Sometimes I Remember…
April in the Berkshires
Sometimes I remember that no matter what’s happening, there lives inside of me an infinite well of silence and serenity.
It is always available to me.
It’s simply up to me to draw upon it.
Sometimes I actually do remember this.
Sometimes I draw upon it and I relax.
Everything drops away.
But mostly,
Mostly I forget.
I forget I am already home.
My feelings terrify me and I leave the moment.
And then I look around me for the external circumstances to determine my safety
Or not to determine my safety.
This past week has been a lot of “or not to…”.
What a week.
I got pretty snagged by the Easter Sunday doings at the White House,
Something about the life-sized bunny with vacant eyes standing there,
Something about the incoherence of the message,
The kids with their Easter eggs……..
Yes.
Sometimes I remember that all is well, no matter what is happening.
Mostly, I forget.
Mostly, my feelings appear real, and I dive into them.
Then, I get lost.
My practice?
Not making the forgetting wrong.
Simply, through kind awareness
Returning back to my internal space.
~~
I was half-heartedly listening to my rabbi talk about Passover—it’s been so much harder for me to relax into my Friday-night-couch-temple these days, with the shadow of the war over us all.
Then Rabbi Angela said,
“The question isn’t, am I ready to be free?
The question is, am I ready to serve?”*
She woke me up! WOKE ME UP.
Attending to our own internal work makes us available for others.
Pema Chodron tells us:
“…..healing can be found in the tenderness of pain itself……we awaken through kinship with the suffering of others….”**
We truly need each other to awaken.
~~~
There is a purpose, there is an intention in these Legacy Teachings.
To be there for others.
From one heart, to many.
From one breath, to all breath.
We are connected.
We are one.
When I can settle into the moment, I bring that light to the world around me,
Even just for a nanosecond.
~~~
Here is Bob Sima singing, The Measure. Pretty darn inspiring. Please enjoy.
~~~
Friends,
From one heart,
To many hearts.
From one breath,
To all breath.
We are individuals
Wrapped in a collective,
Energetic experience.
May our words shared today benefit all people.
Blessings,
Aruni
~~~
Spring Study Options
Grief, Loss, and Renewal—Savoring Life’s Lessons
May 15-17
My spouse, Rasmani, and I created this program in the early 2000’s. My understanding of grief was limited to my 50-ish years on the planet. How that has evolved as I age!
I believe that grief is a body-centered journey, that the teachings of Kripalu Yoga on and off the mat strengthen our capacity to be present with reality as it shows up. I believe renewal is available inevitably from the grieving process, that community, the container of a Kripalu program, can support any and all grieving processes.
There is no hierarchy of grief. In this program, whatever your transition, your loss, we will practice identifying rather than comparing stories. Like Pema C. reminded us, “….we awaken through kinship with the suffering of others.”**
I am grateful for the gift and the privilege of teaching this program for 20+ years. If you have any questions about the program, please reach out.
thecoacharuni@gmail.com
~~~
*Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue, New York City
**Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chodron, page 2.