Over and Over Again*
We don’t interrupt our patterns even slightly.
With practice, however,
we learn to stay with a broken heart,
with a nameless fear,
with the desire for revenge.
Sticking with uncertainty is how we learn to relax
in the midst of chaos,
how we learn to be cool
when the ground beneath us suddenly disappears.
We can bring ourselves back to the spiritual path countless times
every day
simply by exercising our willingness
to rest in the uncertainty of the present moment—
over and over again.
Pema Chodron
~~~
Oh, Pema. How do you land it so perfectly?
How do you know us, know me, so deeply?
I always thought that my role as “an adult” was to make sure the ground never disappeared.
To do that for myself and for others.
My task upon the planet.
I forever thought that my role as “an adult” was to banish uncertainty, to have an advanced plan for whatever might and would happen.
My task upon the planet.
It didn’t work.
It doesn’t work.
Reality wins.
Ours is to practice.
Just to practice.
Being with what is.
To practice
Without judgment
For ourselves.
To just practice.
And notice.
And keep coming back.
~~~
How do you practice?
What helps you,
What reminds you,
What returns you
To the moment?
For me, prayer.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing foreign.
Just a moment’s offering—
Help me.
Hi.
Help…
I am here.
Please be with me…
Please help me
To be with You…
How do you practice?
Whatever, however
You do practice,
Remember kindness.
Breathing in kindness.
Releasing kindness.
Breathing
In
Kindness.
Releasing—
Kindness.
~~~
Music! Oh, what a vehicle it is for returning.
I’ve always loved this song. This version, created by the non-profit, Playing for Change, took two years to create, recording musicians from ten countries.
It’s Robbie Robinson’s The Weight. Robbie passed in August of 2023. This song, which is 55 years old, lives on.
Please enjoy. The different musicians, the different countries—it’s a good one.
The Weight
~~~
Friends,
With gratitude,
With possibility,
With wise hope—
Hope that offers us the moment,
Rather than hope
That takes us
Away from reality.
Gratitude.
Possibility.
Wise hope.
To us, all.
May all beings benefit from our words shared.
Stay blessed,
Aruni
~~~
*Title is a quote by Pema Chodron.