Natalie Miller
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I loved last week’s reading on the paramitas. It was one of those pieces of writing that left me feeling inspired and open. So many things were explained, though my capacity to digest them all is not fully developed – it felt “right.” I will paraphrase my understanding at this time: generosity allows us to be open to experiences; discipline allows us to stay on course; patience leads to nongrasping and acceptance; exertion is our fuel to keep going; meditation is the action we take that reminds us what we are practicing; and wisdom is the gift that we are given from doing the other five, which also reminds us why the cycle must continue, and why we would have it no other way.
It is so hard to identify which paramita I feel most connected to. One of the greatest gifts in my life is being able to offer, in small ways, support to others as they develop belief in their individual capacities. I believe this is me giving the gift of fearlessness. So, generosity is possibly one of the most beneficial exchanges I have with the world. My experience of life and comfort with myself have grown in immeasurable ways as I open myself to opportunities for generosity.
I also see incredible value in discipline. Progress in my life usually occurs in a sort of spiral pattern. If I didn’t continue doing the things I know are important, even when I wasn’t certain I was actually moving along a path, I would have missed out on so many beautiful experiences. As with generosity, discipline has been an indispensable part of my growth – spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, etc.
When I think about patience, I am reminded of how much patience I have had to cultivate toward myself. I have a long history of disappointment in myself, which does nothing helpful for me or anyone else. As I develop skill in all of the paramitas, patience naturally arises.
I do not feel disconnected from any of the paramitas; however, I see that meditative absorption may be the one that I could focus on developing further at this time in my life. I look forward to learning more about the last three paramitas next week.Hi Vy,
I love the idea of sending supportive energy and well wishes to the recipients of our instruction! What a beautiful reminder that our experience with one another involves more than just words spoken out loud.Hi Andrew,
I also worried about leaving out an important ingredient of the recipe. It’s interesting how much self-judgement I notice when I am entering territory I deeply respect and want to emulate those I admire.Offering instruction to a partner this week was kind of an exhilarating experience. It was something that I very much wanted to do well and with reverence. Luckily, I had prepared for this moment. I had been taking notes from Susan’s recorded meditations and felt fairly confident that I wasn’t going to veer wildly off course.
My partner was kind and encouraging. I felt like I had passed the first gate in a new challenge course. Since last Saturday, I have been reflecting more on the experience. It feels like I was given a pair of glasses that I really needed. My vision is sharper and I can define edges more clearly. I think of the words: “It’s not easy, but it’s simple,” and I know I am just getting started.
Maybe the next time I offer instruction I will trip over my words, or say something that makes me cringe. I hope I will remember to laugh (lovingly) at myself and keep practicing.Hi Kimberly,
I love what you wrote about honoring those who worked to create the conditions in which we are now able to exist. Thank you.Anita,
What a beautiful story to illustrate the bonds created through lineage. I could relate to being a very picky eater as a child, as well.The importance of lineage for teachers relates to ensuring that the integrity and authenticity of the practices and techniques are maintained over time.
Practices in field in which I work are based on a wide variety of psychological and behavioral theories, with a sprinkle of self-help tools and current trends. I am grateful to have a lot of freedom to determine which approach I choose to use. I have experimented with many modalities. While novel research and experiential outcomes lead us to continually adjust our practices, I have found that when an approach is based on a stable, validated foundation that can be clearly traced back over a significant period of time, in most cases the results are more reliable.
I have always had an appreciation for things which seem to transcend what is popular at a particular moment in time, things that have deep roots and a timeless feel: The essence of humanity that is so much more than how successful we are in meeting the current (fleeting) cultural expectations or standards. This is what the topic of lineage is bringing up for me today. I have an image in my mind of people standing on the shoulders of so many others before them, and those at the bottom are smiling with pride.
Hi Kimberly,
I enjoyed reading about your life experiences very much. I also feel as though I have fewer answers now than ever before.Hi Joe, I appreciate your awareness of increased nihilistic tendencies with certain emotional states. I can relate to this!
Hi Rosie,
I can relate to your experience of “something else” for most of my life. I love the quote you shared and the metaphor of the labyrinth. I see the labyrinth as a container and each turn as a beautiful opportunity for discovery. Thank you!Hi Anita,
I appreciate your description of your changing perspective through different phases of your life, how both extremes can be exhausting, and how important it has been for you to find balance. Thank you!Much of my life has been lived based on the underlying foundation of eternalism. I believed in the idea of an eternal soul since I was a child. While I had no substantial, intentional religious exposure in childhood, there were loud cultural messages related to the importance of living in certain ways, in order to avoid punishment or to receive rewards in an afterlife. There was some amount of fear and confusion which arose from these messages, possibly because I did not have access to a structured religious system which consistently defined the “right” or “wrong” ways of living. As I matured, I became very curious about the accuracy of these philosophies and spent time studying a variety of perspectives.
I don’t recognize much in the way of nihilism within my experiences or belief systems. In my thirties, I did shift my personal designation from “agnostic” to “atheist” for a time; however, it never felt authentic, since I have a persistent interest in “things that cannot be seen,” and a tendency to perceive deeper meanings below the surface. I would say that finding a middle path between eternalism and nihilism has been one of my most intriguing adventures.
Hi Vy,
I love what you’ve written about the value of modeling self-compassion, patience, and PERSEVERANCE. I can see how helpful that would be.Hi Stina,
I appreciate your point about the helpfulness of having a frame of reference for the students’ prior experience. What a beautiful intention to meet them where they are, rather than expecting them to meet us on a potentially “higher plane.”