, makes me want to live each moment more fully.
As I was getting my running clothes on the other morning, I stopped to notice the bright and cheerful colors of my running top. Instead of mindlessly putting on my clothes and thinking about how I would like more running clothes, I felt filled up with what I already had. How nice it is to be filled with appreciation, instead of feeling a yearning for more or a feeling of lack. This gratitude came from my heart. It is not something that I had to work at getting.
The feeling has stayed and carried over into many areas of my life. Instead of worrying about future health issues, I feel gratitude for my eyes, my legs...all that I have RIGHT NOW! The same goes for relationships, my house, etc...
Life really is short. If we are lucky we will have 100 birthdays, 100 summers, l00 4th of Julys etc. Whenever I am feeling stuck/unhappy/resentful, I think of death...and I begin to experience an appreciation of life.
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