from The New York TimesMindfulness is terrific for the person practicing it, Judith Warner writes, but what about for her friends and family?
Despite rampant conservative Times-bashing and familiar arguments, accusing the New York Times of being an error-filled, biased, exclusively and an aggravatingly contradictatorially screwed-up mess of a paper, I have maintained a laissez-faire policy toward it. I bear zero hatred, no bitterness, and absolutely no emotional attachment to the NYT. I agree when it's good and I disagree when it's bad. The Times is required reading in my daily life as much as a good cup of French Roast or ladies undergarments and Vitamin C. I'm not suggesting, however, that I read the Times in a stunningly matching set of silky Victoria's Secret bra-n-panties with my morning java...but I do get lots of Vitamin C. Anyhow, That's just how it works in America and, for the most part, in my mind...it's okay to agree to disagree. Thus, I find myself compelled, inspired, and motivated to respond to good (sometimes even great) articles in the NYT. Today's good reader reaction is a positive response to Judith Warner's Column on "Being and Mindfulness."
Commentary:
A touching essay on the human dilemma of here & now. I'm sure we all faced or will face our true nature throughout the daily foibles, follies, and frictions which grind us down to human pencil stubs, leaving us in a frustratingly maddening self-evaluation process of emotions (chewin' the emotional eraser, if you will).
I gather that mindfulness is "stultifyingly boring" for some because it is innocently projected or experienced as such: simply, boring gets boring, stupid is stupid does, and all that Gumpian Logic. What are we ultimately but the projections of our minds? If simple is more and less is better then I surmise that "stultifyingly boring" can be "exuberantly exciting" if (and only if) we are consistently willing to let the moment, our bodhicitta (compassion), and all the marvels of our true nature unfold in due course. I firmly believe that a boring moment is but a nano-second in an exciting universe. Perhaps we focus too much on the seconds and forget about the hours on the millennium clock of our current state of existence. I, furthermore, digress that such near-sighted focus robs of the universal "Big Picture." We are the stars, directors, and executive producers of our lives. So what if there was a lag in the plot or a freeze frame that perplexes and bores us? Don't forget that your life moves along, indeed, and whether you are a Buddhist (such as the fierce Dharma Warrior I try to be) or not... the main common thread of importance that unites all of our problems is the truth there can be a sequel to your life, and the experiences that are nurtured vis a vis mindfulness.
Therefore, the desire to keep one's uniqueness and the "edge" that we are all afraid of losing is part of the letting go process. Mindfulness shines a big, fat Mag lite on it, does it not? Through mindful meditation, action, and strengthening, we hopefully will let go of the person we used to be (as Pema Chodron wrote about). In conclusion, I also want to add that as poignantly hilarious as it sounds there really is no such thing as the "worst" or "best" Buddhist, etc. How about just Buddhists? Or on another ecumenical level that doesn't draw on labels and religious monikers...how about just humans? Despite good versus bad actions there really are no such things as worst humans (despite my past firm belief that in-laws definitely fell into the worst category). Think about it and have a wonderful day in a wonderful life.
Correction Notice:
My humble apologies on my prior comments. I referred to Venerable Pema Chodron and “letting go of the person you used to be.” In actuality the reference and title is attributed to Lama Surya Das.
I’m sure the NYT understands the nature of print errors and corrections. Thank you kindly.
Commentary:
A touching essay on the human dilemma of here & now. I'm sure we all faced or will face our true nature throughout the daily foibles, follies, and frictions which grind us down to human pencil stubs, leaving us in a frustratingly maddening self-evaluation process of emotions (chewin' the emotional eraser, if you will).
I gather that mindfulness is "stultifyingly boring" for some because it is innocently projected or experienced as such: simply, boring gets boring, stupid is stupid does, and all that Gumpian Logic. What are we ultimately but the projections of our minds? If simple is more and less is better then I surmise that "stultifyingly boring" can be "exuberantly exciting" if (and only if) we are consistently willing to let the moment, our bodhicitta (compassion), and all the marvels of our true nature unfold in due course. I firmly believe that a boring moment is but a nano-second in an exciting universe. Perhaps we focus too much on the seconds and forget about the hours on the millennium clock of our current state of existence. I, furthermore, digress that such near-sighted focus robs of the universal "Big Picture." We are the stars, directors, and executive producers of our lives. So what if there was a lag in the plot or a freeze frame that perplexes and bores us? Don't forget that your life moves along, indeed, and whether you are a Buddhist (such as the fierce Dharma Warrior I try to be) or not... the main common thread of importance that unites all of our problems is the truth there can be a sequel to your life, and the experiences that are nurtured vis a vis mindfulness.
Therefore, the desire to keep one's uniqueness and the "edge" that we are all afraid of losing is part of the letting go process. Mindfulness shines a big, fat Mag lite on it, does it not? Through mindful meditation, action, and strengthening, we hopefully will let go of the person we used to be (as Pema Chodron wrote about). In conclusion, I also want to add that as poignantly hilarious as it sounds there really is no such thing as the "worst" or "best" Buddhist, etc. How about just Buddhists? Or on another ecumenical level that doesn't draw on labels and religious monikers...how about just humans? Despite good versus bad actions there really are no such things as worst humans (despite my past firm belief that in-laws definitely fell into the worst category). Think about it and have a wonderful day in a wonderful life.
Correction Notice:
My humble apologies on my prior comments. I referred to Venerable Pema Chodron and “letting go of the person you used to be.” In actuality the reference and title is attributed to Lama Surya Das.
I’m sure the NYT understands the nature of print errors and corrections. Thank you kindly.
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