Contemplating Priorities and Boundaries
Inspired by Adam Wethington and Thich Nhat Hanh. Priority #1: Well-being. Priority #2: Connection. Priority #3: Livelihood. Priority #4: Development. Priority #5: Spirituality.
Peace Begins Here
“I see the path quite clearly. If you want to live, live in a beautiful way, with a lot of meaning, and surely you will be successful. Living for the sake of compassion, understanding, and nonviolence is very beautiful. I tread this path and I will never renounce it. If I were in your situation, I would follow this path. I learned this lesson in my home country. Hundreds of thousands of people died in frustration, because they embraced the path of violence. They killed each other, brothers and sisters, and I don’t want you to do the same. Peace is possible. We are not talking vaguely, we mean concrete action. That action is directed to ourselves and to the world at the same time. It is a process of transformation, healing, and peace. The spiritual power of such action can change the world.”
Strong Back, Soft Front—PV style
(bow) Take a few moments to get settled into the meditation posture that would best support you in the present moment, whether seated, lying down, or standing. You might like to close your eyes gently or lower your unfocused gaze to the floor.
The Heart Sutra about Aimlessness
From the Heart Sutra: “Insight and attainment are also not separate self-entities. Whoever can see this no longer needs anything to attain.”… The teaching of aimlessness is a deep and wonderful teaching.
Metta Meditation
I’ve written a Metta meditation in the Plum Village style and I hope it will bring you a sense of ease and comfort. You might also like to place one or both of your hands over your heart while we practice.
For the Sick and Dying
We have an idea that we began to exist the day our mother gave us birth and that the day we are buried, we cease to exist. We say we are our body, and outside of our own body, we do not exist.