Life Lessons

Responding to a note in the mailbox today...

In my earlier years, I learned to judge rather than accept. Now, as I look back, I see that intuiting that judgement was my duty in life as a male and later as a parent was and is not a skillful nor helpful nor productive way to exercise discernment. I have grown a bit since those days and now believe that we are here for a purpose, that my thoughts, words, and deeds can impact another person's life in ways that go beyond even imagination. I now recognize that my work is increasingly meaningful the more I practice a kind of radical acceptance, and that, as Ram Dass noted, all of us are simply trying to put one foot in front of the other, helping each other find our way home. This can be a challenge, as the Watercourse seems to be changing in each instance of each moment of each day. Only It knows Its Way. That's why we need each other's help negotiating the eddies.

If you’re involved with relationship with parents or children, instead of saying, "I can’t do spiritual practices because I have children," say, "My children are my spiritual practice." If you’re traveling a lot, your traveling becomes your yoga...use the things that are on your plate, that are presented to you. So that relationships, economics, psychodynamics—all of these become grist for the mill of awakening. They all are part of your curriculum. – Ram Dass