Snow Shoveling Sangha!

Four mountain gals showed up for LTMC this week but The Studio parking lot was a no-go as we had received another dumping the eve before. No problem, we've got this! The winter has prepared us well. So, LTMC squeezed into our breakfast location across the street (where we go after our Wednesday sits, yum:). Thank you Getaway Cafe for saving the day! Within moments of wading through the snowy goodness and up into our home temple, the plow guy came--our hero! Beautiful practice to sit in meditation and send Metta to that sweet savior clearing our way.

During community discussion, the theme of managing strong emotions came up and one of us shared an inspiring success of mindfully calming herself before addressing an individual who did serious damage to property and to her art. We were reminded of Thich Nhat Hanh's wisdom, which was skillfully practiced in her volatile situation:

Below was an excerpt read in our current book: The Mindfulness Survival Kit regarding applying the ethics of Mindful Living:

1. We learn how to be relaxed and release tension in ourselves.
2. We learn how to breathe and calm ourselves when we have strong emotions.
3. We learn how to keep communication open with relatives and friends and how to restore communication when it has broken down.
4. We learn ways of looking deeply in order to realize interbeing and no-self and to overcome fear.

In the wise words of one LTMC member, "It's a practice!" Heck yah, but, we've got this, our winters have prepared us well. Have a joyful week "being" snow angels and the like....

"May all beings be happy,
may we be healthy and strong,
safe and protected,
free from inner and outer harm.
May we live in the world with ease and grace."*


* LTMC dedication, inspired by the Metta Sutra and written by Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

~~Readings for the week of February 26: The Mindfulness Survival Kit p. 186-203

Suchness of Loved Ones....

The theme of "Suchness," in the month of February is kicking my @$$, in regards to relationships with my loved ones. It's been awhile since I posted a poem and this morning as rain turned to snow, the muse of deep looking tapped me on the shoulder. A dear sweet member of my family has given me permission to blog this poem of insight that was the result. In doing so, may it alleviate suffering in all beings and help water seeds of hope in the enduring opportunities for transformation (IC Truth number #3).

Photographs
February 20, 2017
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

I was leaving you
to go to the country club
and dine with the in-laws.
Wise 5-year-old heart knew I preferred to stay with you.
Arms wrapped tightly around the other
in a goodbye embrace.
We turn for a picture, catching a moment in time…
heads pressed together,
infatuated grins mirror the other as we squeeze close.
Our dark eyes sparkle against a crushed black velvet dress,
no tears--confident in the enduring presence of love.

Now, year 2017, Day after Valentine’s,
an entirely different photograph:
dark eyes askew, drool clings to trimmed beard.
DUI, fleeing arrest.
I’m on the other side of the screen,
so immediate my love for you,
breathing to calm a racing heart.
Thoughts bombard—could have killed himself,
killed another….

I carry both photographs to the altar,
prop them against a yellow flowering begonia,
sit down and get still.
All my life, I’ve pondered this mystery:
why don’t I love everyone as deeply as my kin?
Breathing in,
breathing out,
finally an answer is born--
because I’ve experienced my loved one’s goodness,
I have known their shining beauty
not just their scorn.

Gaze at the pictures, child and man,
breathe, my dear.
In every human being all possibilities exists--
the lovable child and the slobbering drunk.
Do not be moved--
be forever grounded in goodness
and the enduring presence of love.

True Love

This week's LTMC mindfulness topic naturally presented as True Love given our Valentine's week. As we sat in the lotus room soaking up a robin-egg blue morning, we noticed the transition to increased light and the square of sky breaking through the snow-encrusted skylight! After sitting together, the 3rd mindfulness training was read to anchor our discussion:

True Love

Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long-term commitment made known to my family and friends. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are one, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness – which are the four basic elements of true love – for my greater happiness and the greater happiness of others. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.

As a community, we discussed the refreshing awareness that seems to be penetrating the young adult population regarding the desire for a long-term commitment before the intimacy of sex. A favorite line of the above training is..."Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future." Imagine actively committing to cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness and the ripple effect such actions have on all generations to come. What are ways in which you cultivate elements of true love? Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community hopes your Valentine's week was filled with opportunities to practice.

Hold Up The Flower

This week's post begins an aspiration to write a regular mindfulness topic highlighting Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community's time together Wednesday mornings. Hopefully these regular articles will extend the joy and inspiration we feel when we're in community and further nourish our practice.

This week, February 8, LTMC had a wonderful morning sit with a deluge of rain as our companion as it struck the skylights of the Lotus Room. The rains inspired the remembering of a favorite story about the Buddha. Over a thousand people had gathered to hear the Buddha speak but without saying a word, he simply held up a flower. Many minutes went by as the gathered crowd attempted to figure out his gesture and waited for him to speak. Buddha continued to silently hold up the flower, then suddenly, he smiled because a monk in the crowd, Mahakashyapa, had smiled to him and the flower. Buddha announced, "I have a treasure of insight, and I have transmitted it to Mahakashyapa." The monk and the Buddha experienced true happiness, enjoying the flower and each other. That remains a popular story in Zen circles and many meanings have been attributed to the teaching of the flower. Thich Nhat Hanh provides a beautiful translation here. LTMC discussed the possibility that perhaps mindfulness is truly as simple as enjoying the beauty of a flower or the pouring rain. If someone offers you a flower but you aren't present, you miss the flower, what a pity. Another thing discussed was our ability to simply be a beautiful flower in the midst of a questioning and suffering world. LTMC then pondered the lesson of the flower when managing a difficult person, perhaps someone who seems to find themselves in the same habitual patterns. Our impetus to try to fix another person's dilemma is so strong. Maybe we don't have to "do" anything, perhaps we need not convince, enlighten, or give advice. What if we sat peacefully, followed our breathing and simply held up the beautiful flower?

A LTMC community member then shared a beautiful tradition among African peoples--when someone has offended the community or is out of line, the tribe calls a meeting with that person, surrounds him or her and sings to the wrong-doer, reminding the person of their goodness--they hold up the flower.

We are beautiful creations, of this LTMC is sure--goodness, peace and well-being grace the many petals of our creation. If you ever need reminded, come visit us on Wednesday mornings, 7:30a, upstairs in the Lotus Room. LTMC hopes you have a wonderful practice week holding up the flower....

"May all being be happy,
may we be healthy and strong,
safe and protected,
free from inner and outer harm,
may we live in the world with ease and grace." *

* LTMC dedication, inspired by the Metta Sutra and written by Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Suchness...Say What?

Suchness is an eastern concept and word we've been studying in Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community lately. Here's the Webster formal definition of suchness--a nameless and characterless reality in its ultimate nature. How, you might ask, can something be nameless? Characterless for that matter? Suchness is an idea positing that nothing is a separate self-entity. For example, if we look at you, a name has been attributed to who you are, many names in fact: perhaps a profession, roles, gender, etc. however you would not be you without the animals, plants and minerals that you've consumed to fuel and maintain your body, nor would you be you without each formative experience, the beings and cultures that have come together to shape your beliefs and expression of your personality. Who would you be without your mother, your father, your ancestors? You can see that this idea of interconnection can lead us in many deep and complex underpinnings--all of which can be referred to as suchness.

Ahhhh, you and every occurrence in this natural world are miracles of so many perfectly timed causes and conditions. It's promising to be an insightful month of February as we dive into this theme that fits so beautifully with the Inner Constellation Blog purpose as seen in the welcome on the right of the homepage:

This blog celebrates that you are an expression of the Eternal: body, mind and heart are the gateways. Read on if you need reminding....

Suchness--nameless, formless, nondualistic, no coming, no going--eternal. As we enter the month of suchness, I ponder the next IC Blog Post with an image of a sculpture entitled, "The Death of Cleopatra." Its maker is remarkable and the story of how the sculptor came to be, even more so, as we'll explore in the next IC blog article, entitled--"Death of Cleopatra." Stay tuned and wet your senses until next time....

Mary Edmonia Lewis sculptor, completed in 1867

My Husband the Druid

This is a blog post about observation...oh, and love. Can you find the mailbox in the picture on the right? The red flag is up, indicating we have a pick up. Do you see our yellow pole indicating to the snowplow driver to please (pretty please on bended knees) drop the gate so as not to berm us in. Follow the snow line to the far left of the pic, just the tip of the pole with reflective gray tape is sticking up through the snow...and that sucker is 7 foot high! OK, so Tahoe has had a beautiful, awe-inspiring, old fashion dumping and our poor little Lodgepole Pine over top the mailbox took a massive hit. During the brunt of the storm it was weighed down and touching our driveway, blocking the Snow mobile Subie you see there and our mailbox. Of course, I went out brandishing the tree sheers, ready to unblock the necessities. You may be able to see a few spiky branches poking out where I had just started my attack. However, my dear husband came to the tree's rescue, "Noooooooo! Don't cut the tree." I stopped, I observed and I listened. His argument of leaving sharp, dangerous branches sticking out was valid, however, we needed our mail and we needed to get out! Breathing in, I knew that I was breathing in...breathing out, I knew that I was breathing out. In the pause, I became clear-minded and consciously decided for love over my way. It took a few more breaths and a little bit of humor as we spent another hour on top of the tree with the shovel, freeing it to spring back up to the blizzard sky. "What are you a druid?" I asked. We smiled and shoveled. Next onslaught was a few hours later as the tree was once again laden with 2 foot of fresh snow. Another freeing ensued...my ideas of how things should be: the tree and my husband all became practice partners during the ten day storm.

The January theme of Beginning Anew has worked its magic on me. In every situation, love awaits our surrender. Surrender I did, to a higher ideal of choosing love, peace and understanding. I hope our mailman forgives us. So far, so good as the sun now shines, the snow melts and our sweet, gangly Lodgepole weathers the storm, each day straighter, stronger, solid and free.

A Snow Angel for President Trump: Inauguration 2017

Inauguration seems a fitting event for this month's theme of, "Beginning Anew," as our nation peaceably transitioned power to President Donald Trump. It's been a heated, divisive time that as in any challenge has the ability to be transformed (Inner Constellation Truth #3). I'm fascinated by this idea of promoting patriotism and see great potential in the idea of caring for one's country and American citizens as a springboard for broader awareness of our world of which we are an influential part. Imagine a nation undivided and taking care of the needs and wounds of each citizen. Would this not then ripple out to other nations and peoples? I can't help but look at the focus of my work--individuals, families and communities and answer a most certain, yes. I've experienced the ripple effect of tending to the sufferings in oneself and this benefiting one's family and ultimately the community--now extend this to an entire state and country. If our communities are exponentially influenced by our peace and prosperity, Americans would reap that influence and prosper, thus rippling out to other nations. This idea mirrors the practice of Metta which begins with well-wishing for oneself, then for loved ones and continuing in concentric wider circles of care.

2007 Inauguration is a Beginning Anew moment for America and her citizens and an invitation to broaden our scope of awareness. Here were some highlights from President Trump's speech to ponder:

...American carnage stops right here and stops right now. We are one nation and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home and one glorious destiny....When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice....And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the wind-swept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky. They fill their heart with the same dreams and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator....So to all Americans in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again. Your voice, your hopes and dreams will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.... 

May all beings be happy, healthy and strong, safe and protected, free from inner and outer harm, may we live in our world with ease and grace.