Dear beautiful readers/dear friends,
For the past couple of weeks, while I and most of you are “sheltering in place” in our homes, while this worldwide calamity plays out, I’ve been wanting to reach out to you, but really stuck about how. What is there to say in the presence of all this suffering and dying right in our faces?
But perspective, attitude, is soo very necessary right now – to stay balanced and strong. Accordingly, my entire goal for this post, with it’s seemingly disconnected topics, quotes, and media is really about helping to assimilate that perspective – the mindset we need – to remain as collected and as rational as we can, in order to get through this life changing experience together, intact.
I don’t remember which pope it was who used the term “cafeteria Catholic” – that is, picking and choosing which canons to obey, and which not. It had to be the “whole enchilada” or nothing.
But for this post, I pray you will do exactly the opposite: read/watch, then consider what feels right to you & leave the rest. Deal?
I do remember, quite a number of years ago, when Ethan, one of my beautiful God Kids (all of whom I’m crazy about, BTW), was in his early teens, was either listening to or watching something he vigorously disagreed with, said the words: “Jeez…GET A LIFE!!”
It got my attention because I had never heard that before and I figured it was an expression that the youngsters used.
It popped back into my brain last week, 20 years later, when I found myself feeling frustrated, deprived, annoyed, and scared.
And why? Because I’m being obliged (for my own good BTW), to “shelter in place”, all the while IN HEALTH, with the person I love most in the world, IN NATURE – on our beautiful houseboat in SF Bay, gorgeous views included), AND whatever we need ordered online and delivered to my door.
So, after becoming aware of the (quite appropriate) difficulty I was having summoning a pretext to feel sorry for myself after only TWO WEEKS of “suffering” at home, his words came back, but this time with my own name at the beginning: “Michael, GET A LIFE”!!
Now, for some necessary context, check out Anne Frank’s home for TWO YEARS – HER “beautiful view”, plus some of her other “views” (age 14, BTW):
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.”
“As long as this exists, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad?”
Her perspectives are just as germane, and inspiring right now, right here, don’t you think? I am humbled by the positive, idealistic spirit of this beautiful teenager, her courage and her determination to live in the present moment despite her knowledge that if she is discovered in her attic by the Nazis, she would be sent to a camp, and likely not survive. Which is of course, exactly what happened to her in her 15th year.
I do believe, and I’m guessing most of you would agree with me, that all of our lives are going to change in unpredictable, but very significant ways after this worldwide, universal experience that we are living through – also, hopefully, that thinking people everywhere will understand that we can’t (and shouldn’t) return to how it was: “just like before”.
Many opportunities will occur for the vital changes in our actions that we humans must recognize and commit to, if we want to stick around. Do we love the sunrises enough? Do we want to experience more of them?
In my last post, I expressed my belief that even while our creator continues, lovingly, to send us increasingly urgent messages – that (S)he is losing patience, intends to clean up our mess, and unlike us, has no time problem.
(S)he wants to know what is our intention: to continue as the problem, or instead – at last – if we are ready to be part of the solution: “you need to decide very soon – are you in or are you out? I have work to do.”
In the same post I shared with you the New Year’s card sent by my former Montreal Rabbi, now dear friend, Leigh Lerner. Those understandings were the inspiration for that post.
Well, guess what?? He did it…again!! I received this video from him a few days ago, and it helped me a lot to decide how to purpose and to organize all this stuff, and to choose – as singer/songwriter Bob Seger once put it – “what to leave in, & what to leave out” , so as to make this offering to you as interesting, thought provoking, helpful and comforting…yes, comforting as possible.
So, our first step, this short video, is called “A Letter From The Virus” created by the Italian filmmaker Darinka Montico. The subtitles are in English.
Its title is: #LISTEN!
“If you listen to things
and love them, they will
reveal themselves to you.”
George Washington Carver
Twenty years ago, I spent the summer at Green Gulch Farm Zen Ctr as a farm apprentice, and learning to “sit quietly in my own room”. The abbot at the time was a wonderful man, ordained Buddhist Dharma teacher, prolific author & poet. His name is Norman Fischer. In one of his Dharma talks he said to us:
“Gratitude, is basic
hygiene for the heart.”
Remembering which, it brought to mind this inspiring clip on the topic of, and entitled, GRATITUDE, but also has a LOT to do with listening. It was created by the wonderful filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg. You’ll like it!
Enjoy Louie’s depiction of “a wonderful day”. Personally, I could use a day like this. And, I don’t have to GO anywhere to have it – just stay present. Yay!
Also at GGF that same summer, I was lucky to meet another beautiful human being and fantastic teacher, (now Abbess herself), named Fu Schroeder. Interestingly, looking back on my life, almost all of my most important teachers have been women. My beautiful bride and daughter top that list of course; but Fu, who so generously shares her wisdom and humanity with never even a trace of intellectual or spiritual pride, is pretty high up on there too.
Anyway, one morning I was brooming out the Zendo. Fu was speaking with a small group of visitors interested to learn about meditation practice – the how and why of it.
I listened in. She used the metaphor of a very young puppy, “running madly in all directions”, in a big park accompanied by its brand new owner. She suggested that if, instead of chasing after it, its master would sit down quietly under a tree, wait patiently and simply observe it, the puppy would eventually exhaust itself, and sit down quietly next to her.
Then she said: “That puppy is our MINDS. When we sit quietly, our incessant, relentless monkey minds eventually quiet down too. Only then can we observe and learn what’s really going on in there
“When I want to see,
I close my eyes.”
Paul Gaugin
So, why then did I bother you with yet another story? Well, like Fu, I too have a suggestion for you. And, considering what we are all living through these days, I think my timing might be perfect. Meditate! Give “the sound of silence” a try.
“If you would be a lover of truth,
be a lover of silence;
for silence is the mother of truth.”
Isaac of Ninevah
Please believe me, there is no way to do this meditation thing either “right”…OR… “wrong”… Really! (This is what the “meditation mavens” have been telling me for 20 years).
So, why not just relax, have a seat in a straight-backed chair if you own one, sit up straight (comfortable, but dignified), close your eyes, & say “hello” to yourself. Then, LISTEN carefully to, observe, feel, and acknowledge what’s goin’ on inside your mind AND your body.
But, most of all, PLEASE remember – this practice is about cultivating awareness and understanding. You are inquiring, witnessing and learning – BUT NEVER JUDGING!!! Cool?
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“The sole cause of man’s unhappiness
is that he does not know how
to sit quietly in his own room.”
Blaise Pascal
I’d like to introduce you now to another very interesting fellow named Gordon Hempton. His groundbreaking life’s work is about listening, (where and to what), and its positive impact on our peace of mind (if we are fussy about what we choose to listen to). Meet Gordon. I think you’ll be glad you did.
Dear readers, if anything you just saw but especially heard, resonated for you, I’ve got good news. You can do this too…really!! What do I mean? Check out an amazing website. It’s called My Noise.
Want to visit a Japanese garden? Take a spring walk in a rain forest? Or sit on the beach? It’s there – dozens of choices. And the BEST part? Let’s say you are in that Japanese garden for example, and you want to hear the birds, temple bells and bamboo leaves a bit louder, but maybe not so much wind, well, you create that, because there are “sliders” for every element you are hearing.
You can design and control your listening experiences (if you want to; or, just do nothing and listen) – all while “sheltering in place”.
But wait! There’s more!! Want to fall asleep or wake up in the rain forest, or on that beach? Just set the timer or the alarm. Why not check out: https://mynoise.net/.
OK, in our exploration for this “perspective” on what we are doing (or not doing and thinking and missing out on), there’s another guy I want you to meet. You may know him already, and may have read his books or his excellent travel writings. His name is Pico Iyer.
I bought his book called “The Art of Stillness” back in 2015, and read it again last week for some solace about me “not doing” stuff.
It led me to his TED talk with the same title as the book, at which he presented about travel vs. staying home. Now, considering that he was making a living as a travel writer at that time, I believe his insights on this timely topic will surprise you. Pico is lovely and smart! You’ll see!
And because, as you know, one thing always leads to another, watching Pico’s TED talk brought to mind yet another teaching I really like. Kogaku So’en Shaku (1860-1919), a renowned Japanese Zen Master, who also was the first Zen Buddhist to teach in the USA said this, quite pertinent for these times, when many of are “sheltering” alone.
“Receive a guest with the same attitude
you have when alone.
When alone, maintain the same attitude
you have in receiving guests.”
I like this because it invites us scrutinize our actions and our demeanor towards others, AND ourselves.
WHAT I believe he means is: “When you’re alone, in your own company, offer yourself no less kindliness than you would offer to an honored guest. And, when in the company of your guest, be completely yourself.
Almost done. I’m gonna leave you in peace pretty soon, but first, one last piece of useful advice for us – this time from a very competent shrink:
William James (1842 – 1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist, and the first educator to offer a psychology course in the USA. He is considered to be a leading thinker of the late nineteenth century, one of the most influential philosophers of the United States and the “Father of American psychology”. His advice?
“The greatest weapon against stress
is our ability TO CHOOSE
one thought over another.”
Seems like Hogen Bays, the current Abbot of the Great Vow Zen Monastery in Oregon, agrees with William James. Me too! In fact, I posted these words of his above my desk long ago. I look at them often. I live them wayy less often of course, but I find it’s still worth being reminded to keep trying – voila:
I Vow To Choose What Is:
If there is cost, I choose to pay.
If there is need, I choose to give.
If there is pain, I choose to feel.
If there is sorrow, I choose to grieve.
When burning, I choose heat.
When calm, I choose peace.
When craving, I choose hunger.
When happy, I choose joy.
Whom I encounter, I choose to meet.
What I shoulder, I choose to bear.
When it is my death, I choose to die.
Where this takes me, I choose to go.
Being with what is, I respond to what is.
So, dear lovely readers, if you have read and explored this far – Wow! Thanks!
I reckon that some of you, have likely already seen some of these offerings with the goal of making the best of the situation we all find ourselves in these days. I think these teachings, and offering from these folks are important, either connected together or each one alone. My abiding intention throughout, though, has been to offer you some resources that might serve you in some way(s). And of course, as always, to be “personal”, but never to be about me.
Finally, in wanting to leave you on an upbeat note, last two goodies:
On one of the wetter days that I was working on this, I looked out the window, and BINGO! Guess what my creator sent to buck me up. Wow! Now I know this isn’t an ark, it’s only a houseboat, my name isn’t Noah, and we don’t have even a goldfish, a cat or a dog (let alone two of each), but still…. real nice, huh?
And this really happy video (4 minutes I think) will brighten your day. I know this isn’t possible right now (we’d all get arrested, right?), but really, this WILL be possible again – someday soon(ish).
Hang in there, stay safe, AND…GET READY FOR HUGS!! The real kind!! ASAP!!
I wish you rainbows,
Metta,
Michael
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