Rachel Hirning

[Rachel Hirning]

Suzie,
Thanks for sharing how the First Noble truth plays out for you. It resonated with me too b/c the constant tide of ‘ugh’ piles up and feels overwhelming. I just want one perfect day. One perfect vacation. Ha. The quote from Pema is lovely! It was like a light that got turned on. Nothing is ‘wrong’ per se.

Plus, irritation with the thing just shows us where we are grasping, wanting something to be different. Well, it seems this effortlessly flows into the 2nd Noble Truth. 🙂 I am speaking for myself here, but this is pretty exciting stuff and I look forward to finding all kinds of ways my thoughts/behavior falls into these first 3 truths.
-Rachel

[Rachel Hirning]

Oh Rena,
Awestruck. There was such a flow in your experience, it seems. What an experience and a way to experience the 3rd Noble truth. Thank you for sharing.

[Rachel Hirning]

I am surprised to find myself contemplating the first noble truth so much this week. To me, it is basic. “Live is suffering” Disatisifying. Ill-ease. Painful.

The surprise is because it is basic, my knee jerk reaction to this truth has always been, “Well, of course.” or ‘duh’ and I bypass it. Move on to the next one. This week I am pausing, and really sitting in in this truth.

In my work as a therapist, one of my favorite quick go-to’s for someone is to ask them to gently say “this is ‘what is’ ” in response to a difficult situation before they jump to solutions, or do their mental gymnastics to find relief. Once they can do that, it is a lot easier to move with compassion and pivot in a way that makes sense.

So I am doing that with the totality of the 8 Sufferings. When I really truly sit with this fact, and circle in toward acceptance of it, it feels a bit like a Mac truck. Funny how a soft practice can feel so harsh.

Personally, the secondary sufferings are riddled throughout my life. Sometimes a sensation of disspointment flows through me. I go a bit existential on it, confused that despite having all the benefits of water, housing, food, friends, art supplies, my mind, health, family, I can still be dissatisified. Dissatisified with a particular part of my spouse, the color I chose to paint the living room wall, the monetary needs I must make if I want to travel, dissapointed in the constant work of parenting, and goodness, thinking… “what is my problem? I only have one child afterall”.

The list is endless.

Stop it. Ha.
Life is Suffering.

It is a truth.

It is ‘WHAT IS’.

Once I pause and sit with that, like my client… it softens. It feels OK. It starts to create room, a spaciousness. I can be with this this and then pivot if that is what I called to do.

I have a hunch that if I slow down and take time to contemplate & embody the first 3 truths, the 4th (and the 8 fold path) will crystalize and land different than if I hadn’t taken the time.

[Rachel Hirning]

Kelly,
awwww, so beautiful! I could feel into your mind and the conundrum, and how you found the way, and it all resonated. I too, was a bit overwhelmed and had to re-read this article a few times, knowing things are only going to get more complex from here the deeper I go. I even googled a simpler definition of the Four Noble Truths. I was searching for a practical application that I could sink into right away. And…your writing helped me do just that. No google needed. Thank you, my outer teacher. 🙂
Rachel

[Rachel Hirning]

I spent some time contemplating what brings me to the space Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche points toward. I am devoted to what brings me easily into it. The space, it seems is a spaciousness, a stillness and ease of my body in the midst (and sometimes absence) of movement or agitation. It is a knowing, and a brilliance (clarity).

He doesn’t give concrete examples of how this may arise. I assume we are left to discover this on our own, which is in line with first encouragment from Susan, that the teacher’s path doesn’t teach, but helps their students discover.

So, what have I discovered, in my life, that brings me to this space?

Art. Art making for process, not for making anything beautiful to hang on a wall. The pure stroke that seems to come from an unknown source. But, there is a knowing, if you listen. Plus an awareness of only the moment, via one stroke at a time, all of which can lead to a joy, an insight, a place of beginning- but then it subsides, and begins anew again. It is as if time as you know it is suspended. It, like this essay, is hard to put into words. However, I’ve felt it and seen it through the art.

Meditation. Maybe it goes without saying because the essay was just about that. In a concrete way, I know when I meditate I am much more clear. I am sharper with my words. I need only a few to get the point across. There is a seamlessness in my actions. I am much more in flow with what arises. Sometimes, quite literally! I can catch a falling glass of water from the table. It’s true! That may sound very Mr. Miagi, Hollywood style, but I think perception strengthens. Plus, this isn’t all the time. But I have caught glimpses of this. So when there is an obstacle to meditation, I’ve felt enough to trust it over time. Meditation in my lama. I just can’t deny these concrete-after-meditation-moments of “bliss, clarity, and the state of mind without thoughts”. I trust it with my whole heart.

Nature. Specifically, water and the Sun. I am forever in awe of the tides and the massive unknowing that lurks under the ocean. I love the edge of earth and water. I know the sun doesn’t rise per se, but I love witnessing it. How does this sync happen? How do we keep turning around and seeing it over and over again? What sort of force is this? How does that weed grow through the sidewalk? I want to mingle with that.

The aesthetics of a stupa, a temple, hearing chanting, the clinging of bells. This probably appeals to my artistic sense. It is just so beautiful! There is an awe when in the midst of these structures and sounds. It catapults me into a different space. It elevates.

In the future, I’d love a guru, or a lama. I do wonder if I would secretly question their ‘perfection’. Would that get in the way of accepting all their wisdom? I don’t know. So many have dark sided stories.

I am open to more reading and am so happy to be learning in this way, through this group. I also have a dear ‘coven’ of 4 women who make sure we all shine bright. We hold each other up and push each other to live in a clear, genuine, bold, or calm way. Whatever way is wanted at the time- they show up for it. They are alchemists in their own right.
They are a beacon for the mystery. I am lucky to have them. They are my teachers as well, but they do not know and feel the dharma in the formal sense.

[Rachel Hirning]

Kate,
How cool! I was able to see how this would take place with your writing. I saw the student and the lama, as if I was watching a documentary. In my imagination, they were working side by side, carrying bowls… and making certain all traditions were not lost in exile. What a profound snapshot. This image will help me contemplate the meaning and write my own response. I now have a greater understanding of what Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche wrote and a deeper understanding of the teacher and lama relationship. Thanks for the inspiration.
Rachel

[Rachel Hirning]

Allison,
Such a thoughtful response. I appreciate what you said about the ‘inner guru’, and if we are “mixing one thing with another” then surely this is a route with merit. Devotion to this space within and allowing ourselves to “mix” with it is a discpline.

It makes me wonder if finding a guru outside of the Self makes it easier for people to see this spacious, wordless quality, and provides hope. And it can be found within. I’d love to know when you have felt into this space, how did you know you were with it?

Thanks for sharing,
Rachel

[Author]

Posts