Photo: Rays of Sun through Dark and Orangy Skies.
During tea meditation, one of the sisters started reading a story about “froglessness”: if we put a frog on a plate, it will jump out, in any direction. It cannot stay still. That is how our mind is: trying to jump out and in any direction, all the time.
The sister that had given me the orientation explained that the main objective here is to train our minds to relax, as funny as it sounds, “train to relax”, through mindfulness. Through mindfulness we are not only happier and more aware, we also make those around us happier and we can achieve those breakthroughs. And concentration is easier. All this also helps us to smile, even when we do not feel like smiling (she recognized that even themselves they sometimes do not feel like smiling!).
At dinner, the big monk was asking me questions: “what is your name sister? Where are you from?” He said I am on a very rich spiritual path. I said I am just starting it, and I hope it is really rich. Then he provided some food for thought: “the important thing is that we enjoy, yes, we have to be strict with our practice, but smile; we are too serious, we take everything too seriously, we have to relax and smile while we practice. Whatever spiritual path we choose, it has to be nourishing.”
Warm belly and warm heart. Food is incredibly delicious, and monastics are warm, naturally warm and welcoming. By moments it seems we have known each other for some time, and not for 2 days…
Quote of the day:
The greatest mind is not about wanting other people to change; but you yourself changing and accepting other people. The greatest mind is to stop thinking when they will change. No, we should think: “When will I change?”
[From “IF NOT NOW, WHEN?” by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, www.kechara.com. Kechara is a non-profit Buddhist organization.]
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