How to be a spiritual warrior (spoiler alert: you already know how)
November 2, 2020 | 24 Comments
Audio-only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 10:16
Hello there,
This email is being sent the day before the elections in the United States. Though many of you don’t live in the US, there is some sense, I imagine, that this day could be momentous for the world.
Whether you are connected to this specific election or not, there is a sense of great division in the world. What can heal the divide? Not aggression…not desperation…not turning away.
When we clear away these three poisons, we are left with something much more genuine. Rage. Sorrow. Exhaustion, even. The joy and pain of connecting with the world around us. The truth of what we feel actually creates the foundation for true warriorship.
As I was taught, the primary qualification for becoming a spiritual warrior is this: to have a broken heart. If this is you right now, whether due to despair about the world, difficulties with loved ones, fears about health, or just a basic sense of not having any idea what to do next–there is power in this feeling of groundlessness. Please have a listen to this week’s short talk to learn more. And, as always, I truly love to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to share questions, reflections, stories, doubts, all the things.
Love, Susan
categorized in: open heart project
24 Comments
Dear Susan:
Just a quick note to thank you for your uplifting and potent meditation message today. Though I don’t live in the USA, it truly express how most people feel at the moment, at least in my case.
Thank you so much for your constant efforts.
Best
Reme
Maria, thank you so very much for practicing with me and for practicing at all. It truly can make all the difference. Sending love. Susan
Susan Thank You For always working on / forcing Awareness, providing Us with Tools / there correct use. Susan I’m 69yrs. old, &, I’ve not seen this Country,&, It’s population at such discord since 1968, (where there was War in the Streets), and I find my self Present in a like Situation Again, Once thought unthinkable !! This Spiritual being caught in this Human Condition, which due to my Daily Practice I can’t turn away from or Ignore this ! As I listen, I’m reminded of being taught about the practice of renunciation….. and what is called the wisdom of NO. Correct me if I’ve miss the Point, but this Wisdom is Wisdom of a Warrior, not denying what’s present, but being open with Discriminating Awareness to what is causing suffering, &, conflict. Then We /I can shift my thoughts, &, activities to doing what is conducive to greater happiness, &, Welfare. At times asking this Question Do I Need This Thought ? Are these Actions Necessary, with this I’m on my way to Ethical Conduct, &, Influencing an other’s Path! I passed this sign on the road the other day, A True Moment to Pause, “Think Past Your Self”……… Peace be with you Susan
I think your musings are entirely correct. And I’d add one more: please be gentle with yourself when you fight the good fight! With love, Susan
I’m 67. I never imagined our country could ever be again so divided. I’d not learned of the wisdom of NO, but I intend to. Thank you!
Thank you, too. xo S
Hi Susan, wow did I need this! Thank you so much. Meditation has been calling to me but I have not sat in a few months. You are such a good teacher & doing this with you reminded me of how much I need & want to sit. Many blessings!
And to you, Kate. So very, very glad we can practice together, especially now. <3 S
I am so deeply grateful for your generous, kind, loving, and thoughtful offerings, Susan. Thank you.
You are so welcome. And I am deeply grateful we practice it all together. Love, Susan
In your opening talk, you mentioned periodic moments of sobbing. I sobbed through your words, which touched me deeply. I’m experiencing fear, sadness, grief. Fear for our country, my children and grandchildren. Grief at losing connection with family members who judge me for my choice of whom to love, and rejection of this person. All I can do is continue to try to be that spiritual warrior. Thank you, as always Susan, for your deeply meaningful words, and for your support, felt right through the screen! Love to you. Virginia
Virginia, this means so much to me. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing the complexity of what you face. So very happy we are practicing together. Much love, Susan
Susan thank you for being you and for all that you do and share with us.
It is so good to know that we have this connection of love and caring in our troubled world.
I am grateful, too. With love, Susan
So true Susan, so true! With almost every news from the USA nowadays my heart is breaking more and more…Then I hear Antony sing Leonard Cohen’s “If it be your will”: “… And draw us near and bind us tight, All your children here, in their rags of light. In our rags of light, all dressed to kill. And end this night, if it be your will. If it be your will…”, and I pray: Please, please, end this night…
Riitta, this is so beautiful–and wrenching and appropriate and powerful. Together, we can end this night. I know we can. Standing by you, Susan
In order to tune into this meditation and teaching, I turned off the news with reports of the ever-changing polls as the election results come in. I am so thankful for this peaceful time out and for the reminder of the meaning of warriorship. I know I’ll go back to watching the news of the election results … but with reminder of my broken heart and of my warriorship. No matter the outcome of the election, I know I’m going to have to be a warrior. Thanks for reminding me how.
I know you are going to be a warrior, too. Thank you so, so much for your courage and daring. With love, Susan
I’ve listened to this every day this week, and this morning I cried. Today I heard and felt all the words. I took comfort in the feeling and the words and the sense of our larger humanity.
Thank you for creating this post. It’s helped me feel ok. Ok is the best I can do this morning.
Mary Lou, I feel what you are feeling, it is all coming through. Thank you for being willing to listen–and to cry, and to feel. That is the basis for it all. Much love, Susan
Just what I needed to hear today. I am Canadian, however, we are all connected. What happens in one part of global community impacts us all. Thank you for giving us guidance at this time of brokenness.
You are so welcome, Gwen. We are indeed all connected and the more we practice, the more we feel that. Thanks for practicing with me. Sending love. Susan
Susan thank you. This talk was beautiful and inspiring and catalyzed a new fire within me! Thank you for your wisdom and your candor.
You are so welcome, Jackie. I’m very glad it resonated. With love, Susan