On the spiritual path, the personal is not an obstacle. It is the way.
February 3, 2025 | 7 CommentsAudio only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 10:31
Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are finding joy and ease as much as possible.
Before today’s sit, I continue the conversation begun two weeks ago to discuss how we view meditation in the OHP. (It’s different from most views!) The first point was We Engage in Daily Ritual. The second was We Live as Mystics (Hiding in Plain Sight). And today, I share some thoughts about what many spiritual traditions frown upon: your personal likes and dislikes. Most often, such things are dismissed as “ego” (whatever that is), something to be got rid of. I feel the opposite. Who you are, what you love, what makes you crazy—these things are stepping stones along the way. Trying to ignore them does not work. Instead, we could embrace ourselves exactly as we are. This turns out to be an expedient move on the way to happiness and compassion.
Please have a listen and let me know what you think.
With love,
Susan
categorized in: meditation, open heart project
7 Comments
Thank you Susan! I think you will understand when I comment that I appreciated what you taught about being yourself, and I am left with feeling more of an emotion – a feeling of well-being for appreciating who I am – than specific words of description.
Also, loving Inexplicable Joy – what a great title!
Carol, thank you, thank you on all counts! So glad Inexplicable Joy is resonant. And your appreciation for who you already are is…fantastic. Happy for you and everyone who knows you. xo S
Grateful for this message, Susan.
Weaving together emptiness and luminosity in the way you did increases my commitment to the practice of me, allowing me, to shine more as -me. Lots of “me”s there that I relate to as not being “I”’s 🙂
Here’s to the “me” that is separate from “I”. What a great way to express this. Much love, S
🫶🏼
Dear Susan, Such a beautiful and important teaching. It brought tears to my eyes. Especially about luminosity and embracing who we each are is the path. And, I’d say it helped me to see others in new ways as well. To see others (especially those I love or like; not yet for me with those who I dislike) have their own beautiful unique luminosity. With great appreciation to you and your unique luminosity!
Betsy, this means so much to me! Thank you. As always, a joy to be on the journey with you. Love, S